2020 weight loss and fitness accountability club

Wattie said:

Its been an eventful month for me Gents since my hip diagnosis. A life changing one.

The day prior to my follow up with the Doc I was dressing my daughter for school. Without any warning or pain I lost the sight in my left eye for around 1 min. It was odd. Started as a grey spot that got larger and larger obscuring my field of vision in the eye. It then started to slowly clear and I could see through the top half but totally obscured bottom half. Then all became normal.
No other effects, no pain (bit scary admittedly as i'd never had anything like that happen before). Normal service resumed, got on with things.

Next day, Doc appointment for annual psa/blood test results - all normal, Cholesterol ratio 3.3 (note https://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/index.php?threads/blood-pressure.31005/post-768030 and the fact my my “good” cholesterol is far higher than the bad)

Got my hip referral to a physiotherapist, in the clinic. Basically the physiotherapist I met explained I was probably born with previously undetected "Perthes disease" ( a flattening of the hip joint) ) and I'm now following a 6 week specific hip exercise regime designed to strengthen the muscles around the hips in order to try to get extended wear out of them. This, as you'll read is now a secondary concern.

So I'm sat back in the Doc after my Physio consult for an final chat and I'm thinking will I, won't I mention my eye......everything is normal again......decided to mention it.

Doc immediately asks me dozens of questions, did this/that/the other happen? No to everything.
"Why are you asking me all this?"
Doc, "We need to rule out if you've had a transient ischaemic attack"
"Whats that?"
Doc "A stroke"
"What!!!??"

Immediate prescription for Asprin and referral to a Neurologist. Referred for "Cartoid and vertebrael" scans.
I was slightly stunned.

Two days later I'm sat in the Neurologist where I'm asked to recount the eye episode.......twice. I'm then given a whole lot of what seemed like reflexology, feel/ squeeze tests along with a "follow the pen" eyecheck. Bp done along with a stethoscope test. I show him my recent and historical blood/cholesterol results.

"Everything ok"
Neurologist " Well it appears you have some "Plaque" in your carotid arteries in your neck. Both sides, - this build up has narrowed the gap that the blood flows through to the brain"
"Whats plaque?"
Neurologist "Plaque is cholesterol"
"But my cholesterol has been 2.8, 2.9 and 3.3......below the 3.5 good level maximum. How's that happened?"
Neurologist "You've been unlucky, (my father had cholesterol issues) It's possible a bit of plaque on your left side broke off and travelled into your head causing the eye issue. This can be dangerous, as if a bigger piece breaks off it could cause a bigger problem".

Silence. Stunned.

Neurologist- "I'd like to run some tests on you. We'll do a Ct Brain, Angio head/neck with and without dye contrast so we can get to the bottom of this eye episode"
"Ok"
Neurologist "Are you aware you have a heart murmer? I want to run "Echo "D and DOP/Vid Cardiac Failure RORLVH" tests too"

"What????, I've never been told that before".
Shocked.
Neurologist "It may be nothing but we need to establish if the plaque came from your neck.....or your heart which is why their might be a murmur. I'm immediately putting you on 80mg Statin for your Cholesterol while we investigate all this ( so 0 to 80mg- the highest dose you can get in a day!)

Appointments made for Neurologist tests. I left to go home and contemplate.
Week later, all tests done. I'm back in the Neurologist.

Neurologist- "We're satisfied that the eye issue was caused by plaque from your left carotoid artery. Stay on the 80mg and I'll see you again in 9months for a review"
"Will the statin help to reduce the neck plaque that has built up?"
Neurologist "Yes, we would expect to see a reduction on both sides as a result of the tablet. Regarding your heart, the scan results have revealed that it appears you were born with a congenital heart defect"
"What?, (I've had multiple surgeries for sporting injuries etc and no-one has ever picked this up, nor have I had any symptoms)
Neurologist "You have a bi-cuspid heart valve. The murmer is a sign that the defective valve is showing signs of wear and tear. I'm referring you to a cardiologist"
View attachment 71781
"So what does that mean then?"
Neurologist "it means you need to take it reallyeasy for now, until we can determine the stage (mild, moderate or severe) you're at. At some point you may need a replacement heart valve'.

