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-   -   Any Medical Doctors in the House? (https://www.bikeforums.net/clydesdales-athenas-200-lb-91-kg/651151-any-medical-doctors-house.html)

Peter_C 06-03-10 03:19 PM

Any Medical Doctors in the House?
 
It was brought up in another thread - so I thought I would ask here?

I am on a "beta blocker" to lower my at-rest-heartrate, and I seem to do very poorly at hills in general.

FYI - I can do 30 mile rides (flat) very easily - all my numbers are fine during and after - but *any* hill of any size (some would say 'incline') wipes me out to the point I must stop gasping for breath for 2-4 minutes, then can continue up the hill??

My heart DR simply says my heart is simply in too poor of shape and it won't get any better, but he is also not a cyclist - thrilled that I am doing so, and says I can ride as hard as I like - more is better - but the hill work is what it is - and I have not seen any improvement.

The reason why I am asking (hopefully a doctor that rides) is the beta blocker is used to lock my heartrate to 65-85BPM, is it possible that the beta blocker is the cause rather than me just being really fat and out of shape?

Not that I can change anything if it is the cause, but it might help my peace-of-mind to know?

Seattle Forrest 06-03-10 03:34 PM

Well, other people who are fat and out of shape are able to climb hills. It's difficult, but people don't usually think they're dieing.

If your new effective max heart rate is 85 bmp, I'm guessing you just can't get enough oxygen to your muscles, which are very greedy for the stuff when you're working so hard.

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. Basically, I'm like this guy:

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/trimester.png

Peter_C 06-03-10 03:40 PM


Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest (Post 10908616)
Well, other people who are fat and out of shape are able to climb hills. It's difficult, but people don't usually think they're dieing.

If your new effective max heart rate is 85 bmp, I'm guessing you just can't get enough oxygen to your muscles, which are very greedy for the stuff when you're working so hard.

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. Basically, I'm like this guy:

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/trimester.png

LOL!!

Thank you for the reply - the 'comic' almost made me pass out :)

Herbie53 06-03-10 04:02 PM

Why does he say your heart wouldn't get any better?

I've gone off of BP meds (Beta blockers) completely. My doc lowered the dose gradually as weight came off and my fitness improved. With each lowering I briefly had borderline hypertension and my heart rate was a bit kooky - went higher than I would expect for a given level of effort.

Now that I've adjusted I think it helps. HR climbs quicker during hard efforts and some issues I was having with cramping seem to be less.

Seattle Forrest 06-03-10 04:27 PM


Originally Posted by Herbie53 (Post 10908764)
Why does he say your heart wouldn't get any better?

I told my previous doctor that my back was a lot more sore after a (then) recent hike than I thought was reasonable. I'd gone about 8 miles round trip, and gained a lot of altitude, with 30 to 40 lbs on my back ... and hurt for several days after it. I asked him if there were any particular exercises I could do to make this easier on me in the future. He said "not really." I'm still certain that's not true, but I'm also not sure what I should be doing. I think some doctors can be a bit pessimistic, and wonder if that has anything to do with this?

Also, your heart is "just" a muscle, and I'd expect it to get stronger, like any other muscle. Of course this is where my "I'm an idiot" hedge comes in - something else might be going on that could prevent it getting better.

I've never taken beta blockers. I've always been in pretty good cardio-vascular health, other than my high cholesterol, and I even inherited good blood pressure. I don't know what my resting HR used to be, but I've been cycling a lot more than I used to lately ( 560 miles last month! ) and my resting heart rate is now 52 bmp. I can climb hills I used to always avoid without my ticker going over 130 bmp. I'm just a regular guy, and my ignorant person's opinion is that you should be able to bring about a lot of improvement, too.


Originally Posted by Peter_C (Post 10908653)
LOL!! Thank you for the reply - the 'comic' almost made me pass out :)

Sorry! I intended to put some humor in there, but only so much... Anyway, I'd just seen that yesterday, and emailed it to a friend who works as a neuroscience teacher, so when I was typing out "I'm not really a doctor," this was fresh on my mind.

The mouse-over text on that one is "Also, it's not like anyone actually calls up the Nobel committee to double-check things."

magohn 06-03-10 05:01 PM

The issue is that if the heart is "damaged" to the point where it wont get "better", and you have to work with what you have, your DR is correct.

My wife and I started cycling in February (I was 315lbs, she was her correct weight) and since then I have lowered my weight by close to 25lbs as we both head out and ride together. However, I now find myself catching her on hills. In the past she would leave me gasping at the beginning of any hill.

