Finally went to a doctor
11-22-14, 08:06 AM
#1
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Finally went to a doctor
It's not as bad as it sounds. I've been cycling almost constantly for 42 years. I've been telling people for years that I feel the same as I did in my thirties. I never really have any health problems so it's been easy to put off going in for routine, let alone detailed check ups. I finally scheduled the full routine, poke, probe show and tell, including blood profiles, PSA, Colonoscopy and whatever else.
All the numbers are exactly as they were the past 30 years. I have 6% more bodyfat than I care for, but that's below average for a 30 year old and waaaay low on the optimal level for a 62 year old. Just a dirty old man trapped in the body of a thirty year old.
It's not hereditary. I have two cousins who are each within a year or so. When we were younger, we looked enough alike that people thought we were triplets. They are now skinny legged, pot bellied, grey haired old men who sit around talking about their medical problems and treatments. I am not. I am the one who has had totally sedentary office jobs throughout my career and the only lifestyle difference has been cycling (commuting/touring) and weight training.
Marc
All the numbers are exactly as they were the past 30 years. I have 6% more bodyfat than I care for, but that's below average for a 30 year old and waaaay low on the optimal level for a 62 year old. Just a dirty old man trapped in the body of a thirty year old.
It's not hereditary. I have two cousins who are each within a year or so. When we were younger, we looked enough alike that people thought we were triplets. They are now skinny legged, pot bellied, grey haired old men who sit around talking about their medical problems and treatments. I am not. I am the one who has had totally sedentary office jobs throughout my career and the only lifestyle difference has been cycling (commuting/touring) and weight training.
Marc
11-22-14, 08:15 AM
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Keep on riding and you might never be like a 31yo. 
11-22-14, 08:30 AM
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Pretty much the same here, except im 76. Never in a hospital, or operated on. I attribute my good health to cycling.
If you set you rust.
If you set you rust.
11-22-14, 10:55 AM
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Enjoy your health, but ultimately it is a crap shoot!
Exercise definitely helps and make life so much more pleasant being in good shape!
I have almost always ridden but I had my health issues although none life threatening and yet I have had friends who were leading very clean living and yet passed away at relatively early age!
Be thankful!
Exercise definitely helps and make life so much more pleasant being in good shape!
I have almost always ridden but I had my health issues although none life threatening and yet I have had friends who were leading very clean living and yet passed away at relatively early age!
Be thankful!
11-22-14, 11:28 AM
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Thanks for scaring the %&*# out of me Marc, when i saw the post that said Finally went to a doctor, i thought oh no he got the ebola or something.LOL that is great news.
11-22-14, 02:45 PM
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Way to go Marc, keep it up! I personally have found that quality exercise and good diet help a LOT with virtually all aspects of life.
11-22-14, 04:20 PM
#8
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While I can certainly claim some of my good health to cycling, I've had 3 ambulance rides due to cycling! Hit by car in '93. Heart attack while riding in 2000. Crashed bad in a race in 2002.
I can blame some of my health problems on running as I had knee surgery in 1990. I felt the pain during a run.
Other than that, I have gout and just found out last week that I have asthma or something else causing COPD. Cycling has probably hidden the problem for at least 6 years. I've never felt unexpectedly out of breath. I figured that huffing and puffing up a steep hill was normal.
I can blame some of my health problems on running as I had knee surgery in 1990. I felt the pain during a run.
Other than that, I have gout and just found out last week that I have asthma or something else causing COPD. Cycling has probably hidden the problem for at least 6 years. I've never felt unexpectedly out of breath. I figured that huffing and puffing up a steep hill was normal.
11-22-14, 04:30 PM
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The hardest thing about being old and healthy is dealing with the questionnaire. Doctors give you that hard stare when you say NO to every question.
Any operations -- Never
Ever been diagnosed for..... No, no, no, no....... no.
What prescriptions -- None
Allergies - none
Special diet - No
Do anything special for your health - not really I ride a bicycle.
I'm so used to just going down the lists checking No in very box, that I was once tripped up by a "trick" form which needed a yes in one box if you were healthy. The Doc wanted to discus that, and seemed somewhat disappointed when I corrected the form.
