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CABGs & climbing - a random info thread ... 12-Jan-2018 At 3:30:17 PM IdratherbeclimbingM9

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Thanks bc and ww&s.

Recovery is still progressing well with longer walks most days of up to around 10 km (on every other), much of which are done either briskly if flattish country involved, or steadily if steep, and I also wear a 5.5 kg divers-(weight)-belt during same to enhance the exercise value after Cardiologist approved lifting of the 2 kg manual handling limitation to 5 kg.

Now at the 8 week mark and Surgeon has basically said I can do most things if I listen to my body feedback and keep progressing steadily rather than rushing my recovery.
Climbing thuggish routes is still off the agenda for another 6 months and a final verification x-ray will be required to ensure the knitting has been effective beforehand.
Mountain bike riding is still off the agenda for another month and even then will be at a lightweight level when I return.

I mentioned in an earlier post about vibration in relation to riding; however the penny didn’t fully drop for me until I returned an empty shopping trolley to supermarket just before Christmas. Until then I still harboured ambition to ride asap, but after feeling like I was chest-shot every time the trolley clacked over a pavement crack it came home strongly to me that it really is too early, and wouldn’t be a good idea. I now harbour ambition to repeat a long walk-up-style Buffalo slab route like Noblesse Oblige earlier than arrival of upcoming winter, so as to still think of myself as being a climber!
My GP reckons I’m a Physiotherapists dream but a Cardiologists nightmare due to being one of those types of patients that is rearing to go to the next level all the time. I laughed and said I'm not looking for new levels, but simply wanting my old ones back!

As a side note to vibration; while hanging around Southern Cross Station for a return train home after visiting the Surgeon, I have a newly enhanced respect for the power of large diesel locomotives. I’ve always enjoyed the low frequency rumble that they emit, but being able to listen more hyper-awarely to that rumble within my chest is great!
;-)

Vicroads has approved my car and motorcycle license but will knock back my truck license unless I get a further (to GP’s original report), Cardiologist report to them saying that my condition is stable and meets National Standards for undertaking of same, within the next month. Hmm, this constitutes another unexpected out of pocket expense...
It’s interesting that they didn’t mention my marine license even though it’s linked by the same license number...

Perspectives... They vary a lot, and as a couple of examples...

One of my mountain bike riding mates is having a coronary artery bypass graft early February due stenting in his case was unsuccessful.
I don't envy him at all even though I have a new outlook on simul-empathy(!); ... though he should get through it OK because he is a lot fitter than I am, especially so as he has recently returned from 3 months bicycle touring in Europe and was fitter than I prior to that.

While in reception waiting to see the Surgeon at my recent checkup, there was another chap there who was an amputee with one leg. He had a scar from ankle to groin on his remaining leg due to harvesting required for his bypass operation. He was accompanied by a younger fellow who appeared to be his son and who had a heavily bandaged forearm... It caused me to wonder if some patients require 'donor' relatives for additional grafts... I don't envy their situation either!

I'm doing OK, as many people don't make it into the 2nd chance club...