Atol

Bloodbianchi:

Thanks, I'm looking forward to doing this route. It already looks pretty mean on Google Earth.

Lucky07

Well, I'm glad you survived but DAMN. Severe chest pains are nothing to mess with and nitro tabs aren't like popping Advil. Here's hoping you (or anyone else) never finds yourself in that situation again.

DrPete 

Shoulder =/= heart.

What's disturbing is that you somehow think it's cool/good/hardcore that you kept riding when in reality you knew nothing about the location, severity, and extent of the blockage(s) and the only reason you're alive is luck. Sorry to say it, but there it is. Might as well post photos of playing russian roulette.

There's absolutely nothing about this experience or how you handled it that should be an example to anyone with CAD.

icyclist 

Dr. Pete wrote:

>in reality you knew nothing about the location, severity, and extent of the blockage(s)<

In reality, whatever your other fine skills, they don't include powers of telepathy, Dr. Pete. In fact, I did know the location, the severity, and extent of the blockages, at least as they existed when I had an angiogram eight months ago. My doctors weren't hiding the information from me.

>There's absolutely nothing about this experience or how you handled it that should be an example to anyone with CAD.<

Nothing? You're being hyperbolic, and I'm not referring to your blood pressure. I have CAD, and under the circumstances, taking a nitro tab was precisely what I was supposed do, as per the suggestion of my physicians. Exercising was advocated by my doctors, too. Going - eventually - to the ER if I experienced chest pain on a bike ride was exactly what my cardiologist recommended.

Certainly I didn't hold myself up as an example of what to do after taking the nitro. That I didn't do what everyone else would do was the point of the story.

We learn how to act appropriately by looking at the way other people act, both appropriately and inappropriately. Learning by example, good or bad, is the stuff of literature, from stories in the Christian and Muslim bibles to Shakespeare's "Hamlet" to Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." Examples, good and bad, are the fodder for the stand-up comic and the basis for every sitcom, from "The Office" to "The Simpsons."

In that sense, the way I handled my experience has indeed been an example for others, as indicated by the response my post garnered.

I don't think I have to be telepathic to suggest you should consider sticking to being the good doctor and BF moderator I know your are, while forget about a third career as a psychic.

Flash

applause

DrPete 

It's not about withholding information--a lot can change in 8 months. For purposes of new chest pain, I assure you that your cath 8 months ago is old news. If it weren't, you wouldn't have gotten a new cath this time, would you? Also, if the 8-month-old info were reliable, then you wouldn't have needed a stent, would you have? Telepathic I'm not. I do, however, earn my living treating atherosclerosis, among other things.

I'm 100% certain that your cardiologist never advocated continuing a climb after taking nitro for new-onset chest pain. Taking the nitro tab? Sure--right thing to do. Continuing your ride? Dumb. Sorry.

icyclist 

I probably should have let you have the last word, and if you still want it, it'll be yours.

I'll add these comments to yours:

>if the 8-month-old info were reliable, then you wouldn't have needed a stent, would you have?<

I agree with you about this, Dr. Pete. You know and I know and my doctors know, however, that plaque has a habit of growing, not remaining static or retreating. It was my, shall I say, heartfelt hope that my diet, exercise and medication would keep plaque at bay. In my head, though, I certainly knew the opposite was possible. Otherwise I wouldn't have taken the nitro or gone to the ER.

>I'm 100% certain that your cardiologist never advocated continuing a climb after taking nitro for new-onset chest pain.<

And I'm 100% certain you misread my self-mocking comment. Obviously my doctor suggested I visit, sooner (as in immediately), rather than later, the ER in case of chest pain, if I experienced it on my bike.

Maybe you misread what I wrote because you missed this from my original post:

"Moral of story: chest pain isn't to be trifled with"

This is BF, and you're not under any requirement to carefully study what I posted. So if you and others missed the above sentence, no problem.

bob the nailer

54 thanks for asking

bpert

Good example of balls over brains. But way to HTFU!









See what I did there?

DrPete 

I'm glad you reiterated that and highlighted it. Unfortunately we cyclists have a way of letting "HTFU" overcome common sense, and there are times when yes, you really should stop. I guess it's the "here are some nice pics of the ride I did with a potentially fatal cardiac event going on" tone of the thread that strikes me as irresponsible because, as you said, "this is BF," and common sense often fights a losing battle on here.

banerjek

You make it sound like it even has a chance.

