On my last two 50-mile bike rides I tested a new product that I LOVE. They are the arm-warmers from Zensah. They are so soft you almost can't tell you are even wearing them. They protected me from the 50 degree wind, yet I never felt like I needed to roll them down after I warmed up.
I have worn them twice. I washed them with regular clothes (another bonus - no special care needed) and hung them.
Laura took a picture both times, so I will post them when she gets around to forwarding me the pic. Momo will be glad to know they are available in PINK!!!
I also tested Zensah's compression shorts. While they are super (I mean SUPER) comfortable - no seams, no riding up, no tight or itchy hems, unbeatable breathability - they weren't a style that I would wear. But for the men?... I see you guys wearing compression shorts under your running shorts - you really have to try these - I can't imagine anything else this comfy.
If you head over to Tri-Dogmom's website, you can order online and SAVE 30%...! Go do it! It's her post dated October 10th. You won't regret it. While you are there, check out the winter tops and beanies. I will be buying some of those, too.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Getting back in the saddle
Well, I was given the green light to train again this week:
Run for 70 minutes (10:45 pace)
Swim 2700 yards
Trainer for 40 minutes
I feel slow and "winded" but I'm out there. The hardest thing for me to get my head around, is that it's "OK" for me to be out there! I still can't grasp that this feeling in my chest should be considered "normal". But I've seen three different cardiologists and I have to assume they must know what they are talking about.
The good news is that after about 20 or 30 minutes, my heart settles into a rhythm that I don't notice, and that must be good. Even though Dr. Doug couldn't ablate all the areas, I'm still banking on it all just going away someday, just like most non-heart-related viruses do.
I am going to IM FL on Oct 31st; bringing my gear and bike. I'm just going to try the swim, and see how that goes; if well, then start the bike and see how that goes, and take on the day in segments. Last year I finished this course in 11:48, so that gives me a spare 5+ hours before the cut-off time at 17:00 hours. I'd like to try to finish it, but won't be embarrassed by a DNF if that's what the day brings.
Run for 70 minutes (10:45 pace)
Swim 2700 yards
Trainer for 40 minutes
I feel slow and "winded" but I'm out there. The hardest thing for me to get my head around, is that it's "OK" for me to be out there! I still can't grasp that this feeling in my chest should be considered "normal". But I've seen three different cardiologists and I have to assume they must know what they are talking about.
The good news is that after about 20 or 30 minutes, my heart settles into a rhythm that I don't notice, and that must be good. Even though Dr. Doug couldn't ablate all the areas, I'm still banking on it all just going away someday, just like most non-heart-related viruses do.
I am going to IM FL on Oct 31st; bringing my gear and bike. I'm just going to try the swim, and see how that goes; if well, then start the bike and see how that goes, and take on the day in segments. Last year I finished this course in 11:48, so that gives me a spare 5+ hours before the cut-off time at 17:00 hours. I'd like to try to finish it, but won't be embarrassed by a DNF if that's what the day brings.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Twin Cities Marathon Report
Boy, I sure picked the right one to sit out. It was sticky, hot, humid... I've never seen so many zombie faces! My friend Robert said that people were walking as early as mile 10 and 12. That's crazy!
There were a few of course who toughed it out with a smile:
... and the spectators looked great...
But all the people I train with and know were between 30 and 90 minutes off of their normal pace. Even the announcer kept commenting on how she'd never seen so many people still coming across the finish line at the 6 hour mark.
Kudos to the fan who still managed to stay live and cheer for his wife in this outfit. Oh, wait... omigosh... we KNOW that guy!!!
Over in Chicago, I called my girlfriend Diane to see how her race went and she told me that even the first water stop was already out of water, and the temps were rising up -- she saw 95 on a bank's thermometer, and then again, no water at mile 17 either... . She said there were so many ambulances screeming...
Finally, the medical staff could not keep up with the need for them, and the race was "called" at about the 4 hour mark. So everybody had to either get on a bus or walk in. No more running. I can only imagine the phone calls that race director is getting today... but what can you do? That had to be a pretty tough call. 40,000 people do that race, although I read that 10,000 registrants didn't even start. But at least 20,000 disappointed runners... wow. One confirmed dead and three in critical condition. Just too hot a day.
Diane did walk in around 5:15 and receive a medal at least. She was a good sport and declared, "oh, well, at least I got to be a part of history!"
Congrats to all of you who raced in the heat - that was amazing.
There were a few of course who toughed it out with a smile:
... and the spectators looked great...
But all the people I train with and know were between 30 and 90 minutes off of their normal pace. Even the announcer kept commenting on how she'd never seen so many people still coming across the finish line at the 6 hour mark.
Kudos to the fan who still managed to stay live and cheer for his wife in this outfit. Oh, wait... omigosh... we KNOW that guy!!!
Over in Chicago, I called my girlfriend Diane to see how her race went and she told me that even the first water stop was already out of water, and the temps were rising up -- she saw 95 on a bank's thermometer, and then again, no water at mile 17 either... . She said there were so many ambulances screeming...
Finally, the medical staff could not keep up with the need for them, and the race was "called" at about the 4 hour mark. So everybody had to either get on a bus or walk in. No more running. I can only imagine the phone calls that race director is getting today... but what can you do? That had to be a pretty tough call. 40,000 people do that race, although I read that 10,000 registrants didn't even start. But at least 20,000 disappointed runners... wow. One confirmed dead and three in critical condition. Just too hot a day.
Diane did walk in around 5:15 and receive a medal at least. She was a good sport and declared, "oh, well, at least I got to be a part of history!"
Congrats to all of you who raced in the heat - that was amazing.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
"The Greatest Night of the Whole Year!"
... according to Ally.
It happens only once a year.
The FDD.
The "Father-Daughter Dance."
We ordered her dress online, and she was SOOO excited when it arrived in the mail just hours before the dance. (I know, I know... these kinds of last minute things happen a lot. But I've been out of the running for Mother Of The Year since, like February, so, whatever. It will be different in 2008, I promise.)
Her tennis lesson ended at 5:45 so we raced home, stopping at Target to buy a curling iron, and she was undressing all the way upstairs - clothes dropping everywhere - to shower. We dried and then curled her hair (for the 1st time) - and she was so sentimental about it. She would give a little bounce and then giddily she'd say, "Omigosh! This is my first time to ever have my hair curled!" She's seven, but that's actually true.
I was so impressed when Bob came out with a tie that matched her dress. Thanks, Honey! You both look great - have a good time!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Good mornin' - I'm baaack!
Ok - here's what went down on Tuesday...
Checked in at 6, and was sent in to the "lab" at 8:00. Dr. Doug threaded cables in through both my femoral arteries as well as my neck. These three little cables had cameras and weapons. Here's what he found:
1). He agreed with the first cardiologist's theory about this being caused by a virus because he did see an area that still looked pretty irritated. There was a charge being fired from there and when he tried to ablate that one, it just moved over to another area right next to it, and he didn't want to just chase it around my heart, burning my heart wherever it went, which is what ablation is - I learned that ablate just means "destroy" in the cardiac world - I got to watch a video before going in.
