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The Scandinavian lass (think she was a senior registrar) who performed the Angioplasty was just great - as was the rest of the team, yes you can feel stuff going on inside you which is a bit weird, I didn't realise she'd finished till she leant over and said "there you go, you will ride again soon" and I just burst into tears. She said it was nice to "fix someone who could really make the most of what they had done"
That was Ingi Gudmundsdottir - she's Icelandic and one of the best doctors I've worked with (she was my registrar back when I was a really baby doctor and I really looked up to her). She's a consultant back in Iceland now, and we miss her. She'll be glad to know she's remembered fondly by her patients!
Legolam - do you have any thoughts about plaque rupture and the likelihood of our sport to increase the chance of it? I ask because in my Dads case, he had a fairly fast crash onto snow covered grass and winded himself. He got back onto the bike and rode again but collapsed and died the next time he needed to climb. He had undiagnosed arthersclerosis and the consultant at the time mentioned plaque rupture probably played a part in his collapse. Is this something that us especially relevant to us MTBers (or anyone doing impact sports)?
That was Ingi Gudmundsdottir
As ever, I love how STW makes the world seem a little bit smaller. 🙂
Sad though the news has been, this a great thread. Good work OP.
That was Ingi Gudmundsdottir
That's her, just found her name on my discharge letter, I thought at the time it was an Icelandic style patrinomic as in Ingi daughter of Gudmund.
Really nice lass and very, very competent and so was the rest of her team, I forget the name of her boss at the Freeman, I'm assuming she was a senior registrar in April last year.
As ever, I love how STW makes the world seem a little bit smaller.
I now have the weirdest sensation that an STWer could have been near me with sharp objects* Legolamb 😯 😯 😯 and what is more worrying is that I don't know whether that statement is a good thing or a bad thing 
*I could have been pricked ....fnnnaaaarrrrrrrrr 😛
I'm booked in Friday 😯
Don't worry, I'm not pricking (or probing) anyone these days - I've taken time out to do research.
Plumslikerocks (good name!):
Impacts don't have anything to do with the likelihood of plaque rupture. There's some circumstantial evidence that, if you're going to have a heart attack, then you're marginally more likely to have it at times of physical or emotional stress eg during a marathon, whilst having sex, or on a Monday. I'm not sure it's enough to make me avoid marathons, sex or Mondays for the rest of my life though. Well, maybe marathons. But that's cos running is for people who can't ride a bike.
But that's cos running is for people who can't ride a bike.
Or whose bike is broken... Stw is an all inclusive forum despite handicaps
Booked in at the doc's on monday evening.
Booked in next Monday. General check up, but will ask for my cholesterol to be checked as well.
Hubby booked in next week (that's the earliest they could manage - must be all you Stwers blocking up the system :-)).
I'm 36, I had mine last checked in 2011. This thread has reminded me and I am booked in first thing tomorrow morning for bloods 🙂 Cheers!!
I went for a general check up today and have my ecg/blood tests booked in for thursday.
Blood pressure normal but gained almost 20kg since 2006 (70.4kg-89.5kg) - I blame getting old and married in that time!
As I said on page one, I've been putting this off for years (in an I'll do it next week kind of way)
Am now booked in for the 15th April
Thanks again o.p for giving me a much needed kick up the arse.
Booked for Thursday - worth checking out the pain in my shoulder and left arm that I've put down to my old busted collar bone rubbing on something or just not sleeping right but this thread and the fact my dad had a non fatal heart attack in his 50s suggests I ought not to ignore it.
Especially as I've been a bit of a couch biker for the last few years since first getting married and then having kids and going self employed. I guess I need to make the time to get out on the bike regularly again and give up on the sugar in my tea.
Cheers Jock
I've been thinking about going for a health assessment for a while but like lots of us have been putting it off - I know I'm over weight already, right?! Thanks for the kick.
