mjd1988
Guru
1.08.34 for me @peterob
I had some slightly bad news today, which means I'll either drop out of the league for a couple of months, or stay in but just ride at an easier tempo.
I had a coronary stent fitted in early 2011. I had no symptoms at all but after an annual work health check I had what turned out to be a letterbox narrowing in one artery. This is where you get some plaque on either side of the artery, as opposed to a complete narrowing, and this was probably why I had no symptoms. I agreed to have a stent fitted as a precaution, due to the amount of cycling I did and the fact that most summers I went riding in high mountains. The cardiologists involved said they wouldn't have fitted a stent if I'd been more sedentary. They'd have just monitored me.
Since the stent was fitted, I've been fine and after early retirement in 2014, I've had more time to ride and feel fitter than I did when I was in full time work.
So, today I had my annual check up. Blood pressure normal, in fact as good as someone much younger. However, I have a very slow pulse. I always have. In my 20s when I was playing a good level at Squash, my resting heart rate was around 30. Today, an initial measurement was 38, so the cardiologist decided to do an ECG. After that, and with the nurse asking me if I felt ok (I felt absolutely normal) the ECG produced a resting heart rate of 35.
The cardiologist decided to send me for an urgent Cat Scan. He wants to check whether my stent is failing and causing a slower heart rate, or whether its ok and my low heart rate is 'just me'.
This is a tough situation for me and its given my wife some concern. I have no negative symptoms at all, but I can hardly ignore my cardiologist, who has asked me to stop my 'aggressive cycling' until he has the results the Cat Scan.
I decided to ride tonight's stage as I'd already signed up. I didn't really want to pull out, especially as I feel fine. But I've got be honest that I held back a bit at times tonight as today's consultation was playing on my mind, although when I got on to Box Hill the competitive side took over, especially when I saw that @Whorty and I were in the same group.
I don't plan to stop riding. The Cardiologist hopes the Cat Scan will be early in the New Year, so I think until then I'll probably cut back to riding in group rides, or just ride the Cyclechat league at an easier pace as long as that's acceptable to you guys. I may also ride a bit more outdoors at an easier pace.
Sorry for the long post, but I suppose it helps a bit to share and after my continued improvement over recent months, I don't want people to think I've just bailed out and don't care anymore.
Hope it's all okay mate, as you say it's probably just the cardiologist being very cautious given your past medical history but better safe than sorry obviously.
Hopefully the scan happens v soon and you get the all clear.