2). He successfully ablated two other areas that were mis-firing.
3). There is still one mis-firing area that is on the back wall of my heart, but he couldn't ablate that one because my esophagus was resting directly behind it, and being that the heart muscle wall is only about 2mm, he would have damaged my esophagus, even though he and his weapon were on the inside of my heart, and my esophagus was on the outside. So he left that one.
4). Everything else he could see along the way looked really good.
5). Hopefully, as I lay low for 3 or 4 days, my heart, which has REALLY been irritated now, will settle down and most of this will go away... forever, I hope.
So here's something to brag about in a strange sort of way -- being in such good athletic shape and so efficient (in SOO many ways.. tee-hee) I kept metabolizing the anesthesia and WAKING UP. I remember three times waking up and asking them if they were STILL doing this and how much longer it would take and if they all had lunch yet. I awoke again later and learned that it was 2:15 p.m., and again when I heard myself snore - seriously! Bob says I never snore! And again at 2:45 just when he was burning at a certain spot. Let me say OUCH!!!!. So the nurse fiddled with my IV again and I fell asleep.
After it was all over, I think the doc spent a little over 6 hours doing this procedure. I went to the recovery area where I had to lay still for 3 hours -yep - along long, long time when you've already been on your back with no lumbar pillow and your head turned to the side with a cable sticking out of it. I was just dying to move. I guess they have to allow your arteries to to close fully before you can bend anywhere.
Anyway, when it was time to go at 7:00 or 7:30, I couldn't stand up long and would turn white and feel pukish and my blood pressure would drop (to 87/36 at one time). I guess I'd had too much anesthesia yet to process. So I ended up getting checked in for the night around 9:30 p.m.
Much as I wanted to go home, in hindsight it was good that I stayed over becausxe I was hooked up to the EKG machine all night.
And if I thought my heart was wigging out before, let me tell you it was REALLY wigging out now. The alarm was going off every 10 minutes. I'd have runs up to 7 beats long of ventricular tachycardia (the one that is supposedly "not compatible with life"), pauses much longer than before, and racing sessions that would start for no reason - like, I hadn't even moved - and hit 180 beats, then drop back down to 39. The only good thing... and this is going to be hard for me to fully "get"... is that the nurses would come in and say it was not anything to worry about. I guess if you don't sustain these things for like a minute, then you just have to learn to deal with it.
So, anyway, I am home, laying low for my 3 to 4 days, hoping my heart will settle down. Twin Cities is out - so I will be there cheering for a bunch of folks doing the marathon and the 10-miler. Jumper is planning on doing that one so maybe I will tool around on my bike and find his wife and daughter and cheer with them for a bit.
You guys have all been such a great support - I wish I could hug each one of you.
xoxoxo,
Jenny
Checked in at 6, and was sent in to the "lab" at 8:00. Dr. Doug threaded cables in through both my femoral arteries as well as my neck. These three little cables had cameras and weapons. Here's what he found:
1). He agreed with the first cardiologist's theory about this being caused by a virus because he did see an area that still looked pretty irritated. There was a charge being fired from there and when he tried to ablate that one, it just moved over to another area right next to it, and he didn't want to just chase it around my heart, burning my heart wherever it went, which is what ablation is - I learned that ablate just means "destroy" in the cardiac world - I got to watch a video before going in.
2). He successfully ablated two other areas that were mis-firing.
3). There is still one mis-firing area that is on the back wall of my heart, but he couldn't ablate that one because my esophagus was resting directly behind it, and being that the heart muscle wall is only about 2mm, he would have damaged my esophagus, even though he and his weapon were on the inside of my heart, and my esophagus was on the outside. So he left that one.
4). Everything else he could see along the way looked really good.
5). Hopefully, as I lay low for 3 or 4 days, my heart, which has REALLY been irritated now, will settle down and most of this will go away... forever, I hope.
So here's something to brag about in a strange sort of way -- being in such good athletic shape and so efficient (in SOO many ways.. tee-hee) I kept metabolizing the anesthesia and WAKING UP. I remember three times waking up and asking them if they were STILL doing this and how much longer it would take and if they all had lunch yet. I awoke again later and learned that it was 2:15 p.m., and again when I heard myself snore - seriously! Bob says I never snore! And again at 2:45 just when he was burning at a certain spot. Let me say OUCH!!!!. So the nurse fiddled with my IV again and I fell asleep.
After it was all over, I think the doc spent a little over 6 hours doing this procedure. I went to the recovery area where I had to lay still for 3 hours -yep - along long, long time when you've already been on your back with no lumbar pillow and your head turned to the side with a cable sticking out of it. I was just dying to move. I guess they have to allow your arteries to to close fully before you can bend anywhere.
Anyway, when it was time to go at 7:00 or 7:30, I couldn't stand up long and would turn white and feel pukish and my blood pressure would drop (to 87/36 at one time). I guess I'd had too much anesthesia yet to process. So I ended up getting checked in for the night around 9:30 p.m.
Much as I wanted to go home, in hindsight it was good that I stayed over becausxe I was hooked up to the EKG machine all night.
And if I thought my heart was wigging out before, let me tell you it was REALLY wigging out now. The alarm was going off every 10 minutes. I'd have runs up to 7 beats long of ventricular tachycardia (the one that is supposedly "not compatible with life"), pauses much longer than before, and racing sessions that would start for no reason - like, I hadn't even moved - and hit 180 beats, then drop back down to 39. The only good thing... and this is going to be hard for me to fully "get"... is that the nurses would come in and say it was not anything to worry about. I guess if you don't sustain these things for like a minute, then you just have to learn to deal with it.
So, anyway, I am home, laying low for my 3 to 4 days, hoping my heart will settle down. Twin Cities is out - so I will be there cheering for a bunch of folks doing the marathon and the 10-miler. Jumper is planning on doing that one so maybe I will tool around on my bike and find his wife and daughter and cheer with them for a bit.
You guys have all been such a great support - I wish I could hug each one of you.
xoxoxo,
Jenny
Monday, October 01, 2007
Tomorrow's the Day!
I start my fast at midnight tonight, and report in to the hospital at 6a.m. tomorrow. Dr Doug said I should expect it to take about 6 hours. Hopefully I won't have to be on the blood thinners afterward because that would totally hinder my lifestyle. (And you have to give it to yourself in a SHOT - eeeww).
Thank you everybody for all your kind thoughts and prayers. I love you! I will check in with you tomorrow afternoon or maybe Wednesday morning if I'm groggy...
xoxoxo,
Iron Jenny
Can't wait til I'm back to my old self... This is my official IM Zurich finisher photo - Joe-Bobby and I finished with the exact same time - how about that?
