I haven't really had a lot to write about the last few days. I have been back at work since Tuesday and nothing much has really been happening.
I dropped my road bike off at Andy's place on Tuesday to get the gears adjusted and he pulled the whole thing apart, forks, cassette - the works! Found out though that my cranks are fused to the bottom bracket, but that isn't a major thing unless I decided to change my chainrings or cranks but other than that it is all in good condition :D
I rode my road bike today!!! And boy do I feel unfit! I got up at 5:30am, packed the car, drove to work and then road 20km's. It is a nice distance for me to start with for getting back on the road bike, nothing massive, but a good amount to start getting some fitness back and if I do this a few times a week things should start to improve soon enough. It was great being on the bike but today was a lot of effort, but it's not going to get any better and more enjoyable if I don't keep riding :) I wont ride tomorrow, but I will ride at track on Sunday. My back so far feels fine, so it will be interesting to see how it goes this arvo and tomorrow.
Last week I got a call from Liquor Land Direct about a wine special they have for members, having listened to the guy I thought - yeah why not buy some :) The box was delivered to work last Thursday afternoon and signed for by the temp receptionist. She never sent me an email, like they are meant to, she never wrote it in the deliveries book, like they are meant to and now its gone missing. I have a print out from the delivery companies website with her signature on it accepting the delivery and there are a few people who remember seeing the box with my name on it at reception. The other big problem with it having gone missing is that with the renovations at work, they moved reception to the security entrance on the weekend and this temp receptionist was in charge of making sure everything was moved - her last day was also on Friday. My box of wine has not been moved with the rest of the reception boxes and the site manager who took over reception once it was emptied does not remember seeing it. We have searched everywhere that it could have possibly have been put and we can't locate it. They are going to try to contact the temp that signed for it and was responsible for the move on Friday but I really don't like my chances of them finding it. I will be going to HR about it.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
I still don't know
Ok so they still don't know 100% what is wrong with me but it is narrowed down to my colon/bowel. The CT scan report has come back saying that "there is a long segment of the descending colon demonstrated with thickening of the bowel wall and inflammatory changes surrounding the colon. This extends for approximately 5 to 7 cm in length"
The specialist mentioned something about diverticular disease, but then made the comment that it normally only occurs in people a LOT older than me and then I reminded him that he said that about the pre-cancerous lump found in my bowel 3.5 years ago. He has put off my colonoscopy, originally it was until early next year until I reminded him about the lump and then he changed his mind and I have to have it done before Christmas and he wont know more about what is wrong until I have this done.
Naturally I have done some googling and I could have anything from bowel cancer to this diverticular disease to crohns or anything really so while I can rule out anything to do with my kidney's or any other part of my body, I still don't really know what is wrong.
In other news, GO LIZ!!!! I am looking forward to heading to DISC tonight to watch Liz do her Hour of Power and I will try to get quite a few photo's from the stands!
The specialist mentioned something about diverticular disease, but then made the comment that it normally only occurs in people a LOT older than me and then I reminded him that he said that about the pre-cancerous lump found in my bowel 3.5 years ago. He has put off my colonoscopy, originally it was until early next year until I reminded him about the lump and then he changed his mind and I have to have it done before Christmas and he wont know more about what is wrong until I have this done.
Naturally I have done some googling and I could have anything from bowel cancer to this diverticular disease to crohns or anything really so while I can rule out anything to do with my kidney's or any other part of my body, I still don't really know what is wrong.
In other news, GO LIZ!!!! I am looking forward to heading to DISC tonight to watch Liz do her Hour of Power and I will try to get quite a few photo's from the stands!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
I forgot to mention a few things
I have been getting really blergh about not riding and how it must seem to others for me to have something new wrong with me each week that is stopping me from riding. I am wondering if people think I am a hypercondriac or something or making all this stuff up... I dunno, but it has really been playing on my mind lately. Today Nicole told me to try not to stress about not riding - if I am sick then I am sick and my body needs to heal and it was really great that she said it as it did help me to feel a bit better about it, but it does still make me wonder what everyone else is thinking.
I DO want to be riding, I DO want to be improving and not going backwards and I DO want to be healthy and not be sick anymore because it is almost 3 months now and I really am over it :(
I have to just try to think about next year.
I am actually quite scared by what the outcome could be tomorrow and I don't know if I am more scared of getting an answer or them still not knowing. Fingers crossed that it comes back as just a kidney infection or something like that. I also think its a good thing that the antibiotics I am on prevent me from drinking.
I mentioned to Stu on Saturday that due to the antibiotics and just feeling really ill and in a lot of pain the few days before starting them that it will mean I will be alcohol free for 1.5-2 weeks - he thought for a second and then looked at me and said 'I don't think I have been dry that long since I was 15!' heheh :D I know for me it is February when I did my challenge.
An hurrah has to go out to Kevin07! What I find amusing is not only did The Coalition lose, but Howard is also going to lose his seat... what a shame.
I DO want to be riding, I DO want to be improving and not going backwards and I DO want to be healthy and not be sick anymore because it is almost 3 months now and I really am over it :(
I have to just try to think about next year.
I am actually quite scared by what the outcome could be tomorrow and I don't know if I am more scared of getting an answer or them still not knowing. Fingers crossed that it comes back as just a kidney infection or something like that. I also think its a good thing that the antibiotics I am on prevent me from drinking.
