There were no power chords from Boston providing a soundtrack to the morning commute. It was just a ride. But it left me with a wide open feeling in my chest I associate with Prednisone. In those unfortunate years when seasonal allergies hit hard and my air ways draw closed my doctor prescribes Prednisone for the anti-inflammatory effect. I really enjoy Prednisone. After a day or two it feels like my lungs have grown and are cleaned out and the sensation of breathing is free and open. It’s side effect of inducing euphoria is not to be discounted either. You should note my wife hates it. Being a steroid there seems to be other mood or personality affecting side effects. While I’m feeling great, she has to put up with some Dr. Hyde elements.
Now today, thanks to a ride or two I have the same feeling in my chest a peaceful easy feeling of being able to breathe enough to fly with the eagles on my next ride. No personality shifting side effects go with this inducement of respiratory relief.
However beyond the natural health effect there is more than a feeling to the benefits from the ride. More than I, or presumably anyone, gets from the drug. During my last bout with Prednisone I set out for a ride. Confidence ran high. With lungs this open I’m going to be able to climb steep grades, go faster than normal and generally be as super of a rider as I can be. It didn’t happen. The feeling in my chest was just that, a hollow feeling. As soon as the ride demanded more oxygen for the muscles I was gasping. Today there was more than a feeling. I climbed. I sped. I enjoyed the benefits of riding a bike as it did more than a drug can do to make my life better.
Two days after my worst bike crash ever I sat on the examine table missing a couple of teeth, a dozen stitches in my face, bruises and scrapes from head to ankle. I asked my doctor “You said to ride a bike to improve my health. You still say that with this?” He had this reply:
Absolutely. For any treatment there are side effects. If exercise were a drug going through clinical trials and the side effects of occasional bruises, broken bones and everything were balanced against the benefits it would still pass and be approved. There are so many short and long term benefits to exercise that the injuries that sometimes happen are worth the risk. Bottom line Michael, if exercise were a drug every doctor would prescribe it to every patient. It’s that good. Don’t let this crash get in your way.
The effects of a few days riding vs a few days of Prednisone add another inflection to his statement. It’s more than a feeling.
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