Thank you everybody for all your kind thoughts and prayers. I love you! I will check in with you tomorrow afternoon or maybe Wednesday morning if I'm groggy...
xoxoxo,
Iron Jenny
Can't wait til I'm back to my old self... This is my official IM Zurich finisher photo - Joe-Bobby and I finished with the exact same time - how about that?
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Things are moving along!
Dr. Doug called today and said he'd like to do my ablation earlier rather than later, so he has scheduled me for October 1st. I am so looking forward to getting this behind me. It is truly driving me crazy. The only setback, and I realize this is minor, is that I may not be able to do the Twin Cities Marathon. UNLESS he gets in there and can do the cauterizing he needs to do without too much circling of the pulmonary vein(s). If he has to do some of that, then I will have to be on a blood thinner for 1 to 3 months. And even getting a blood blister on my foot would turn into a nasty bleeder. BUT - he said not to cancel TCM until he gets in there and looks around. But he did say I should focus more on IM FLorida, and be ready to just let TCM go. I told him that I'm not a pro, so giving up a race isn't like saying my kids won't eat dinner for a few weeks. It's just my hometown marathon and the course is one of the most beautiful urban marathons around and EVERYONE goes or watches so it's like a huge family reunion.
I swam a couple thousand yards today, and I took it nice and easy. Tomorrow I was hoping to bike after school drop off, but got invited to play golf instead, so I will do that.
I take my Sotalol tomorrow, and then stop until the ablation.
I swam a couple thousand yards today, and I took it nice and easy. Tomorrow I was hoping to bike after school drop off, but got invited to play golf instead, so I will do that.
I take my Sotalol tomorrow, and then stop until the ablation.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
"Hello Reality", or "Who Did I think I Was Kidding?"
OK, so I get this great positive outlook pep talk from the new doc, and he says I can run TCMarathon, and that it's okay to jump back into training. So yesterday I set out on a conservative 5.2 mile run. Which takes me 1 hour 6 minutes to complete! I had to walk the last 20 minutes. I felt like I really really really really really really really needed to just lie down. I got home and ate a tbsp of peanut butter on pretzels and drank some more water and that helped pretty fast. But you'd have thought I just ran the marathon. I mean I was SPENT.
I figure I must still have the old beta blocker coursing through my veins. Although upon reading the side effects of the new drug, Sotalol 80 mg, it says it will also make me "tired, weak, short of breath, slowed heartbeat, and dizzy." Arghhh. Is this going to be my new life until I get the ablation?
So if I plan to do this marathon knowing hy HEART is okay, just my ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is whacked, I should probably schedule 6 hours on my Franklin Planner on Sunday the 7th. I certainly also should bring a lunch box because I simply can't go that long without eating. And at that pace, I risk getting to the finishline party after all the pizza is gone.
But as long as the doc says I will live through it, I'd like to go ahead do it beause I've never missed a year at this race since 2001 when it was my very first marathon. And next weekend it will mark my 25th marathon. So as long as I can stay awake for it, I'd like to try it.
On a fun sidenote, remember that my friends were taking pictures of my head on a stick during the Colorado Relay? Well, Holly emailed me yesterday telling me that when they returned the rental minivan, they left my head in the glove box with a note asking to go with them wherever they were traveling, and at some point to mail me home. I wonder if the next car renter will do it? I know I would!
I figure I must still have the old beta blocker coursing through my veins. Although upon reading the side effects of the new drug, Sotalol 80 mg, it says it will also make me "tired, weak, short of breath, slowed heartbeat, and dizzy." Arghhh. Is this going to be my new life until I get the ablation?
So if I plan to do this marathon knowing hy HEART is okay, just my ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is whacked, I should probably schedule 6 hours on my Franklin Planner on Sunday the 7th. I certainly also should bring a lunch box because I simply can't go that long without eating. And at that pace, I risk getting to the finishline party after all the pizza is gone.
But as long as the doc says I will live through it, I'd like to go ahead do it beause I've never missed a year at this race since 2001 when it was my very first marathon. And next weekend it will mark my 25th marathon. So as long as I can stay awake for it, I'd like to try it.
On a fun sidenote, remember that my friends were taking pictures of my head on a stick during the Colorado Relay? Well, Holly emailed me yesterday telling me that when they returned the rental minivan, they left my head in the glove box with a note asking to go with them wherever they were traveling, and at some point to mail me home. I wonder if the next car renter will do it? I know I would!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Finally - some peace of mind...
Oy. What a ride this has been with my heart wigging-out on me since September 4th...
Today I met with Dr. Hodgkin, the other electrophysiologist. This is the guy who is married to my girlfriend, whose kids went to Early Childhood classes with mine when they were one year old, and now his daughter is in Bobby's class at school and his son is in Ally's. So although I don't know HIM, I do go pretty far back with the rest of the Hodgkins!
The first thing he said when he walked into the room was that we should just call him Doug. He had reviewed my reports and listened to my heart, listened to my symptoms, ran a fresh EKG, heard about my lifestyle and history, etc. and almost immediately started putting my mind at ease. He used words that I actually know (some even fewer than 6 syllables!), and when he used words I didn't know, he exlained them like a friendly professor would. Everything made better sense to me. He explained why the symptoms were so much worse at night than during the day (because there is some stretch in the heart and vessels when reclined and that can exaggerate the arrythmic beats).
He took me off the new medication and ordered something different and gave me some options for how to make this all go away (which he feels confident it will). I will be going with the "ablation" option, hopefully on October 8th. He's done this procedure thousands of times (I asked;-)), so I feel confident having him do it. About 70 -90% of "otherwise healthy" people (like me) come through this, recover for about 3 or 4 days, and then feel "cured". Ablation is where he'll go in through a vessel via an IV (so no stitches even), thread it up to my heart, and look for what is causing the erratic beating. Then he can cauterize the villains, reestablish the real beat leader, and retreat.
Sounds like a plan.
He also explained why he thought I should go ahead and do Twin Cities Marathon on Oct 6th, and also Ironman Florida on November 4th: that while these rumblings, grindings, fast-slow-fast beats, poundings, pressure, etc... this all sounds and IS very unnerving... but since my echo and MRI show that my structures are indeed healthy... these unnerving symptoms are nevertheless still benign. Meaning I will not drop dead like Will did (my classmate who got a virus in his heart and promptly died about 5 months ago).
So. Here's the skinny: I'm an Ironman. I tough things out. I can tough out freakish heartbeats.
I told him that I haven't been training, and he assured me I can get back to that right away. I just have to know that I may feel the sensations of my heart making these weird thumps and noises and that it shouldn't freak me out. Also, as an endurance athlete, I will have to use other methods of assessing my "current condition", since my heartrate monitor won't offer much as a tool. When I said, "but I'm so exhausted! now", he said that was most likely caused my the medications I was taking. That's their job - to slow everything down to try to get the rhythm to come back.