As part of a company scheme I've got £200 toward a heath assessment/wellman check - any recommendations for where to go around Birmingham? I know there is a BUPA in Solihul but suspect the assessment would be much more than £200.
I'm 41 and a fat ****er. Had a cholesterol test and to my amazement it was only slightly elevated. I was stunned as I've basically eaten utter shite since I was 17. No history of heart probs in family and don't drink or smoke. Having said that, I have not and probably never will have a pension so maybe I should carry on in the same way....
Been thinking about this, I think we owe it to Steve and Brian to start some type of awareness campaign, their deaths and my post have bit a nerve here and I'm stunned by the response, but I haven't got a clue how to go about this? I opened my metaphorical gob first so I'm happy to put the time in, help would be appreciated, anyone any experience of this and how you get the ball rolling or is it as simple as open some social media accounts (FB & twitter for starters) and start pestering the media?
My Mum was diagnosed with high cholesterol and is now on statins or whatever they are called. She has been riding and racing road bikes for years and is super fit and healthy. I have been pretty fit and healthy now for many years and vegetarian since the age of 18 (I know you can eat crap and be veggie). Was told I had a slightly raised cholesterol marker, was quite a surprise but looks like I inherited from my Mum.
Jock-Muttley you maniac, do you realise what you've done *. Read your post, thought "why not?"
Long story short: been in hospital since then, acting on your post!
Short story long: I went to GP next day at lunchtime. Told him I had no specific illness but felt Meh.
I had been pull-starting the petrol lawnmower previously and had muscular pains, like me it is difficult to start after months off.
He said come and play on our ECG, but it was broke. Let's do BP - "ah!??"
So sent me to A&E. ECG fine woohoo! Pulse fine, cholesterol fine double woohoo!
BP through the roof. So still here getting loads of tests and Ramipiril.
Fingers crossed that I've not left it too late as hypertension is not nice.
* - thanks really, I was always going to go get it checked but never got round to it. I just read the post & thought if people from my online peer group are discovering issues, then go sooner rather than later.
So first of all bloods taken and blood sugar and cholesterol all good.
Now a thanks to JM, Steve and the fellow rider that fell victim to the same MI in Swinley a few months ago and passed away. I has given me the impetus to go and get this checked (I'm 47) and I will continue to have an annual check to ensure I am around as long as possible for my wife and family.
Er.... I've just had a twitter message to contact ITV News Desk, looks like someone in the media has picked up on this... ulp 😯 I'll keep you posted.
Who was the rider in Swinley SixFootTwo? is there a name? So far I have Steve and Brian (Messiah).
Just spotted this too [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/rider-down-in-clwyds-n-wales ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/rider-down-in-clwyds-n-wales[/url]
and this which may or may not be related but sounds like a collapse
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/rider-down-leeds ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/rider-down-leeds[/url]
and this
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/a-work-colleague-died-last-night ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/a-work-colleague-died-last-night[/url]
and this
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/chest-pain-how-worried-should-i-be ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/chest-pain-how-worried-should-i-be[/url]
and this
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/chest-pain-how-worried-should-i-be ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/chest-pain-how-worried-should-i-be[/url]
and this
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/chest-pain-how-worried-should-i-be ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/chest-pain-how-worried-should-i-be[/url]
and there is mention in here
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/i-dont-want-a-fag-i-dont-want-a-fag-i-dont-want-a-fag ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/i-dont-want-a-fag-i-dont-want-a-fag-i-dont-want-a-fag[/url]
Are we starting to see a trend emerging here?.... and that's just from THIS forum only going back 6 months and using fairly restrictive search terms! Take into account that STWers are a tiny proportion of the active population ... nobody mentioned the tri-athletes, joggers, footballers, rugby players, marathonists, hill walkers, swimmers, canoeists, rally drivers (know a few cardiacs there), etc etc etc... 😯
Folks we are dropping like flies out there... never mind bloody motorists killing us off on anecdotal evidence we are doing a fairly good job ourselves.
