[Secret_squirrel]

Not looking for medical advice but just wondering if my current situation sounds familiar to anyone and if so what they did about it.

Had a cracking winter Jan-Mar on the turbo, boosting my ftp and now its all gone to pot.

Have had a mild tickly cough for the last 2-3 weeks (Covid negative through 3 tests) and it seems to have completely impacted my stamina.  I just cant sustain even ftp level output for more than 5 mins, whereas in Mar I could do it for nearer an hour, and PR the Alpe in the following hour. 

Dont cough much on the bike but after the session have a tickle for the rest of the day.  Also not getting the usual satisfied endorphin rush post bike ride. Last real world ride I was playing tail end charlie up every hill which is unusual.

I’ve tried resting and bikeless for a week.   Had a much better session yesterday about 95% of good, and buzzin when I finished but less again good today.  I have very little to take to the GP with – especially in these times – so a bit stumped for options and its sucking the joy out of biking.

Not sure what to next

• Keep plugging away?
• More rest?
• Just ride for fun and stop stressing?

Any thoughts greatly received.

Topic

[Secret_squirrel]

Good question.  At least as

Good question.  At least as good as it’s ever been due to my lack of a commute at the moment.  

[the little onion]

How’s your sleep? I’ve found

How’s your sleep? I’ve found my fitness is directly proportionate to the amount of quality sleep that I’m getting

[check12]

Not sure if it’s what you are

Not sure if it’s what you are taking but a supermarket vitamins and minerals will give you D and everything else, for basically no money, per day 10p probably. 

[Dnnnnnn]

If no improvement in a

If no improvement in a reasonable period of time, it might be worth taking an antibody test to see if you did have C19. It might find – via a blood sample – something the swab tests don’t always find at the time.

[SiCalist]

The tree pollen season starts

The tree pollen season starts around March followed by the grass pollens from about now into mid summer. So although you may not experience the more common symptoms of sneezes, stuffy/runny nose or itchy eyes, when you exercise you are breathing in lots of pollen which can trigger an immune response releasing histamine, which causes inflammation in the lungs and the wheezing/coughing. It  also demands lots of your body’s strength fighting off the “invasion”, so as others have already said take it a bit easier, get good sleep and nourishment and see if it passes when the pollen levels drop.

[Cristox]

Ok. I am sorry for stating
Ok. I am sorry for stating the obvious.

[Secret_squirrel]

(No subject)

[Simon E]

Sriracha wrote:

Sriracha wrote:

SECRET_SQUIRREL: Hi Doc. Not looking for medical advice but…

DOC: I am not a vet!

FTFY.

[chrismayoh]

I’d had a blood test for

I’d had a blood test for something completely unrelated, but my Vitamin D level was tested and found to be quite low.  I was prescribed a large dose for a few weeks and now take a daily supplement.  The difference to my ‘get up and go’ is amazing!

[TheBillder]

See your GP.
See your GP.

Things change and not all ill health is due to infection. Argue if necessary for blood tests and insist on seeing the numbers so you can check against guidelines from NICE etc. If nothing is wrong, you can rest or do another sport for a bit, and you’ll have lost nothing but a short time with the GP. If something is wrong, better to catch it sooner and do something about it.

It could just be age related decline but the timescale is too short really.

Good luck.

[Secret_squirrel]

At 49 I would agree with you.

At 49 I would agree with you.  Didn’t find the Zwift sessions too taxing overall though there were definitely some very intense weeks. Rest of thoughts very helpful thanks.

[PRSboy]

Did you follow a Zwift

Did you follow a Zwift programme?  I’ve heard some quite negative things about them not building in sufficient rest, which will impact.

I’ve no idea how old you are, but I’ve found at age 47 that it takes me longer than it did only a few years ago to recover from sessions.  Repeated hard sessions without sufficient rest start to bring diminishing returns where you aren’t able to access that top end to get the adaptations, but you’re not recovering either.  In my humble opinion Zwift can be too tempting to go at it hammer and tongs every time as there is always someone in the distance to catch up, so you need to be disciplined.

I’d try spending time enjoying some nice relaxed rides, have a coffee and chat.  Remind your body what its like to ride and not feel uncomfortable!  You will lose very little fitness, maybe some top end power which can be regained in future.  It will most likely be beneficial to your fitness overall.

I am not a coach or a doc, but speak from bitter experience!  Good luck, I hope you find the joy again soon.

[Recoveryride]

If it’s giving you cause for

If it’s giving you cause for concern, see a doc. If nothing else, it will put your mind at rest. If the doc gives you a clean bill of health, you can put it down to needing a bit of a break.

[hawkinspeter]

A persistent cough could be

A persistent cough could be something innocent or could be a symptom of something much scarier, so definitely go see a doctor. I often find myself having a slight cough after riding for a bit, but that only lasts for half an hour and I assume that the exercise and heavy breathing has prompted my lungs to clean themselves up a bit (or cold air and traffic fumes irritating them).

[Sriracha]

Cristox wrote:

Cristox wrote:

See a doctor.

SECRET_SQUIRREL: Hi Doc. Not looking for medical advice but…
DOC: Next patient!

[Author]

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