Ah, ha!
This would explain why at IM Wisconsin, I was running up and down the streets taking pictures, full of my usual energy, piss and vinegar, yet after I got home I started getting so tired... well, that's when I started the medications (and stopped drinking caffeine and alcohol), so that part of what he explained to me today, also made sense.
So that is the scoop. I start the new medication today, and will get back on my bike and not worry that I'm going to pass out and fall off of it. I still think that I will do a dreadmill run today, rather than an outdoor run, just so that I can familiarize myself with my erratic heartbeats while running, and not freak myself out.
Thank you all so much for all your prayers, and good thoughts. Although my BODY feels the same, my MIND feels better.
xoxoxo
Today I met with Dr. Hodgkin, the other electrophysiologist. This is the guy who is married to my girlfriend, whose kids went to Early Childhood classes with mine when they were one year old, and now his daughter is in Bobby's class at school and his son is in Ally's. So although I don't know HIM, I do go pretty far back with the rest of the Hodgkins!
The first thing he said when he walked into the room was that we should just call him Doug. He had reviewed my reports and listened to my heart, listened to my symptoms, ran a fresh EKG, heard about my lifestyle and history, etc. and almost immediately started putting my mind at ease. He used words that I actually know (some even fewer than 6 syllables!), and when he used words I didn't know, he exlained them like a friendly professor would. Everything made better sense to me. He explained why the symptoms were so much worse at night than during the day (because there is some stretch in the heart and vessels when reclined and that can exaggerate the arrythmic beats).
He took me off the new medication and ordered something different and gave me some options for how to make this all go away (which he feels confident it will). I will be going with the "ablation" option, hopefully on October 8th. He's done this procedure thousands of times (I asked;-)), so I feel confident having him do it. About 70 -90% of "otherwise healthy" people (like me) come through this, recover for about 3 or 4 days, and then feel "cured". Ablation is where he'll go in through a vessel via an IV (so no stitches even), thread it up to my heart, and look for what is causing the erratic beating. Then he can cauterize the villains, reestablish the real beat leader, and retreat.
Sounds like a plan.
He also explained why he thought I should go ahead and do Twin Cities Marathon on Oct 6th, and also Ironman Florida on November 4th: that while these rumblings, grindings, fast-slow-fast beats, poundings, pressure, etc... this all sounds and IS very unnerving... but since my echo and MRI show that my structures are indeed healthy... these unnerving symptoms are nevertheless still benign. Meaning I will not drop dead like Will did (my classmate who got a virus in his heart and promptly died about 5 months ago).
So. Here's the skinny: I'm an Ironman. I tough things out. I can tough out freakish heartbeats.
I told him that I haven't been training, and he assured me I can get back to that right away. I just have to know that I may feel the sensations of my heart making these weird thumps and noises and that it shouldn't freak me out. Also, as an endurance athlete, I will have to use other methods of assessing my "current condition", since my heartrate monitor won't offer much as a tool. When I said, "but I'm so exhausted! now", he said that was most likely caused my the medications I was taking. That's their job - to slow everything down to try to get the rhythm to come back.
Ah, ha!
This would explain why at IM Wisconsin, I was running up and down the streets taking pictures, full of my usual energy, piss and vinegar, yet after I got home I started getting so tired... well, that's when I started the medications (and stopped drinking caffeine and alcohol), so that part of what he explained to me today, also made sense.
So that is the scoop. I start the new medication today, and will get back on my bike and not worry that I'm going to pass out and fall off of it. I still think that I will do a dreadmill run today, rather than an outdoor run, just so that I can familiarize myself with my erratic heartbeats while running, and not freak myself out.
Thank you all so much for all your prayers, and good thoughts. Although my BODY feels the same, my MIND feels better.
xoxoxo
Saturday, September 22, 2007
9/22 Yesterday's EP meeting
Hi Everybody - I really, really, really appreciate having so many of you wishing me well, posting, PRAYING. It does help and I want to thank you.
Yesterday I met with the first electrophysiologist (Dr. Melby) who said it does indeed point to a heart-attacking virus, although he was perplexed that I didn't first catch a whole-body virus that left me vomiting and feverish, but I didn't. He took me off of the two meds that the regular cardiologist had me on because even though they had been doubled twice, they were not putting a dent in my symptoms. (Grinding, rumbling heart, tightness, backache, lightheadedness if I stand up too long, the sensation of whole-body oxygen-debt if I walk up the stairs, etc.)
So now I am taking Indomethacin and Cartia XT. Hopefully the latter will ease the tightness. Dr. Melby said that I have paracarditis, which is affecting the lining of the heart, not the muscle, which is GOOD, and that's why I feel the tightness in my chest and upper back. I will likely be in this for another two months, but when it's over, he expects I won't have any lingering symtoms.
But that still makes Twin Cities marathon a definite "no", and Ironman Florida a "probably no". Even if I have whipped the virus, byNovember, I will not have trained a single day for 9 weeks. So an Ironman would be my first day back? I would have to guess not... even for someone like me who thinks training is overrated!
Anyway, I apparently am having a blast in Colorado.
I got to meet some ponies:
... and Kevin Bacon....
... and I even got to direct traffic! "Slow down 'fore Mama gits yew!!!"
The relay team (Puke-and-Rally) is having some hardships out there. Mark S. tripped and fell tumbling on his 2nd leg, which left him with a nasty gash on his knee and cuts and scrapes on his back. Being dark, I guess there was nothing to do until daylight, but he may need stictches. Brooke got sick and has been just sleeping in the back of her van while her 4 van-mates are running her legs for her. Jeff S completed his 2nd leg only to get to the exchange point, wet and freezing and find that his van went to the wrong exchange point. After 20 minutes he just took off running agian towards the next exchange hoping to meet them, but they were doubling back to meet HIM, so there was some confusion and they lost a lot of time. Last year they were the only team of 5, so obviously they won their category. But this year there are 5 teams of only 5 (called an Ultra team), and they want to hold onto their title.
My van? No hardships, other than aches from incessant bellylaughs. My van has Joe and Jeff and really, I have never known funnier people and to have them BOTH in the same van must really be something. I can't wait to hear wahat Stronger thinkks! So they are having fun, and will have perfectly toned abs by the finish later today.
Yesterday I met with the first electrophysiologist (Dr. Melby) who said it does indeed point to a heart-attacking virus, although he was perplexed that I didn't first catch a whole-body virus that left me vomiting and feverish, but I didn't. He took me off of the two meds that the regular cardiologist had me on because even though they had been doubled twice, they were not putting a dent in my symptoms. (Grinding, rumbling heart, tightness, backache, lightheadedness if I stand up too long, the sensation of whole-body oxygen-debt if I walk up the stairs, etc.)
