Post Viral Blues

[Yasmin]

I'm getting over the worst virus I've had in 20 years. Yesterday I went for a tiny ride (22.92km/14.32miles) & it nearly killed me. Also 2 days ago I went for a short run (7km/4.375mi) & couldn't walk properly for 2 days due to sore muscles. I'm worrying because I'm meant to be in training for a 200km/125mi 4,500m ascent ride in 6 weeks. I've put myself on protein powder & creatin to try & build up a bit but it's looking pretty grim. If anyone can give me tips to recover quicker I would be most appreciative.

[runnergirl]

6 weeks is PLENTY of time to get in shape, you've got a great base, it takes more than a week or two to really lose fitness.

Your fitness will come back faster if you go slow now. It's counter-intuative, but if your lungs were involved it's especially true!

Weights don't tax the lungs, so lift if you can (but not to the point of severe soreness), but don't push the cardio hard. I got the full blown flu during marathon training last year, I was down hard for 8 days, but was back on track w/in 10 days. I started back super slow, walked on the treadmill, then run 5 minutes walk 1, and so on, but it came back pretty fast. As you've found, trying to come back right away results in soreness that just puts you back farther.

[Yasmin]

Thanks Runnergirl. I'm feeling less bleak after reading your post

[RoadRaven]

I figured this was a good place to post this story. We received it last week in an email from my brother-in-law... I've checked with him I could share it. It was posted by a " Wellington Tar Baby" on their website (the cycling club in Wellington) so I figure it is now public information and I can share it...

Be warned... for me it means no cold pills/painkillers before a ride just so I know whether I have just a headache or something in the chest (that 'no riding if its below the neck' rule)

For the family it meant one of my sons was not allowed to ride a race he had been looking forward to because he was not quite over a chest cold.



Hi Guys,

This is a story, not about Taupo itself, but about what happened to me as a result of pushing both my training and the race beyond my limits.

I hope it's readable - I apologise for it being a little lenghty.

I've tried to remove anything that this newsgroup uses as a terminator (like several full stops in a row). If I've been unsuccessful you'll only receive half the story. In which case I'll fix and resend.

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Nothing - not even the flu was going to stop me riding in Taupo. Even if it killed me!

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Prologue: (So you can understand where I’ve come from).

In September 2003 I weighed in at a tidy, but not so compact 120kg.
I commuted daily by bus between Johnsonville and Wellington. Fantastic exercise. Watching the world go by.

My friends would often ask “When are you getting back on that bike?” and “Are you doing Taupo?” My response “Maybe next year”. There’s simply nothing as sexy as a “Fat Boy” in lycra! What an incentive to motivate me.

At work my Boss finally takes the initiative. “Come on. Bring that bike in. We’ll start dragging you out at lunchtimes”.

12 Months, and a few dietary changes later my lunchtime rides had eaten their way through almost 30kg. I’d even ditched the bus in favor of the faster 20 minute bike ride to work. Now when asked about Taupo my response was. “I’m considering it. 160km just seems a little daunting”.

The 2004 Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge arrived – and I was there. Completing the course in under six hours. I was hooked! This stuff was actually fun!

12 Months later, a few days prior to the 2005 Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge I suddenly find myself coming down with a cold. Thanks kids. I’m gutted! I’ve spent 12 months training, and during the last few months have been pushing the boundaries as I ignore friends, family and work. All the time pushing pushing pushing… trying to convert every last ounce of energy into forward motion on my bike.

There’s nothing for it. I know I’m getting really sick. So I take Wednesday and Thursday afternoon off sick. Dosing up on Coldral I drag myself home to bed. All I have to do is stave it off until Saturday night. The race will then be over, and even if I come down with pneumonia it’ll have been worth it.

Saturday morning – I feel like crap. I’ve had very little sleep, and my breathing isn’t looking too flash. I know my performance is going to be way down on what I’m capable of. I consider removing myself from Group 1 and maybe opting for a slower group. No. Stupidity or stubbornness take control and I stay close to the front determined to stick it out for as long as I can. I’m aware that there’s a chance that in my current state I may not even be capable of completing the course.

I finished! Happy! And in a time that was considerably better than last year. I even managed to beat my goal time by 5 minutes. A real surprise considering the state I was in.

Others congratulate me on my time, throwing in little tips of wisdom as to how I could improve in the future. What I’ll be aiming for next year is to not get sick!!

I could tell that my health was now considerably worse. What had been a head cold this morning had now worked it’s way down into my chest. The next few days were not going to be pleasant.

