On NPR’s The People’s Pharmacy I Finally Heard A Cardiologist Talking Sense About The Risks Of Statins: I Got Better Results With Exercise

Hi folks, About 40 years ago, whilst working in my laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland, we discovered that I have a fairly extreme form of hyperlipidemia (high blood fat or triglyceride) with a resting level (no treatment) over 2000 mg/dL (extremely high), hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol) of over 230 mg/dL (high) and low HDL (high density lipoprotein, so-called 'good' cholesterol, but really an ... Read more

Rebuilding Your Life After Aortic Surgery With FitOldDog’s Quick Start Guide To Aortic Surgery Recovery

Hi folks, welcome!  FitOldDog's Guide to Aortic Surgery Recovery, or how to handle your life after such a life-threatening event, is now available, as is Aortic Disease From The Patient's Perspective. This weekend I also completed my first FitOldDog product, which is available for purchase on this site. This 49-page document was designed for the FitOldDog of August 2010, when I went from Ironman ... Read more

FitOldDog Has A Slot In The New York City Marathon Thanks To Heartosaurus And He Has Agreed To Raise Money For The American Heart Foundation – Help!

  Hi folks, Thanks to the great and wonderful ascending aortic aneurysm survivor and author ('Barefoot in November' - inspiring story about his survival), Benjamin Carey, FitOldDog has a slot in the New York City Marathon in November. In return for the chance to meet a whole group of aortic aneurysm survivors, I have agreed to raise money for The American Heart Association. Contributions from any kind ... Read more

What Should I Advise Larry To Do? To Train For An Ironman Or Not?

  Hi folks, You never know what is around the next corner, and here I am wrestling with the problem of giving advice to Larry, whom I have never met and who contacted me recently via the abdominal aortic aneurysm awareness Facebook page, with the following message (Larry said it was OK to talk about this on my blog!): "Kevin! Hi my name is Larry. I joined the AAA facebook page not too long ago. I too ... Read more

Fond Memories Of An Expat AAA-Ironman Triathlete As A Young Veterinarian In Wellington Somerset

  Hi folks, Many years ago I lived in Wellington, Somerset, England, where I worked as a young veterinarian. In fact, one of my latest Veterinary Tales, 'Pride Cometh Before A Fall,' was based upon an experience on a farm whilst I was working in the Wellington practice. It seems such a long time ago, so I looked on the Internet for a photograph of the Wellington of Today, and it looks to be just the ... Read more

Do We Need A Better Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Risk Equation?

RE: good<5cm<bad Hi folks, welcome! I was looking around at the literature on AAA and I came across this interesting snippet from Chez Ollie, and I learned that we people with AAA are in distinguished company: "Vesalius described the first abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in the 16th century. Before the development of a surgical intervention for the process, attempts at medical management failed. ... Read more

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

If You Have an AAA-Stent or Any Other Health Challenge, Choose Your Training Partners Carefully

Hi folks, I write my blog each day in my blogging chair at Johnny's, only in Carrboro, created by Brian Plaster and his trusty staff. Brian kindly posed for this picture of my morning blog spot, holding a bottle of my favorite wine, Our Daily Red (Organic, No Sulfites Detected). Brian is a great mountain biker, but me, I stick to the roads, and with an AAA-stent you need to think about how you ride. For ... 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.