So now I am taking Indomethacin and Cartia XT. Hopefully the latter will ease the tightness. Dr. Melby said that I have paracarditis, which is affecting the lining of the heart, not the muscle, which is GOOD, and that's why I feel the tightness in my chest and upper back. I will likely be in this for another two months, but when it's over, he expects I won't have any lingering symtoms.
But that still makes Twin Cities marathon a definite "no", and Ironman Florida a "probably no". Even if I have whipped the virus, byNovember, I will not have trained a single day for 9 weeks. So an Ironman would be my first day back? I would have to guess not... even for someone like me who thinks training is overrated!
Anyway, I apparently am having a blast in Colorado.
I got to meet some ponies:
... and Kevin Bacon....
... and I even got to direct traffic! "Slow down 'fore Mama gits yew!!!"
The relay team (Puke-and-Rally) is having some hardships out there. Mark S. tripped and fell tumbling on his 2nd leg, which left him with a nasty gash on his knee and cuts and scrapes on his back. Being dark, I guess there was nothing to do until daylight, but he may need stictches. Brooke got sick and has been just sleeping in the back of her van while her 4 van-mates are running her legs for her. Jeff S completed his 2nd leg only to get to the exchange point, wet and freezing and find that his van went to the wrong exchange point. After 20 minutes he just took off running agian towards the next exchange hoping to meet them, but they were doubling back to meet HIM, so there was some confusion and they lost a lot of time. Last year they were the only team of 5, so obviously they won their category. But this year there are 5 teams of only 5 (called an Ultra team), and they want to hold onto their title.
My van? No hardships, other than aches from incessant bellylaughs. My van has Joe and Jeff and really, I have never known funnier people and to have them BOTH in the same van must really be something. I can't wait to hear wahat Stronger thinkks! So they are having fun, and will have perfectly toned abs by the finish later today.
... now I see I've befriended a bear...
... was taken for a lovely afternoon stroll...
... and have become art in somebody's yard... Joe-Bobby git yer haind offa mah breast!!!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Update 9/21
I don't have a change to report for my heart condition, although I did have my meds doubled AGAIN. Apparently I should be responding to the beta blocker by now. I have an apointment with the first electrophysiologist at 3 p.m., so will let you know how that goes. My girlfriend is picking my kids up from school so Bob can come with me.
As many of you know, I was supposed to be doing the Colorado Relay this weekend and am really sad that I am missing it. I do this race with some of the funniest people I have ever met. Here's what's going on out there:
This is part of Team Puke-and-Rally: Erin, Brad, Robert, Deb, Merilee, Marty, and Chae.
This is Robbie showing off our new bumper stickers...
... and Joe-Bobby putting them on the minivan. To an outsider looking in, these relays are a disturbingly overwhelming convoy of about 300 rented minivans, transporting runners on the course.
This is me with Holly in the van.
... and me where we stopped to buy meat (I guess!)
And here we are on the course! This is "my" van - and that's our very own Stronger on the right! I can't wait to hear what she thinks of my friends! Especially Joe-Bobby and Jeff-Bobby who I hear had a Brokeback Mountain Moment last night.... oy vey!
As many of you know, I was supposed to be doing the Colorado Relay this weekend and am really sad that I am missing it. I do this race with some of the funniest people I have ever met. Here's what's going on out there:
This is part of Team Puke-and-Rally: Erin, Brad, Robert, Deb, Merilee, Marty, and Chae.
This is Robbie showing off our new bumper stickers...
... and Joe-Bobby putting them on the minivan. To an outsider looking in, these relays are a disturbingly overwhelming convoy of about 300 rented minivans, transporting runners on the course.
This is me with Holly in the van.
... and me where we stopped to buy meat (I guess!)
And here we are on the course! This is "my" van - and that's our very own Stronger on the right! I can't wait to hear what she thinks of my friends! Especially Joe-Bobby and Jeff-Bobby who I hear had a Brokeback Mountain Moment last night.... oy vey!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
No change; a little light entertainment
I don't have any changes to report on my heart condition, although I deeply appreciate how many people are thinking of me and especially grateful for those who are praying for me.
I have appointments on Friday and Monday with two different electrophysiologists, and had my medications (that already make me feel weird) doubled. :-(
The a-fibs I'm not all that worried about ---- apparently those are really common; it's the p.a.c.'s and the v-tachs that I am eager to get fixed like, last week.
The way it was described to me yesterday is that usually you have one "beat leader". Then all the other chambers fire their responses and the blood pumps all around and out to the rest of my body. What I have going on right now is like a revolt against the authority of the "real" beat leader. Now all the other areas of my heart want to be the beat leader and so they are all firing. (I sort of think of the movie Shrek when the donkey yells, "pick me! pick me!") Anyway, the machine - meaning all my parts - all look good (of course!, and thank God), they're just all confused because there is no leader. Meanwhile in all the confusion, my valves are fluttering and leaving behind a bunch of lost-and-wayward blood to pool up in my heart and if it hangs out there long enough I could have a stroke. About the virus, they can only assume it was caused by a virus because it came on so suddenly, but they can't tell me what virus is (or was) without doing an autopsy, and I'd have to be dead for that, so I won't be ordering that test. And if it was a virus, then it may already be gone, but I am just left with the electonic mis-firing afterward. No one will probably ever know.
So if the medications don't "reset" my electonics, then the cardiologist can feed a cable with a weapon on the end of it, up through my groin, and "zap" the places where the revolting beats are trying to initiate. Sounds scary, but I guess it's fairly common. At least I hope he's done it before ;-).
My friends all leave tomorrow for The Colorado Relay, so I am pretty blue that I have to miss that for the first time in about 5 or 6 years. Go Puke-and-Rally! Dread Pirate is on the Runnin' Rebels team, so you should all check back on Sunday to see if they were able to beat us. I predict they will beat us by 5 hours. BUT NOT MORE!! Have fun you guys. I will miss you.
On a lighter note, TriDummy, make that IronTriDummy, is in town, so I accompanied him while he got his M-dot tattoo last night. Poor thing cried like a BABY! I felt so bad for him. He's GOT to be pretty embarrassed. He composed himself once IronTaconite Boy got there, though... You'll have to check his blog for the close-up of the tattoo - I don't want to steal his thunder... it is a really nice one.
Signing in and getting the final drawing done.
Ouch!!! Waaaah!!
IronTac, IronDummy and me showing off our tattoos and ironmuscles.
... for those of you who read all the way to the end of the post, I was only kiddin' about Dummy crying like a baby. tee-hee.;-)
I have appointments on Friday and Monday with two different electrophysiologists, and had my medications (that already make me feel weird) doubled. :-(
The a-fibs I'm not all that worried about ---- apparently those are really common; it's the p.a.c.'s and the v-tachs that I am eager to get fixed like, last week.
