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Old 06-08-2015, 09:43 AM
mdiane630 mdiane630 is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Houston area
Posts: 21
10 yr Member
mdiane630 mdiane630 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Houston area
Posts: 21
10 yr Member
Default PCS and exercise exertion

Quote:
Originally Posted by MVTBI
Any of you guys find that sustained cardio is worse? I found with weights just spiking my heart rate and then bringing it down has less symptoms than the traditional bike or walking increased intensity, maybe I am imagining it because the weights make me happy! just curious.....

Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbyr View Post
Thats very interesting. Goes to show how PCS can vary from person to person. I routinely jump rope for 15 minutes (5minx3). These excercises do not worsen my symptoms.
I'm almost 2 years out. I can run hard intervals of 30-60 sec, and as long as I let my HR come down (recovery time early on is ~60 sec, increases up to ~2-3 min), I do ok. After 10-25 intervals (depends on heat, humidity, and variables I haven't yet figured out), I'll start getting a headache by the end of the hard run, but it calms down as I recover.

When I try to go for distance, even at a slow pace, I do ok for ~2 miles, and then I get nauseous. I used to get a headache first, but I started on amitriptyline about a month ago, and now sometimes I bypass the headache and go right to the nausea - that's progress, right?

I'm a lot more sensitive to heat, hydration, and nutrition issues - I'm trying to cut sugar and processed foods from my diet and need to start experimenting with sports drinks other than Gatorade - I feel as if my body wants more than water when it's hot, even for a short 2-mile run. I'm in Houston, so the heat and humidity are a big factor as it gets warmer.

Good luck, I know how you feel about not being able to exercise like you want!
__________________
What happened: I was on my Triathlon bike doing an easy ride through my neighborhood just a few weeks after completing Ironman Texas (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). A driver on a side street pulled up to a stop sign but didn't see me and pulled out in front of me. I tried to make a sharp turn alongside her but fishtailed and went into the side of her car with the left side of my body at about 17 mph.

I walked away with a headache and a whiplash, a sore shoulder, and some bruises but was counting my blessings. I did several months of PT for my shoulder and neck, and I still had problems with headaches, neck pain, and dizziness. My PT insisted I be evaluated, and I was diagnosed with a concussion. I was still in denial, but then I transferred to a vestibular/neuro rehab specialist and learned that my eyes weren't focusing properly (nystagmus, convergence disorder). I was discharged from that PT on June 10, 2014 - exactly one year after my accident - because I was no longer making "significant progress." I did more PT for my neck/shoulder, and on Dec 16, 2014, I had shoulder surgery. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I might never do another Ironman, but I'm not giving up on returning at some level.
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