Motorcycle Health, Need Input

[ChucksKLRST]

OK folks, The time has come for me to make a big decision about motorcycling for the next 9 to 10 months. As most of you Know that I just had a Cardiac STent installed in me. ( My wife Sue says I have been Farkled) I am on 75mgs of Plavix blood thinners. The Doc say I will be on that for about 9 months. He also advised NOT RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE :( during that time. As I am very susceptible to internal bleeding in case of a get off. 9 months looking at my bike instead of riding. Don't know how that will play out. My family (i.e., wife) says they will support me on any decision I make. Wife is thinking of my mental well being. Looking at some facts. Last and only Motorcycle get off was in 1985. Last and only auto crash was in 1968. Last time I fell and injured my self was three years ago, sprained ankle. I know only I can make this decision, but I am looking for input for the decision making process.
consensusWhat have other folks done in a similar situation?

[ChipSTer]

Gotta ask youself one question, "Is it worth dying for?"... If you do have a get-off, you stand a good chance of bleeding to death before they can get you to a hospital... Would hate to lose a 'good-un' like you... besides, I still need help with my CS100 install... :D
:cool: Just my .02 YMMV FWIW

[naturally wired]

+1 ....don't ride till its out!!...Plus you can take this time to farkle the h_ll out of it!!!!!:eek:

[NCrider]

Park it, wash it every now and then, then ride it when you get off the meds!!

:03biker: :03biker: :03biker: :03biker: :03biker: :03biker:

I mean, you have to have something to live for, right?

[Bobby Lee]

I've had 2 STents since 1997, all that goes with it as well. You gotta make up your own mind about riding. All I can tell you is I never stopped riding.:biker:

[tccox]

Good Grief

I've got two stents installed (Right Coronary)

Take

Toprol XL
Crestor 20 MG
Zetia
Micardis HCT
Aspirin 87 mg

Daily

Was on Plavix for a year after stents were installed. I was on my motorcycle within a week of the stents being put in. My doc and myself kidded about it being my cardiac rehab. Well, heck it was. He sure did'nt tell me not to ride and he's the best stent man in these here United States. Just make sure you carry a card with you stating what medications you're on. Which you should be doing anyway........

Also had cataract surgery the other week. With two stents and a plastic lens in my eye my family's started calling me the, well, not 6 million dollar man, more like the $100 man........


Good luck with the stents. Mine have worked out GREAT. These new medicated stents work great. I go yearly for the radio nuclide stress test and no problems. Been nearly three years now.

[dteel]

Chuck,

John made a good point but I’d like to point out that for you, much of that 9 months will be during pretty cruddy weather anyway. I don’t know if you spend winters in CO, or TX (I’m guessing TX).

Second, I understand that you have a good safety record. The problem with that is generally when these things happen (accidents) it’s because of what some other idiot did, not depending on your good intentions. As an experienced rider with a good safety record, I’m sure you minimize the risks by proactively looking for these situations and positioning yourself to mitigate the risk.

Ok, here’s my 2¢ worth. You have a lot of years of riding left, stick around to enjoy them. Follow your doctor’s advice.

[Finewest]

Plus 1 Chuck. Wait till all is well then ride the hell out of it! I am very sorry to hear you are not doing well, but know that you will bounce back fully. Your ST will wait for you. One West Coast Prayer put in for ya!

[EagleSix]

Hi Chuck,

Fortunately I have never been in your situation. At my age, however, the possibility is much more real and I certainly sympathize with your decision.

So, not being in your condition I have very little helpful input. Thinking about it, if it were me, it would mean some really drastic changes. I ride every day and my bike is my everyday ride. I go to extreme to avoid driving my cage.

If (when) I have to back off, my riding style is going to present a challenge. Probably 50% of my riding is local chores. Even most of my grocery shopping is done on the bike! About once a month I use the cage and make a big haul of vittles. However it is not uncommon for me to run out on the bike in the morning to the post office and stop by the grocery for a few items to fill the bags and in the afternoon run out to get, say, batteries and again make a stop at the grocery for milk and bread, etc.

The other 50% of my riding is, I often ride hard. Not stupid, although I am not immune from making a mistake, and always save 5% of the maximum edge riding in case of unforeseen emergencies, stalled vehicle, opposite direction traffic over the line, etc., but when conditions exist I run fast and I’m constantly working on finding the road and conditions which allow fast riding.

I’m also small stature being 5’8” and 140# . When I injure my back or stretch a leg muscle, it takes extra care and effort when maneuvering a bike, that otherwise doesn’t even enter my mind. So any type of unusual health condition can be an added challenge, which might not adversely effect a bigger person.

Faced with your condition, at the very least I think I would have to change my riding style. More use of the cage around town and backing off the all day aggressive rides. Maybe do more maintenance work on bikes, reserve riding time to once or twice a week for shorter, less technical rides. Perhaps get more involved for other motorcycle aspects, forum discussions, bike photography, instructing, etc which didn’t require as much actual riding but kept me involved with bikes.