The way it was described to me yesterday is that usually you have one "beat leader". Then all the other chambers fire their responses and the blood pumps all around and out to the rest of my body. What I have going on right now is like a revolt against the authority of the "real" beat leader. Now all the other areas of my heart want to be the beat leader and so they are all firing. (I sort of think of the movie Shrek when the donkey yells, "pick me! pick me!") Anyway, the machine - meaning all my parts - all look good (of course!, and thank God), they're just all confused because there is no leader. Meanwhile in all the confusion, my valves are fluttering and leaving behind a bunch of lost-and-wayward blood to pool up in my heart and if it hangs out there long enough I could have a stroke. About the virus, they can only assume it was caused by a virus because it came on so suddenly, but they can't tell me what virus is (or was) without doing an autopsy, and I'd have to be dead for that, so I won't be ordering that test. And if it was a virus, then it may already be gone, but I am just left with the electonic mis-firing afterward. No one will probably ever know.
So if the medications don't "reset" my electonics, then the cardiologist can feed a cable with a weapon on the end of it, up through my groin, and "zap" the places where the revolting beats are trying to initiate. Sounds scary, but I guess it's fairly common. At least I hope he's done it before ;-).
My friends all leave tomorrow for The Colorado Relay, so I am pretty blue that I have to miss that for the first time in about 5 or 6 years. Go Puke-and-Rally! Dread Pirate is on the Runnin' Rebels team, so you should all check back on Sunday to see if they were able to beat us. I predict they will beat us by 5 hours. BUT NOT MORE!! Have fun you guys. I will miss you.
On a lighter note, TriDummy, make that IronTriDummy, is in town, so I accompanied him while he got his M-dot tattoo last night. Poor thing cried like a BABY! I felt so bad for him. He's GOT to be pretty embarrassed. He composed himself once IronTaconite Boy got there, though... You'll have to check his blog for the close-up of the tattoo - I don't want to steal his thunder... it is a really nice one.
Signing in and getting the final drawing done.
Ouch!!! Waaaah!!
IronTac, IronDummy and me showing off our tattoos and ironmuscles.
... for those of you who read all the way to the end of the post, I was only kiddin' about Dummy crying like a baby. tee-hee.;-)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Today's EKG
I just failed the EKG.
I am having a-fibs, v-tachs, and p.a.c.'s - whatever those are.
I will update after my doctor calls me to discuss. All the technician told me was that the v-tachs are the ones that aren't compatible with life. How could she say that, and why is this happening?
I am having a-fibs, v-tachs, and p.a.c.'s - whatever those are.
I will update after my doctor calls me to discuss. All the technician told me was that the v-tachs are the ones that aren't compatible with life. How could she say that, and why is this happening?
9/17 update
Well, I slept poorly because I kept waking up needing a big deep inhale. But after I was up and moving around, I think I started to feel better... I counted 20 and then ... get this... 90 regular heartbeats! When I was counting the 90 set I was giddy in disbelief. Maybe I am turning the corner and my body is starting to create an antidote.
I am still lightheaded and exhausted. But that could be the medication. I hate this medication. The feeling that I am dreaming and everybody is just in my dream is very strange.
I gave more blood this morning to try to figure out (and explain hopefully) the hypothyroidism factor which is so bizarre. Hopefully they will let me know soon what came up today. At 1:30 I go back to the cardiologist for another EKG.
Thank you all so much for all the good vibes and prayers you are sending my way. This has truly been the most unsettling few days of my life. I'll add to this post in the afternoon after my 1:30 appt..
I am still lightheaded and exhausted. But that could be the medication. I hate this medication. The feeling that I am dreaming and everybody is just in my dream is very strange.
I gave more blood this morning to try to figure out (and explain hopefully) the hypothyroidism factor which is so bizarre. Hopefully they will let me know soon what came up today. At 1:30 I go back to the cardiologist for another EKG.
Thank you all so much for all the good vibes and prayers you are sending my way. This has truly been the most unsettling few days of my life. I'll add to this post in the afternoon after my 1:30 appt..
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Update
Gosh, you guys are nice. Thank you so much for all the good thoughts (and prayers from those of you who do that).
So today I woke up (thank God) and still feel the same in my chest. It feels like my ryhthm goes like this: BANG....... beat...... beat.......... beat..... [pause]..... ....... [come on! come on!] ........ ..... ....... BANG...... beat...... beat......
and so on. Sometimes the series is 2 beats long, sometime it's 12 beats long. It is so unnerving. Especially waiting for the big banging first beat after the long pause.
Yesterday was my first full day on my medications. (I still can't believe when I hear myself say "my heart medications" or "my cardiologist" ... that is just weird.)
I am sluggish all day and have a headache (I never ever get headaches, so that unnerves me too), but the cardiologist said that is what the medication might make me feel like. I also feel like I'm in a dream and I'm trying hard to be sure that everybody is real and not just part of my dream. But I hear that is normal, too.
I put on my Polar heartrate monitor and I think it's probably not helping for me to sit here watching my read-out go from 38 bpm to 104 to 53 to 47 to.... those are my numbers in the last minute. It's crazy
Across the meadow and on the hill is St. Anne's Catholic Church where the bells are ringing right now. I love that sound.
My service doesn't start until 10:00 so I have a while before I have to get the kids up and showered. Even Bob is sleeping in today.
More later... Greyhound in IMing me...
So today I woke up (thank God) and still feel the same in my chest. It feels like my ryhthm goes like this: BANG....... beat...... beat.......... beat..... [pause]..... ....... [come on! come on!] ........ ..... ....... BANG...... beat...... beat......
and so on. Sometimes the series is 2 beats long, sometime it's 12 beats long. It is so unnerving. Especially waiting for the big banging first beat after the long pause.
Yesterday was my first full day on my medications. (I still can't believe when I hear myself say "my heart medications" or "my cardiologist" ... that is just weird.)
I am sluggish all day and have a headache (I never ever get headaches, so that unnerves me too), but the cardiologist said that is what the medication might make me feel like. I also feel like I'm in a dream and I'm trying hard to be sure that everybody is real and not just part of my dream. But I hear that is normal, too.
I put on my Polar heartrate monitor and I think it's probably not helping for me to sit here watching my read-out go from 38 bpm to 104 to 53 to 47 to.... those are my numbers in the last minute. It's crazy
Across the meadow and on the hill is St. Anne's Catholic Church where the bells are ringing right now. I love that sound.
My service doesn't start until 10:00 so I have a while before I have to get the kids up and showered. Even Bob is sleeping in today.
More later... Greyhound in IMing me...
Saturday, September 15, 2007
This will come as a total shock
September 4th I noticed my heart feeling like it had a rubber band around it. The first hard beat would pound up into my throat, like it was trying to gag me. Then 2 - 12 gradually lighter beats until it just felt like a vibration in my stomach, making me feel nauseas - not puking, but just like you feel when your pregnant. Have you ever veered too far off the road and run over those rumble strips? Like that. Only in my stomach. Then no beats at all. Then WHAM there goes another first beat again.
