Medical Status of Boardmembers

[gallsman]

Brilliant stuff BH, hopefully get the green light this summer.

[johnnycool]

Well folks, I'm two full weeks into cardio rehab and things are going reasonably well.  Starting at Level Zero, they were able to pinpoint a few things that resulted in tablet changes, so I'm just past being "baselined" for exercise at this stage.

I spend 20 minutes on each of two machines for a 40-minute workout.  I'm hooked up to EKG monitor via battery pack to the nurses station, add in pre- and post- blood pressure reads, glucose monitoring and there doesn't seem to be any chance of me doing too much and causing damage.

Work my way up the intensity levels, now that I am doing the full 20 mins at the lowest level, is the path forward.  Each workout doesn't leave me worn out, just get to the appropriate heart rate and hold it there - I certainly feel like I could do more, but that might have very adverse outcomes. 

By the way, we use MET (Metabolic EquivalenT) Levels of common recreational activities to monitor progress.  The attached pdf file explains it reasonably well.  Target for a beneficial exercise regime is at least 500 MET minutes per week, so walking 3 miles in an hour gets 3.3 MET times 60 minutes = 198 MET mins, so doing that 3 times a week would be comfortably above the 500 target.  Obviously, the closer to 1000 MET mins, the more effective the exercise regimen. There is no exercise equivalent for being a junior B corner back, as punishment dished out is not exercise it seems.

It's interesting reading...although it doesn't take age into account.

https://media.hypersites.com/clients/1235/filemanager/MHC/METs.pdf

Colon issues have improved as well...maybe everything got reset with the heart surgery, but I'm almost predictable again (in a range of 3 bathroom visits between 7 and 10 pm every day.  Full nights of sleep is priceless.

All in all, I'm very pleased with where I am and look forward to another two months of cardio rehab.  It also seems that walking up hills at a good pace to make you huff and puff a good bit is probably one of the better things you can do for your heart that is achievable by those of us past our playing days.

I'll update again nearer the end of the rehab schedule, which is early May.

 

inspiring stuff Ball hopper, nothing but the utmost respect for you, what you've faced and how you've faced it is unreal.
Keep it up.

[Substandard]

Always a great read, even more so when there is progress and reward.  Keep er lit BH!!

[Ball Hopper]

Finished the full cardiac rehab in early May.  It got tougher and tougher, as the rule seemed to be that I do a little bit more every day without increasing my heart rate over the resting plus 50 level.  It certainly was tough going, but I could feel the improvement as each week went by.  It was also interesting to watch other patients start in the weeks after me – some looked like they wouldn't make it back the following week, but they went from very weak to stronger and stronger.  Reviewing my own data showed the same story.  I felt I was at a 7 out of 10 in difficulty after the baseline week, but that same level was only a mild warmup towards the end.

I'm now walking 3 miles a day in under an hour for at least 4 days a week.  It wears me out a bit, but I know that intensity is getting the heart rate up and it is continuing to get stronger.  Of course, I'll be checked regularly for about another year, but I think I'm doing well. It was certainly different to the GAA training protocol of "No Pain, No Gain", as any pain meant I had gone over the limit.  Finding out how much "huff and puff" is needed for a beneficial workout is the key, and to hold all activities, including working, at/below that level.

There are still tests and so on to make sure the heart is working well and a minor procedure may be in my future that I will detail in August if it comes to be.

 
I still have my full schedule of colon tests to get done this summer.  If all goes well, I may be discharged as a cancer patient and returned to the 5-year screening protocol.  It certainly has been a long road for me since my initial diagnosis in 2019.

As a frame of reference, when I was first diagnosed Tipperary were the hurling All-Ireland champions.

Don't forget to schedule screening if you are having even the mildest of symptoms or are in the age or genetic areas that cause concern to the professionals...it can be a life saver. If blood is noticed anywhere it shouldn't be, then it's time for an appointment to be made - nothing to be frightened of and you'll be glad you did.

Enjoy the Championships.

 

Great news for me...I've received the all-clear from the oncologist...finally declared cancer-free after a bunch of blood tests, PET scan and colonoscopy over the last few weeks. 

It felt great to walk out of the oncologist's office on Tuesday last with no upcoming appointment or tests.

The bold part of my last post in early June sounded unusual at the time, but of course I didn't back Tipp for this year.  Worked out all right for Kerry as well...so it has been some week for me!

I still have an issue at the surgery site...seems there is some scarring that is the cause of some discomfort.  I'll get a schedule from the surgeon soon to take care of that issue in the next few weeks.

My cardiac journey is not yet complete either...to deal with the atrial fibrillation issue they have decided to go with the implant of a Watchman device that will close off the left atrium appendage that seems is the source of a lot of strokes.  I won't even need blood thinners after this device is in place, so I see no downside. 

That procedure is currently scheduled for late September and has a 6-week recovery period with a heart-mapping thing done at that stage to verify proper location of the device.

Needless to say, I'm delighted that I could be basically done with medics very soon. 

Thanks again for all the good wishes along the way...it certainly was a long journey from October 2019 to now and I'm grateful for all that assisted me with good thoughts along the way.


This thread gave me great comfort on days that I needed it – I'll be forever indebted to you all.

[imtommygunn]

That is great news. Mad that tipp there at start and end

[Tony Baloney]

Class new Ballhopper. It has been a journey alright but it must feel class to wake up in the morning and know you're in the clear.

[Milltown Row2]

It's a crazy journey ball hopper, the cancer was one thing, but the twist and turns during it all is like a scene from ER!

The thread started around the time of my dad's diagnosis and during my sisters, was good to hear your journey during that time and now take comfort from the positives

[Rossfan]

Good to hear Ball hopper.

[whitey]

That's fantastic news Ballhopper

Got 2 friends fighting the battle as we speak-both mid 50s

[Mad Mentor]

Tipperary hurling.
The cause of and solution to..... all life's problems.
Best of luck.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Absolutely great news BH. Good news does exist! Keeper er lit!!!!!

[Substandard]

Great to hear, Ball Hopper.
A very different perspective this summer as Mam currently in hospital, and will be til October,  but they reckon bar any setbacks she should be clear then.
It's had me thinking a lot about empathy and sympathy over the summer.  Hitherto, if I heard someone was sick, I'd ask for them whenever I'd meet family or whatever,  but then straight back to living and they'd be out of my head, most likely,  until the next time.
Now I'm seeing it from a completely different lens.  The neighbours and people she knows are amazing.  The amount of cards, calls and visits and humbling- we all reckon we've very much underperformed in the past by comparison.  Empathy is a good thing.  I hope to do better in future.
Dunno if I mentioned it before, my LC class this year were something else.  In some cases individually,  and several times as a collective,  they experienced heartbreak and trauma you'd never wish any young person to go through, including losing close family to illness.  But they were fantastic characters,  and after a quarter century of teaching, I could safely say I possibly learned more about life and myself from them than I may have taught them.  By the end of the year, I emailed them along the lines of how they, just by being themselves,  added value to each other, to me, and the whole school.  For the remaining years I have left, that idea is going to be in all my goodbyes to each LC class.  Add value to everyone you meet.  It doesn't have to be big or dramatic- more often than not, just a nod and a salute is enough.  It costs nothing,  but it rewards you in the same way it impacts on the other person- it's just adding value to their day.
In telling your story Ball Hopper, you've added huge value and experience to every reader here.  It's great to know you'll soon be doing that with a clean bill of health.
As said previously,  keep 'er lit!!