Eleventh week of not training....

Pekkerwood · Jul 9, 2007

I am entering my eleventh week of not training due to a congestive heart failure incident end of April. I mean not once, none, nada. I did go to the gym once for lunch with some friends in from Denmark who were in town and used to be members but that was it.

I took my echocardiogram last Wednesday and go to the Doc this Wednseday. Hopefully get good news and can resume training.

Obervations:

* No way I would want to not train. It feels like a hole is missing in my day.
* I do take seven pills a day so that is about the same. Just different stuff.
* Although I know many of you are no nonsense in the gym, I miss seeing many of the people I have worked out with. I have seen some most days of the week for seven years or so. Part of the competitive/entertainment factor of working out around each other is gone.
* I could sport a pretty good A cup if I don't start back soon with at least push ups.
* My arms have receded into my previously stretched out shirts. My arms are rapidly approaching the previous size of my veins.
* The time between 5:00 pm and 7:00pm that I usually train is fraught with peril when not in the gym. It is to easy to eat bad food or do something bad for you (happy hour).
* The synergystic effect of training makes me eat cleaner and better. Now when I should pay the most attention , it is harder because I am less focused over all.
* I am still barely a member of the 400 lb club but I have to add my squat to my bench to qualify.
* The "boys" below have rejoined the party even with no PCT. (had to do nothing with a sudden stop midcycle)
* Considering going for the EAS ButtPlug Philips Magazine model look instead of the kick that cover guys' ass look.
* People in the know used to scurry from my normal chair at Starbucks in the morning before work, now spot me in line and pinch me for my milk money.

Pekkerwood

GoneForever · Jul 9, 2007

Most bro's i've seen who are over 250lbs still cant bench 400lbs and your doing it after 11weeks off. Thats impressive in my book.

ironfreak83 · Jul 9, 2007

i'm going through a rotator cuff injury and i havent been able to train upperbody and im losin size as we speak. i know it's not near as severe as what you're goin through but on a smaller level i know what you're sayin and i feel for ya bro. it's very hard for us iron addicts to stay out of the gym and when we have no choice but to take time off, it's stressfull like crazy. hope everything turns out great and you can resume training when you get your results back.

thebrick · Jul 9, 2007

I know those forced layoffs can be frustrating as hell. Been there. Done that. Sounds like you are at least retaining a sense of humor about it. Hopefully the doc will give you a green light very soon.

knucklehed · Jul 9, 2007

PEKKERWOOD,

I'd be interested in hearing more about the heart issue. What led up to this and what are you doing to prevent further incidents.
Hope your recovery goes well

KH

oldfella · Jul 10, 2007

Hey bro, try not to sweat it too much. I know the feeling! The gym becomes part of your life, when you can't train there is an emptiness that you long to fill. Hang in there. You get to spend more quality time with your dogs though! At least they understand! Keep an eye on your diet and lets pray the doc gives you good news buddy!

Pekkerwood · Jul 10, 2007

Thanks guys..

Thanks fellas, just feeling a little ansy about the visit Wednesday. I have been told by a researcher in the Cardiologists office that he was not a big fan of heart patients lifting because of the increase in blood pressure during the lifting.

Thanks IronFreak, Brick, and Old fella for the encouragement. I do get to spend more time with the dogs, I take them to the park for a 2.5 mile walk each evening around this lake that they jump in occasionally.

For the gentleman who mentioned diet.
My diet is clean, just added a lot of fruits and vegaetables to fish and chicken. I also added a lot of oatmeal and a cereal (kashi Go Lean) with Soy milk. I also drink Pomegranate juice every day whereas I would never drink juice in the past. I am trying with the berries and juices to just make sure my body has enough nutrients to heal.

For the gentleman who asked how I got the condition:

I went in for congestive heart failure in April. No cause has been diagnosed making it "ideopathic cardiomyopathy" meaning an unknown injury. They do mention it was potentially a virus, but the MRI did not reveal typical virus damage. The heart is simply enlarged and not pumping strong. My ejection fraction, a measure of the how much blood leaves on each contraction was 15. 20 and below is transplant level. 30 and below can qualify for total disablity. Normal is about 60.

I have a history of sleep apnea, slighly elevated bloodpressure (140 over 90) and I stay around 260 lbs. I was taking test, fina, and gh when I went into the hospital. I have stayed on test for many months at a time and not cycled intelligently. I have taken gram a week dosages of test combined with a gram of other (Deca, Equi, Win) at other times. I personally believe my abuse, not use of these products helped cause my problem, in light of no other known causes. There is certainly room to believe my use and abuse had no effect as well. I just got into the trap of my year being one long cycle only varying the compounds or dropping dosages (bridging). Another name for bridging: Small Cycle! I am 46 years old and have been using on and off for 20+ years.

