GWS ColinJ.. DVT/Pulmonary Embolism
- Thread starter potsy
- Start date
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ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I have just been reading some interesting research material about compression stockings. Apparently they increase the risk of certain problems such as skin necrosis and many doctors no longer routinely recommend their use. My left leg is rather tender and I don't fancy having it squeezed if it doesn't actually help.
There is a new type which uses a motorised pump to periodically massage the legs. That sounds to me like the benefit you'd get through exercise where the operation of your leg muscles would keep the blood moving. It's why you get swollen, sore legs from standing on the spot but not so much when walking about.
Anyway - I will carry on searching for useful information. The next thing on my list of topics is whether to take a low dosage 'baby' aspirin every day or two to reduce the clotting risk. That might just introduce the same bleeding risk that the Warfarin posed but I would like to know.
There is a new type which uses a motorised pump to periodically massage the legs. That sounds to me like the benefit you'd get through exercise where the operation of your leg muscles would keep the blood moving. It's why you get swollen, sore legs from standing on the spot but not so much when walking about.
Anyway - I will carry on searching for useful information. The next thing on my list of topics is whether to take a low dosage 'baby' aspirin every day or two to reduce the clotting risk. That might just introduce the same bleeding risk that the Warfarin posed but I would like to know.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
One thing I forgot to mention was that I asked the nurse at the clinic about my blood pressure. I'd assumed that it was okay because none of the doctors ever mentioned it. She said that it was fine - I think it was about 115 or 120 over 70.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Look, I was going to make a big thing of this - the action photos, video clips, inspiring music and so on, but ... that can wait. Maybe I'll go in for all of that when I do my first 'proper' post-DVT ride, but I'd just like to tell you that I made a snap decision this afternoon and started pedalling again!
Earlier on, I'd done a brisk walk up the tough cobbled 'Buttress' path, and then the steep road to the village of Heptonstall. I was taking careful note of how I felt, and realised that it was the best I've felt since last July so I pushed myself quite hard. In fact, I got carried away and it took a while for me to realise that the cold air being sucked into the deepest recesses of my lungs was actually hurting them. Given that they have taken a right battering from clots over the past 8 months, I thought it wise to stop and put on a buff, pulled up over my nose and mouth. That raised the temperature of the air that I was breathing and I was able to continue up the hill.
I walked back down the hill and did my shopping, then came home. Some time later, I decided to clear away some of the piles of junk that had accumulated in front of the gym bike that I have downstairs. At some point, I would be needing access to the bike when I decided it was time to start cycling again. And then it simply struck me - "I'm feeling good, so why not now?"
I didn't want to get changed into different clothes, nor put on shoes. I wanted to just hop on and start pedalling, there and then!
I was wearing a pair of sandals and my left foot slipped trying to get it into the toeclip. That sent a shockwave up my leg and my whole inner thigh throbbed where the DVT had done its damage. That was a little discouraging, but ... I just flipped the pedals over and started pedalling on the flats on the opposite sides to the toeclips.
I put a small amount of resistance on the flywheel, just enough to stop it running away from me. I was getting breathless at too high a cadence and it hurt my legs. I found that 80-90 rpm with a low resistance was fine, so I span away for 5 minutes and then stopped. I don't want to overdo things at the moment when my body is still very delicate.
So ... I intend to do 5 minutes every time that I make myself a cup of tea, amounting to about 30 minutes worth of light spinning a day. When that starts to feel too easy, I'll increase the resistance and/or duration of those efforts.
When the weather improves and my legs are a bit stronger, I am going to start riding my MTB up and down the Calder Valley Cycleway and Rochdale canal towpath. That's about the only low traffic flat cycling round here apart from doing circuits 'round the block', which I will probably have a go at too.
Technically, I can start calling myself a cyclist again. It's good to be on my way back!
