I had much of the same story as you before I had the stents placed in my LAD this past March 28. I won’t go into details of life before.
Life since has been about getting back to it. In the weeks after my stents, I started with long walks then a really anxious first day back in the pool where I walked up to the edge than backed down several times before popping in to do about 1200y. I built my runs back slowly. Now, I’m swimming or running 5-6 days/week for about an hour at a time.
In May, I had a few “speed” run workouts, where I picked up the intensity. Maybe because of summer heat, I haven’t gone back to that and I feel slower.
The probable reason I feel slower is that I was prescribed a beta blocker, which has lowered my BP and HR. The first few minutes of my run feel slower: likely bc of the reduced HR, but also bc I’m still a bit worried. My runs and swims have not been as fast as before, so I asked my cardiologist if I could quit the beta blocker. I’m only a few days into reduced dosages, and on a few days, my HR was a bit high and all over the place, but it seems to be stable. I plan on full quit after today or tomorrow.
I think I just came to terms that with all the meds I’m taking, which you will have to take, getting all the way back might take a few months. I take aspirin (which will be a lifelong Rx), a statin, an anti-coagulant (that everyone with stents has ti take for up to a year). I used to go about 4000m in an hour, easily, in the pool, and now I’m topped out at 3800. My running pace is probably 9:25avg, where I used to go 8:30 or faster.
I bought my first garmin watch after the procedure. I don’t know what my average pace was before, but I feel that I ran faster before. I see that I can’t break out of the 110-115 range until about 15 mins into a run, but that could change. I’m glad I have another chance, so I’ll be okay being slower…. for now.
Note: I have to be lots more careful when I shave my face. I’ve had a few nicks that bled way too much. I’m glad I always flossed before since I won’t have to worry about bleeding gums that never stop.
Good luck. Be patient with the meds and you’ll be fine.
Life since has been about getting back to it. In the weeks after my stents, I started with long walks then a really anxious first day back in the pool where I walked up to the edge than backed down several times before popping in to do about 1200y. I built my runs back slowly. Now, I’m swimming or running 5-6 days/week for about an hour at a time.
In May, I had a few “speed” run workouts, where I picked up the intensity. Maybe because of summer heat, I haven’t gone back to that and I feel slower.
The probable reason I feel slower is that I was prescribed a beta blocker, which has lowered my BP and HR. The first few minutes of my run feel slower: likely bc of the reduced HR, but also bc I’m still a bit worried. My runs and swims have not been as fast as before, so I asked my cardiologist if I could quit the beta blocker. I’m only a few days into reduced dosages, and on a few days, my HR was a bit high and all over the place, but it seems to be stable. I plan on full quit after today or tomorrow.
I think I just came to terms that with all the meds I’m taking, which you will have to take, getting all the way back might take a few months. I take aspirin (which will be a lifelong Rx), a statin, an anti-coagulant (that everyone with stents has ti take for up to a year). I used to go about 4000m in an hour, easily, in the pool, and now I’m topped out at 3800. My running pace is probably 9:25avg, where I used to go 8:30 or faster.
I bought my first garmin watch after the procedure. I don’t know what my average pace was before, but I feel that I ran faster before. I see that I can’t break out of the 110-115 range until about 15 mins into a run, but that could change. I’m glad I have another chance, so I’ll be okay being slower…. for now.
Note: I have to be lots more careful when I shave my face. I’ve had a few nicks that bled way too much. I’m glad I always flossed before since I won’t have to worry about bleeding gums that never stop.
Good luck. Be patient with the meds and you’ll be fine.