Turns out there are advantages to having a good doctor. Who knew?

[Flying Crane]

.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

there's a third option....just be lazy and blame the fact that you forgot your meds on your ADD

Unfortunately I've got meds for that too, so I can't blame stuff on ADD anymore either.

This is a serious problem, guys. I'm running out of excuses for my own shortcomings!

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Is he part of Suassuna's group?

Charuto explained the entire lineage for me reaching back to Mestre Bimba. Unfortunately I don't remember any of the names or details off-hand. I'll check with Charuto next time I see him.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Same Doc who diagnosed the asthma?

Technically she (my family doctor) just suspected the problems and sent me to specialists (a neuropsychologist and a pulmonologist) for the official diagnosis.

 

[Flying Crane]

Charuto explained the entire lineage for me reaching back to Mestre Bimba. Unfortunately I don't remember any of the names or details off-hand. I'll check with Charuto next time I see him.

Thanks, I'm just curious.

I was a graduated student with San Francisco ABADA group, under Marcia, who is under Mestre Camisa in Rio. Camisa was a student of Bimba, and was also part of the Senzala Group before breaking away and establishing ABADA.

I've been away from it for well over a decade, but was a fanatic for a number of years.

You'll need your cardio.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Thanks, I'm just curious.

I was a graduated student with San Francisco ABADA group, under Marcia, who is under Mestre Camisa in Rio. Camisa was a student of Bimba, and was also part of the Senzala Group before breaking away and establishing ABADA.

I've been away from it for well over a decade, but was a fanatic for a number of years.

You'll need your cardio.

One of the reasons I'm doing the Capoeira is for attribute development. I can already tell that cardio will be one of those attributes.

 

[Dirty Dog]

An upside to finding out about the asthma is I now longer have to feel like my poor cardio over the last 10+ years is due to my own laziness. The flip side is that since it's now being treated, from here on out if I don't build up some great cardio, it will be my own lazy fault.

Not really. Even treated, your asthma is likely to continue to have an impact on your cardio.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Whatever happened to that rolling laughing smiley? I was enacting it while reading this thread.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Not really. Even treated, your asthma is likely to continue to have an impact on your cardio.

Eh, so will being in my 50s. If I'm able to do a reasonably hard cardio workout without having a coughing fit, feeling like I'm gong to puke (from the reflux), or coming down with bronchitis, then I'm going to count it as a win. It's not like I'm prepping for the Olympics. I just need to get better than where I'm at now. I started on my medicine today and was able to do a reasonably tough workout with no symptoms, so I'm going take it as a good sign.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

Eh, so will being in my 50s. If I'm able to do a reasonably hard cardio workout without having a coughing fit, feeling like I'm gong to puke (from the reflux), or coming down with bronchitis, then I'm going to count it as a win. It's not like I'm prepping for the Olympics. I just need to get better than where I'm at now. I started on my medicine today and was able to do a reasonably tough workout with no symptoms, so I'm going take it as a good sign.

If yours is like mine was, Tony, not having to deal with it in the moment of training will make a huge difference in what you can do to build your cardio. I remember having a minor asthma attack (much like you described: coughing, phlegm, some constriction of incoming air) during my brown belt self-defense test. It was miserable. About 2 years later, at my black belt self-defense test (by definition, at least 40 attacks added), I suffered no such attack, though I hadn't used my inhaler.

 

[KangTsai]

One thing that's bothered me for years is that despite training 5+ days per week, my cardio is crappy. I compensate pretty well in class, because I have the technique to be more efficient and use less energy than most of my sparring partners. Still, it would be nice to have the kind of cardio conditioning I'd need to go to tournaments and compete against other guys at my skill level. In recent years, though, whenever I make the commitment to an intense cardio training regimen, I seem to end up getting sick with some sort of respiratory infection that takes weeks or months to fully clear up.

Finally, thanks to tests ordered by my new family doctor, I have an explanation. Turns out I have asthma. Also bad acid reflux, which exacerbates said asthma. I had no idea. I guess maybe my fitness level is good enough that it masked the symptoms well enough so none of my previous doctors caught it.

Now that I have medicines to treat the underlying problems, I plan on seeing how far I can develop my cardio this year and maybe start competing again occasionally.

I've seen one person who used the Bas Rutten's O2 Trainer and he claims it fixed his asthma attacks after working out completely (wmpyr is his YouTube channel, FMA practitioner, show him some love).

 

[Dirty Dog]

I've seen one person who used the Bas Rutten's O2 Trainer and he claims it fixed his asthma attacks after working out completely (wmpyr is his YouTube channel, FMA practitioner, show him some love).

No. Just no.
These things, despite the claims, do not in any way simulate training at altitude.
They do simulate training while you're having an asthma attack, though. I think Tony will tell you that is NOT what he's trying to do.
There is NO benefit to using these things. None. Zilch. Nada. Bupkiss.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

They do simulate training while you're having an asthma attack, though. I think Tony will tell you that is NOT what he's trying to do.

Yeah, I've got plenty of practice with that already. (Even though I didn't know what was going on at the time.)

There is NO benefit to using these things. None. Zilch. Nada. Bupkiss.

I suppose they could help you learn to stay calm and control your breathing when you're not getting enough oxygen. I already know how to do that, though, so I'll be giving them a pass.

 

[Danny T]

Unfortunately I've got meds for that too, so I can't blame stuff on ADD anymore either.

This is a serious problem, guys. I'm running out of excuses for my own shortcomings!

LOL.
Yeah. We are all much in the same boat... screwed up in some fashion whether we believe so or not.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Having a good doctor Tony is simply awesome! They can really make a difference. Glad this is figured out and that it is treatable and you can hopefully get your cardio up where you want it. Challenging, yes! Possible, absolutely!

 

[Xue Sheng]

Having a good doctor makes all the difference, which is why I am getting another family doctor. My doctor really dropped the ball on the hip arthritis and bone marrow edema. If it was not for me having medical people in my family and a lots of experience at web searches I would still be wondering what the heck was going on.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

No. Just no.
These things, despite the claims, do not in any way simulate training at altitude.
They do simulate training while you're having an asthma attack, though. I think Tony will tell you that is NOT what he's trying to do.
There is NO benefit to using these things. None. Zilch. Nada. Bupkiss.

Agreed. They restrict flow in both directions, and will only inhibit progress. Anyone whose asthma is cured by this didn't actually have asthma to start with (or is simply suffering a placebo effect), because these (by adding stress to the system) actually would make asthma attacks more likley, and having even mild attacks produces enough mucus to make future attacks more likely.

The only likely benefit one could get from these things is possibly by learning to deal with the mental stress of not having enough air. They are not a complement to physical development of any kind.

 

[Dirty Dog]

The only likely benefit one could get from these things is possibly by learning to deal with the mental stress of not having enough air.

You could learn that without spending a ton of money just by putting a plastic bag over your head.

And for the sarcasm impaired... no. I am not actually advocating that anybody put a plastic bag over their head.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

You could learn that without spending a ton of money just by putting a plastic bag over your head.

And for the sarcasm impaired... no. I am not actually advocating that anybody put a plastic bag over their head.

Or by having an asthma attack.

And, no, I'm not advocating that, either.