Back From Europe

[William]

Hi Folks, I got back from my Europe (North Italy, Brenta Dolomites) climbing trip Sunday night. 12 days there and the trip went a lot better than I thought it would. I actually led a few climbs and there was no problem with my shoulders hurting. However, there was some tension in my sternum after 3 days of climbing, so I took a rest day. I found myself getting tired and not recovering as fast as before my OHS 9 months ago. I just had to keep the effort in perspective. Instead of a hard snow climb on the last day, I did a rock peak that turned out to be a lot harder than the guide book said. Isn't that the way it always is. I get my INR checked in the morning and can't wait to see what that is. Will

 

[Phyllis]

Welcoem back, Will. It sounds like you had a fantastic trip and did very well for 9 months out! Good luck on the INR test.

 

[Karlynn]

Welcome back. Sounds like quite the accomplishment. Congratulations!

 

[Cris N]

So, you didn't get enough of a "mountain climb" when you had your surgery - just had to go back for more!? More power to you.

Cris

 

[Eric]

William,

What type of rehab did you do post surgery and when did you stop feeling all those aches and pains? I'm just 2.5 weeks post op and am itching to get back to normal but I still feel banged up.

Eric

 

[BillCobit]

Hi Folks, I got back from my Europe (North Italy, Brenta Dolomites) climbing trip Sunday night. 12 days there and the trip went a lot better than I thought it would. I actually led a few climbs and there was no problem with my shoulders hurting. However, there was some tension in my sternum after 3 days of climbing, so I took a rest day. I found myself getting tired and not recovering as fast as before my OHS 9 months ago. I just had to keep the effort in perspective. Instead of a hard snow climb on the last day, I did a rock peak that turned out to be a lot harder than the guide book said. Isn't that the way it always is. I get my INR checked in the morning and can't wait to see what that is. Will

Hi Will -

Sounds like a great trip and a pretty good test of your ticker! Just one rest day in during a 12 day climbing vacation in the Alps? Better than most would do, I'm sure.

At 9 months, you may indeed still be feeling the effects of OHS. I did a 4 day bicycle tour in the Adirondack mountains at about that point. I did OK and enjoyed it immensly, but felt a bit run down toward the end. It may have just been a matter of conditioning, since my riding season did not ramp up as early as normal that year. You must have had to do some significant conditioning for your trip - perhaps your base training was compromised in earlier months? In any event, it sounds like you are clearly over the hump. You'll feel even better after a few more months.

Not sure what kind of lifestyle you lead, but it sounds like this trip may have been one of those once-(not very often at least)-in-a-lifetime experiences. You've gotta feel great about having such a fulfilling experience after OHS. It works that way for me, anyway.

Can you post some pics of your trip? We'd love to see 'em.

 

[LLJ]

Wow, I'm jealous! The only vacation I've had in 2 years was to the operating room! (Don't worry I'll be fixing that soon!) Did you rock climb or was it on foot, up elevation? The thin air would have definately slowed me down big time. If you rock climbed, I'm interested in how your upper body strength was and how you got it back. It's been 9 months for me and I still feel like a shadow of my former strong self.
Eric: SIT DOWN! You're not climbing anywhere for a while! The mountains aren't going anywhere. Even though I did my first Du 6 months after my surgery, I can't believe how much better I feel just this month!
Post those Pics, William, we'd love to see them.
Laura

 

[hensylee]

Welcome back. We missed you.

YOu have had 'the' test of what your OHS has accomplished. Sounds like it was a true success.

Do we get pictures?

 

[William]

Hi Folks, I'm still working with the photos. Does anybody know the best way to post some photos here?
Eric, I did a combination of jogging and weight lifting to get in shape for this, but at post 3 weeks all I did was take walks. I was post 1 month before I got the go ahead to use a stationary bike. My walks got longer and at 2 months I started jogging a little with the walking. I soon began to do some lite strength exercises and for awhile everything looked great, but then I developed a hernia on the ab where the draining tube was. After that was fixed I didn't do anything for a month and started back very slowly. I wasn't in the best shape for this (I've done a lot of this stuff in the past) but it seemed to work fine. I still have aches and pains from the OHS. The back, shoulders, upper arms, and sternum seem to be the primary areas where it can happen. Will