Any operations -- Never
Ever been diagnosed for..... No, no, no, no....... no.
What prescriptions -- None
Allergies - none
Special diet - No
Do anything special for your health - not really I ride a bicycle.
I'm so used to just going down the lists checking No in very box, that I was once tripped up by a "trick" form which needed a yes in one box if you were healthy. The Doc wanted to discus that, and seemed somewhat disappointed when I corrected the form.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
Last edited by FBinNY; 11-22-14 at 04:44 PM.
11-22-14, 07:36 PM
#10
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Thread Starter
The hardest thing about being old and healthy is dealing with the questionnaire. Doctors give you that hard stare when you say NO to every question.
Any operations -- Never
Ever been diagnosed for..... No, no, no, no....... no.
What prescriptions -- None
Allergies - none
Special diet - No
Do anything special for your health - not really I ride a bicycle.
I'm so used to just going down the lists checking No in very box, that I was once tripped up by a "trick" form which needed a yes in one box if you were healthy. The Doc wanted to discus that, and seemed somewhat disappointed when I corrected the form.
Any operations -- Never
Ever been diagnosed for..... No, no, no, no....... no.
What prescriptions -- None
Allergies - none
Special diet - No
Do anything special for your health - not really I ride a bicycle.
I'm so used to just going down the lists checking No in very box, that I was once tripped up by a "trick" form which needed a yes in one box if you were healthy. The Doc wanted to discus that, and seemed somewhat disappointed when I corrected the form.
It's rewarding when 3 different people come back with your chart to verify your age.
Marc
11-23-14, 06:46 AM
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The last time I went in for a colonoscopy (colon cancer runs in my family) I set off an alarm on the machine that was monitoring my vital signs. Apparently that alarm went off when your resting heart rate went below 45 bpm. 
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Chuck
Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
11-23-14, 09:05 AM
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revchuck
There have been other threads on it, but I definately encourage everyone to get a colonoscopy probably starting at age 50. Just this week I attended a funeral of my nephew who was 65 that died from colon cancer. It was a terrible way to go, and a colonsocopy can probably head off 90% and maybe more colon cancer deaths.
There have been other threads on it, but I definately encourage everyone to get a colonoscopy probably starting at age 50. Just this week I attended a funeral of my nephew who was 65 that died from colon cancer. It was a terrible way to go, and a colonsocopy can probably head off 90% and maybe more colon cancer deaths.
11-23-14, 10:04 AM
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I didn't have my first colonoscopy until I was 53. Fortunately, only 2 polyps were found and not cancerous or precancerous(but the type that has potential to become so). I was told I needed to get another in 3 years, which I recently did. They did find another polyp or two, but the doc told be I could wait 5 years this time. Maybe then, 3rd time a charm, I get to wait 10 years.
11-23-14, 10:59 AM
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The hardest thing about being old and healthy is dealing with the questionnaire. Doctors give you that hard stare when you say NO to every question.
Any operations -- Never
Ever been diagnosed for..... No, no, no, no....... no.
What prescriptions -- None
Allergies - none
Special diet - No
Do anything special for your health - not really I ride a bicycle.
I'm so used to just going down the lists checking No in very box, that I was once tripped up by a "trick" form which needed a yes in one box if you were healthy. The Doc wanted to discus that, and seemed somewhat disappointed when I corrected the form.
Any operations -- Never
Ever been diagnosed for..... No, no, no, no....... no.
What prescriptions -- None
Allergies - none
Special diet - No
Do anything special for your health - not really I ride a bicycle.
I'm so used to just going down the lists checking No in very box, that I was once tripped up by a "trick" form which needed a yes in one box if you were healthy. The Doc wanted to discus that, and seemed somewhat disappointed when I corrected the form.
it is expected that if you are over 50, you are supposed to have high BP, cholesterol problems, weight issues, heart issues, or something else. Saying you are a cyclist seems to result in dumbfounded stares. Finding a primary care doc, who is a cyclist, is a good thing, if you can manage it. Oh, has anyone run into this one: Saying you "ride a bike", and immediately being asked "Oh, what kind of bike? A Harley, a Honda, Kawasaki,,?" And you tell them "a bicycle", and the result is... dumbfounded stares. I ask this, because it happened to a co-worker, about a year ago. This, in Boston, which is supposed to be a medical mecca. ( Debatable )
Having said all that, yes, it is a crap shoot. Some of us are dealt a good hand from the genetic deck of cards, some not.