Pekkerwood

joeshow5 · Jul 10, 2007

I pray you make a full and quick recovery and are able to get back into the gym. Were you a competetive bodybuilder? Why all the high doses? Just curious. I will never cycle again. This kind of stuff scares me and I really have no buisness doing it anyway! I hope your story helps out others.

P.S. I'm not saying steroids are bad, just not for me.

mlogikal · Jul 10, 2007

Man, i'm sorry to hear about all this. I've had to take off times from the gym before and i felt like i was going to die if i didn't grab some iron soon. We are a breed of people that the world just doesn't understand. The human body is the most complex machine known. That's why we do what we do. Anyways, keep the healing up man and i hope you can get back to lifting soon.

thebrick · Jul 13, 2007

hey Pekkerwood, saw your post in another thread. What's the update from the doc? What do they want to do?

Pekkerwood · Jul 13, 2007

Followup not good...

The followup visit yielded a 20 to 25% ejection fraction from the echocardiogram test of my heart. Normal is 60%. 30% qualifies for full disability. I had expected improvement above the 30 to 40 range. The fact that I have not made improvement 2.5 months after the event is not promising. There is still a chance/hope for improvement, but the statistics are not in my favor. Basically a 50/50 chance at living beyond 5 years.

They increased my dosages of one medication, that's it. They will test again in two weeks. My cause was "ideopathic cardiomyopathy" which is unknown cause injury of the heart muscle. They have mentioned possibilty of a virus, but the virus usually only lasts a week to ten days, and recovery usually begins before now. So a virus while possible appears less likely. My highest risk factor remains test, steroids, and growth used in an unsafe, untested manor. I am have used for many years as I am mid forties, have done to long of cycles, and have taken too few breaks, or "bridged" in between. These may or may not be the cause. Other risk factors were slightly elevated blood pressure when on cycle, and sleep apnea which went untreated for years. That was a huge mistake. I highly encourage anyone who has sleep apnea to get tested. There is a huge coorelation in untreated sleep apnea and heart problems.

I still have hope. I have been told not to exercise. I am tempted to start anyway at this point. I firmly believe if I am not going to be able to live my life I would prefer to die. I don't have a death wish, but I am not going to spend my days doing jacksh_t either. It was crushing to hear. I spent the rest of the day in bed. I let it win one day, I will win all the rest.

Thank you for you kind concern.

Pekkerwood

Pekkerwood · Jul 13, 2007

Previous post seemed to grim...

Guys:

I reread my previous post and it seemed a little grim. Believe me, I live each day with a smile on my face. I have been blessed in many ways. I am truly lucky. The few bad things in my life have been self inflicted.

I have booked two houses in Florida directly on the beach starting in the middle of next week and have brother, sister, mother, aunt, uncle, girlfriend, girlfriend's mother from Rome and nephew from Rome , and my two chihauhaus going on a nice trip. I am going to take a three week trip to Italy in September that was postponed after the heart failure. I work in a business I love that I am good at that pays great. I get daily emails and calls from friends who care enough to joke, give me crap, and ask about which of my cars or houses or watchesthey get when I die. They are even fighting over them in emails. they are picking over the carcass before its dead!The bastards!

I am truly blessed. The only thing I would change is more thorough bloodwork and heart testing while on. Not because being on caused my problem, but because proper testing may have discovered any existing problems. Test early and often fellas. It doesn't cost that much. In Atlanta we have these vans come around that do a whole battery of tests including echocardiograms, ekgs, artery tests ect for $119 to $179.

Thanks for being there guys,

Pekkerwood

maldorf · Jul 13, 2007

Pekkerwood said:
The followup visit yielded a 20 to 25% ejection fraction from the echocardiogram test of my heart. Normal is 60%. 30% qualifies for full disability. I had expected improvement above the 30 to 40 range. The fact that I have not made improvement 2.5 months after the event is not promising. There is still a chance/hope for improvement, but the statistics are not in my favor. Basically a 50/50 chance at living beyond 5 years.

They increased my dosages of one medication, that's it. They will test again in two weeks. My cause was "ideopathic cardiomyopathy" which is unknown cause injury of the heart muscle. They have mentioned possibilty of a virus, but the virus usually only lasts a week to ten days, and recovery usually begins before now. So a virus while possible appears less likely. My highest risk factor remains test, steroids, and growth used in an unsafe, untested manor. I am have used for many years as I am mid forties, have done to long of cycles, and have taken too few breaks, or "bridged" in between. These may or may not be the cause. Other risk factors were slightly elevated blood pressure when on cycle, and sleep apnea which went untreated for years. That was a huge mistake. I highly encourage anyone who has sleep apnea to get tested. There is a huge coorelation in untreated sleep apnea and heart problems.