Glad this thread has had some effect.. 😛
Well, following on from this post I went and had my cholesterol tested this morning for the first time. 3.6 - so mid range according to the doc. This has given me some peace of mind.
Going to take a hard look at my health and make some changes - glad that I'm OK but room for improvement obviously.
Thank you OP.
I had the scary test result talk with my GP a few years ago. High BP, v high cholesterol, family history. My CVD risk score was way high for a 40 yo, can't remember exactly, but between 15% and 20%
Dr gave 6 months to sort it out with lifestyle or on the drugs. My BP is now normal, cholesterol just on right side of ok. Why - weight down, exercise + fitness up - but also change of job/lifestyle so big reduction in stress. GP did warn that I would prob end up on meds in the end given family history - but everything I could do to push it back was a bonus.
So the moral is get yourself tested - you know it makes sense - I could have been sleepwalking to a stroke before I was 50 if I hadn't.
Similar vein- a very good friend of mine died on Lochnagar a few years back. Very fit (ultra runner, with West Highland Way Race finishes), personal trainer to trade. No history nor warning, massive MI at the top of the mountain wthout any unwellness first. It would seem that a highly tuned machine can go very wrong quite suddenly.
Since then, I've worked to raise awareness of these and other health issues in ultra sport across Scotland. We have seen stent wearers (for example) returning to run 50miles and beyond. Stay positive guys.
Jock,
One more for you from a few months ago.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/any-rider-with-heart-problems-who-ride-on-here
Like you I have noticed more cardiac related threads over recent years, but then you do pick up on these things having had a near miss.
There are probably and sadly a few that will no longer be contributing to threads as they didn't make it.
We have seen stent wearers (for example) returning to run 50miles and beyond
When my second stent was inserted (over the top of my original*) it literally felt like (to draw an automotive analogy) somebody had unblocked a fuel filter to a carb and I could open the throttle full again, weird and surreal sensation but very welcome.
*and with this I got very, very lucky as the heart tissue in that area was already damaged by my previous MI so the 100% occlusion didn't do that much more damage, in need to dig out my discharge letter but it was about 1% loss of heart function.
Peter,
I found that but it looks like I boobed the link in my post thanks for picking up on that.
Yeah it does make you wonder when STW keyboard warriors go silent... 😕
Thanks for this thread Jock
I know my blood pressure is a little high...
OK - I'm going to book a test.
Similar vein-
😆
Very good.
In next Wednesday at 8:15am for a "well man" checkup.
Just back from doc's. I have been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, and have been prescribed 20mg/day atorvastatin. To go with the lisinopril! 😯
Just back from doc's. I have been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, and have been prescribed 20mg/day atorvastatin. To go with the lisinopril!
Bummer mate, but at least you know and now you can action a remedy before its to late, remember the first indication that I had of my Hypercolestemia was my GP going "oh shit"... 😉
20Mg is an OK dose (I'm on 80Mg) but just a wee bit of advice, see if you can get the Atorvastatin changed for one like Liptor, it may not be possible but my cardiac team said it's a newer more advanced statin with reduced side effects. Atorvastatin is the most common world wide (i.e. its cheap so there is a reason they prescribe it).
I take it you're hypertensive if you are on an ACE inhibitor? Sorry to pry. You may find that if you are as your cholesterol drops, diet and exercise kicks in and you natural BP should drop back at which point you could drop the ACE Inhib. Surprised they haven't given you a low dose asprin 75mg to reduce clotting
Hi J-M, yes hypertensive but only mildly so (family heart issues so the doc in that respect is being cautious). Mother has high BP, father did (and angina etc., he died young).
I'll have to jump back into the recipe thread and start taking more notes!
The doc did mention taking low dose(75mg) aspirin to reduce clotting, but didn't prescribe as it is much cheaper to buy it yourself as opposed to paying £8.05 for something that costs about 50p!