The difference between us? My wife had a heart-valve replaced a few years ago and recently asked her DR the same question: "Will I get better on hills?" she got the same answer, not by much, the valve restricts the blood flow (even slightly) and you can only work to the level your heart will support....

This is our personal experience and not meant to sway you either way in your opinion/training....:)


Also, when I started I only rode on bike paths - actual roads are totally different and more difficult to ride with rolling hills etc.

Either way, keep it up - sounds like your doing great!

Peter_C 06-03-10 05:09 PM


Originally Posted by Herbie53 (Post 10908764)
Why does he say your heart wouldn't get any better?

I've gone off of BP meds (Beta blockers) completely. My doc lowered the dose gradually as weight came off and my fitness improved. With each lowering I briefly had borderline hypertension and my heart rate was a bit kooky - went higher than I would expect for a given level of effort.

Now that I've adjusted I think it helps. HR climbs quicker during hard efforts and some issues I was having with cramping seem to be less.

I'm not a DR either - so I really don't know, either :(

But I do know I am one of the rare people that survive a complete blockage of the left artery - I self-bypassed. It seems that I had a "major heart event" some 10-15yrs ago without knowing it - so there is also damage to the "heart muscle" - which I guess does not repair itself. Due to my "life threatening sleep apnea" my at rest heart rate was a sustained 122-126 in 2002 (that's what took me off the road) - and based on tests I was told to have "Congestive Heart failure", with Heart DR APPTs once per week - the closer your APPTs are, the worse you are as none will ever tell you how bad you really are - fast forward to today - am off the "Ace inhibitor" and am down to 5mg of Bystolic once per day, 1 aspirin, and 40mg of Crestor - next heart DR APPT is in a YEAR.

So, am doing much better - and he wants me to bike as much and as often as I can, but said I am on the Bystolic for life, and the gasping on the hills will not go away :( But, again, he is not a cyclist - so hopefully perhaps he is wrong?

Peter_C 06-03-10 05:12 PM


Originally Posted by magohn (Post 10909035)
The issue is that if the heart is "damaged" to the point where it wont get "better", and you have to work with what you have, your DR is correct.

Thank you for your insight, and your kind words as well :) I fear this may be the case for me - still, it could be worse, I could be back to weekly APPTs, right?

Mr. Beanz 06-03-10 05:31 PM


Originally Posted by Peter_C (Post 10909077)
Thank you for your insight, and your kind words as well :) I fear this may be the case for me - still, it could be worse, I could be back to weekly APPTs, right?

Man, I wish I lived around you. I don't believe you can't climb! You just need someone to work with you, starting from block one!:thumb:

Peter_C 06-03-10 05:42 PM


Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz (Post 10909152)
Man, I wish I lived around you. I don't believe you can't climb! You just need someone to work with you, starting from block one!:thumb:

+1 ~!

That would be great too!! I'm not quiting, and I love riding, and growing up in Oregon, I *was* used to MTN riding 30 odd years ago... So I *think* I have theory right - but even stopping at the base of my practice 'incline', and starting in my third lowest gear after pausing for a bit, then dropping gears as needed to keep my RPM around 80, and never above 90, I can only last a minute or so before my vision starts to tunnel out, so I stop and gasp for 2-3 minutes, and continue - I *do* make it up and over in time... I do not walk, or turn around - but it gets no better :(

MVclyde 06-03-10 06:56 PM

Dude...... I have no idea, but I gotta believe that as you lose weight and get fitter your total physical condition will improve. I'm an eternal optimist so I think you'll lose weight, get off the meds, and smoke Beanz on one of his long climbs. I'm looking forward to the video!! Seriously though, keep up the good work!!

Peter_C 06-03-10 08:45 PM


Originally Posted by MVclyde (Post 10909487)
Dude...... I have no idea, but I gotta believe that as you lose weight and get fitter your total physical condition will improve. I'm an eternal optimist so I think you'll lose weight, get off the meds, and smoke Beanz on one of his long climbs. I'm looking forward to the video!! Seriously though, keep up the good work!!