I still have hope. I have been told not to exercise. I am tempted to start anyway at this point. I firmly believe if I am not going to be able to live my life I would prefer to die. I don't have a death wish, but I am not going to spend my days doing jacksh_t either. It was crushing to hear. I spent the rest of the day in bed. I let it win one day, I will win all the rest.

Thank you for you kind concern.

Pekkerwood

I once was classified as having cardiomyopathy. My ejection fraction was down to about 38% or so I think. Within a few months it jumped back up, and I had no drug treatments. Mine might have been due to a virus. Within a few months it was back up to like 62% or so and is normal.
I cant imagine how you feel. I was scared that mine might end up like yours, but I was one of the lucky ones. My heart is working just fine now, almost like it never happened.
Don't they have any cardiac rehab for you to do at the hospital? I would think they might do that, or do they feel that it would be too dangerous for you?

maldorf · Jul 13, 2007

did they ever mention a heart transplant if things get worse or dont improve?

thebrick · Jul 13, 2007

Man, I wish that news had been better. I understand your desire to "live your life", but for now, don't you think it would be better to do what the doctors say by staying out of the gym for now, if it increases your chances of a good recovery? I wish I had answers for you bro. Sounds like you have good family around you.

Pekkerwood · Jul 13, 2007

Maldorf, Brick...

Maldorf, congratulations. Most cardiomyopathy in young people is from viruses. Question: How long after the 38% until you were retested? Did you show improvement on your first retest?

Brick: I think you are right. I think I am most referring to going overboard with the rest and missing work etc. I set around the house for a month and did nothing and it didn't seem to help. I am at a desk and computer/phone most of the day, not doing manual labor. I appreciate the thoughts though and I may need to keep checking in when I feel the urge to lift. I can lift 5 and 10 lbls if I want to. Yippee! I feel like Forrest Gump after his first day shrimp fishing when the guy tells him if he catches two or three more he would have enough for a shrimp cocktail.

Take care fellas, and thanks,

Pekkewood

Dangkolo · Jul 13, 2007

I know the feeling!

I had to take just over 2 months off due to open quad surgery. No nothing, I didn't want to take a chance tripping or something. I am now on the road to recovery and I actually train legs more now than prior to my surgery. One other thing I learned from this is my body needed a break. This was the first time in over 10 yrs. that I have ever taken longer than a week off. I mean I did nothing, no diet, no weights no NOTHING. I will take a month or two off every year for now on. I feel better than ever before, alot of nagging pain is gone, my muscles are bouncing back quickly and I enjoy training again.

I guess I got to thank Phil for all the good talks etc. Just wait bruddah its all comming back. I am now at peace with my bodybuilding and I enjoy doing it for me, not to make it my job.

Esta

maldorf · Jul 13, 2007

Pekkerwood said:
Maldorf, congratulations. Most cardiomyopathy in young people is from viruses. Question: How long after the 38% until you were retested? Did you show improvement on your first retest?

Brick: I think you are right. I think I am most referring to going overboard with the rest and missing work etc. I set around the house for a month and did nothing and it didn't seem to help. I am at a desk and computer/phone most of the day, not doing manual labor. I appreciate the thoughts though and I may need to keep checking in when I feel the urge to lift. I can lift 5 and 10 lbls if I want to. Yippee! I feel like Forrest Gump after his first day shrimp fishing when the guy tells him if he catches two or three more he would have enough for a shrimp cocktail.

Take care fellas, and thanks,

Pekkewood

I think it was 4 weeks after my intitial diagnosis. It came back in the mid 40s. Then another month later it was in the 50s, then another 3 months or so and it was up over 60. 5 0r 6 months total might have passed between intial diagnosis and when it got up over 60. During that time I was very scared though. The doctors advised me against exercising but I did it anyway. My EF was quite a bit higher than yours . My family doctor freaked out and talked like he wanted me to just sit around all day, that wasnt going to happen.
Didnt they ever talk about doing cardiac rehab with you at the hospital? Maybe your EF is too low to do it safely?

maldorf · Jul 13, 2007

resting heart rate

Pekkerwood, how fast is your resting heart rate now? Just wondering.

Pekkerwood · Jul 16, 2007

Resting Heart Rate

Maldorf:

My resting heart rate this am was 62. It ranges between 58 and 64 upon awakening. When I left the hospital it was in the low nineties and declined over a two week period. One of the drugs I take, a beta-blocker called Coreg is supposed to regulate the beats.

The more I have researced the more I am realizing the role my untreated sleep apnea may have had on my heart problems.

Pekkerwood