Who has had Covid?

I've never touched the stuff.

 

...lol, but it can reach out and touch you...

 

About a year ago Neil Diamond changed some lines from "Sweet Caroline."

Hands reaching out. Don't touch me. I won't touch you.

 

I had COVID and posted it a few times already in this discussion board. In March of last year, I had classic COVID symptoms, but there was no COVID testing being done in Alabama at that time. The doctor was concerned enough to treat me with a powerful antibiotic (levequin) which got me through it. In September, my wife had it badly enough to cause us some worry. I tested positive at that time but had nothing more than a runny nose. I stayed out of work for ten days which irritated my boss when he saw me cutting grass for a neighboring business. When asked to cut grass, I told the neighbor that I had COVID and that I would have to stay completely apart from everyone.

I have heard that since vaccinations have begun that testing standards have changed. I heard that previous test samples were run through for 90 cycles which generated positives at a high rate. 30 cycles is what I heard that the new standard is, which would indicate willful intent to manipulate numbers.

 

Since I'm a volunteer firefighter I was high on the list to receive the vaccine. I have a desk job during the day and didn't miss any work during the lockdown so I was anxious to ditch the mask and get back to normal.

I had the second shot the first week of Feb. Up to that point I was riding a bicycle on average 150 miles/week between outside and on a smart trainer using the virtual platform Zwift. I have been riding bikes for about 4 years. The last week of January I did an FTP test (functional training power) since I had completed a 12 week semi-intense training program, my FTP was at about 3.4 watts/kg which is intermediate level. I was pulling local hills, for example a 1 mile ascent at 10% grade in about 7.5 minutes. Not too bad for a 63 year old. In 2020, I rode 6200 bicycle miles total.

Within a week of the second jab I started to notice a decrease in my bike performance. I have 3 years of heart rate and power data, I use an HRM and power meters or as mentioned a smart trainer so if nothing else I know what I'm capable of. By mid Feb my heart rate was 10 BPM on average higher and my legs felt like jelly. I cannot prove it but I suspect the vaccine caused this in me. I also think but cannot prove but I'm thinking I had the virus before getting the vac.

I'm still struggling 6 months later with an elevated HR and weird sensation in my legs. I tried to back off training but that didn't help. Last week was the first week since end of January I rode over 150 miles for the week. I have a 65 mile charity ride end of August that I want to do well timewise in and so I'm forcing myself to ignore my physical discomfort and just plow through it. Normally I do at least one 60 mile rail-trail cardo workout per week, I can do that now but my speed is not what it was a year ago.

So... for me, I ride the bike 5 days a week, min. 25 miles per ride, trainer or outside. Some hill climbing as I live in the mountains, a typical road ride for me is 25 miles with about 2000 feet of ascent. I try to keep my cadence at 85 rpm+. I also want to drop about 4 pounds, a pound a week. I have reduced my sugar intake by half and try to avoid eating before bedtime, also drink more water and as little carbs as possible. I do expect to do my 65 mile charity ride without any rest stops in less than 4 hours, shooting for 3.5 hours. I feel pressure as I'm in catch-up mode fitness wise.

As far as supplements I take Potassium and Magnesium. That's it. During a hard ride I take electrolyles. So that's what i do to stay basically in shape.