LOL - Actually, there has been much progress since last NOV. Many less pills, a new knee, bout 50lbs down so far, and I started by doing 400 yards or so a day on my bike - no plans to quit now, and since I no longer have a job, focusing on my health and home are my top jobs! :)

Tom Stormcrowe 06-03-10 08:51 PM

Peter, just be aware that you can start atrial fibrillation issues with the damage you have now. It's not fun, I can tell you from experience (Defibrillation absolutely sucks! 200 volt pulse through the chest to restore sinus rhythm, and when you are restored to normal sinus rhythm, you get to join "Club Coumadin"). Spin easy up the hills and just do what you can, and as you lose weight, you will recover some CV function, but it will be limited, I'm sorry to say. That shouldn't stop you, though, because whatever gains that you get are still gains and will contribute to you living longer and healthier.

Mr. Beanz 06-03-10 08:58 PM


Originally Posted by MVclyde (Post 10909487)
Dude...... I have no idea, but I gotta believe that as you lose weight and get fitter your total physical condition will improve. I'm an eternal optimist so I think you'll lose weight, get off the meds, and smoke Beanz on one of his long climbs. I'm looking forward to the video!! Seriously though, keep up the good work!!

Of course!:thumb:....I say forget the distance, start at the bottom of the hill after 10 minutes of warmup. FI you fail, go home and try again tomorrow. IF you suckseed, go home and try it again tomorrow. If you suckceed the second day, try it once again, or go home. I say climb 3 days a week and don't worry about distance on htose day s or day leading up toa climbing day.

Don't tell anybody I said this but distance is for CHUMPS!:D.....Anybody and their gramma can do a long flat ride. But if you train on climbs, the long flat rides don't mean squat. Believe me, you (specifically) will get more out of a 5 mile climbing ride than a 30 mile flat ride.

TO climb better, you must CLIMB! Riding up a hill once every month is not training for climbs and one should not wonder why they suck on hills if this is the case. It takes lots of hill dedication. WHen I train for my climbign rides, I climb 2 times (2,000 ft) during the week and one 50 mile 5,000 ft ride onthe weekend. Of ocurs eyou are jsut starting so 3 minutes of climbing is good. You will naturally increase the duration period with practice. DON'T BE AFRAID TO START AT BLOCK 1!! If it's a 3 mintue climb, do it! Don't worry about impressing your friends! They will be more impresed later when you drop their arses on a climb then leave them on the flats!;)

When I train for a climbing ride, I do climb a bunch! I know riders that knock my mileage gains on bikejournaldotcom. They laugh, "haha, I di more than you this weekend, I did 90 and you only did 70". Of course my 70 had 7000 ft of climbing compared to their 100 feet!:D It shows when we ride together, they are always sucking my wheel. Why? Because I took the time and made the sacrifice to become a stronger rider, meaning riding in the hills even if it's cutting back on my mileage. It's worth it in the long run!;)

I've had riders with 7000 miles for the year laugh at my 4000, but they don't laugh long when they get dropped on mtn climbs!:D

I along with others also started at block one. Dying on that short hill. Just make it, then do it again! IF you can't come back tomorrow and try it again. One day you wake up and ride that sucker 5 times without thinking about it! But like I said, climb, don't do distance, you wil wear yourself out before you hit the climb.

One thing I have found that works for me, and my wife. At the start of the climb, you find you will want to puke and die. It's just your body's way of saying it's getting ready to fight the hill! Get of the bike for 3 or 4 mintues, get your marbles together then ease back into the climb. I bet you go 5 times further than you thought you would. Aint no shame in getting off for a brief relaxation period. Your body will find a groove and you will do much better. Just go easy and work into it!

I've had guys ask "you're tired already" on climbs as I get off 2, 4 miles up to collect my marbles. Sort of laugh thinking I'm tired but actually just smart riding. Like I said, they don't laugh when you catch back up and leave 'em behind!:D

Remember, you are a clyde, you are not impressing anyone by going downhill really fast!:eek: You need to concentrate on your weakness, climbing. It may take 3 months of dedication to the ez program but it's this dedication where most fail. If you keep it up, you will easily conquer hills. If not, you will be back here in 6 months wondering why you can't climb.:(

Remember, start ez, nobody cares if you cry, nobody cares if you fail, just do it!......then you will impress the others!:thumb:

zandoval 06-03-10 09:09 PM

(I'm a PA-C not an MD) - The qestion is why a beta blocker - Often beta blockers are used to stop arthymias and secondarly decrease blood preassure - If you are just trying to lower blood preassure there are other drugs and surely your Doc will be able to find one for you - As you loose weight and develop your collateral circulation your pressure will go down - But arrhythmias may not change - Many, many competitors are on low dose Beta Blockers without any problem at all - Either way consider this...

