No more Sani2C for me

[Long Wheel Base]

Nooit man that's not lekker. Glad you "OK", I put " " because it could have been worse. Just shows how even if we look after ourselves it can still happen anyone.

 

 

Hayley, your first post =     

[PygaSchmyga]

Please excuse this whine but I need to get this off my chest. I will not be riding my third Sani2C this year due to medical issues and I would like everyone to learn from this as well.

 

On Sunday my partner for the Sani who is the character that got me into cycling in the first place where cycling at Modders as part of our training for the Sani. This is not our first ride in preparation as I have suffered enough on day two before. After the ride as one does we went to the restaurant for coffe and something to eat. While having a bite I asked the question which side does a heart attack start on as I felt uncomfortable but laughed it off as indigestion.

 

Fast forward 45 minutes while busy unloading my car I felt dizzy and thinking that this is a bit unusual called the significant other to come and help. Problem with calling her was I could hardly talk and was slurring words like a drunkard. Rushed to Union Hospital where the doctor on duty knew what he was talking about and convinced me that an MRI was required and had bloods drawn to check for a heart attack.

 

Prognosis was a "mini stroke" caused by a plaque that came loose of the walls of a vein near the heart that had narrowed by 60 %. Please excuse the lack of medical terms. I have had an angiogram conducted and stent put in. Very fortunate that there was no lasting damage to the brain(what little I've got).

 

I believed I had got myself into decent shape over the last almost four years I have been cycling and did not expect this blindside. The lesson for me is, do not take your health for granted and if in doubt get it checked regardless of how small, I doubt I would have survived if this had it happened deep in the Umkomaas where I am normally bleeding through my eyes.

which side DID it start on?

[HOEKVLAG]

Good luck with the recovery man!

[V12man]

Again straight to the anal examination,,,,,you and fondness recommending the dreaded finger examination,

 

HUBBER : I got a head ache V12: prostate examination

HUBBER : I get numb hands. V12: prostrate examination

HUBBER : I got sun burnt. V12: prostate examination

 

JUST SAYING

Don't forget it is a BLOOD test too..... I know you will be prostrate after that... :ph34r:

[Gate closer]

Thanks for the comments and well wishes.

 

It started on the left hand side and felt like indigestion.

[Slowbee]

now this is a legitimate excuse and not a stupid avoidable one like mine .......

 

EDIT: what have you done with your entry?
 

[Tromp]

Moral of the story - go for regular exercise stress tests conducted by a good cardiologist - from age 30 at least every 5 years and from 50 every 2 years - more often if you are in a high risk group or have documented concerns.

Just like prostate issues - early diagnosis is the best predictor of a good outcome.

My biggest worry is that I will be told that I can not cycle anymore. I also had a " mini " stroke a few years back and had the stenth planted in my body.

[V12man]

My biggest worry is that I will be told that I can not cycle anymore. I also had a " mini " stroke a few years back and had the stenth planted in my body.

Better to know what is happening than to not know.... in my view....  plenty of things are fixable - just look at Jenni Stenerhage's (sp) issues - already back on the bike after cardiac surgery - and I have several mates who still ride post surgery as well.

 

In any event, it is really unlikely you will be told to not excercise - maybe some limits might be imposed (suggested), but a blanket ban is unlikely.

[jcza]

I wish someone can definitively answer the question - is blood cholesterol levels an indicator of heart and/or coronary disease? So much confusion amongst medical professionals which means the general public have no idea. 

[nonky]

Hope you get better soon....sorry to hear about what happened.

 

I had a major health scare a while back - it's frightening and hospitals make it worse.

 

However, we do have some brilliant docs in SA and they can fix most things (within reason).

 

I am back on the bike and simply grateful for every minute i get to ride.  No moaning from me about the weather, cost of bikes, cost of bike parks, brands of bikes, servicing issues, LBS, krap manners on the trail etc. etc.

 

I learnt to be grateful for the things everyone (incl. me) takes for granted...

[V12man]

I wish someone can definitively answer the question - is blood cholesterol levels an indicator of heart and/or coronary disease? So much confusion amongst medical professionals which means the general public have no idea. 

Statistically - high cholesterol levels are associated with heart disease - there is NO doubt about that - only the popular press are confused (even TDN agrees).

 

Arterial cholesterol deposits are the primary cause of heart attacks - NO doubt about it.

 

I won't confuse the issue for you by adding more (because the above is not the end of the story) - we better go on a long ride together to explain... a long ride...

[SwissVan]

Statistically - high cholesterol levels are associated with heart disease - there is NO doubt about that - only the popular press are confused (even TDN agrees).

 

Arterial cholesterol deposits are the primary cause of heart attacks - NO doubt about it.

 

I won't confuse the issue for you by adding more (because the above is not the end of the story) - we better go on a long ride together to explain... a long ride...

 

Is it possible to detect the ACD easily like it is to check cholesterol levels?

How would a bloke be able to take a precautionary check for ACD and is it practical for a check up? 

Thanks

[V12man]

Is it possible to detect the ACD easily like it is to check cholesterol levels?

How would a bloke be able to take a precautionary check for ACD and is it practical for a check up? 

Thanks

Depends on your version of easy.....

 

Normally won't be done unless as a result of a full cardio workup - and it won't be close to free.

[PygaSchmyga]

Hope you get better soon....sorry to hear about what happened.

 

I had a major health scare a while back - it's frightening and hospitals make it worse.

 

However, we do have some brilliant docs in SA and they can fix most things (within reason).

 

I am back on the bike and simply grateful for every minute i get to ride.  No moaning from me about the weather, cost of bikes, cost of bike parks, brands of bikes, servicing issues, LBS, krap manners on the trail etc. etc.

 

I learnt to be grateful for the things everyone (incl. me) takes for granted...

Seriously? Waaaaahahahaha!

[Joe Low]

Statistically - high cholesterol levels are associated with heart disease - there is NO doubt about that - only the popular press are confused (even TDN agrees).

 

Arterial cholesterol deposits are the primary cause of heart attacks - NO doubt about it.

 

I won't confuse the issue for you by adding more (because the above is not the end of the story) - we better go on a long ride together to explain... a long ride...

 

 

I've got hypercholesterolaemia, never goes below 6 and is usually 7; one parent died young of a heart attack.

 

I've worried about it from early 20s, I'm 51 now, but got my arteries scanned two years ago and they were clear.  It was the best thing to see, ever.

 

So, apart from statins that I don't get on with, what prevents deposits forming?

 

(Before cycling and out of shape in my mid-30s cholesterol could go to 11)

[V12man]

 

 

I've got hypercholesterolaemia, never goes below 6 and is usually 7; one parent died young of a heart attack.(Before cycling and out of shape in my mid-30s cholesterol could go to 11)

 

- I wonder what it would be if you didn't cycle regularly and manage it down - 12 - 15 possibly.... perhaps a casket...

 

I've worried about it from early 20s, I'm 51 now, but got my arteries scanned two years ago and they were clear.  It was the best thing to see, ever.

 

- Good - please repeat regularly - prevention is better than cure.

 

So, apart from statins that I don't get on with, what prevents deposits forming?

 

- The best 2 things I can think of are :1 - reducing total cholesterol via regular endurance excercise and appropriate diet as far as possible, and 2 - keeping the HDL/LDL ratio as high as possible - again, primarily via excercise, and secondarily via a daily 2/3 glass of red wine/whiskey and the like.

 

-  Also - keeping body weight, stress and blood pressure as low as possible - although these are not directly related to plaque formation, they do relate to cardiac disease

I put comments inline for reference