So Friday (before WI) I went to Urgent Care where the PA heard what I was describing, and ordered an EKG. Then he sent me to my primary care guy to also took an EKG and ordered bloodwork. He heard what I was describing, too, and sent me to a cardiologist. He hooked me up to a monitor for 24hours, sent me for an echocardiogram and an MRI. (If you are not claustrophobic, the MRI machine will convert you.)
So, the cardiologist called me yesterday afternoon.
You've got a problem with your rhythm and it appears to be viral in nature.
The echo looks okay.
The MRI shows that all your parts are the right size.
The holter monitor indicates that you are indeed experiencing this all day and all night.
Start taking these two medications (Metoprolol and Flecainide) and come back Monday for another EKG.
Your test from your primary care guy indicated hypothyroidism, so we need to do some more blood work on that.
No, you can't go to Colorado on the 19th for the relay, and no, you should not do Twin Cities Marathon.
Hypothyroidism? I read the symptoms and I'm nothing like that. (Although I wouldn't mind having an excuse for not losing those last 10 pounds or so). I have not fainted, but get dizzy when I stand up fast; and I am experiencing shortness of breath, but nothing that a good long inhale doesn't fix.
But I am freaked out about the virus. And I'm a little freaked out that the cardiologist gave me a number where he can be reached all Saturday and Sunday. And he said if I feel really lightheaded to go straight to the ER.
Do you guys know anything about this? Am I about to be one of those freakish stories? I gotta tell you I was so happy and relieved when I woke up this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/v/5nTjCf-_Ia4
go here for fun... Ally (7) singing to Hannah Montana with the hedphones on.
So Friday (before WI) I went to Urgent Care where the PA heard what I was describing, and ordered an EKG. Then he sent me to my primary care guy to also took an EKG and ordered bloodwork. He heard what I was describing, too, and sent me to a cardiologist. He hooked me up to a monitor for 24hours, sent me for an echocardiogram and an MRI. (If you are not claustrophobic, the MRI machine will convert you.)
So, the cardiologist called me yesterday afternoon.
You've got a problem with your rhythm and it appears to be viral in nature.
The echo looks okay.
The MRI shows that all your parts are the right size.
The holter monitor indicates that you are indeed experiencing this all day and all night.
Start taking these two medications (Metoprolol and Flecainide) and come back Monday for another EKG.
Your test from your primary care guy indicated hypothyroidism, so we need to do some more blood work on that.
No, you can't go to Colorado on the 19th for the relay, and no, you should not do Twin Cities Marathon.
Hypothyroidism? I read the symptoms and I'm nothing like that. (Although I wouldn't mind having an excuse for not losing those last 10 pounds or so). I have not fainted, but get dizzy when I stand up fast; and I am experiencing shortness of breath, but nothing that a good long inhale doesn't fix.
But I am freaked out about the virus. And I'm a little freaked out that the cardiologist gave me a number where he can be reached all Saturday and Sunday. And he said if I feel really lightheaded to go straight to the ER.
Do you guys know anything about this? Am I about to be one of those freakish stories? I gotta tell you I was so happy and relieved when I woke up this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/v/5nTjCf-_Ia4
go here for fun... Ally (7) singing to Hannah Montana with the hedphones on.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
First Day of School
I can still remember their first smiles and first words. And now they are in 2nd and 4th grade. It's going too fast. I want them to be this age forever.
Everybody can buckle themselves up, wipe their own butts, engage in serious or humorous conversations... I really enjoy my kids now.
And yes, I have been given the "heads-up" from my other girlfriends whose kids are older than mine, and I am fully aware that this parent-child utopia is nearing its end! But for now, I just love them so much I can't even express it.
Ally and Bobby in front of school looking so sharp in their freshly washed hair and new backpacks.
Ally at her new locker.
Today I babysat our friends Micki and [my ski coach] John's two little girls. Their normal daycare lady threw out her back yesterday so I filled in and spent the day with Quincy and Clancy. Bob and I were wondering if our kids were ever this small, and they WERE. They are just so darn cute... the sweetest little girls ever.
After Bobby and Ally got home from school we took a walk in the woods behind the house and found this. It's a giant mushroom. Quincy squeeled that it was bigger than her sister. (It was).
When Quincy got tired, Bobby piggy-backed her. The kids all get along so great.
I hope their babysitter throws her back out again soon.
John is racing at Madison, so please keep him in your prayers. TriBoomer is once again carrying John's name on his Hero List for all 140.6 miles. Thank you Boomer. You give so much strength to so many. I will be driving out Saturday morning with Jumper, staying with Laurie, 21st Century Mom, and IronGirlNyhus, and will be cheering for so many of you -- too many to link!
Good luck!
Everybody can buckle themselves up, wipe their own butts, engage in serious or humorous conversations... I really enjoy my kids now.
And yes, I have been given the "heads-up" from my other girlfriends whose kids are older than mine, and I am fully aware that this parent-child utopia is nearing its end! But for now, I just love them so much I can't even express it.
Ally and Bobby in front of school looking so sharp in their freshly washed hair and new backpacks.
Ally at her new locker.
Today I babysat our friends Micki and [my ski coach] John's two little girls. Their normal daycare lady threw out her back yesterday so I filled in and spent the day with Quincy and Clancy. Bob and I were wondering if our kids were ever this small, and they WERE. They are just so darn cute... the sweetest little girls ever.
After Bobby and Ally got home from school we took a walk in the woods behind the house and found this. It's a giant mushroom. Quincy squeeled that it was bigger than her sister. (It was).
When Quincy got tired, Bobby piggy-backed her. The kids all get along so great.
I hope their babysitter throws her back out again soon.
John is racing at Madison, so please keep him in your prayers. TriBoomer is once again carrying John's name on his Hero List for all 140.6 miles. Thank you Boomer. You give so much strength to so many. I will be driving out Saturday morning with Jumper, staying with Laurie, 21st Century Mom, and IronGirlNyhus, and will be cheering for so many of you -- too many to link!
Good luck!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Meeting Pharmie; Nick's OK; Party at Greg's
We got to meet and ride with Pharmie! She and Steve only live about 20 miles away, and we read each other's blogs, so we finally arranged to bike together. Steve had to prepare for school which is starting in a couple days, but Pharmie trekked out to Medina to ride. We love Pharmie!
... who is on the right, followed by Robert, Eric, me, Nick, and Rachel (the friend who took the picture that is now my profile pic).
It was a great ride until......
While we were pedaling along at probably 22 mph, a woman in a white car raced ahead of the cyclists in an attempt to get ahead of them before making her right turn. Though Nick braked and skidded for 38 feet, he still hit the back corner of her car. It was one of the scariest things to see one of your truly nearest and dearest laying on the pavement and being whisked away in an ambulance. Luckily, he is recovering and did not break any bones.