Hills require a crawl and developing a good crawl requires a coach - That is someone riding along next to you showing and teaching and correcting the way you attack the hill - Are you trying to sit? - Are you shifting your weight to your shoulders? - Are you in the right gear? - Many racers say that competitions are won by the crawl and turn... - So find someone to take the time to go over your bike and coach you as you do your next hill...

Peter_C 06-03-10 09:14 PM


Originally Posted by Tom Stormcrowe (Post 10910074)
Peter, just be aware that you can start atrial fibrillation issues with the damage you have now. It's not fun, I can tell you from experience (Defibrillation absolutely sucks! 200 volt pulse through the chest to restore sinus rhythm, and when you are restored to normal sinus rhythm, you get to join "Club Coumadin"). Spin easy up the hills and just do what you can, and as you lose weight, you will recover some CV function, but it will be limited, I'm sorry to say. That shouldn't stop you, though, because whatever gains that you get are still gains and will contribute to you living longer and healthier.

Tom, I hear ya and I also read your posts while you were down. Bout all I can do is pay attention, and take my pills, and try to keep shrinking - I do know this is my first year long gap between APPTs since 2002 - so that's a plus.

Peter_C 06-03-10 09:21 PM


Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz (Post 10910102)
Of course!:thumb:....I say forget the distance, start at the bottom of the hill after 10 minutes of warmup. FI you fail, go home and try again tomorrow. IF you suckseed, go home and try it again tomorrow. If you suckceed the second day, try it once again, or go home. I say climb 3 days a week and don't worry about distance on htose day s or day leading up toa climbing day.

Remember, start ez, nobody cares if you cry, nobody cares if you fail, just do it!......then you will impress the others!:thumb:

Thanks for the info and pep talk :) I have printed this post out so I can reread it often. Actually, the side street our home is on has a fairly steep hill bout a 1/2 mile away - it's only bout 400-500 yards from bottom to top, but it's steep enough that you have to ride your brakes in a car going down it. Bikes *do* go up it (a few roadies go by every day, and I've seen them pumping hard on the pegs going up it)

I don't need to impress anyone but me. But, what I *DO* want, is to be able to go on rides without fearing hills, or having friends change their ride plans so I can go with them...

Neil_B 06-03-10 09:31 PM

Peter, do you think soliciting medical advice on the Internet is the best way to go here?

CPFITNESS 06-03-10 09:32 PM


Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz (Post 10910102)
Of course!:thumb:....I say forget the distance, start at the bottom of the hill after 10 minutes of warmup. FI you fail, go home and try again tomorrow. IF you suckseed, go home and try it again tomorrow. If you suckceed the second day, try it once again, or go home. I say climb 3 days a week and don't worry about distance on htose day s or day leading up toa climbing day.

Don't tell anybody I said this but distance is for CHUMPS!:D.....Anybody and their gramma can do a long flat ride. But if you train on climbs, the long flat rides don't mean squat. Believe me, you (specifically) will get more out of a 5 mile climbing ride than a 30 mile flat ride.

TO climb better, you must CLIMB! Riding up a hill once every month is not training for climbs and one should not wonder why they suck on hills if this is the case. It takes lots of hill dedication. WHen I train for my climbign rides, I climb 2 times (2,000 ft) during the week and one 50 mile 5,000 ft ride onthe weekend. Of ocurs eyou are jsut starting so 3 minutes of climbing is good. You will naturally increase the duration period with practice. DON'T BE AFRAID TO START AT BLOCK 1!! If it's a 3 mintue climb, do it! Don't worry about impressing your friends! They will be more impresed later when you drop their arses on a climb then leave them on the flats!;)

When I train for a climbing ride, I do climb a bunch! I know riders that knock my mileage gains on bikejournaldotcom. They laugh, "haha, I di more than you this weekend, I did 90 and you only did 70". Of course my 70 had 7000 ft of climbing compared to their 100 feet!:D It shows when we ride together, they are always sucking my wheel. Why? Because I took the time and made the sacrifice to become a stronger rider, meaning riding in the hills even if it's cutting back on my mileage. It's worth it in the long run!;)

I've had riders with 7000 miles for the year laugh at my 4000, but they don't laugh long when they get dropped on mtn climbs!:D

I along with others also started at block one. Dying on that short hill. Just make it, then do it again! IF you can't come back tomorrow and try it again. One day you wake up and ride that sucker 5 times without thinking about it! But like I said, climb, don't do distance, you wil wear yourself out before you hit the climb.

