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Date: 11 Aug 2006 06:58:11
From: ren
Subject: Running after bypass surgery
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I am a healthy 68 year man who has been running since 1978. I ran
19 five to 10 K races this year. Quite often I was both the oldest and
slowest finisher with a pace of 12 to 13 minutes per mile. This is
considerably slower than my times three years ago but I assumed much
slower pace was the result of normal aging. In mid July, I had a
routine physical. I was very surprised to find that I have three
blocked arteries and will have bypass surgery later this month.
Does anyone have any experience with optimistic or pessimistic
outcomes following bypass surgery? Is it realistic to think that I
might return to running or paced walking? I have also been riding my
bicycle moderately long distances this summer such as 40 miles but at a
rather slow pace. Can older people who have bypass surgery eventually
return to such activities?
Thank you.
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Date: 11 Aug 2006 10:49:16
From: Charlie Pendejo
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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ren wrote:
> I am a healthy 68 year man who has been running since 1978 [...]
> Can older people who have bypass surgery eventually return
> to [running]?
Jim Fixx' classic, _The Complete Book of Running_, came out the year
before you started.
Chapter 20 is "The World's Sickest Running Club", subtitled "Sometimes
a Heart Attack Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened." It concerns
cardiac patients who started running for rehabilitation. Here's the
second and third paragraphs:
Hirschfield had always worked and played hard, skied in the
winter, and done pretty much what he wanted to do. Now,
suddenly he was an invalid, so when, a few weeks later, his
dor prescribed exercises, Hirschfield was startled. "How
can I exercise?" he said, "I've had a heart attack!"
"That's right," said the dor, "but that's in the past.
You can't sit on your ass for the rest of your life."
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Date: 11 Aug 2006 09:20:57
From: Ed Prochak
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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ren wrote:
> I am a healthy 68 year man who has been running since 1978. I ran
> 19 five to 10 K races this year. Quite often I was both the oldest and
> slowest finisher with a pace of 12 to 13 minutes per mile. This is
> considerably slower than my times three years ago but I assumed much
> slower pace was the result of normal aging. In mid July, I had a
> routine physical. I was very surprised to find that I have three
> blocked arteries and will have bypass surgery later this month.
> Does anyone have any experience with optimistic or pessimistic
> outcomes following bypass surgery? Is it realistic to think that I
> might return to running or paced walking? I have also been riding my
> bicycle moderately long distances this summer such as 40 miles but at a
> rather slow pace. Can older people who have bypass surgery eventually
> return to such activities?
>
> Thank you.
Obviously verify with your dor, but Runners World has had articles
about heart bypass patients that still run afterward. you are running
with your heart ina damaged state, so it seems logical that with a more
healthy heart after surgury, you should be able to continue. So talk to
your dor, not us.
Ed
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Date: 11 Aug 2006 13:32:02
From: Al Bundy
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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ren wrote:
> I am a healthy 68 year man who has been running since 1978. I ran
> 19 five to 10 K races this year. Quite often I was both the oldest and
> slowest finisher with a pace of 12 to 13 minutes per mile. This is
> considerably slower than my times three years ago but I assumed much
> slower pace was the result of normal aging. In mid July, I had a
> routine physical. I was very surprised to find that I have three
> blocked arteries and will have bypass surgery later this month.
> Does anyone have any experience with optimistic or pessimistic
> outcomes following bypass surgery? Is it realistic to think that I
> might return to running or paced walking? I have also been riding my
> bicycle moderately long distances this summer such as 40 miles but at a
> rather slow pace. Can older people who have bypass surgery eventually
> return to such activities?
>
> Thank you.
Yea, my park out here has several runners in their 70's that have had
heart surgery. One runs with a pacemaker and a monitor. They have not
gotten into trouble from the exercise. One man said his cardiologist
told him he had only 15% heart function. The man continues to walk and
sometimes run/walk. I would not try the same with that level of functin
left. Chances are that your dor will be glad to work with you on an
exercise program.
It has become all too clear over the years that exercise does not
guarantee heart health.