Asprin is a true wonder drug that is often overlooked.
Went for the blood test and ECG today... bloods been sent off and should get the response next week.
ECG taken and now being referred to the GP - although I am a lardy chap resting heart rate was 49 (Sinus bradycardia)so will hear back from them soonish
Here's what you could do JM - there's a few NHS types on here, get them to recommend an NHS flyer/leaflet that tells people what to do (I assume one of these exists). If the NHS don't have one, check charities like BHF?
Get STW to host it here, or to link to it.
When people who have been affected by this go somewhere like a trail centre, or event - print some leaflets off and stick them under windscreen wipers, or ask the local cafe to give them out (especially with the bacon sandwiches).
You could also go to race/event organisers and ask them to automatically include this leaflet with any event packs that go to men over 35.
It feels a bit pushy to be doing this, but if you save one person, then its worth doing.
Aspirin is being reviewed as the wonder drug as it causes issues too.
47 years old, and no health issues at all. I cycle, walk and have a job that keeps me on the go physically. No history in our family, but off to the docs next week anyway.
Just too many of my age group copping it, so fingers crossed its all good. Cheers, for the thread.
Got my statins yesterday Jock, Stavropolstatin or something. Haven't built up the courage to take them yet (am also trying one final attempt to get chloresterol lower on a detox diet), but I was told no more grapefruit - for life. Shocker. One of my favourites too. You know you're getting old when you're banned from the healthy things as well.
Got myself an appointment for this friday for an MOT.
interestingly i told the wife and she says 'you're only going 'cos of reading that stuff on STW forum and if she'd have suggested it i wouldn't have gone blah blah blah..........'
Must check my insurance as it looks like i'm worth more to her dead!
Had my check up last night. Blood pressure was 122/80 which was higher than I expected and according to various web sites 'above the ideal' of 120/80. Dam. It's difficult to know what to do differently:
East less takeaways / I don't eat takeaway
Exercise 3 times a week / I already do.
Smoke less / I don't smoke.
Eat less fried food / I don't eat fried food.
😕
What about your sugar intake, your salt intake - you may not be deliberately adding these to food or drinks but how much processed food do you eat - even beans can have a scary amount in a supposedly healthy food.
Plus if your diet features a lot if healthy carbs you can convert the excess to sugars and fat without realising it.
How much coffee or tea do you drink, caffeine can/will affect BP and heart rate.
Try using the "my fitness pal" app for a week or so, you have to be totally honest with it, every scrap of food and drink that passes your lips. 9/10 the results will be enlightening even after a couple of days.
Hard as it is to say you may need to knock the caffeine on the head, I suspect that this may be the culprit, it was with me and an elevated heart rate. It may require a total detox for a month or so before you can start even in decaf. I now drink decaf in the house & at work with the occasional "proper" one if we're out. I'm an occasional tea drinker so I've left that as full strength. Knocking caffeine on the head has seen a 7-10bpm drop in my resting heart rate day to day (measured when I wake and still lying in bed). If I have had say a couple of caffeinated coffees or day on tea the day before you can guarantee my heart rate is +10bpm the next morning.
Just back from doc's having gone for my 40+ check after reading this thread. I had two bad unhappy faces on my 100 face chart, Cholesterol 6.2 and , LDL 4 but good news...Pulse 44, 124/60 got an "OK", triglycerides OK HDL OK, something about a low ratio, so OK. Told to start taking Benecol spread and go back in two weeks for another blood test. They also added the PSA - Prostrate Specific Antigen - test for next time. Doctor said they had written out 400 40+ health check letters and 40 people had come in over the 6 months as a result of them.
122/80 is spot on, don't worry about it.
After giving out advice on this thread, I thought I should probably take some of it myself. So last week I went to get a breast lump checked out that I'd been ignoring for 4 months 😳
Got the results of the biopsy today - totally benign 🙂 . More than a little relieved now (after feeling a bit of a wally for waiting so long).