So, one year ago today, I rode my bicycle on my trainer after about a three-week bout of pneumonia and recovery. While on that ride (http://cyclemeter.com/6a08acd34d9daf7a/Cycle-20170114-2107?r=f&fb_action_ids=10206696795178418&fb_action_types=fitness.bikes), that I discovered something was horribly wrong with my heart rate. While I didn’t feel any symptoms, other than shortness of breath, the maximum heart rate (168 Beats Per Minutes) and average heart rate (160 Beats per Minute), were far too high compared to how slowly I was pedaling (64 Revolutions Per Minute). Compare that to this ride (http://cyclemeter.com/6a08acd34d9daf7a/Cycle-20160114-2046?r=f&fb_action_ids=10204422632085762&fb_action_types=fitness.bikes ), exactly one year before, where my maximum heart rate (150 beats per minute) and average heart rate (131 beats per minute) and pedaling cadence (79 Revolutions Per Minute) were far more typical. I credit that bicycle ride one year ago with saving my life. I remember that during the ride, the heart rate numbers looked way off. I got off the bicycle and switched to my backup heart rate strap, and still received similar numbers. What was strange was that my Apple Watch was registering numbers that were typical. But, this led me to a bunch of reading, which led me to purchase some diagnostic equipment, which led me to diagnose myself with an Atrial Fibrillation, which led me to a cardiologist who confirmed the diagnosis as Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response. I’m thankful for that bicycle ride, and the 23,500 miles of riding before it, because that history of heart readings gave me an expectation of what was normal, and a recognition for what was not normal. Many people with Atrial Fibrillation never detect it, and have a high likelihood of suffering from a stroke. So, in this case, I’m very thankful too have known. Since I was doing performing much blood lab work for my friend Dave Feldman at the time, I was also able to isolate the cause to pneumonia. I didn’t realize it at the time, but most people never really are able to determine the cause of their Atrial Fibrillation. For most people, it comes and goes, and they only become aware of it when something else bad happens to them. My first cardiologist agreed that the pneumonia likely damaged my heart and that set about my course of treatment.
Since then, I’ve consulted with two other cardiologists that have run echo cardiograms on me. They tell me that the damage from the pneumonia is gone (both were skeptical that I ever had pneumonia, and have treated me for high blood pressure instead, as they say I have no signs of any other known cause of Atrial Fibrillation. My high heart rate ultimately led to a Congestive Heart Failure diagnosis, which is a much bigger problem. I’ve been fortunate to reverse most of the abnormal structure changes to the heart, and am close to losing my Congestive Heart Failure diagnosis. Hopefully, I’ll lose both of these heart problems during the next year, but either way; I’m sure I’ll continue to learn.
Many of speculated that I suffered this problem because of my diet, my schedule, my stressful life, etc. There are as many doubters as there are supporters. But, all three cardiologists are aware of how I’ve planned to treat myself, and are supportive. Yes, they’d prefer to rush me into standard of care treatments, but they also are supportive in what I’m doing because it’s working.
I continue to learn from the last year, I continue to have hope, and I continue to enjoy the support of those around me. I may live through the experience and return to “normal”, or I may not return to “normal”, or I may not live through it. But, either way, I press on. Thank you for sharing your support, and coming along with me.