But it was worth it!

Nothing! – Absolutely Nothing was going to stop me riding in Taupo this year. Even if it killed me!

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I’d often joked about this. Little did I know how close to the truth that statement may actually come.

"So. You were sick - and decided to ride anyway. Tell me young Solo. What occurred AFTER Taupo?"

Strange you should ask Obi-Wan.

Sunday - Kid things! Huka Falls. Turangi Trout Hatchery. Then the long drive back to Wellington. No exercise at all. My backside falls asleep as I drive. I’m now living on Coldral Cold & Flu. I know I shouldn't have ridden around Taupo on yesterday.

Monday - Still taking Coldral Cold & Flu. Did a slow 28k recovery ride from home to work via the Makara circuit. My body (and head) feels a lot better after the ride. After work the brisk Southerly is still blowing. I can’t resist a fast race home up the Ngauranga Gorge in the strong tail wind. I Almost did my best time door to door. Bad mistake pushing things - still in recovery!

Tuesday - A Roller Coaster of a day. Pain/Suffering/Good News/Bad News. Tuesday had it all.
I stop taking Coldral and decide to take a few days off cycling until I'm over my cold.

As I arrive at work I start suffering from chest pains, dizziness, pain up into my neck, and problems breathing.

After some debate, my work colleagues call an ambulance and convey that I'm possibly showing the symptoms of a heart attack.

On their arrival the Paramedics report all ok on their portable monitor, but pain is still… (although subsiding) so off we go to Wellington Hospital. As I’m put on oxygen the pain dissipates, 40 minutes after it started.

I’m prepared to spend all day at Wellington ED being monitored and having repeated blood tests. I am told that the process will take 8 hours or more. Take a book to read the Paramedics had earlier advised.

The first ECG is fine. No problems evident.

My Wife arrives and all is looking ok. Although I'm certainly "not with it" at all.

My resting heart rate is around 45 bpm so staff shut down alarms on monitoring equipment that normally alarm if the rate drops below a standard of 50.

Next are chest XRays to look for the possibility of a collapsed lung (same symptoms). Negative result.

The next two ECGs then start to go weird.

At 1pm, we’re advised that things are no longer looking ok. From the ECGs they have determined that I did have a heart attack, and I’m currently having problems with a restricted left ventricular (the artery that sits over the front of the heart).

They say I’ll soon be undergoing a coronary angiogram. This involves feeding a tube into the femoral artery at my groin, then feeding a wire tube through this up into my heart. Dye is pumped through this tube, showing in real time on monitors above the operating table to enable a view of my heart, arteries & any obstructions. This is all so unexpected that I don’t care how or why the procedure actually works.

The use of balloons to widen the artery is discussed, and if required insertion of "Stents" (metal tubes) to return the artery(s) to their correct width. If that doesn’t correct the problem, a heart bypass is on the cards, although luckily unlikely.

I’m given a warning that the procedure itself may cause a minor heart attack… Paper and pen is thrust into my hand. I sign my life away.

I’m given 5,000 units of Heparin to thin my blood in preparation for the angiogram. This (I'm told this is a guy thing) lowers my heart rate until it disappears off the monitor and I black out. I’m out for 20 seconds until put on oxygen. Someone reports “We have a pulse back!”

Completely out of it - I wake up with eight faces looking down at me (my Wife reports that the response to the emergency button is pretty impressive in both manpower and response time). I’m unable to comprehend what is going on. Someone asks me a question, which I hear, but then It’s gone. I’m unable to work out how to talk, let alone what I want to say. I lie there hoping that if I keep my mouth shut long enough that everyone will simply go away. This must be a bad dream. For some reason answering the question, whatever it was, appears to be vitally important. Sorry. Try again later when someone's home…

Finally partial comprehension returns - and I hear "It's ok Colin - you fainted". Like I said. It's a Guy thing (according to one of the nurses).

We go upstairs for the angiogram. I'm awake during the procedure, being instructed to breathe in, out, or hold while the pickup device hovering at weird angles over my chest does it’s thing.

It's not a pleasant sensation watching as my heart pumps away - complete with metal tube snaking around inside it.

Until now I've assumed that my current predicament has been caused by me being a “fat guy” who’s been pretending / trying to get fit. I’ve been sure that it would be inevitable that I’d overdo things, even if my training has enabled me to loose all my excess weight (38kg).