Earlier on, I'd done a brisk walk up the tough cobbled 'Buttress' path, and then the steep road to the village of Heptonstall. I was taking careful note of how I felt, and realised that it was the best I've felt since last July so I pushed myself quite hard. In fact, I got carried away and it took a while for me to realise that the cold air being sucked into the deepest recesses of my lungs was actually hurting them. Given that they have taken a right battering from clots over the past 8 months, I thought it wise to stop and put on a buff, pulled up over my nose and mouth. That raised the temperature of the air that I was breathing and I was able to continue up the hill.
I walked back down the hill and did my shopping, then came home. Some time later, I decided to clear away some of the piles of junk that had accumulated in front of the gym bike that I have downstairs. At some point, I would be needing access to the bike when I decided it was time to start cycling again. And then it simply struck me - "I'm feeling good, so why not now?"
I didn't want to get changed into different clothes, nor put on shoes. I wanted to just hop on and start pedalling, there and then!
I was wearing a pair of sandals and my left foot slipped trying to get it into the toeclip. That sent a shockwave up my leg and my whole inner thigh throbbed where the DVT had done its damage. That was a little discouraging, but ... I just flipped the pedals over and started pedalling on the flats on the opposite sides to the toeclips.
I put a small amount of resistance on the flywheel, just enough to stop it running away from me. I was getting breathless at too high a cadence and it hurt my legs. I found that 80-90 rpm with a low resistance was fine, so I span away for 5 minutes and then stopped. I don't want to overdo things at the moment when my body is still very delicate.
So ... I intend to do 5 minutes every time that I make myself a cup of tea, amounting to about 30 minutes worth of light spinning a day. When that starts to feel too easy, I'll increase the resistance and/or duration of those efforts.
When the weather improves and my legs are a bit stronger, I am going to start riding my MTB up and down the Calder Valley Cycleway and Rochdale canal towpath. That's about the only low traffic flat cycling round here apart from doing circuits 'round the block', which I will probably have a go at too.
Technically, I can start calling myself a cyclist again. It's good to be on my way back!
OP
OP
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
Shouldn't this be in 'your ride today'?
Seriously, great news Colin, look forward to reports of your first proper comeback ride
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Ha ha - not while what used to be a pre-warmup warmup still has me breathing hard! I am desperately unfit, but I can work on that. It was being desperately unwell that I struggled to handle!Brilliant news Colin, well done. I'm really pleased - my guess is you'd still be able to beat Potsy
PS I could only beat potsy for a few weeks back in early 2011. His daily-commute-powered legs soon trashed my hill-battered-twice-a-month legs!
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I think I agree!Shouldn't this be in 'your ride today'?
roadrash
cycle chatterer
- Location
- sitting on the edge of wigan pier
well done 
just remember to take it easy
just remember to take it easyColin i might just join you,i have not cycled seriously since late November.I ate my way through Xmas,new year,two surpise birthday parties.This week i have knocked off three large bars of Cadbury's chocolate, a massive ice crean sundae yesterday.
I have at least a four inch spare tyre round the waist,i feel tired and sluggish and blown up.Sod this weather.The wind is just so cold.So you keep up the good works.
Oh and by the way i am going out tonight for a meal,another inch on the waistline.Bugger it.
I have at least a four inch spare tyre round the waist,i feel tired and sluggish and blown up.Sod this weather.The wind is just so cold.So you keep up the good works.
Oh and by the way i am going out tonight for a meal,another inch on the waistline.Bugger it.
Mo1959
Legendary Member
- Location
- Perthshire,Scotland
Excellent news Colin. Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised by how quickly your fitness will return if you just carefully increase what you are doing every week or so.
coffeejo
Ælfrēd
- Location
- West Somerset
Colin., that's fantastic!! 
phil_hg_uk
I am not a member, I am a free man !!!!!!
You have now had about as much training as the rest of us for SITD colin.
twentysix by twentyfive
Clinging on tightly
- Location
- Over the Hill
Great news!! Little and often - but not too much - and you'll be well on the way for sure
