Bike riding

[Mywildlove]

Hello! My fiancé and I are looking into getting a bicycle to ride around the city/trails for exercise this year. Do you think this is a good safe form of exercise for a person with cirrhosis? Everything makes me nervous so I’m being extra cautious.

[Hidden]

Its a hard question to answer. Really what it depends on is the pressure gradient of his portal hypertension. Whilst exercise is a good thing, to much pressure on the abdomen (like riding up a hill on a bike) can increase that pressure. I would ask the doctor just to be safe. I want to say yes but i just want to head the caution as well.

[Countrywalks in reply to Hidden]

That is very good advice well said it could be dangerous .

[Hidden]

Sounds great to me.🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️ Dont over do it and go full pelt, enjoy it !! Hey ... get a tandem !!♥️

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I want a pic of that!

[Mywildlove]

A tandem bike hahaha I don’t want to kill the poor guy! 😂

He really just wants to ride around our area, nothing too strenuous. But I will ask his doctor for sure. He seems to be putting a little weight on and is not happy about that. I am though, I think it’s cute 😊

[Hidden]

Let me know what the doc says wont you? I'd be very interested xx

[CarpeDiem11]

I have asked about exercise with portal hypertension, more than once and it has been actively encouraged. The only thing I was advised against was weight training. So , I can't see why it would be an issue, but as always check with your own docs first. Sounds like a great way to get exercise to me, outside and together. All the best

[Peter_Plymouth]

Sounds good to me - I have asked many times before TP about exercising and portal hypertension and never really got a straight answer. Overall they did seem to agree that exercise was a good thing but even when I got one of the consultants interested and he did some active research he found there were no papers on the subject. He has now gone away to see if he can raise interest in the subject - however it will be some years before anything useful comes from his research.

I think the advice above is great - see your GP and moderation will get you far. All the best

[Garyvh]

Hi,

How are his bones?

I found out I have osteoporosis in my spine, and oteopenia in my hips as a result of alcoholism and cirrhosis.

I'm not sure if something in my blood results flagged this possibilty up, or whether it is a routine follow up, but my Consultant sent me for a DEXA bone scan, which confirmed it.

I've been advised to avoid high impact activities, heavy weights, and anything with an increased risk of falling.

I was gutted really, as I'd just bought a fancy and expensive road bike which is still in the packaging it came in.

So for me I'm limited to low impact exercises like swimming etc.

That's on top of the whole issue of portal hypertension.

Could be worth asking your doctor about it.

Gary

[Radnor]

You can now buy bikes that have a small motor built in. This sounds a great option for your man. If he is struggling or going up an incline it will remove the strain. It is something that needs okaying by his consultant first. I live at the top of a what appears to be a slight incline. I often see cyclists with pained expressions because it is far more noticeable on a bike. You may be able to hire one of these cycles to start with. Hazelx

[Supportinghubby]

Hi, my husband had his 6 month review today & asked the consultant about exercise again. She was very relaxed about it really & like others have said, advised against heavy weight lifting but encouraged other exercise. Said he might get tired easily but to listen to his body. I guess everyone's different so best to speak to your fiance's doctor but sounds like it might be a goer. Probably best to stick to flat routes if you can or Hazel's is a great suggestion about a motorised bike.