My angiogram comes up clean! – No heart attack. No artery issues. No obstructions. And no sign of any artery problems to come! Something of a relief considering my size two years ago! It does however show that the sack containing my heart is swollen and enflamed - restricting the ability of my heart to pump blood efficiently.

This is called Pericardtis. In my case caused by a viral infection attacking the heart. Probably a direct result of training, and riding Taupo while I have a bad cold. It will resolve itself with rest, anti-inflammatories, pain killers, and time.

Removing the 15cm tube used during the angiogram from my groin has to wait until my blood thickens again - nominally a period of four hours, during which time I must lie still, unable to raise my head, and keeping my right leg (with the tube in the femoral artery) straight. So I sleep! (I’m still recovering from lack of sleep at Taupo).

Removal of the tube is preceded by attaching a device that looks like a floor tile sucker (in reverse. ie it applies pressure rather than sucking) over the wound in my groin. The device is pumped up to press hard against the tissue. The tube is pulled out, and a slow 30 minute process follows. Every few minutes my blood pressure, and the pulse in my foot are checked. If they are ok a little pressure more is released off my wound.

This process ensures that the puncture in the femoral artery in my groin is fully sealed. Otherwise it may leak into the groin area. If not caught quickly this would be fatal.

At 7pm I’m finally allowed out of bed for a walk around. I can finally discover my surroundings. Where’s the toilet please!?!

I have an uncomfortable night. I can’t believe how loud the guy in the next cubicle can snore I might as well be sleeping next to a jack hammer! At 6:30 am as the morning nurse takes my blood pressure he admits that at handover the night nurse opened our cubical door to enable the incoming staff to truly appreciate the full effects of the nasal blast!

This morning there’s more blood tests, and one last ECG.

A nurse starts to remove the conductive tags placed over my body. The tags on my legs come off quickly and easily. Strange how we cyclists shave our legs in case of the inevitable crash! Once she reaches my chest (and chest hair) she admits that she’s “not into pain and suffering” and opts to leave me alone to suffer the removal of the rest of the tags myself. Ouch!!

After a shower I’m discharged, and given strict instructions that I’m not to do any exercise for a period of at least two weeks. No walking or riding. I’m gutted. This counts me out from doing the next two Onslow Tarbaby Recovery rides.

Maybe I’ll make it back in time for the last scheduled ride. 55Km to Pauatahanui for a coffee and catch-up.

I’ve been very lucky to have been given a brief, although somewhat invasive glimpse of where just two years ago my life was inevitably headed.

Thanks to the physical challenge that Taupo has provided, and the ongoing friendly training assistance from the Onslow Tarbabies cycling group, I’ve managed to turn things around to hopefully avoid what in the future could have been a real heart attack.

Was there anything else for me to learn from the last few days? – Maybe. Just maybe it might not have been such a bright idea to ride the Solo Challenge around Taupo while obviously ill. But as they say. “It’s just one of those things that simply had to be done”.

Oh yeah. There is of course my Wife’s “Maybe you should listen to me next time!!”

[Trekhawk]

Roadraven - yikes what a story. We really do need to listen to our bodies thanks for reminding me.

[Yasmin]

Thanks Roadraven. Yes, I do tend to push myself. My husband keeps telling me I'm a nearly 50yr old doing what 25yr olds do. I have rested & (90%)recovered from the virus, but I'll heed your story as a warning.

[Googlie Wooglie]

So, how often do you all get sick? I've been cycling for a couple of years now, and I find that I get sick way more often than I did before I started all this outdoor exercise ... probably in the range of every 6 or 8 weeks.

Example ... I was feeling great for a month ... then Sunday we do 20 miles into a headwind and 20 miles back, about 60 degrees. Today my sinuses are blocked and I have a head cold. And a cold sore, to add insult to injury!

What do you guys do to stay healthy? I eat well, I take vitamins, it's not super cold here in SoCal ... I need to do something though. Suggestions?

[Lise]

OMG, Road Raven. Thank you for posting. I can be such an idiot about pushing when I should rest. Some words to the wise, and to the not so wise, like me.

Take care, L.

[Yasmin]

[QUOTE=Googlie Wooglie]So, how often do you all get sick? I've been cycling for a couple of years now, and I find that I get sick way more often than I did before I started all this outdoor exercise ... probably in the range of every 6 or 8 weeks.

Are you listening to your body when it wants to rest? I don't get sick that often even though I push myself. I do give myself time to recover & have "lazy" days. You shouldn't be getting sick that much. If you over excercise you can lower your immunity. Sounds like this could be happening to you. That's just an idea from me.