On the other hand, backing off and limiting my riding might very well aggravate my mental health to the point I would get discouraged that I couldn’t handle my current riding style and just look for something else to take my interest.

Again, I sure do sympathize with your situation and decision and hope you will share with us how you work through it. For sooner or later, I will probably be forced to face the day when I can no longer ride as I like.

.

[GRN]

Chuck, hard call for the short term... I'm on cumadin for life or until they find something better than rat poison to counter a coagulation disorder I have. I was told to give up a lot of things: ski racing, mountain bike racing, climbing etc., etc. Of all the high risk things I have done in my life, the only one to date I have yet to spill any blood doing is motorcycling (just knocked on wood), so that is where I dug in... I would rather die living, than live just waiting to die. 9 months and some history of road surfing is different... maybe get some reading and the around the house projects done in preperation for a lot of riding to come! The worst thing you can do is ride with it on your mind... I have gotten to where it's just part of the gig, hardly enters my mind anymore. Be well man :D

[RibsST1300]

I've had valve problems for years-and been on Plavix 75 the entire time-still riding. I asked my doc and he said Plavix was such a light weight bloodthiner/clot reducer that I should not worry. He said it was not like the others that can cause you to bleed to death. He said it was more like a couple of asprin a day.

You choice of course-Riding a bike is dangerous-even without blood thinners!

[dbst1300]

If it were me, I would take it easy (easier) while impatiently waiting for the nine months to pass. BUT, I would ride the bikes carefully and for limited distances. LIVING IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH. I have a KLR and a ST1300 just like you, and I ride them both extensively......it would be hard to quit riding for nine months. I also have a KDX220 off road bike which I would definitely not ride during the same time frame........a little too much risk.

Dennis

[BigTom]

Chuck...

For me, I'd ride. I'd take the normal precautions, but I'd ride. Nobody, not you, not me, knows our time. Riding is one of the things I just can't give up willingly. I just can't. I'd just hate to take a 9 month sabbatical then get whacked by a drunk a week after I started back in.

It's your call, and a tough one. I wish you the best, what ever you decide.

[wjbertrand]

OK folks, The time has come for me to make a big decision about motorcycling for the next 9 to 10 months. As most of you Know that I just had a Cardiac STent installed in me. ( My wife Sue says I have been Farkled) I am on 75mgs of Plavix blood thinners. The Doc say I will be on that for about 9 months. He also advised NOT RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE :( during that time. As I am very susceptible to internal bleeding in case of a get off. 9 months looking at my bike instead of riding. Don't know how that will play out. My family (i.e., wife) says they will support me on any decision I make. Wife is thinking of my mental well being. Looking at some facts. Last and only Motorcycle get off was in 1985. Last and only auto crash was in 1968. Last time I fell and injured my self was three years ago, sprained ankle. I know only I can make this decision, but I am looking for input for the decision making process.
consensus. What have other folks done in a similar situation?

Of course this is totally your decision Chuck but I think if it were me and I decided to ride against my doctor's advice, I'd take some additional precautions. I'd limit my riding to pretty close to home, or at least to major thoroughfares, somewhere accessable, where the medical help is close by, and there's little chance of having an accident that would go unnoticed for any length of time. I'd worry about a mishap out in the sticks somewhere, because of the time element involved with bleeding. I'd try to make sure I was not riding alone, but with someone who could get help quickly, understands my condition and can communicate with any emergency medical personnel - god forbid. It might be a good idea to have a signed document with your riding partner that gives him/her permissions to allow treatment for you and I'd wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace in the conventional places an EMT would look for one.

I wouldn't miss WeSTOC though, even if I had to drive there. Ya just can't beat that kind of therapy!

[FL-STRIDER]

Chuck,
If I were in your situation I'd probably follow my doctors advice mostly. However both parents have had multiple open heart surgeries many years ago and have recently had several stints installed over the last several years. They enjoy very actives lives and my mom is in her 80's however most folks guess she's in her late 60's. All I can say my friend is you will be fine. Take it easy but don't give up riding. It is what defines you as a human being like many other on this site. I'm a firm believer that you must do the things in life that make you happy. Everything in moderation.

[Mellow]

Dude... it's just 9 months.. this is just a hobby, nothing more.. yeah, we all feel very passionate about it and we all know the risks... but...answer me one question...

Would you go out on a long trip with a plug in your Tire?

Nope, didn't think so.. so, wait until you're repaired... If you don't, we're all gonna come up and kick your ***!!

If you're lucky, we'll organize another TexTechSTOC at your place, just so you don't miss us too much..:eek:

[GRN]

Boy, we sure are a lotta help, eh? ;)

[ChucksKLRST]

besides, I still need help with my CS100 install... :D
:cool: Just my .02 YMMV FWIW


Bring it on up, Can use mine as a guide.

[ChucksKLRST]

Dude...



Nope, didn't think so.. so, wait until you're repaired... If you don't, we're all gonna come up and kick your ***!!

