OT: Heart Attack

[kgreene10]

Are stress and coffee known risk factors or is this a best gusss residual diagnosis having ruled out the standard causes? Without stress and coffee (but just 2-4 cups a day), I might cease to exist.

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by kgreene10

Are stress and coffee known risk factors or is this a best gusss residual diagnosis having ruled out the standard causes? Without stress and coffee (but just 2-4 cups a day), I might cease to exist.

Excessive caffeine consumption is a real factor when combined with other factors.

[bobswire]

Originally Posted by bigman

Feel better - does coffee really play that big a role?

It did for me in the sense it was a trigger that brought upon Arrhythmia. High doses of caffeine pills or drinks had the same effect. Though I'm able to enjoy teas even black with no side effects.

[NHAero]

Really glad you're OK!
If you have no blockages, what actually happens in a MI?

[kingpin75s]

Originally Posted by BobO

Thanks for the wishes.



I was at 10-12 up to 15 cups a day. It's not just the coffee, it's the combination with the intense stress.

I DGAF may turn out to be what I need to learn.

That is a buttload of coffee.

Don't think I have drank that much since I was 20 and had 2 waiter jobs, was going to school and pounded quad shot Mochas all night at work to keep me going.

Yep. DGAF if you can get there.

[Ken Robb]

I've known several fit cyclists who died on rides. I have no medical training so I don't understand how it happens when there were no warning signs.

Maybe passing my treadmill test shouldn't make me feel to cocky.

[Kirk007]

Similar stories with friends and contemplating a month in the Alps this summer at the beginning of 6th decade led me to a place called PotentRX in Seattle, run by a cardiologist and a sports physiologist. Work up includes genetic testing, resting EKG, carotid scan, ankle branchial test for peripheral arterial disease, VO2 Max test, etc. etc and then a tailored plan for addressing issues and for training. Really enlightening and for me reassuring. For instance learned that although my cholesterol numbers have always been very low, the size of my LDL particles is big and contributing to a genetic predisposition for plaque buildup. Luckily nothing too bad, nothing to interfere with riding but enough that I've getting a bit more scanning done.

Not cheap, but after 60 years with life's share of stress, well worth in my opinion to know what your dealing with!

[wc1934]

Thanks for sharing - get well soon - hope you can continue riding.

[bobswire]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

I've known several fit cyclists who died on rides. I have no medical training so I don't understand how it happens when there were no warning signs.

Maybe passing my treadmill test shouldn't make me feel to cocky.

I've known a few too like Tommy Milton (Selle Anatomica designer), who died unexpectedly in 2010 doing a Double and Clay Mankin of City Cycle died in Woodside doing a solo bike trip to Santa Barbara. Both seemingly in excellent health and good long distance riders. They got me thinking the older one gets one needs to listen to our hearts and know when to ease up no matter one thinks his health is. My treadmill test was off the charts in a good way but I pay that no mind I listen to my body and I'm an aggressive but safe rider.

[dddd]

I'd stay off the coffee. Your adrenals will resume fully regulating within about three days, you'll feel better, sleep better, think better and your insulin will be much better regulated without caffeine.
Again, you will feel better without any jolts of de-regulating caffeine.
Don't forget to substitute water for the missing coffee.

[NHAero]

Hi there
Your post was very interesting. Do you mind saying what that whole work-up/testing cost?
Thanks
Marc

Originally Posted by Kirk007

Similar stories with friends and contemplating a month in the Alps this summer at the beginning of 6th decade led me to a place called PotentRX in Seattle, run by a cardiologist and a sports physiologist. Work up includes genetic testing, resting EKG, carotid scan, ankle branchial test for peripheral arterial disease, VO2 Max test, etc. etc and then a tailored plan for addressing issues and for training. Really enlightening and for me reassuring. For instance learned that although my cholesterol numbers have always been very low, the size of my LDL particles is big and contributing to a genetic predisposition for plaque buildup. Luckily nothing too bad, nothing to interfere with riding but enough that I've getting a bit more scanning done.

Not cheap, but after 60 years with life's share of stress, well worth in my opinion to know what your dealing with!

[BobO]

Originally Posted by NHAero

Really glad you're OK!
If you have no blockages, what actually happens in a MI?

That I can't tell you, but my cardio says it is not all that uncommon.

Originally Posted by dddd

I'd stay off the coffee. Your adrenals will resume fully regulating within about three days, you'll feel better, sleep better, think better and your insulin will be much better regulated without caffeine.
Again, you will feel better without any jolts of de-regulating caffeine.
Don't forget to substitute water for the missing coffee.

Trust me, I'm scared straight.

[BobO]

Originally Posted by wc1934

Thanks for sharing - get well soon - hope you can continue riding.

Thanks, doc says I can start back into riding in three weeks.

[Kirk007]

Originally Posted by NHAero

Hi there
Your post was very interesting. Do you mind saying what that whole work-up/testing cost?
Thanks
Marc

Take a gulp and a seat: $2400 for everything: intensive physical, all labs and physiological testing. Couple hundred more if you want a full nutritional assessment and plan.

That said I am assuming that I'll get a little back from insurance for the basic physical component, it was a 6 1/2 hour process, they provide breakfast and lunch, and then a 2 hour debrief, 70 page report and follow up plans. I think it was a lot more value than I've gotten out of a lot of medical expenditures.

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by Kirk007

Take a gulp and a seat: $2400 for everything: intensive physical, all labs and physiological testing. Couple hundred more if you want a full nutritional assessment and plan.

That said I am assuming that I'll get a little back from insurance for the basic physical component, it was a 6 1/2 hour process, they provide breakfast and lunch, and then a 2 hour debrief, 70 page report and follow up plans. I think it was a lot more value than I've gotten out of a lot of medical expenditures.

That honestly sounds cheap for everything you had done. Getting 6.5 hours from a specialist for under $10K is rare...

The main thing is - will it give you confidence and peace of mind to enjoy your trip and rides and life without worrying unnecessarily about your health, and/or will it point you in the right direction toward fixing some things before too late? If the answer is yes to either of those two, it's money well spent.