[RoadRaven]

I know it was a very loooong letter and hence a very looooong post to read... I did consider editing it to be a little shorter...

Glad it was a useful story... a good warning/reminder for us all to listen to our bodies before we exercise...

I think there is some study/research to show that fitness, when linked with weight loss, can be linked to sickness. Stange i know, but its to do with how much reserve our bodies carry to fight infection, and as atheletes get fitter BUT ALSO LIGHTER... they become more susceptible... there is less body mass to fight off those unwanted sniffles etc and it is more likely to turn to a secondary infection because of less body mass, and also because atheletes diet does not help in fighting illness...

Wishing you all wellness and fitness

[mary9761]

I KNOW what that individual went through with the cardiac procedure was NOT pleasant. Days after the first photo in my weight loss pics was taken, I was in the hospital going through the very same thing. At one point I felt them touch a heart muscle and to say the least it was very alarming. Good news was albeit I came into the procedure a different route, just not feeling good for some time, having chest pains, heavy sweats etc but NOT being active, there was nothing wrong with MY HEART!
It was a wake up call by my body when I couldn't hold my new Grandson (now 2) and breathe at the same time, I'd be out of breath walking across the room and drenched in sweat just holding the baby. I'm now taking care of 2 small children at the same time and other than stress, I'm feeling GREAT!!

[LBTC]

What a scary story! Definitely worth checking into things, and resting when we need to!!

Googlie, have you thought about if you have any allergies? I had a similar problem this spring, although I felt "under the weather" probably even more frequently. I had all the tests: thyroid, diabetes, kidney, iron, etc....everything returned "normal". On my own, despite what the medical community could figure out, I discovered I'm allergic to ginger, of all things! And there I was, all spring, every time I got a sniffle or anything, I ate more ginger to kill the bug!! Silly me, I was poisoning myself!

Anyway, ginger free has meant very few illnesses since then. A whole lot of other things (including at times just not feeling like it) have kept me off my bike much more this year than I'd hoped, so I haven't proven yet that no ginger and training hard will work, but I'm really hoping for it!!

Just another avenue to explore! I agree with the others, too, though. If your body needs a rest, give her a rest!!!

Good luck,
Namaste,
~T~

[RoadVixen]

LB- I know exactly what you mean...I've had severe allergies since i was a child & the symptoms aren't always what you would think. For instance, during allergy season (My biggie is ragweed) I start feeling soooo tired and I get headaches- not your run of the mill allergy stuff. Of course, the runny/stuffy nose, itchy throat and eyes come too, and w/o my medication it gets pretty depressing. I've started on the local honey remedy, so we'll see how that goes next go round. Also, in body + soul magazine I found some new holistic remedies I've been wanting to try: there's a "super immune support" tincture, a "cold + fever fighter", another is the "cough + sore throat soother", "fire cider" for colds/also as a daily warming tonic (and good salad dressing) haha, and lastly a "mood booster". They take about a month to make, but I think i'll give em a whirl....can't hurt!

[Trek420]

RoadRaven wrote "I think there is some study/research to show that fitness, when linked with weight loss, can be linked to sickness. Stange i know, but its to do with how much reserve our bodies carry to fight infection, and as atheletes get fitter BUT ALSO LIGHTER... they become more susceptible... there is less body mass to fight off those unwanted sniffles etc and it is more likely to turn to a secondary infection because of less body mass, and also because atheletes diet does not help in fighting illness..."

Not weight necessarily.

I also read something similar, my understanding is it has to do with white blood cell count. On the one hand as we increase endurance we get a healthy red blood cell count. Aparently it "crowds out" the white blood cells which have to do with immune system.

I read this in some coverage of the TdF, the racers have to be very careful on flight over there, in the time shortly before the race theu are very susceptable to anything out there. But I think that applies to ultra cyclists, not mere mortals like me.

[Googlie Wooglie]

Allergies ... that's an interesting idea worth investigating. I am going to the doc in a couple of months for a complete physical. I'm turning (gasp!) 30 and thought I should have some benchmark numbers taken. Maybe he'll find something I'm not thinking of.

I know my iron is chronically low despite supplements. I know I have a cold-induced asthma (cold as in temperature). I do feel soooo tired soooo often ... I chalk it up to exercise, and I am not good at taking the rest I probably need. I'll try to make that a priority too.

Thanks for the feedback.