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Date: 12 Aug 2006 22:32:14
From: Kaz Kylheku
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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ren wrote:
> routine physical. I was very surprised to find that I have three
> blocked arteries and will have bypass surgery later this month.
I'd love to know what you have been eating for the past 30 years. What
has your attitude been toward saturated fats and dietary cholesterol?
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Date: 12 Aug 2006 13:20:18
From: deech77
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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ren wrote:
> ................ I was very surprised to find that I have three
> blocked arteries and will have bypass surgery later this month.
> Does anyone have any experience with optimistic or pessimistic
> outcomes following bypass surgery? Is it realistic to think that I
> might return to running or paced walking?
>
In my case, February 2005 was open heart bypass. In November 2005, I
returned to refereeing scholastic wrestling matches. In January 2006,
with my cardiologist's blessing, I "ran" a Half Marathon. I sure
didn't break any records, but I got a finisher's medal.
Bob
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Date: 12 Aug 2006 22:33:14
From: Kaz Kylheku
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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deech77 wrote:
> In my case, February 2005 was open heart bypass.
What have you been eating in the last few decades?
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 09:57:26
From: deech77
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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Kaz Kylheku wrote:
> deech77 wrote:
> > In my case, February 2005 was open heart bypass.
>
> What have you been eating in the last few decades?
Basic omnivore, heavy on vegetables, chicken, & seafood. Tried
vegetarian for about 18 months, minimal change to my lipid profile, so
I returned to "everything in moderation."
Bob
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 15:13:14
From: Kaz Kylheku
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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deech77 wrote:
> Kaz Kylheku wrote:
> > deech77 wrote:
> > > In my case, February 2005 was open heart bypass.
> >
> > What have you been eating in the last few decades?
>
> Basic omnivore, heavy on vegetables, chicken, & seafood.
That's it? Breakfast, lunch and dinner? What are the exact ingredients?
How do you prepare the chicken and vegetables? What do you drink? Do
you always eat at home?
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Date: 14 Aug 2006 19:57:49
From: Ozzie Gontang
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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In article <1155304691.347717.176810@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com >,
"ren" <renf@umich.edu > wrote:
> I am a healthy 68 year man who has been running since 1978. I ran
> 19 five to 10 K races this year. Quite often I was both the oldest and
> slowest finisher with a pace of 12 to 13 minutes per mile. This is
> considerably slower than my times three years ago but I assumed much
> slower pace was the result of normal aging. In mid July, I had a
> routine physical. I was very surprised to find that I have three
> blocked arteries and will have bypass surgery later this month.
> Does anyone have any experience with optimistic or pessimistic
> outcomes following bypass surgery? Is it realistic to think that I
> might return to running or paced walking? I have also been riding my
> bicycle moderately long distances this summer such as 40 miles but at a
> rather slow pace. Can older people who have bypass surgery eventually
> return to such activities?
>
> Thank you.
First to those that question Bob's diet, know that we've learned a great
deal about the role that inflammation can cause to blockage in the
coronary arteries. e.g.: http://www.bhlinc.com/Lp-PLA2_1.shtml
If you check out the Berkeley HeartLab, Inc. http://www.bhlinc.com
you'll see the various lab reports they've been doing and that are now
being used by more and more labs. We have a lot to learn that goes
beyond blood lipids and cholesterol.
Ren,
Over the years I've worked with many cardiac bypass patients. Most
cardiac programs have a strong exercise portion for rehab. I've coached
a few people back to half and full marathons after their bypasses.
Check out: http://www.torontorehab.on.ca/patient/cardiac/cbh.htm
The first time I saw patients from Toronto cardiac rehab was in 1976 at
the Honolulu Marathon where about 25 of Dr. Terrry Cavanagh's patients
ran the Marathon. They've been doing this since the mid 70's and have
altered the perspective that cardiacs are cripples...forever.
People might be interested in reading about homocysteine:
http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/homocysteine.html
Or consider some of the information about C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hscrp/test.html
and its use as an indicator of imflammation
the site above says
hs-CRP usually is ordered as one of several tests in a cardiovascular
risk profile, often along with tests for cholesterol and triglycerides.
