Sweat is a great bodily function . It means the components are working, burning calories, and getting rid of pollutants.
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I hear that. Over time, my job became largely computerized. I started programming back in the DOS days, and dang, one program and a 10 year contract on partsā¦push a button and kick back. I was generally doing an hour workout before work each day. Now I just workā¦Just finished up the 40ā walkway, came in for some iced teaā¦phew. got to chuck the old paversā¦and the old lumber from the deckā¦sun is shiningā¦see yaā.
Murmurations
taken to heart
flock but a second
and fly off like dart
murmurations
inside of me
chaos seeking pattern
to braid infinity
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Hi fellow paddlers. This is my first post to this forum and I thought a good place to start. I retired after 43 year at the age of 63 and now Iām 65. I grew up on Lake Erie as a kid rowing a Jon Boat or homemade rafts to going along with anyone with a powerboat. Friends had canoes and on and off over the years I enjoyed canoeing here and there. Now Iām living just south of Erie on French Creek and the craze is floating it with mostly plastic kayaks from local sports stores. That just didnāt appeal to me being that confined for that long and liked the posture in a canoe better and the option to kneel or sit. I also want to fish out of it as there are dozens of nice lakes and even the harbor in Erie as short commutes.
I have been keeping my eyes open and saw a neighbor with a canoe in his yard and asked him if he liked it. He said he bought it last year used from a friend and he never used it and wanted to sell it for what he gave his friend $150. I took it home and found out it was an Old Town Guide 147 and in pretty good shape. I havenāt put it in the water yet but have been making a few changes as I want to use it mostly solo and with the molded seats nothing seemed very optimal for seat placement as it came. But thatās another thread.
Just wanted to say hi and say Iām trying to adjust to aging by going back to something I enjoyed as a youth. Iām fully aware what age restricts us of and also a lot wiser and hoping that helps with working around the restrictions. The water here is still a little cold for me, but the weather has been great and if the fun Iām having working on this boat is a fraction I will have in it I canāt wait to get it wet.
I will start a thread when I get time as to all my plans. I have found so much great info here. Thanks to all for sharing.
Bud
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Welcome to the neighborhood, Bud! Looking forward to hearing about your paddling plans.
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Good observation/caution.
I have had a heart murmur since childhood. Was never told to keep track of it. Have always been active and like physically challenging endeavors. In my early 50ās, I started experiencing occaisonal tachycardia (racing heartbeat) and resulting dizziness, usually while engaged in some physical activity, e.g. surfing, paddling, biking, sparring. Not pleasant in general but could be dangerous in the water. My previous primary care MD diagnosed hypothyroidism and put me on medication. Still got occaisonal tachycardia. Went to a new primary care doc. She listened to my heart and said, āWhoa, I want you to get an echocardiogram.ā Turned out that my heart murmur had devolved to a moderate/severe mitral valve leakage. Because I was still very active, it didnāt occur to me that I have a heart issue. A year after that diagnosis, my heart was beginning to swell from the strain of keeping up with increased leakage. Got the mitral valve repaired. Quickly resumed my active lifestyle. Several years later, I began to get tachycardia again. My ārepairedā mitral valve is now leaking moderately. Am still active (in the same physical endeavors) but definitely not with the same cardio stamina as in the past ā a combination of the leakage and my age (64). Have to get a echocardigram and/or MRI yearly to keep track of the leakage.
There is a mitral valve replacement operation sometime in my future. Will have to decide on a shorter lasting biologic valve, or a longer lasting titanium valve that would require the addition of a blood thinner. The latter would mean ending my participation/love of many activities that I do which can accidently result in bruising or cuts. I am strongly inclined towards a biologic valve that will let me live my life more fully, albeit with likely less years than with a titanium valve.
Take care but live your life.
sing
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Go-go 60s, slow go 70s, and no go 80s.
Keep moving is the best advice. Try to keep doing what you have always done.
Go slower if you have to. Rest more. Take layover days.
but keep going out there.
My Dad is 96. I was talking to him about forestry yesterday.
The reality is that my balance is not as good as it used to be. I like to bring more stuff now and got spoiled by rafts. Now I am now enjoying a drift boat and selling off my canoes. I am down to only 2.
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I want to get back up and running or I guess paddling. Back was out house projects killed paddling this winter. Now rebuilding floating docks a major project.
After all that I want to do a run from my house to Empire Kayaks. I used to make it in 45 minutes 10 years ago I want to see where I am now. Can still sprint as fast as ever not sure on 45 minute run.
Now 68 got lightened up yesterday minus one pollup.
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I have now had a heart sonogram. The diagnosis is severe aortic valve stenosis. Have a consult tomorrow with a cardiologist.
I have been exhausted all spring after minimal exercise and have thought it was typical spring allergies. Maybe not.
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Youāll be in good hands with a good cardiologist, string.
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Valve is severe but not critical. I have the Ok for gentle paddling.
Theyāre doing a cath in a week or so to see whatās there. Cardiologist is thinking open heart valve replacement. He said my heart is in great shape except for the valve. Sounds like a great paddle missing a blade.
A great way to ruin a paddling season.
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You will be ready to go strong next season!
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Happy dance youāre cleared for calm paddling. Hope a minimally invasive method can be used for the fix.
Doesnāt look like Iāll be doing much dancing. Cath is Friday morning and Iām guessing the surgery will follow ASAP. The non verbal impression was get it done now!
Paddling by mid summer.
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Good luck! Our oldest Quetico group member had bypass over the winter followed by chemo so heās taking the year off. Looks like heāll be good for next year.
Valve replacement tends to leave you with a longer time than you would like of being told by docs to take it on the slow side. But everyone I know who has had it done was ultimately happy with the results.
And yeah, balance gets worse w age. Hoping that as the pandemic gets tamed by vaccinations I can hook up with a Tai Chi class or similar to get after that.
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Post cath the surgeon told me he thinks my aortic valve is good for several more years. Doing a cat scan next week to confirm.
He also found an artery that needs roto rooting and a stent but itās not an emergency.
I asked when I could paddle and he said today.
Iām a little beat up but will get out next week.
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Thatās quite encouraging news, string.
Iām a proponent of Vitamin K2-MK7, as research indicates itās associated with the inhibition of arterial calcification and arterial stiffening.
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String, My wife has had 3 valve replacements, first at 38 yrs. second at 52, and 3rd at 58. Her last one was due to a valve glue that coroded the valve wall to a third of itās areaā¦I want to sueā¦ she wonāt hear of it
Wow! Sheās been fortunate.