But the case at hand, I think the OP did just fine. Cycling extracts extreme personalites. I've seen guys ride until they literally drop, and I'm sure many other people here also have. A huge percentage of the riders here bomb down the sides of mountains at 50mph on tiny tires. Many of us ride in the dark on two lane roads in heavy storms and thick fog. Reports of serious injuries from crashes are a staple of BF

In the name of playing it smart, too many people sacrifice what they value most. The way to know if you shouldn't take a risk is not based on what the numbers or other people say, but if you'd be remorseful if you got unlucky. Sounds like the OP made a calculated risk and was OK with what that meant.

RVD72

This thread reminds me...I probably should make an appointment to see my doctor.

I'm not that old (36) but my family does have a history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. My health isn't so great (eat way too much, etc.) and I'm probably a good 30+ pounds overweight. But on the bright side, I was probably around 40+ pounds overweight a few months ago.

I have been cycling a lot in recent months (about 40 miles once a week and smaller routes of 10-15 miiles a few days a week) but I'm still in bad shape. I'm not really tired but my heart rate numbers don't look so good. My resting heart rate is really high (probably around 100 or so) and my heart rate when I ride even on flats is around 160-165. When I climb I try to stay below 180 but I regularly get up to 185 and sometimes hit 194 for brief moments. It's probably not a good thing to do.

In any case, thanks for reminding me to see my doctor. It's been many years and I'm sure my blood work is not going to be very good.

I am happy to read that you got lucky this time around. I would echo some of the others here and hope you don't push your luck too much next time you feel some chest pain on a climb.

RVD.

icyclist 

>In any case, thanks for reminding me to see my doctor. It's been many years and I'm sure my blood work is not going to be very good.<

Remember, you can still have a heart attack even with normal cholesterol levels. Genetics can play a large role in determining if you have heart disease.

I'm not sure you haven't been taking more of a risk with your health than me. Make the appointment and keep up the good work dropping extra pounds.

raduray

Do it. Even if the numbers suck, there are ways of addressing it. You can't totally eliminate the risk, but once you understand it, you can minimize it.

bob the nailer

I suppose I should feel honored that you felt it necessary to research my previous posts and quote me here, although I don't know that one can really equate a shoulder injury, or riding in cold weather, with a potentially fatal cardiac event. And it wasn't what you did that bothered me so much as the attitude associated with it. Maybe I am reading too much into it. But the fact that you felt compelled to look up my previous posts to see if there was something with which you could hit back suggests that maybe, just maybe, you saw a little truth in my post.

luker

The only reason any of us is alive is luck. Especially cyclists.

And...you are always lucky, until the last time.

I too had a blockage and, because I was very well trained, was able to work through regular periodic angina, even during a treadmill test. The regularity of the pain event bothered me enough to do research, and a subsequent thallium stress test pointed out the immediacy of the problem. No infarction, but I was lucky. A stent and three years later I'm still doing fine (another thallium stress test this spring...I really don't want to kill myself just yet).

The point being - the OP survived because he was a cyclist and well trained. He had enough cardiovascular capacity that he could recruit a little extra help, enough to be lucky.

Pay attention to chest pain. This danged body doesn't come with an owner's manual.

JonRidesBikes

Gotta watch that LDL

icyclist 

>I suppose I should feel honored that you felt it necessary to research my previous posts<

You should be. I could see you have eclectic interests and I didn't mind scrolling back through your posts to know more about you.

I think, in your irritation with my post, you missed this part of it: "Moral of story: chest pain isn't to be trifled with"

>But the fact that you felt compelled to look up my previous posts to see if there was something with which you could hit back suggests that maybe, just maybe, you saw a little truth in my post.<

Oh, come on. It's just as easy for me to say the fact you felt compelled to respond to my post with such rancor suggests that maybe, just maybe, you saw a little truth in my post, too.

By writting that my "attitude sucks" and adding "The more of this thread I read the more glad I am I don't know you," you didn't exactly endear me to you. That's why I was perfectly happy to help hoist you on your own petard.

"Maybe I am reading too much into it."

Yes, I think that's so. As I mentioned above, you seem to have overlooked my admonition to treat chest pain seriously.

I apologize for offending you - that wasn't the intent of my post. Have the last word, if you wish.

ImRael

Well said.