Some experts say that the best way to predict risk is to combine a good
marker for inflammation, like CRP, along with the ratio of total
cholesterol to HDL cholesterol.
To help clarify when CRP testing may be most useful, in January 2003 the
American Heart Association and Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (AHA/CDC) examined current evidence and then published their
recommendations for its use:
No: not for widespread screening of the general adult population;
continue to focus on major risk factors, such as high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes
Yes: useful as an independent marker of risk and as a discretionary tool
in the evaluation of those with moderate risk of cardiovascular disease
to help determine treatment course
No: not for tracking treatment efficacy due to lack of evidence that
reducing hs-CRP levels improves outcomes, such as survival.
....The AHA/CDC defined risk groups as follows:
Low risk: less than 1.0 mg/L
Average risk: 1.0 to 3.0 mg/L
High risk: above 3.0 mg/L
[Back to top]
Is there anything else I should know?
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like aspirin, Advil,
Motrin, and Naproxin) or statins (a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs)
may reduce CRP levels in blood. Both anti-inflammatory drugs and statins
may help to reduce the inflammation, thus reducing CRP.
Because hs-CRP tests are measuring a marker of inflammation, it is
important that any person having the test be healthy in order for the
test to be of any value in predicting the risk of coronary disease or
heart attack. Any recent illness, tissue injury, infection, or general
inflammation will raise the amount of CRP and give a falsely elevated
estimate of risk.
Since the hs-CRP and CRP tests measure the same molecule, people with
chronic inflammation, such as those with arthritis, should not have
hs-CRP levels measured. Their CRP levels will be very high due to the
arthritisoften too high to be measured using the hs-CRP test.
Good luck on your recovery. A dear Australian friend of mine died in
July, about 7 years after a one or two vessel bypass surgery. It took 6
years to find out what the probable case was that left him unable to
speak or swallow, and slow motor skills: what would take you 10 seconds
would take him 2 or 4 minutes to accomplish. The other piece of all of
this is that he was not damaged with his mental capacity and his ability
to hear, understand, and comprehend... it just took him longer to get
out his answer. Thru his talking machine which he typed on or by finger
spelling.
In the by pass surgery, there is a short time that the heart/lung
machine is turned off to minimize movement so that vessels can be
stitched together. In the case of my friend, it was surmised, after 6
years of attempting to find out what happened. that someone forgot to
turn the machine back on so he was without oxygen for several minutes or
more. No one will ever know since the case was settled out of court.
The last words his wife heard him say to the nurse or orderly as he was
being wheeled into the operating room was: How's the quality control
here. (He was an engineer) He was told no worries.
Look up the word iatrogenic which is often followed by the word
"disease."
We are responsible for our health. Those health care providers are
resources to assist us in taking care of ourselves. I trust them and
know that I am respsonsible for taking care of my health.
It's important to be in life long learning mode, and ask questions and
more questions until you know they know you know they know.
In health and on the run,
Ozzie Gontang
gontang@electriciti.com
Maintainer - rec.running FAQ
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/by-newsgroup/rec/rec.running.html
Director, San Diego Marathon Clinic, est. 1975
Mindful Running http://www.mindfulness.com/mr.html
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Date: 15 Aug 2006 21:17:28
From: deech77
Subject: Re: Running after bypass surgery
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Kaz Kylheku wrote:
> That's it? Breakfast, lunch and dinner? What are the exact ingredients?
> How do you prepare the chicken and vegetables? What do you drink? Do
> you always eat at home?
Ahh, I see where this is going. See Ozzie's post and realize that
there are a myriad of components beyond diet.
I had a total blockage of one coronary artery. Pre-op testing showed
that there was no other total or even partial blockage of any other
coronary or carotid artery. Physician consensus was that the blockage
occurred at least ten years ago and could date back to my twenties.
There exists a distinct possibility that the physical structure of the
particular artery may have played a role in the blockage.
Bob
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