Eric rode over Nick's bike and has a bent frame, but he is okay, too.
My husband came to pick up those who couldn't continue. We started as seven, and then there were three. Very scary.
Laura's birthday is in August, so we had one final party for the August birthdays at IronGreg's house. Here we are on the pontoon with our host, Greg. Thank you Greg! It was a beautiful night!
Greg, Laura and Tim.
Tim, Sue, Andy, Karen, Robert and Dave enjoying birthday snacks while cruising around Lake Minnetonka and the channels in between.
Sue and Andy. Mother and son. I love these people. Andy and his father Dave did Ironman Zurich together this summer and last week Andy got a tattoo matching his dad's. How cool.
Nick, Rachel, Andy, Helen, me, Sue, Laura
... and the evening ended with a full moon overlooking the deck at Greg's.
... who is on the right, followed by Robert, Eric, me, Nick, and Rachel (the friend who took the picture that is now my profile pic).
It was a great ride until......
While we were pedaling along at probably 22 mph, a woman in a white car raced ahead of the cyclists in an attempt to get ahead of them before making her right turn. Though Nick braked and skidded for 38 feet, he still hit the back corner of her car. It was one of the scariest things to see one of your truly nearest and dearest laying on the pavement and being whisked away in an ambulance. Luckily, he is recovering and did not break any bones.
Eric rode over Nick's bike and has a bent frame, but he is okay, too.
My husband came to pick up those who couldn't continue. We started as seven, and then there were three. Very scary.
Laura's birthday is in August, so we had one final party for the August birthdays at IronGreg's house. Here we are on the pontoon with our host, Greg. Thank you Greg! It was a beautiful night!
Greg, Laura and Tim.
Tim, Sue, Andy, Karen, Robert and Dave enjoying birthday snacks while cruising around Lake Minnetonka and the channels in between.
Sue and Andy. Mother and son. I love these people. Andy and his father Dave did Ironman Zurich together this summer and last week Andy got a tattoo matching his dad's. How cool.
Nick, Rachel, Andy, Helen, me, Sue, Laura
... and the evening ended with a full moon overlooking the deck at Greg's.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
OK, fine - here's a pic.
Six days have passed and I am feeling better - thank you all for your all your well-wishes! Here you can see a couple of bruises: knee, inside my knee and my ankle. Actually the ankle one hurt a lot, but never did look like much.
I think these are from the final rollover when I "sat" on my bike after the initial hip-landing-somersault.
This one on my hip took my entire weight after I bounced off my head. I feel so lucky I didn't break this hip. I think the one behind my hamstring happened when I got the ones in the first pic.
Today I can still feel the hip bruise, and the entire region on my right hip is still swollen. No, really.
More "swollen" than its counterpart.
More than "usual" ;-) and rounded.
I know they're both kind of rounded, but the right one is much more. I'm not explaining it further!
But the weather was really nice today (drizzly and 58 degrees) so on our long run (my first workout since the crash) we added onto our milage and ran 20. It sounded like a much better idea than trying to eek it out next weekend when it's back in the 90's and humid. I think the week off was good for me because I felt good for the whole run. No joint pain, just aware there was a bruise on my hip.
I think these are from the final rollover when I "sat" on my bike after the initial hip-landing-somersault.
This one on my hip took my entire weight after I bounced off my head. I feel so lucky I didn't break this hip. I think the one behind my hamstring happened when I got the ones in the first pic.
Today I can still feel the hip bruise, and the entire region on my right hip is still swollen. No, really.
More "swollen" than its counterpart.
More than "usual" ;-) and rounded.
I know they're both kind of rounded, but the right one is much more. I'm not explaining it further!
But the weather was really nice today (drizzly and 58 degrees) so on our long run (my first workout since the crash) we added onto our milage and ran 20. It sounded like a much better idea than trying to eek it out next weekend when it's back in the 90's and humid. I think the week off was good for me because I felt good for the whole run. No joint pain, just aware there was a bruise on my hip.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
CRASH!
Well, I finally had my first real bike crash. Coming into the parking lot after our 52 miler on Sunday, I flipped over a speed bump. Hard to imagine but I was TALKING to Laura instead of watching where I was going. What looked to me like painted white and yellow stripes in the road, were really a row of speed bumps.
I went over the handlebars, tried to brace myself with my palms, but landed on my head, cracking my helmet in two. Then I somersaulted, feet flying over my head, and landed on my right hip.
I got up feeling mostly just shaken, but as time has gone by, I've gotten pretty stiff. What at first looked like just a little road rash, is actually a little road rash plus a million bruises - like, everywhere!
I did take a few pictures, but I can't post them without revealing my DEEPEST DARKEST SECRET that I have a bit of celullite. ;-)
So the bruise stat is this: ankle, calf, inside of knee, back of hamstring, glute and hipbone, pubic bone, chest bone, front of quad, right elblow, left wrist, both palms.
Road rash stat is: left elbow, back, right hip, right palm.
Broken bones: zero.
Bike condition: fine.
Helmet: dead. This chunk out of my helmet coulda been a chunk out of my skull!
I am a little old for all this (45!) so I am taking all the time I want to get back in the saddle. I tried to walk/run on the dreadmill yesterday, but ended up only walk/hiking for an hour because every time my right foot hit the mill, my right hip screamed.
Tonight is our weekly club ride, but I don't want to lean on my elbow on my aerobar, nor do I want to hold myself upright with my bruised palms. Arghhhh!
So for the rest of the week, Ironmomjenny will be your go-to blog for dieting and closet-organization tips. ;-)
I went over the handlebars, tried to brace myself with my palms, but landed on my head, cracking my helmet in two. Then I somersaulted, feet flying over my head, and landed on my right hip.
I got up feeling mostly just shaken, but as time has gone by, I've gotten pretty stiff. What at first looked like just a little road rash, is actually a little road rash plus a million bruises - like, everywhere!
I did take a few pictures, but I can't post them without revealing my DEEPEST DARKEST SECRET that I have a bit of celullite. ;-)
So the bruise stat is this: ankle, calf, inside of knee, back of hamstring, glute and hipbone, pubic bone, chest bone, front of quad, right elblow, left wrist, both palms.
Road rash stat is: left elbow, back, right hip, right palm.
Broken bones: zero.
Bike condition: fine.
Helmet: dead. This chunk out of my helmet coulda been a chunk out of my skull!
I am a little old for all this (45!) so I am taking all the time I want to get back in the saddle. I tried to walk/run on the dreadmill yesterday, but ended up only walk/hiking for an hour because every time my right foot hit the mill, my right hip screamed.
Tonight is our weekly club ride, but I don't want to lean on my elbow on my aerobar, nor do I want to hold myself upright with my bruised palms. Arghhhh!
So for the rest of the week, Ironmomjenny will be your go-to blog for dieting and closet-organization tips. ;-)
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