ctpres

I can't believe that I got my 40/50 yo heart back after less than two months riding! New blood pressure 101/58 and 47 pulse. Now if I can just get my 40/50 yo weight back.

Bikey Mikey

Congrats!

qcpmsame 

Kind of makes you glad that the fitness made things where you didn't have to "GET" a new heart, instead. Great numbers you are showing, I agree with this based on my personal experience over the last 18 months. last readings yesterday were: Blood Pressure 128/74, RPR: 64. Feels good to feel good again.

Bill

dbg

Exercise is pretty incredible. You may noticed a younger "something else" as well.

Cougrrcj

I believe it! After just a few days of riding each Spring, I feel like a new person. Stamina rapidly improves, and I seem to have more energy all the time. The weight isn't dropping off, but I think it has more to do with burning all of the toxins out of my system. My BP goes lower by almost 20 points, and the pulse drops from the upper 60s to low-mid 50s.

I guess I'll have to dust off my ancient set of rollers and ride all winter. At least a half hour, twice a week.

stapfam

Warning---Don't be complacent.

10 years of cycling and probably the fittest I had been for 20 years and heart attack.

That was 12 years ago and bypass due to cholesterol furring the arteries and I still feel fine.

But good news so far--Now where did I put that Soda?

Ranger63

Did the double bypass 5 years back.
Blows me away that my BP is better AFTER a quick ride than it is upon getting up in the morning
The priceless aspect?
Being able to suck the wheel of a 30something at 24mph
70's the new 40 D

ctpres

Yeh ain't it great!

Closed Office

I 'heart' bikes. Nice to hear.

nevermore1701

i had a stroke about 8 months ago. once i got my balance back i started riding. i usually ride 12 miles every morning. my bp is now in the 120's my strength and stamina are back and all my other numbers are down.i have lost 25 pounds so far.i wish i would have started riding years ago

Bikey Mikey

k7baixo

About 8 years ago, my father finally relented and put my mother, his wife, into an Alzheimer's unit. He always said he'd take care of her until it killed him. Within a few months, he had open heart surgery. While staying with him in the hospital, I vowed to take better care of myself. He never really got into exercise for a variety of reasons and by the time it might have helped, it was too late. After the heart issues, he was treated for thyroid cancer.

They're both gone now. the old man laid back down for a nap in Feb 2010 and never woke up. My mother, thankfully, passed away last year. Alzheimer's is a terrible, relentless disease. I'm in better shape in my mid50's than I was in my 30's. I figure I've been given a chance they never really had and I intend to make the best of it. We have some guys in the local club who are much older...they're great role models to follow. I hope to ride until I can't maintain my balance. Then, I'll get a recumbent trike and when I can't power it, I'll add a motor.

Yo Spiff

Congrats on the turnaround! I've not gotten my blood pressure consistently that low, but it's usually hovering just a bit above the target of 120/80 when I measure it in the morning. The doc had me on several BP meds and took me off of the one that was actually doing something in February when she saw that my BP was staying low with all the exercise. One of my goals had been to get off the medication. I consider such meds to be simply an aid, and should not be considered a fix just on their own. I have no idea why she keeps me on the Lisinopril, as it has been completely without effect for me. She says it has other benefits in other areas.

nevermore1701

qcpmsame 

Yo Spiff,
I am taking the Lisinopril too. My doc said it is the only BP med he would use with my kidney failure ongoing. What are the other benefits? I hadn't heard of this and I'm curious as to what it does. It works well and BP is a major factor in my battle with the kidney failure so I don't play around with things. Congrats on your numbers.

Bill

berner

I hope the rest of you old guys realize we are throwing a monkey wrench into all the actuarial calculations. Well done all.

Cyclebum

Initially, my Lisinopril contained a diuretic. That may be the 'additional benefit.' The diuretic caused low potassium and muscle cramping, so doc switched me to the non-diuretic form. Later, I developed a persistent hack, a known side affect. Recently lost 10 pounds, 10 to go, and am med free now. Bp 140/80 which I am told is ok for my age, 71. When my pulse dropped below 50 during a short hospital stay, triggered alarms in the nurse's station.

Goal is to live long enough to suck as much as possible out of SS, be fit enough to enjoy life, and die suddenly while riding my bent. Kids said that would work for them.

ctpres

Bet just about everyone here would agree with that!

qcpmsame 

Thanks Cyclebum, same goals here, too. I'm on the non-diuretic formula I suspect, I'll ask in 2 weeks. With the Renal Failure I am in now I cannot take diuretics. Doctor stopped the HCTZ when the numbers said I was Stage 3B CRF. Daily BP checks, yesterday was 129/67 with a HR of 64. HBP is death for anyone with kidney failure.

Bill

DnvrFox

"Stage 3B CRF"

I could find no reference to this on google. The best I could find was stage 5. Any more info?

RedC

Once the hacking cough develops stay off the Lisinopril or it just keeps getting worse. I'm a pharmacist and I was so sure that like a lot of side effects that was just in peoples minds and I tried to ignore it when it happened to me. Finally got so bad I could do anything because of the constant hacking. Took a couple of months after I quit taking the Lisinopril for it to go away. That said I too feel better at 70 than I did at 60 and just wish I had started riding sooner

Cougrrcj

I'm also on Lisinopril, plus other additional BP meds, plus a diuretic! And I'm only 54! They're trying to get my diastolic below 100! I'm pretty much on the maximum meds they can prescribe.

Let's just say that once a few years back - even though I was riding my bike 11 miles one way to work, and while on high BP meds, I was recorded with a 240/140 because of the stress on the job!!! Talk about a tick that was ready to pop!!! I gotta get that (the stress) under control!!!

Lately it has been 135/90, but I know I can do better...

qcpmsame 

Denver,
There are 5 stages of Chronic Renal Failure, 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4 and 5. Four and 5 are called End Stage Renal Failure, dialysis and waiting for a transplant. They split 3 into the A and B stages as it is the tipping point into the ESRF. To get the number they do a creatnine Capture test, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004078/ a 24 hour urine capture and blood draw at the end. From these test they get a creatnine number. The creatinine clearance test is used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).


Table 1. Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

[TABLE="class: Article_fmt"]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Stage[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Description[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]GFR*
mL/min/1.73m[SUP]2[/SUP][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]1[/TD]
[TD]Slight kidney damage with normal or increased filtration[/TD]
[TD]More than 90[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD]Mild decrease in kidney function[/TD]
[TD]60-89[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]3[/TD]
[TD]Moderate decrease in kidney function[/TD]
[TD]30-59[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]4[/TD]
[TD]Severe decrease in kidney function[/TD]
[TD]15-29[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]5[/TD]
[TD]Kidney failure[/TD]
[TD]Less than 15 (or dialysis)[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
*GFR is glomerular filtration rate, a measure of the kidney's function.
(Taken from e Medicine CRF web page)




Some groups call this Chronic Renal Disease or CRD. The table above is simplified with only one stage at 3 not the A and B breakdown.

My GFR is approximately 40 but has been a low as 37