Quote from jcsadowski on Nov 5th, 2008, 8:22pm:Not exactly pro-active.
The doctor wrote out the slip a year ago and I didn't go.
This time he wrote out the slip then he called the heart doctor who also called me.
I know a guy who rode these 200 mile a day rides across the country. Just before starting one he had a Stress Test. The same day he had bypass surgery. So you never know.
I agree with you guys. Doctors are welcome advisers. The advise they give for legal reasons is usually based on the worse case diagnosis/prognosis. If they say "Have at It" and you drop dead at HnH your surviving family might sue them. So they tell you to sit on your butt on the couch or a lawn chair. My butt preferrs to sit on a lawn-chair that is attached to a metal frame with wheels and pedals.
What exactly are the issues with your heart? Irregular beat? value issues? Blockage? What parameters are they talking about? (no need to answer these rhetorical questions ) What have other people done to remain active who have similar issues with their heart?
Maybe all you need to do is something like getting redundant heart monitor watches and set the alarms on them to keep you below a certain BPM range. Then be careful and get off and walk your bike whenever if you feel heated or you dont like a steep hill. Plus maybe the other stuff like eating/drinking lots of electrolytes and keeping a proper blood-sugar level. Or maybe get one of those mini O2 tanks to keep in your fast-back to use when you feel winded. This will all cost extra $$$ but I would rather spend it bicycling then spend it at the doctor. You will need to do your own research and make your own decisions, Im just looking to encourage you.