bicycling while on coumadin

I am a triathlete and on Walfarin, and my Dr said NO WAY to cycling while I am on it. Running and swimming are fine, but the risks are too high with riding. If he falls or has an accident on his bike there is a good chance he will bleed interanally so definately not worth the risk. Same could be said for skiing too (all the good things in life!!)
Cheers

DEAR KATHY

I WAS 19 Y/O WHEN I WAS PUT ON COUMADIN. I AM NOW 50 Y/0

I WAS IN THE MILITARY WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DVT. MY DR'S TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD PROP MY FEET UP AND STAY HOME. I WAS DISCHARGED WITH DVT. SINCE THEN I HAVE SKY DIVED 2 TIMES FLOWN 3 MEDIVAC MISSIONS WITH THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE, I CLIMBED SEVERAL CLIFF'S, WHITE WATER RAFTING, HORSE BACK RIDING, MOTORCYCLE RIDING AND YES ! EVEN BYCICLE RIDING I ALSO SERVED 25 YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER EMT IN MY HOME TOWN AND ALSO A FIRE FIGHTER. WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS LIVE FOR TODAY LIKE THERES NO TOMORROW. IF YOU STAY HOME AND LAY FLAT ON YOUR BACK THE REST OF YOUR LIFE THATS WHERE THEY WILL FIND YOU WHEN YOU ARE DEAD. I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY IF YOU ARE MOVING YOU ARE A LIVE AND YOUR BLOOD IS CIRCULATING, IF YOU LAY DOWN, YOU BLOOD SLOWS DOWN AND SO DOES YOUR HEART. SO KEEP MOVING

AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.



MY DR'S TOLD ME I SHOULD BE DEAD. BUT AT 50 I FEEL 30 Y/O BECAUSE I DID NOT LISTEN TO MY DR. ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR DR. BUT LISTEN TO YOUR BODY ALSO, IF IT HURTS STOP WHAT YOUR DOING. IF YOU SEE OR FEEL SOMETHING DIFFERENT CONSULT YOUR DR. AND ADVISE HIM WHAT YOU WERE DOING AND MAYBE YOU CAN COME TO A ALTERNATIVE EXCERISE THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE. LIVE LONG AND EXCERISE WITH CAUTION.

Guest wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My husband has just started taking coumadin. He recently had a pulmanary embolism. He loves to cycle on long, non competitive rides. Would this be safe for him? Does anyone have any experience with this combination?
Thanks, Kathy

DEAR KATHY
I WAS 19 Y/O WHEN I WAS PUT ON COUMADIN. I AM NOW 50 Y/0
I WAS IN THE MILITARY WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DVT. MY DR'S TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD PROP MY FEET UP AND STAY HOME. I WAS DISCHARGED WITH DVT. SINCE THEN I HAVE SKY DIVED 2 TIMES FLOWN 3 MEDIVAC MISSIONS WITH THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE, I CLIMBED SEVERAL CLIFF'S, WHITE WATER RAFTING, HORSE BACK RIDING, MOTORCYCLE RIDING AND YES ! EVEN BYCICLE RIDING I ALSO SERVED 25 YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER EMT IN MY HOME TOWN AND ALSO A FIRE FIGHTER. WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS LIVE FOR TODAY LIKE THERES NO TOMORROW. IF YOU STAY HOME AND LAY FLAT ON YOUR BACK THE REST OF YOUR LIFE THATS WHERE THEY WILL FIND YOU WHEN YOU ARE DEAD. I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY IF YOU ARE MOVING YOU ARE A LIVE AND YOUR BLOOD IS CIRCULATING, IF YOU LAY DOWN, YOU BLOOD SLOWS DOWN AND SO DOES YOUR HEART. SO KEEP MOVING
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

MY DR'S TOLD ME I SHOULD BE DEAD. BUT AT 50 I FEEL 30 Y/O BECAUSE I DID NOT LISTEN TO MY DR. ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR DR. BUT LISTEN TO YOUR BODY ALSO, IF IT HURTS STOP WHAT YOUR DOING. IF YOU SEE OR FEEL SOMETHING DIFFERENT CONSULT YOUR DR. AND ADVISE HIM WHAT YOU WERE DOING AND MAYBE YOU CAN COME TO A ALTERNATIVE EXCERISE THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE. LIVE LONG AND EXCERISE WITH CAUTION.

The problem with this answer is that the gentleman discharged from the military with a DVT does not say whether he continued to take Coumadin all those years he was climbing cliffs, white water rafting, and so on. If he wasn't, then his story is not relevant to the question asked: what are the risks in bike riding while anticoagulated with coumadin? John Hamilton