So, I've had an ECG done and various measurements taken of my heart and the valve in question. I see a cardiologist on the 6th July to determine where I'm at and what course of action (if any) needs to be taken along with lifestyle changes I’ll need to make/exercise restrictions.

I must admit i'm finding the whole thing rather difficult to digest as with the exception of a sore left hip I feel as fit and healthy as ever. I have absolutely no symptoms of any heart trouble. Given my fitness regime and the changes that may need to be taken from now on its all a little surreal......have I been lucky I didn't drop dead in the gym? I count myself lucky that I at least know about these issues now and can take the necessary future lifestyle/medical steps. Many are not so fortunate- actor John Ritter.

This Trainer Was Warned His Heart Could ‘Explode’ If He Lifted Over 50 Pounds

Find out how he stays fit—and inspires other guys to do the same

www.menshealth.com

Its a funny way to look at what's happened but it seems to me that me that finally reporting a deteriorating leg condition, combined with the timing of the eye incident and the fact that I luckily told a doc about something i thought was trivial may ultimately have saved me from a potential life threatening incident.
I'm certain that if I hadn't been seeing the Doc that following day I wouldn't have reported my eye issue.

Gents, if something doesn't feel quite right, see or tell your Doc.

Moving on, my measurements are up on the last ones.
There may have been some comfort eating involved.
View attachment 71775

Click to expand...

allandwf said:

Not checked back in for a while, but I'm still on target even though it will be a month or two late. Hopefully around this time next month target weight will be attained.

Click to expand...

Wattie said:

Its been an eventful month for me Gents since my hip diagnosis. A life changing one.

The day prior to my follow up with the Doc I was dressing my daughter for school. Without any warning or pain I lost the sight in my left eye for around 1 min. It was odd. Started as a grey spot that got larger and larger obscuring my field of vision in the eye. It then started to slowly clear and I could see through the top half but totally obscured bottom half. Then all became normal.
No other effects, no pain (bit scary admittedly as i'd never had anything like that happen before). Normal service resumed, got on with things.

Next day, Doc appointment for annual psa/blood test results - all normal, Cholesterol ratio 3.3 (note https://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/index.php?threads/blood-pressure.31005/post-768030 and the fact my my “good” cholesterol is far higher than the bad)

Got my hip referral to a physiotherapist, in the clinic. Basically the physiotherapist I met explained I was probably born with previously undetected "Perthes disease" ( a flattening of the hip joint) ) and I'm now following a 6 week specific hip exercise regime designed to strengthen the muscles around the hips in order to try to get extended wear out of them. This, as you'll read is now a secondary concern.

So I'm sat back in the Doc after my Physio consult for an final chat and I'm thinking will I, won't I mention my eye......everything is normal again......decided to mention it.

Doc immediately asks me dozens of questions, did this/that/the other happen? No to everything.
"Why are you asking me all this?"
Doc, "We need to rule out if you've had a transient ischaemic attack"
"Whats that?"
Doc "A stroke"
"What!!!??"

Immediate prescription for Asprin and referral to a Neurologist. Referred for "Cartoid and vertebrael" scans.
I was slightly stunned.

Two days later I'm sat in the Neurologist where I'm asked to recount the eye episode.......twice. I'm then given a whole lot of what seemed like reflexology, feel/ squeeze tests along with a "follow the pen" eyecheck. Bp done along with a stethoscope test. I show him my recent and historical blood/cholesterol results.

"Everything ok"
Neurologist " Well it appears you have some "Plaque" in your carotid arteries in your neck. Both sides, - this build up has narrowed the gap that the blood flows through to the brain"
"Whats plaque?"
Neurologist "Plaque is cholesterol"
"But my cholesterol has been 2.8, 2.9 and 3.3......below the 3.5 good level maximum. How's that happened?"
Neurologist "You've been unlucky, (my father had cholesterol issues) It's possible a bit of plaque on your left side broke off and travelled into your head causing the eye issue. This can be dangerous, as if a bigger piece breaks off it could cause a bigger problem".

Silence. Stunned.

Neurologist- "I'd like to run some tests on you. We'll do a Ct Brain, Angio head/neck with and without dye contrast so we can get to the bottom of this eye episode"
"Ok"
Neurologist "Are you aware you have a heart murmer? I want to run "Echo "D and DOP/Vid Cardiac Failure RORLVH" tests too"

"What????, I've never been told that before".
Shocked.
Neurologist "It may be nothing but we need to establish if the plaque came from your neck.....or your heart which is why their might be a murmur. I'm immediately putting you on 80mg Statin for your Cholesterol while we investigate all this ( so 0 to 80mg- the highest dose you can get in a day!)

