I am just wanting to get an idea on how long to wait before getting back into RPM and cycling.
Have had severe attack of asthma treated with prednisone and pneumonia on xray treated with antibiotics.
I have suspended my gym membership. My sensible view is to wait until I have no symptoms of asthma and my breathing is clear.
My lungs are still a bit twitchy, especially when I cough, so I will wait. But I'm not sure about the waiting for the pneumonia bit?
Am I on queue here with just waiting it out? I'm honestly a bit worried about returning to physical activity. I have a more severe type asthma and
sometimes even cough a little bit when loaded with inhalers doing RPM/cycling anyway. I might have to talk to my gym instructors, so they know - I hope that is a good idea?
Thanks
Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
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The information / discussion in the Cycling Health Forum is not qualified medical advice. Please consult your doctor.
The information / discussion in the Cycling Health Forum is not qualified medical advice. Please consult your doctor.
- ICU812
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- Slvr32gtr
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Re: Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
Postby Slvr32gtr » Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:09 pm
I got a bout of pneumonia a few years ago and it knocked me round for a long time. I remember trying to go for a ride about a month and a half after it had cleared up and didnt even make it out onto the street before i was gasping for air.
I would play it by ear if i was you and feel your way back into it very slowly. I think it was about 3mths or so before i could start cycling a respectable distance. I was in a pretty bad way when they finally diagnosed Pneumonia though (mis-diagnosed as a cold/flu twice and told to sleep it off) so it took a long time to bounce back.
Best bet would be to take it slow and consult your doctor.
I would play it by ear if i was you and feel your way back into it very slowly. I think it was about 3mths or so before i could start cycling a respectable distance. I was in a pretty bad way when they finally diagnosed Pneumonia though (mis-diagnosed as a cold/flu twice and told to sleep it off) so it took a long time to bounce back.
Best bet would be to take it slow and consult your doctor.
- CXCommuter
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Re: Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
Postby CXCommuter » Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:12 pm
I had left upper lung pneumonia arising august last year (and the year before) after getting the real flu. This also set off long dormant asthma both of which were treated similar to what you are describing. I took an additional week off cycling after coming off the antibiotics and getting the general all clear from the doc and all was fine. But I found the cool winter air set off my asthma, not so much during riding but after it and needed a quick suck of meds to combat this, otherwise it was all good and didn't feel bad at all. One note though I was picked up pretty quickly regarding the pneumonia as I have had it before and knew what to look for so it didn't knock me around to harshly
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Re: Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
Postby Dr_Mutley » Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:15 pm
U will find that moderate exercise at this point will help you recover, not hinder it. That is if u do it responsibly, keeping it to a level that doesn't knock u around, or make u too short of breath.
- ICU812
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Re: Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
Postby ICU812 » Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:37 pm
I consider myself lucky, my pneumonia was picked up fairly rapidly by a quick thinking GP. He knows what my lungs are like so he didn't muck about.
I live in cold country, Bathurst, so I will need be cautious. I may stick to RPM where I can control the intensity and temperature/humidity better.
But having read the other posts, maybe I will wait a bit longer. It has only been a little over a week since I was sick. Maybe I will try low intensity classes like pump for a while
The last thing I want is to be carted off from the gym in an ambulance.
I live in cold country, Bathurst, so I will need be cautious. I may stick to RPM where I can control the intensity and temperature/humidity better.
But having read the other posts, maybe I will wait a bit longer. It has only been a little over a week since I was sick. Maybe I will try low intensity classes like pump for a while
The last thing I want is to be carted off from the gym in an ambulance.
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Re: Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
Postby Dr_Mutley » Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:43 pm
Given yr asthma, I'd certainly be sticking indoors on the stationary bike for now to avoid the cold air. I'd also avoid group activities where there is a potential to try and "keep up" and not just go at your own pace. Get on an rpm bike at the gym and just spin gently for awhile. You will get more respiratory benefits from that than pump etc... If your still clearing sputum from your lungs then the indoor bike will be useful, but maybe do it at home so your not spreading your bugs
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Re: Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
Postby Sturgis » Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:37 pm
Hi ICU812,
Had pneumonia 2 years ago and was out of action for 2 months. After that I was pretty puffed when exercising for another 4-6 weeks from memory.
At the moment I am getting over another chest infection (not pneumonia though) and had to go back to the doctor to get a script for Symbicort. The cold mornings and the phlegm in my chest made riding or running at even moderate pace feel like I was sprinting. It is ever so slowly getting better, and I am hoping to drop the Symbicort in maybe another couple of weeks.
Hope you get better soon, and take your time easing back into riding. You will probably find that once you are physically 100% again that you haven't lost too much fitness, even though it may feel like it at the moment.
Had pneumonia 2 years ago and was out of action for 2 months. After that I was pretty puffed when exercising for another 4-6 weeks from memory.
At the moment I am getting over another chest infection (not pneumonia though) and had to go back to the doctor to get a script for Symbicort. The cold mornings and the phlegm in my chest made riding or running at even moderate pace feel like I was sprinting. It is ever so slowly getting better, and I am hoping to drop the Symbicort in maybe another couple of weeks.
Hope you get better soon, and take your time easing back into riding. You will probably find that once you are physically 100% again that you haven't lost too much fitness, even though it may feel like it at the moment.
- marty_one
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Re: Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
Postby marty_one » Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:25 am
Firstly, your asthma wont go away. Unfortunately each time you get sick with a respiratory illness it will come back. I always keep an over the counter inhaler nearby (Ventolin), and I always have it when im running or cycling. Myself I had been sick almost constantly from start of April to mid June, I was just unfortunate that I had one illness roll into another and it wasnt the same thing each time either. It was so much fun going between cold, flu, bronchitis, laryngitis as well as chest and sinus infections, like I said fun!!
Like others have said (especially at this time of year) keep your exercising indoors away from the cold air. The other thing you may want to consider doing instead of cycling is walking. You will be surprised after how sick you have been how hard just walking a reasonable distance can be.
Take care, stay warm and give yourself more time than you think you need its the only way to get over it without relapsing (it can happen).
Like others have said (especially at this time of year) keep your exercising indoors away from the cold air. The other thing you may want to consider doing instead of cycling is walking. You will be surprised after how sick you have been how hard just walking a reasonable distance can be.
Take care, stay warm and give yourself more time than you think you need its the only way to get over it without relapsing (it can happen).
Avantia Giro 3.0 2012
Just Riding - Used to be called "My Journey to Triathlon"
Just Riding - Used to be called "My Journey to Triathlon"
- ICU812
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Re: Return to cycling after severe asthma/pneumonia
Postby ICU812 » Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:50 pm
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and experiences. I think I will chill for a little while. Still requiring some ventolin & oxis during day, but not so much as before. Ok at night. Not coughing a lot up, but what is coughed up is difficult to shift, very thick causing further wheezing. Doing my own chest physio by using a flutter device. Longingly looking at my bike and envious of those cycling around. I will just have to wait. It is easy to underestimate how bad things were and now to be sensible about returning to riding safely.
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