One thing I have found that works for me, and my wife. At the start of the climb, you find you will want to puke and die. It's just your body's way of saying it's getting ready to fight the hill! Get of the bike for 3 or 4 mintues, get your marbles together then ease back into the climb. I bet you go 5 times further than you thought you would. Aint no shame in getting off for a brief relaxation period. Your body will find a groove and you will do much better. Just go easy and work into it!

I've had guys ask "you're tired already" on climbs as I get off 2, 4 miles up to collect my marbles. Sort of laugh thinking I'm tired but actually just smart riding. Like I said, they don't laugh when you catch back up and leave 'em behind!:D

Remember, you are a clyde, you are not impressing anyone by going downhill really fast!:eek: You need to concentrate on your weakness, climbing. It may take 3 months of dedication to the ez program but it's this dedication where most fail. If you keep it up, you will easily conquer hills. If not, you will be back here in 6 months wondering why you can't climb.:(

Remember, start ez, nobody cares if you cry, nobody cares if you fail, just do it!......then you will impress the others!:thumb:

So are there any doctors here, Mr. Beanz dislocated his shoulder patting himself on the back. ;-)

Honestly, a lot of what Beanz says would be accurate for your run of the mill obese individual. Your situation is entirely different. I'm not a doctor but a very experienced trainer who proactively consults with doctors when I have clients with varying conditions looking to work with me. I'm 32 years old 6'3" and about 235 lbs 18% body fat so I'm in pretty good shape. My resting heart rate is 60. When I'm standing up on my feet vs sitting down, it's closer to 100. The fact that your on some kind of medication that attempts to keep your heart rate at 85bpm means it's amazing your alive. I'd advise you to seek a 2nd and 3rd medical opinion locally and when I return from my weekend trip, I'll print out a copy of this thread and run it by some doctors that I know here in NYC and see what they say.

In a nutshell, training is supposed to make you able to perform at a lower heartrate. the idea is to make each pump of the heart stronger. this is why great athletes have very low resting heart rates, their hearts push more blood with each pump. In your situation, the heart muscle isn't very strong so it isn't pumping much and it's being artificially limited on how much it can pump. this is pretty tough to overcome. The most productive thing to improve your hill climbing would be to focus on nutrition and really get some more lbs off your body which will mean less work for you to get up that hill.

Peter_C 06-03-10 09:37 PM


Originally Posted by zandoval (Post 10910152)
(I'm a PA-C not an MD) - The qestion is why a beta blocker - Often beta blockers are used to stop arthymias and secondarly decrease blood preassure - If you are just trying to lower blood preassure there are other drugs and surely your Doc will be able to find one for you - As you loose weight and develop your collateral circulation your pressure will go down - But arrhythmias may not change - Many, many competitors are on low dose Beta Blockers without any problem at all - Either way consider this...

Hills require a crawl and developing a good crawl requires a coach - That is someone riding along next to you showing and teaching and correcting the way you attack the hill - Are you trying to sit? - Are you shifting your weight to your shoulders? - Are you in the right gear? - Many racers say that competitions are won by the crawl and turn... - So find someone to take the time to go over your bike and coach you as you do your next hill...

Thanks for your reply :) The reason is *NOT* blood pressure - am always 110/70 or lower... the problem is/was my "at-rest-heart-rate" being too high - when the issue started, my at rest HR would not go below 122 even when given valium.

I've been on:
"Calcium Channel blockers"
"Ace Inhibitors"
And various beta blockers.

I was on an ace inhibitor for the last year or so, but my BP started dropping too low, and even on a really low dose the BP would be like 83/55 - felt like crap and my HR would hang round 110 or so. So they switched me to the Bystolic - 5mg is the lowest dose - my BP is fine, and my HR (at rest) goes from a low of 64+ to a high of around 90 (later at night as the pill wears off.

Like right now - after working in the garage and yard most of the day today: 124/75 and 89 (been in my chair for the last 20 minutes).

I do not stand on the pegs at all - the knees will not (yet??) tolerate it. Am on a 2010 Giant Suede DX (pedal forward).

Peter_C 06-03-10 09:42 PM


Originally Posted by The Historian (Post 10910247)
Peter, do you think soliciting medical advice on the Internet is the best way to go here?

Hehe, why ever not???

/giggle

Since my heart DR is not into cycling - I was/am hoping to maybe get some thoughts from others - will not change my meds without DR blessing - trust me there - but it *IS* discouraging to be told you sux and it won't get any better - /shrug - saw another post where it was mentioned that meds *might* have caused hill problems for another rider - hence this thread.

