Fifty Plus (50+) - Good news from the doc ...

It feels odd to get GOOD news from my doctor, but I did. I was at a follow-up appointment three months after injuring my knee and choosing this doctor to be my new "family" physician to replace one who had retired.

Anyway, my BP went down from 148/88 to 120/80, thanks in part to some medication he's got me on. My weight was down a dozen pounds, and my cholesterol was 208, which isn't quite where it should be, but not too far off.

He told me to keep doing whatever it was I was doing. He wouldn't go so far as to promise immortality, but I think he was just covering himself.

Oh, and the knee has been just fine for the past six weeks or so.

Good news, DG.

I go for my annual checkup in a couple weeks - hope I have just as good results.

Congratulations, Gary. There is nothing quite like getting good news on the medical front at this age. A year ago I had a treadmill test with a heart sonogram. They said ALL veins were pumping great, and no clogs. I lost 10 pounds of worry right there. I'm convinced that regular exercise and losing weight had a lot to do woth it. Keep it up, dude. bk

Yahoo!!! That is great news. Gives me something else to shoot for (though my doctor seems to take any news I consider "good" with a grain a salt). I had a carotid scan a couple of months ago and that looked fine. A little plaque but nothing at all to worry about. My doctor tthought it was a good idea to have when after I told him that I needed cool down laps or my pressure gets so low after a ride that I come close to blacking out. He refuses to believe my pressure ever gets that low. I keep telling him it's him :lol: I am really looking forward to my Stress/Echo in a week.

If you don't mind me asking, what are you taking for your BP? I could write a book.

If you don't mind me asking, what are you taking for your BP? I could write a book.

Triamterene/HCTZ which is generic for Maxzide.

Wow, you mean there's something I'm not on? I'm stunned. I'm gonna have to go look that up, that HCTZ tells me it contains or is some sort of hydrochlorothiazide (which I do take).
Then, one reason I'm being sent to this cardio next week is that he's some certified BP specilist and my GP -excuse me, internest- feels he's butted up against the limits of his ability to treat mine. And I really appreciate his being able to admit defeat.

Thanks Gary!

HCTZ is a diuretic. I take it daily.

Does this mean you are going to get that custom bike, since you will be around for a good long time.

Don't you just love it when you find out that for a change you've picked up a hobby that is good for you.

- glad to read of the good news... i had a doc who was convinced i was headed for the dustbin, but after two years of bike riding, i'm on a good road to hoe!

Does this mean you are going to get that custom bike, since you will be around for a good long time.
Think I should??? :D

I hereby pronounce DG fit!

Let the next bike search begin!

I think I might give that Bianchi Volpe a try this weekend... Just sayin.

Congrats on the good report.:beer: While your on a roll, it is time to have a look at that Bianchi. Maybe you can sell the Diego to your doctor. :p Just sayin'.

Good for you,the BP and Chol. ain't bad for a gorty year old.

Based on the theory that misery loves company I am starting to feel better about tomorrow's visit to the Doctor. My BP is well above healthy levels in spite of regular exercise, quitting salt and becoming a tee totaler. I thought I was the only one. I know I need to lose some more weight and that would help too, but in the meantime, I think meds are in order. As bad as it sucks to admit that I have to get on BP medication, it still sounds better than speech therapy after a stroke.

Maxzide? Maxzide? Wait a minute! Wasn't that the drug linked by Swedish researchers to producing insatiable sexual appetites and powers as a means of lowering internal pressure. I believe it has been banned in some countries. Other countries, mostly European and with dwindling birth rates, are considering replacing fluoride with this Maxzide.

DG, please be careful and don't overmedicate. San Diego's population is burgeoning as it is.

(Say, could you send me a few?)

Maxzide? Maxzide? Wait a minute! Wasn't that the drug linked by Swedish researchers to producing insatiable sexual appetites and powers as a means of lowering internal pressure. I believe it has been banned in some countries. Other countries, mostly European and with dwindling birth rates, are considering replacing fluoride with this Maxzide.

DG, please be careful and don't overmedicate. San Diego's population is burgeoning as it is.

(Say, could you send me a few?)

I knew I should just have kept my big mouth shut! :D

I forgot to add that the doctor scheduled me for my first ever colon exam, whatever those are called. He said I've reached "the age" for such a thing. It's only a precaution, but still. Should I put this appointment in my Denial It's Happening Calendar or my Eagerly Anticipated Calendar?

As much fun as we had doing the Maxzide thing, I wouldn't touch this with anything less than a 10 foot pole.

Oh the joys of a colonoscopy. :eek: The actual deed was painless and the drugs were really good. The day and night before were not so great. :( Be sure to stay very very close to a toilet as you will be making frequent trips.
I just got a prostate biopsy. That was so not fun. Two weeks with no bikes and no sex, of any kind. Will get results in a week.

Congrats on your good news! Good health and good rides to you.
Can we say "New Bike!" Yeay:beer:

What great news! You must be happy, if not ecstatic. Try not to be so reserved in print & celebrate!

:beer:

Have that Big C no matter what anyone says. If it's negative then you're off the hook for 10 years. I did it two years ago (when I hit "that age") and it was no big whup. But then I've birthed two babies and resented the weight gain more than the effort to bring them forth into the world. (I like big hills, too, so maybe I'm nuts. Whatev.) I was pharmaceutically out for the procedure so it was a piece of cake. It's worth the effort.

