Nancy

Back in the Game

Atrial fibrillation has sidelined me from ambitious workouts since the middle of August.  After only two doctors, my family doctor and an Electrophysiologist, I am back on my bike either outside on the gravel, in the basement on a trainer or on a spin bike at the gym. I now take a very small white pill thirty minutes before extreme cardio exercise.  It is 25MG of a beta blocker to fight off the adrenaline that was causing my heart to fire off under stress. This, I can live with and thank you all very much.  I will have to totally reasess my heart levels now.  At a perceived heart rate of 145, (difficult to talk, sucking air, sweating)  it now reads 121 on my heart monitor.  121HB used to be a recovery rate for me. So, nothing ever stays the same, there is always something to learn and numbers to "tweak".  How blessed I am to have the Saris Power Tap to help me in these endeavors. After my trainer and I get my "numbers" readjusted, I will be ready to go back to training "with Power".  I am still taking a handful of vitamins morning and night and a baby aspirin at night.  And that's that. It is all the medication I take and I'm very thankful for my good health. A special thanks to all the feed-back from readers I have received in the last few weeks.  May God greatly bless all of you.

Nancy

The Saga Continues

I saw my G.P. last Friday and we discussed my stress test and ECHO test.  He really did not know the answer, except it seems to be an electrical problem.  Therefore, I have an appointment with an eletrophysiologist for October 20.  However, not wanting me to leave the office empty handed he gave me a prescription for Diltiazem CD 180mg. I dutifully filled the perscription and took one pill around noon of Friday.  By noon on Saturday I was experiencing 4 or 5 of the possible nasty side effects.  At spin class Saturday morning, it was as if my heart was totally confused. The red line was all over the place when I viewed it after uploading the information from my PowerTap. SO -----no more of those pills for me.  By Monday the medication had worm off and I felt much better again.  This mornings spin class saw my heart rate up to 140.  No spikes, just a steady climb up and back down, no irregular heart beats and non so far today.  I am going to continue to extend riding time, inside or out depending on the weather and start to work out on the weights where I teach spin class.  Also, I plan to take some pilates classes.  I will continue to monitor my heart rate and keep moving the top number up bit by bit.  Maybe by the time my appointment with the eletrophysiologist arrives, my heart will be well.  That is my prayer.  Thanks to all of you that have been sending the kind and encouraging words.  They are tremendously appreciated.  It is not that I do not want to get old,  I am not trying to stay young and foolish by riding my bike.  It is such a joy to me and I have been able to inspire a few others my age to "get out on their bikes" and ride.  I want to embrace it as long as I can!!! And actually competing is such a blast! But, I told God that I would be content if I could do only "Granny" rides from here on and that is probably a real possibility.  Most of you reading this know exactly what I mean.  Thanks again for your kindness, I will keep you posted on the progress.