I would like to get better on hills - simply so my rides are not so limited - don't have to be fast, or the best, just to be able to spin up to the top slowly would be cool

gitarzan 06-03-10 09:50 PM

Beta Blockers will affect performance. Among other things it will limit the heart rate, as if it had a governor on it. I was on them for about 2 years for high BP. It was like wearing lead pants. It affected my running, walking and more.

One day I forgot to take them and went to my bowling league. Normally I'm a terrible bowler. If I bowl a 120 I am very happy. That night, without the Beta Blockers, I bowled a 253, a 240 something and a final game in the 190s. I won the high handicap game award for the season. They changed the rules the next year because of me. :)

Peter_C 06-03-10 09:51 PM


Originally Posted by CPFITNESS (Post 10910252)
So are there any doctors here, Mr. Beanz dislocated his shoulder patting himself on the back. ;-)

Honestly, a lot of what Beanz says would be accurate for your run of the mill obese individual. Your situation is entirely different. I'm not a doctor but a very experienced trainer who proactively consults with doctors when I have clients with varying conditions looking to work with me. I'm 32 years old 6'3" and about 235 lbs 18% body fat so I'm in pretty good shape. My resting heart rate is 60. When I'm standing up on my feet vs sitting down, it's closer to 100. The fact that your on some kind of medication that attempts to keep your heart rate at 85bpm means it's amazing your alive. I'd advise you to seek a 2nd and 3rd medical opinion locally and when I return from my weekend trip, I'll print out a copy of this thread and run it by some doctors that I know here in NYC and see what they say.

In a nutshell, training is supposed to make you able to perform at a lower heartrate. the idea is to make each pump of the heart stronger. this is why great athletes have very low resting heart rates, their hearts push more blood with each pump. In your situation, the heart muscle isn't very strong so it isn't pumping much and it's being artificially limited on how much it can pump. this is pretty tough to overcome. The most productive thing to improve your hill climbing would be to focus on nutrition and really get some more lbs off your body which will mean less work for you to get up that hill.

You are completely correct about the weight - no argument there at all! Have had heart caths, stress tests, echo cardiograms, the whole she-bang over the last eight years. Fluid around the heart (due to ZERO exercise) was why I had the TKR done in the first place - as the heart DR said not much could be done at bout 400lbs and pain MGNT and zero exercise (see other thread - first 1-4 pages),

The Bystolic does not stop the HR from increasing during exercise, but rather decreases the at rest rate - I can still (sadly) hit 140 simply from going up and down stairs here really fast - the difference is, after sitting down for a bit, it will come back down, instead of hanging around 100-110 and going up from there.

CPFITNESS 06-03-10 09:57 PM


Originally Posted by Peter_C (Post 10910293)
Hehe, why ever not???

/giggle

Since my heart DR is not into cycling - I was/am hoping to maybe get some thoughts from others - will not change my meds without DR blessing - trust me there - but it *IS* discouraging to be told you sux and it won't get any better - /shrug - saw another post where it was mentioned that meds *might* have caused hill problems for another rider - hence this thread.

I would like to get better on hills - simply so my rides are not so limited - don't have to be fast, or the best, just to be able to spin up to the top slowly would be cool

I totally hear where your coming from here. I'm fortunate to have grown up in the Boston area and now reside in NYC so pretty much the worlds best doctors are available to me. Do yourself a favor and put out some feelers to other docs in your area.

As a celtics fan I remember when Reggie Lewis died in the early 90's. He had a fainting episode on the court during a game. In subsequent weeks he was cleared and deemed fine. A few weeks after that, he dropped dead. I'm quite confident that there was a sense of looking around for a doctor to tell him and the team what they wanted hear instead of the truth. Ultimately, my point is that while I think you should seek other opinions, don't just limit it to finding one person that says the other guy is wrong, try to get 3 or 4 other opinions and look to see if they all agree. Ultimately it's all about risk/reward. You've made great progress that you should be proud of and it's not to say that you should stop trying to make more progress, but just be realistic.

The whole point of you starting this journey was to IMPROVE your quality of life, lets not take any unnecessary risks that might END your life!

CPFITNESS 06-03-10 10:03 PM

one last thing, your friends will be happy just to see you out riding, i don't think they'll care about going slower or taking easier routes to help you out. I've seen from the other threads that you've been upping your mileage which is great. If all you'll ever be able to do is the flats, than so be it. The new peter doing 40 miles of flats is much better than old Peter doing nothing!


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