FitOldDog’s Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Stent Graft Extension Has Survived Ironman Training And The Aneurysm Is Shrinking Again! Good News!

Hi folks, welcome! After completing (not wonderfully, but finishing anyway, though I lost my bet of a crab dinner to Greg who had a great race) the Eagleman Half Ironman last weekend, I went to the Cleveland Clinic for my 6 month checkup. All is well, in spite of concerns about cycling adversely affecting the stent graft extension that was installed about 6 months ago - so now to prepare for the 2014 ... Read more

Providing Exercise Advice To Aortic Patients From The Patient’s Perspective

For further information go to aorticpatient.com ... Read more

Safe Rehabilitation And Subsequent Exercise Following Aortic Surgery Depend Upon Base, Pace, And Your Dreams For The Future

Alan Martins says: March 1, 2014 at 9:35 pm "I totally agree, was also told not to play golf and go for little walks! What? If I’m going down, it’s going to be with a smile on my face. Live life!" Welcome! Only you can really decide the best exercise plan for your mind, heart and body, when dealing with the rigors of aortic disease - but deal with it you will, one way or another. Increasingly, ... Read more

Your Body Knows Best, So Listen: Optimal Cycling Cadence (Or Heart Rate) For An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (or Coronary) Stent Graft?

"If you decide to try to understand your cardiovascular or aortic stent, and it's potential impact on your blood flow, remember that the heart is not a pump that sends blood around a system of rigid pipes, it is but one (sorry, two) of many driving components of the cardiovascular system, which would probably be best considered as one, highly integrated, continuous pumping network, employing a panoply of energy ... Read more

FitOldDog Interviews His Endovascular Surgeon At The Cleveland Clinic, OH, And Expresses His Sincere Thanks – Now Back To The Ironman

"But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,  In proving foresight may be vain;  The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men  Gang aft agley..." Rabbie Burns Hi folks, welcome! You don't make it in life alone, as you depend on many others for your sustenance and well being. I'm certainly very grateful for the support I received at the Cleveland Clinic with a recent repair to my displaced abdominal aortic aneurysm ... Read more

Training In 2014 With A Health Challenge? Think, Collect Data, Estimate Benefit Over Risk, Then Get On With Your Sport And Your Life

Hi folks, welcome to my thoughts on training as an older athlete with some aortic issues! The real trick to training with a health challenge is to understand your condition, modify your activity for the better (safer) as best you can, and get on with that which you enjoy, as safely as possible. I'm going to use my situation, the issue of cycling with an abdominal aortic aneurysm stent graft extension into ... Read more

Is It Safe? Training With An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Or Other Serious Health Challenge, Revisited.

Hi folks, welcome! From time to time I'm asked directly for advice on exercise with an aortic aneurysm, and here is such an example, provided as a excerpt from a comment stream on the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Awareness Facebook page. Ranjit: “There's this gentleman I played golf with once. He was my age 64yrs and very well built. I was not aware that he had been treated with endovascular surgery/stent for an ... Read more

Practice Makes Perfect When It Comes To Living With An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm – Watch That Abdominal Pulse

Hi folks, welcome! I am fortunate, or maybe you would say unfortunate, to be monitoring a growing abdominal aortic aneurysm for the second time in my life. It will be fixed soon, I'm sure. How do I monitor my aneurysm, you may ask? By intermittent ultrasound checks, and daily by watching my abdominal pulse. I sure noticed increased strength of this pulse whilst swimming yesterday, so I abruptly stopped after only ... Read more

Disclaimer: As a veterinarian, I do not provide medical advice for human animals. If you undertake or modify an exercise program, consult your medical advisors before doing so. Undertaking activities pursued by the author does not mean that he endorses your undertaking such activities, which is clearly your decision and responsibility. Be careful and sensible, please.