If you're lucky, we'll organize another TexTechSTOC at your place, just so you don't miss us too much..:eek:

This is sure a hell of a way too get people to come to Wichita Falls, TX.:D

[Mellow]

This is sure a hell of a way too get people to come to Wichita Falls, TX.:D

LOL... but, I'd almost bet there would be a record crowd... :bannana

[ChipSTer]

Bring it on up, Can use mine as a guide.
Was looking at the map and thinking about how far I could get before I would have to stop (approx. 800 miles from Prattville, AL - Guy would probably just laugh) and noticed that HWY 82 runs through Prattville, AL and Witchita Falls, TX... Very interesting... May just have to do 800 +/- miles of Hwy 82; just to say that I've done it... :D
:cool:
P.S. If I do decide to 'drop in', I'll give you plenty of notice... :D

[George]

Chuck, more advice from someone without the problem: go with the guys who have been/are there.

George
in Kingman, Arizona

[DRAFT1]

Chuck,
I've been where you are going. I was fortunate enough to get West Nile 3 years ago. I was even looking at giving my stable of bikes to my brother at the peak of an exhausting endurance test. Any way, I decided to stick around for a few more years, (which the wife and kids are greatful for) and am now able to ride. I sold my Connie, Sprint ST and ST1100 and bought an 04 ST1300. All that time of waiting to get well has made me enjoy the motorcycle that much more. I wish you well and pray for you a quick and healthy recovery. Just keep washing the thing and adding farkles until the time comes to ride.

Best wishes,
David

[Bob Hughes]

Chuck I have a friend, Tony, who has had 14 stints. We were at the Honda Hoot a couple of years ago and he got into a bit of trouble and they put in another one and 2 days later he rode home.

If you choose to ride I would wait till they balance your blood thickness out though, you don't want to be to thin.

[tccox]

I took Plavix for a year after the stents just to keep the little suckers from clogging up. Its really not that strong of a blood thinner. I cook a lot and cut myself with kitchen knives a lot and really never noticed a tendency to , well bleed to death. Aside from a slightly greater tendency to bruise really never noticed any life changes with Plavix. No way I'd quite riding. Another thing. Some (not all) health pros will say anything to get their patients off motorcycles

[Larry Everett]

I have been on plavix and aspirin for five years since my MI caused by an artery dissection. My doctor has never mentioned abstaining from any kind of activity except eating high fat foods!

[ST090]

Chuck:

The good news is that you got your situation taken care of rather than finding out the hard way. We get the pleasure of your company and the benefit of your experience. You are getting mixed views but it seems more positive views from those who have been there.

Perhaps a compromise is in order. Nr 1. don't miss WESTOC. Drive. You can still have the advantage of seeing your grand kids in Denver and drive to the WESTOC events.

Nr2. Give yourself and body time to adjust to the meds.

Nr3. When the meds and you have settled in and you have the right balance, re evaluate your situation and if you feel right, start riding again.

Nr4. When you do ride, if at all possible, have a riding partner with a cell phone until your meds have settled in.

Nr5. Techstocs can be great theropy. Indulge.

See ya in Golden. :04biker:

[DocNeal]

Chuck,
I truly believe this is your decision, and your trust/relationship with your doctor. However, I have many patients on Plavix, and I do not feel compelled to give them such strict activity restriction advice. Plavix is essentially a more potent form of aspirin. Yes, it will reduce your ability to clot, but not as much as coumadin (warfarin) another blood thinner.

We all take risks when we ride. A helmet and the proper protective gear is much more important than if you are taking plavix.

Just my opinion......

Good luck in your decision.

DocNeal:04biker:

[DocNeal]

Chuck,
I have one additional input for you. Plavix is a blood platelet inhibtor, like aspirin. In studies it is better than aspirin in reducing heart attack and stroke by an approx. 20% margin. When you are done with Plavix, your doctor will advise you to be on aspirin for the rest of your life. So the only difference you are guiding your decision on is this percentage difference. Are you not going to ride because you take an aspirin daily? I take aspirin 81mg daily and do not consider that a factor in my decision to ride.

DocNeal
:04biker:

[Walrus]

Chuck,
I know that you are hearing a lot of advice from those that have had stents put in. I work in the Medical Device Industry, specifically vascular stents, and neuro vascular stuff. I have also had the opportunity to work with some of the best Doctors in the industry, trying to give them the tools they would like to make life better for others.

Keep in mind, there has been a big swing in the industry in the last 4 years to the drug coated stents, and at that same time some great gains have been made in types of drugs being used to help post stenting to prevent re- stenosis. I would do as your doctor has said, and keep away from the high risk sports. No motorcycles, skydiving, hanggliding....... I think you get the idea.

What is nine months? Heck most women significantly change their lives for that amount of time once they find out their pregnant. Carry the torch for us Guys and show them how it is done:D I know you don't get a baby at the end, but riding the ST at the end of the ordeal would still be quite the rush, cheaper, and there is no 18 year commitment;)