11-23-14, 11:18 AM
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Marc
11-23-14, 08:25 PM
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Who wants to discuss chain lubrication strategies?
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11-23-14, 08:29 PM
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I did some clean up.
If you can't say something nice ...
If you can't say something nice ...
11-24-14, 08:04 AM
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irwin
I also say----------real men dont need no steenkin motors!!! You should see the look on my sons face that has a Harley.
I also say----------real men dont need no steenkin motors!!! You should see the look on my sons face that has a Harley.
11-24-14, 11:20 AM
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You're my hero, Marc. I just joined this 50+ club about 4 months ago, aspiring to someday be where you are today. I think I'm gonna make it, too.
In March I was convinced that I had some serious health problems mounting. I was sure that 35+ years of not paying attention to my diet, 31+ years in sedentary jobs, 22 years of smoking, and another 7 years addicted to nicotine gum was finally catching up to me. I've never been overweight, but I've also never really enjoyed exercise. I was certain that my ship had sailed, and that I would be unable to reach any serious level of fitness again.
Au contraire! I began cycling again in May, and am more fit today than I've ever been. Saturday I rode 25 miles and didn't even feel it the next day. It took about three months to build up my legs, but since then I have known virtually no limits.
A trip to the doctor yielded that my health problems stemmed from a Vitamin-D deficiency, and a sinus condition that was preventing me from sleeping soundly. These problems were solved with a $12 anti-snoring mouthpiece I found on Amazon, and 5,000 i.u. of Vitamin D every day. Within three weeks my energy levels soared. I only started cycling because I wanted to fix up an old mountain bike and sell it on Craigslist. I ended up keeping it, and then buying a serious road bike.
In just six months my life has taken a dramatic turn for the better. I'd put the 50-year-old version of myself up against my 18, 24, 30, and 40-year old versions any day. (Well, in any area except the bedroom, but I understand there are pills for that now?)
I have an abundance of things to be thankful for this year. Life begins at 50 if you know the trick.
In March I was convinced that I had some serious health problems mounting. I was sure that 35+ years of not paying attention to my diet, 31+ years in sedentary jobs, 22 years of smoking, and another 7 years addicted to nicotine gum was finally catching up to me. I've never been overweight, but I've also never really enjoyed exercise. I was certain that my ship had sailed, and that I would be unable to reach any serious level of fitness again.
Au contraire! I began cycling again in May, and am more fit today than I've ever been. Saturday I rode 25 miles and didn't even feel it the next day. It took about three months to build up my legs, but since then I have known virtually no limits.
A trip to the doctor yielded that my health problems stemmed from a Vitamin-D deficiency, and a sinus condition that was preventing me from sleeping soundly. These problems were solved with a $12 anti-snoring mouthpiece I found on Amazon, and 5,000 i.u. of Vitamin D every day. Within three weeks my energy levels soared. I only started cycling because I wanted to fix up an old mountain bike and sell it on Craigslist. I ended up keeping it, and then buying a serious road bike.
In just six months my life has taken a dramatic turn for the better. I'd put the 50-year-old version of myself up against my 18, 24, 30, and 40-year old versions any day. (Well, in any area except the bedroom, but I understand there are pills for that now?)
I have an abundance of things to be thankful for this year. Life begins at 50 if you know the trick.
11-24-14, 01:12 PM
#21
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I had two bad bike crashes this year, involving trips to the ER and broken bones. After the second one, lots of folks were telling me I should maybe find some other activity, but the trauma doctor said "Keep riding your bicycle... stay the hell out of cars".
11-24-14, 03:09 PM
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Are you sure he didn't say "stay OFF of cars?"
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
11-24-14, 03:16 PM
#23
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11-24-14, 04:52 PM
#24
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My post didn't call for an answer.
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Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
11-24-14, 04:53 PM
#25
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