Kendo hiatus...and the journey to get back.

[Tort-Speed]

Rainmaker, good for you! I have read chemo is pretty unbearable so tough Kendo musta helped. Your avatar says "go kyu", maybe time to update it. As for lousy-Kendo me, was told can't do Kendo due to possible bleeding in the brain due to meds for a heart attack 14 months ago, and pulse within 105-120.
4th opinion - as others have reported, few physios or/and docs have a clue about Kendo: it's not even on my Dr.'s list of sports-cum-activities! - from a former high school Kendo man who also became a heart specialist, was go for it. He said shinai hitting a men likely wouldn't cause that kind of bleeding (though hard kote strikes are to be avoided). Also gave me a treadmill/stress test that made a believer of the "Kendo, No Way!" cardios - daily activities, 120 heart-beats per minute OK; short-duration activity (Kendo!), 140~150 (tho at 150, need an ambulance on standby).
So, what's the saying, Never over til the fat lady sings or the kendoka sonkyos.

[Sakabato]

Hearing how you guys still practice kendo even with/after your life threatening events is an inspiration. Also makes me feel ashamed of the times I have avoided kendo for whatever personal reason I had at the time. I have a heart condition too, and suffer from anxiety, but hearing you guys makes me feel more hopeful/motivated. I will give you rep tort speed for being awesome!