Appointments made for Neurologist tests. I left to go home and contemplate.
Week later, all tests done. I'm back in the Neurologist.

Neurologist- "We're satisfied that the eye issue was caused by plaque from your left carotoid artery. Stay on the 80mg and I'll see you again in 9months for a review"
"Will the statin help to reduce the neck plaque that has built up?"
Neurologist "Yes, we would expect to see a reduction on both sides as a result of the tablet. Regarding your heart, the scan results have revealed that it appears you were born with a congenital heart defect"
"What?, (I've had multiple surgeries for sporting injuries etc and no-one has ever picked this up, nor have I had any symptoms)
Neurologist "You have a bi-cuspid heart valve. The murmer is a sign that the defective valve is showing signs of wear and tear. I'm referring you to a cardiologist"
View attachment 71781
"So what does that mean then?"
Neurologist "it means you need to take it reallyeasy for now, until we can determine the stage (mild, moderate or severe) you're at. At some point you may need a replacement heart valve'.

So, I've had an ECG done and various measurements taken of my heart and the valve in question. I see a cardiologist on the 6th July to determine where I'm at and what course of action (if any) needs to be taken along with lifestyle changes I’ll need to make/exercise restrictions.

I must admit i'm finding the whole thing rather difficult to digest as with the exception of a sore left hip I feel as fit and healthy as ever. I have absolutely no symptoms of any heart trouble. Given my fitness regime and the changes that may need to be taken from now on its all a little surreal......have I been lucky I didn't drop dead in the gym? I count myself lucky that I at least know about these issues now and can take the necessary future lifestyle/medical steps. Many are not so fortunate- actor John Ritter.

This Trainer Was Warned His Heart Could ‘Explode’ If He Lifted Over 50 Pounds

Find out how he stays fit—and inspires other guys to do the same

www.menshealth.com

Its a funny way to look at what's happened but it seems to me that me that finally reporting a deteriorating leg condition, combined with the timing of the eye incident and the fact that I luckily told a doc about something i thought was trivial may ultimately have saved me from a potential life threatening incident.
I'm certain that if I hadn't been seeing the Doc that following day I wouldn't have reported my eye issue.

Gents, if something doesn't feel quite right, see or tell your Doc.

Moving on, my measurements are up on the last ones.
There may have been some comfort eating involved.
View attachment 71775

Click to expand...

Wattie said:

So, saw cardiologist.
Severe stenosis diagnosed -even though I have no symptoms.
I can keep exercising.
I’ve decided to get the valve replaced ASAP on the basis that I’m stronger without symptoms and therefore in the best place for the required open heart op......which I expect will be 3-4 months away.
Gonna keep living the way i’ve been doing.....nothing else for it....but I’m gonna have to prepare everything at home for the previously unthinkable, just in case.
There will be a lot of contemplation in the coming months.

Click to expand...

Hawk13 said:

Happy with this time ...... and even more impressed with myself starting in the wind and rain.

Click to expand...

JonW said:

I’ve just bought a treadmill for our home gym, and have done two 5ks in the last week. These are my first 5ks in probably 9mths, so I’m pleased to have been able to run that distance...First one was 36 mins, and involved starting slow, and then speeding up a bit for miles 2 and 3. Today I decided to run the whole thing at a constant pace, and set off at 5.5mph, and finished in 34 mins...

i suspect I could shave off a minute or two if I really went for it, so my target is to get close to 30 mins by beginning of August. I will enjoy trying....

Click to expand...

Wattie said:

So, saw cardiologist.
Severe stenosis diagnosed -even though I have no symptoms.
I can keep exercising.
I’ve decided to get the valve replaced ASAP on the basis that I’m stronger without symptoms and therefore in the best place for the required open heart op......which I expect will be 3-4 months away.
Gonna keep living the way i’ve been doing.....nothing else for it....but I’m gonna have to prepare everything at home for the previously unthinkable, just in case.
There will be a lot of contemplation in the coming months.

Click to expand...