Any survivors on here, cardiac arrest, heart attack, cancer....

[Effyb4]

I had an emergency double bypass in September last year, after a heart attack. I don't have thickening of the arteries, the artery just split. I'm now on a cocktail of drugs for my heart and have heart failure. I am pretty slow, with an average of 10-12 mph. Most of my rides tend to be around 20 miles, although I have ridden up to 50 miles. I have good days and bad days, but I try to get out a couple of times a week. You are quite welcome to follow me on strava. Here is my profile http://www.strava.com/athletes/3708157

 

[Colin_P]

Bryony,

Getting out there is the most important thing rather than staying at home in the chair. For me getting out of the chair can sometimes be difficult.

Yesterday I started some quite powerful anti arrhythmic drugs and today I'm feeling a bit spacey. This drug ordinarily should be started whilst you are in hospital and under observation so powerful it is. I started it at home and am going back to see the consultant in two weeks. I still reckon I'll be out later on the bike for a quick 3 to 4 mmile off road ride though.

 

[Colin_P]

Effy,

Request strava request sent!

And it is good you are out there!

 

[Steady]

It is interesting to read all the stories on here, and fortunately it seems most of you are getting out, and like it's been said getting out there is the most important thing, especially when it seems everything is holding you back.

My Dad had prostrate cancer a couple of years ago, the radiotherapy never really effected him much and he'd cycle daily, not far, just to his allotment and back and we'd get out together when we could on the bike, but walk a lot when we couldn't.

Although unfortunately two months ago he was diagnosed with cancer of the voice box (despite not once ever smoking), which has meant major surgery to remove his voice box, Lymph nodes, and a second major op to help things heal in the past month, and eventually attempt to restore some kind of vocal communication as he can't speak now, and I can't lip read well!

The forward plan is to return him riding again at 78, which admittedly there are a few physical obstacles in the way from the second op having to have a muscle taken from his chest which I can see taking a long time to be pain free, but I'm hopeful of getting him back out there on a bike, though it'll be an electric bike from now on I think!

 

[loother]

A big thumbs up to all you cardiac patients. For those above that are having treatment I send my best wishes, be positive and try to continue cycling. I had a brush with cancer in 2010 (thyroid, stage4), the surgeon and nuclear med managed to defeat it. I have been clear since summer 2011, continued working, but find it difficult to commute my 18 mile return regularly ( I do 12 hour shifts ) due to idiopathic tiredness.
I should post more often but am shy.

 

[Doc333]

Colin there's plenty of us heart survivors on here, and you get plenty of encouragement. I had a heart attack on the golf course (Luckily next to the clubhouse) April 213. Had emergency surgery and a cocktail of drugs for the rest of my life. I had to wait until last November to be given the green light by the cardiac specialist. I went out and bought a bike, and gradually started to do a few miles. 8 miles was my first ride and I was shattered. It took me around a month of similar rides before I actually got over 12-miles done. My average speed was moving from 8mph up to 14 mph today, which I know is garbage, but I never seem to see flat roads and always seem to be into a headwind. I completed 37 mile on my last ride but haven't been able to get out since and that was 3-weeks ago. I am however going out in the morning and we'll see how far I get and how I'm feeling.

I'm 58 and new to cycling, but loving it even though every ride is a loop because I know that the last 4 or 5 mile can be hell as my drink bottle will be empty, my thighs burning and my backside numb. I don't think you need to worry about distance, or speed as long as you ride at your own pace so that you enjoy it. Speed and distance will come in their own time and so will climbing. Good luck and don't overdo things

 

[Colin_P]

It is fantastic how we are all still out there, however slow.

I did a 15.5 miler today when really I should have been taking it easy due to me starting new anti arrhythmic medication. I felt ok so off I went.

Being on strava is a good thing for me as it gives me some focus and when I look into my rides I'm never the slowest but am usually in the lower half on the leader boards. I don't care about that as long as I'm not last.

I wonder how many on the leader boards are on such powerful medication, the beta blockers in particular. If you could filter the lists I reckon I'd be pretty quick. I can only dream...

 

[classic33]

Epilepsy, lifelong.
Testicular Cancer in 99. Surgeon refused to operate due to having more than one fit, whilst under a general anaesthetic & popping my clogs on the operating table in 95 whilst removing the appendix.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Mastectomy in 2004 aged 35, I didn't know blokes had them either. Still get muscle spasms occasionally kinda like cramp - the surgeon had to take a bit of muscle as well.

 

[Andy Jeffery]

Hi,
Burst appendix and septicaemia. My wife was told that I might not make it through the night. 11 days in hospital loads of antibiotics and a 22cm scar. Like others it has changed my life and the way I view it. Such as the house is now on the market so we can downsize and change my career so I / we can see the world and possibly cycle it. Happened in early Feb and got back on the bike in June.
Love life,friends and family not your career!

Cheers Andy

 

[slowmotion]

Clearly I'm faster than @slowmotion .....

Fabbers, I regret to inform you that you have joined a club with a very large number of members. Exclusive it ain't.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Fabbers, I regret to inform you that you have joined a club with a very large number of members. Exclusive it ain't.

Yebbbut, if you were quicker we'd have to call you fastmotion!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Epilepsy, lifelong.
Testicular Cancer in 99. Surgeon refused to operate due to having more than one fit, whilst under a general anaesthetic & popping my clogs on the operating table in 95 whilst removing the appendix.

Yikes!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Severe asthmatic, been resuscitated twice. My asthma meds have given me Secondary Addison's disease so basically my body does not produce any/enough cortisol to stay alive (cortisol balances sodium/potassium in the blood stream, helps digest food, produces muscle, stops muscle wastage....) and I also have rare form of tracheomalacia and bronchiectasis from constant chest infections which have damaged my lungs and throat from constant coughing over the years... and then there is the pituitary adenoma... that's the worst of the conditions...

oh and I am partially paralysed from an accident 20 years ago which has left me with osteoporosis, but only in my left femur...

I'm slow, but steady, don't quit easily and don't give in easily either. It will probably kill me, but then something has to... I don't expect to survive my next major asthma attack.

 

[classic33]

Yikes!

What?