Aneurysm, Diabetes, Heart Attack, Serious Injury, Feeling Your Age?

  Hi folks, Well, almost a year has gone by since I started this blog in response to fear for my life. I continue to search for endurance athletes with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) stent graft, without success. Since my graft placement, I have completed both a half and full Ironman race, with no apparent interest from the manufacturers of my stent - maybe they are scared I will croak on the course ... Read more

Filed Under: Exercise Tips

A Watershed Moment In The Life Of This Blog: Completing An Ironman Race With My Son And My Stent

  Hi folks, (I am not sure who many of you are, but I appreciate your interest in my chatter), I am now moving into the next phase of my e-life experiment. I started this blog about one year ago out of fear for my life, and the need to talk to someone about how it feels to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and an AAA-stent graft. I achieved that aim and found what I needed at the Facebook AAA ... Read more

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Open Water Swim, New Bike, And Running In The Rain, All In One Weekend: Could Life Be Better?

Hi folks! People often ask me if I am a little crazy doing Ironman training. I think people who don't train are crazy! There is always some kind of workout that you can do, even if you are severely injured or disabled. Just look around and see what some people achieve, like Benjamin Carey, for instance. He and his 'open heart' surgeon completed the New York Marathon one year to the day after they replaced ... Read more

Filed Under: psychology

AAA Screening For All Men Over 65 (What About Women?): Well Done NHS - What Is Happening In The US of A?

Hi folks, I just read this on the British (or is it English? This turned out to be an important distinction when I lived in Scotland!) Aortic Dissection Support Group site: "In the UK, the NHS (National Health Service) have acted with great responsibility to set up a NATIONAL SCREENING program for all men in the UK 65 and over. The phased roll-out of the programme nationally began in 2009 with an anticipation ... Read more

Filed Under: Uncategorized

My AAA-Stent FDA Adverse Event (Correctable Hypertension) Report, And The Role Of High Technology In My Life Recently

Hi folks, Well! It was a busy week for me. I sent an adverse event report to the FDA for my AAA stent-induced hypertension and received a nice polite reply, which told me that if you want to use the FDA MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form (3500) effectively, send data - which I did. In fact, here is their reply, just click on the image to see it more clearly, and use the back arrow on your browser to return ... Read more

Filed Under: Uncategorized

It Would Appear That Rigid AAA-Stent Grafts Can Induce Life-Threatening Hypertension Which Is Correctable

  Hi folks, This is a follow-up to previous posts on my stent-induced hypertension, as new data have come in - another case. This is a potentially critical aspect of AAA-stent graft placement, which can be life saving, but a BP of 220/120 could also be life threatening. In my case, the hypertension was corrected by a combination of an ACE inhibitor (10 mg Lisinopril) and exercise. Several cardiologists ... Read more

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Useful Links For Health Challenged Athletes

Hi! Folks, Whilst building my business website, 'Old Dogs in Training,' it became apparent that a list of links, including books and websites that address specific health challenges for older male athletes, might be of value to my potential clients (older guys who want to get in shape safely). As I couldn't work out how to make a sub-page link in my GoDaddy Website Tonight site, I thought 'why not link it to my ... Read more

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Does An Endovascular AAA-Stent Graft Induce Hypertension? We Need More Data!

Hi! Folks, The purpose of this post is to encourage you to gather data if you are dealing with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), with or without an endovascular stent graft, or any other life-threatening condition for that matter. You never know, it might help. Remember my early posts about how I discovered my abdominal aortic aneurysm? Much like Pauline [see comments], I noticed an abdominal pulse combined ... Read more

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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.