Better living through modern chemistry!

I think I might give that Bianchi Volpe a try this weekend... Just sayin.

If you do- then please try one in the right colour. Yellow or Black Bianchi's have a speed deficiency.

Oh the joys of a colonoscopy. :eek: The actual deed was painless and the drugs were really good. The day and night before were not so great. :( Be sure to stay very very close to a toilet as you will be making frequent trips.
I just got a prostate biopsy. That was so not fun. Two weeks with no bikes and no sex, of any kind. Will get results in a week.

Congrats on your good news! Good health and good rides to you.
Can we say "New Bike!" Yeay:beer:

+1

And yes, time to celebrate with a new bike. Give that credit card a good workout.

Oh the joys of a colonoscopy. :eek: The actual deed was painless and the drugs were really good. The day and night before were not so great. :( Be sure to stay very very close to a toilet as you will be making frequent trips.
I just got a prostate biopsy. That was so not fun. Two weeks with no bikes and no sex, of any kind. Will get results in a week.

Congrats on your good news! Good health and good rides to you.
Can we say "New Bike!" Yeay:beer:

I feel your pain. I've had two prostrate biopsies, both negative, they found out it was a low grade infection, last check my PSA was down from 4.6 to 3.5. Yahoo, no biopsy this year. Also cholestral is down to 190 and colon exam was clean. I am one happy camper.

I forgot to add that the doctor scheduled me for my first ever colon exam, whatever those are called. He said I've reached "the age" for such a thing. It's only a precaution, but still. Should I put this appointment in my Denial It's Happening Calendar or my Eagerly Anticipated Calendar?


I, like you, didn't know what a colon exam was. Not to scare you, but that's when they found the cancer. It took my wife a few weeks to talk me into it. I would highly reccomend it, it's a life saver. Now, that they did find the cancer, I have to go for that test every year. NO FUN! Good luck, George

I forgot to add that the doctor scheduled me for my first ever colon exam, whatever those are called. He said I've reached "the age" for such a thing. It's only a precaution, but still. Should I put this appointment in my Denial It's Happening Calendar or my Eagerly Anticipated Calendar?


Put it one of those things you just have to do calendar.:rolleyes: I had a double header done when I turned 50. Noty to scare you either, but it was no fun, the twilight stuff they gave me didn't work so great and I guess I was a bit of a bad patient. When I was back to reality, Doc was pissed :mad: and told me that the next one of those I had would be under general anesthesia. Still, they found and removed five polyps and discovered three stomach ulcers. Two weeks later I was back in the hospital to have my appendix and about three more inches of infected gut removed. I'm certain that when they were having the difficulties getting the scope to turn in my gut they aggravated something. But I lived. It's five years later and time for another. I'm going to do it too, but I WILL insist on general anesthesia. I still remember fighting them during the procedure, and my wife tells me I had a waiting room full of his next victims wide eyed :eek: from hearing me bellering like an old bull. Have fun!

As much fun as we had doing the Maxzide thing, I wouldn't touch this with anything less than a 10 foot pole.
Hmmm ... Well, I suppose if you took enough Maxzide, you would have a 10 foot pole, should you choose to touch this.

Hey, my last colonoscopy showed "a dramatic improvement" and he put me on 5 year repeats instead of 3 years. This is what happens when, at 52, you find out you have a large list of food allergies, and you actually quit eating the problem foods. I was real happy to hear the news. My only question was, how come I didn't know about the food problems a long time ago? Most doctors don't recognize the syptoms. Pretty lame, if you ask me. bk

Question: How do you fill two pages of posts on the 50+ forum in under two hours on a Friday afternoon?
Answer: Start a thread about ailments, prescriptions, medical procedures, aches and pains, doctors, etc.:D

For the in the colo-rectal candidates out there, this is a hoot. I hope you all can open it: https://commcenter.insightbb.com/attach/COL-RECTAL%20EXAM.wmv?sid=&mbox=INBOX&charset=escaped_unicode&uid=2423&number=4&filename=COL-RECTAL%20EXAM.wmv

And, just to get my two cents in, I have had mine already.

Well, I tried to open the link I just posted and it didn't work. Still technologically challenged... :crash:

[QUOTE
I just got a prostate biopsy. That was so not fun. Two weeks with no bikes and no sex, of any kind. Will get results in a week.

Good luck on the results. I just had one done a few weeks ago and mine came back negative. I am kind of surprised about the bike and sex thing. I asked if I was restricted from doing anything and the answer I got was I could do anything I wanted to. Did a 40 mile ride the next day with no problems

Prostate biopsy about 6 years ago and it came back positive so 2 months later had Surgery. That Biopsy was painfull. Mainly due to the cancer having hardened the prostate, but it is not something that I would willingly have done again, not that is is possible now with no prostate. Good news is that at 5 years I was designated clear of Cancer. Bad new was that at 5 1/2 years I started peeing blood and the possibility of Liver and kidney damage was discussed. Good news is that after seeing the specialist last Saturday- All the tests, Xrays, CT scans and MRA scans- have confirmed that there is not a recurrence of cancer. Still don't know where the Blood came from though but that has stopped.

And just to disperse any doubts you may have- Cycling does not affect the prostate unless you start doing unsavoury things with the saddle. The prostate is so well protected from damage that saddles- increased milage or hard knocks will not affect it. And that was from the Surgeon.