I mentioned to Stu on Saturday that due to the antibiotics and just feeling really ill and in a lot of pain the few days before starting them that it will mean I will be alcohol free for 1.5-2 weeks - he thought for a second and then looked at me and said 'I don't think I have been dry that long since I was 15!' heheh :D I know for me it is February when I did my challenge.
An hurrah has to go out to Kevin07! What I find amusing is not only did The Coalition lose, but Howard is also going to lose his seat... what a shame.
Revolution 1
Last night had some really awesome riding, seeing Ryan Bailey throw his BT around the way he did on the track while racing was just awesome! Some really awesome stoushes and it was great being able to attend. Something however was missing, and I think it was that I didn't know any of the people that raced last night, don't even really know many of their names other than Bailey and Anna Meares. This was only my second time watching track racing at Vodafone Arena and the first time was earlier this year with the Austral (I think that's what it was) and that was before I had gotten into track racing, but the atmosphere was different then and I think I know why. In the racing I saw earlier this year the people racing were friends of people in the crowd and there was more of a connection between the people racing and the people watching and it really made for a different feel and atmosphere. The cheering pumped through the speakers also really sucked.
Some of the officiating was interesting too last night and some of the racing seemed a bit staged. The track standing that caused the restart for example - as soon as they rolled backwards in dong their trackstands the race should have ended, but it wasn't. There is also some calls from people that the cut down into the sprinters lane at the first corner was illegal as the rider in front wasn't out of the sprinters lane - either way it made for a few interesting bits of racing.
Overall I did enjoy the night though, apart from getting extremely tired, but I was glad I could make it :) I will definitely be at Revolution 2.
I seem to be healing, not sure if it is the antiobiotics or not but either way the pain is reducing each day which means I am also now almost managing to sleep properly. Today I could walk at almost normal pace, but after a few minutes I had to slow down when the pain would build up. I went to the Sunday lunch/brunch that is had after Sunday morning track training and that was enough to tire me out to the point of needing a 2 hr nap when I got home!
Will know more tomorrow... hopefully,
Some of the officiating was interesting too last night and some of the racing seemed a bit staged. The track standing that caused the restart for example - as soon as they rolled backwards in dong their trackstands the race should have ended, but it wasn't. There is also some calls from people that the cut down into the sprinters lane at the first corner was illegal as the rider in front wasn't out of the sprinters lane - either way it made for a few interesting bits of racing.
Overall I did enjoy the night though, apart from getting extremely tired, but I was glad I could make it :) I will definitely be at Revolution 2.
I seem to be healing, not sure if it is the antiobiotics or not but either way the pain is reducing each day which means I am also now almost managing to sleep properly. Today I could walk at almost normal pace, but after a few minutes I had to slow down when the pain would build up. I went to the Sunday lunch/brunch that is had after Sunday morning track training and that was enough to tire me out to the point of needing a 2 hr nap when I got home!
Will know more tomorrow... hopefully,
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Excited!
I feel sooooooooo much better today than this time yesterday, the change is quite amazing! I still have pain and discomfort when doing things and can't walk at a normal pace, but I don't feel like total crap! What this means is that I am going tonight!!!! YAY!! I even bought a Brunswick Cycling Club polo shirt to wear tonight as our club has its own little roped off area and they want people to come in club stuff. Tonight is going to be awesome!!
Gotta figure out where to park my car to try to save me having to walk very far... might park down near work in Richmond and get the tram most of the way in OR somewhere around the 'G might be ok too.
I was looking forward to getting a sausage in bread when I went to vote earlier but the queue to voting in itself was really long and then by the time I finished voting the queue at the BBQ was really long and I couldn't be bothered waiting... probably a good thing anyway. Mmmm home made chips, from real potatoes, with sweet chilli sauce - yummo!
Gotta figure out where to park my car to try to save me having to walk very far... might park down near work in Richmond and get the tram most of the way in OR somewhere around the 'G might be ok too.
I was looking forward to getting a sausage in bread when I went to vote earlier but the queue to voting in itself was really long and then by the time I finished voting the queue at the BBQ was really long and I couldn't be bothered waiting... probably a good thing anyway. Mmmm home made chips, from real potatoes, with sweet chilli sauce - yummo!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Mmmmmm fooooood!
Ya know the world isn't such a bad place when you can keep food in your stomach and you can select from any of the following to nibble on and they are all within arms reach:
My blood tests came back and they weren't so good. All the things that the specialist was looking for were indeed elevated and so then I had book in for a CT scan. For the CT scan I had to drink this awful liquid and then during the procedure they injected me with a dye thingy that makes all my veins glow in the dark or some such for the machine to pick up in my CT scan - the intersting thing about this dye is that when it is injected it makes you feel like you have peed your pants! Unfortunately I had to fast for 4 hrs before the CT scan so I couldn't eat anything between booking the appointment and having the appointment which meant that by the time the scan was done I hadn't really eaten any substantial food for 1.5 days or more. It is amazing how much better you can feel when you have food and liquid in your stomach, it was like an almost instant pick me up :D Who needs drugs, food works!
Speaking of drugs, the specialist has put me on two lots of antibiotics. The blood test results basically same back saying I have inflammation somewhere, and while I have a really sore throat, it isn't that. As a result the inflammation could mean an infecction, but the cat scan will show for sure if it is, either way I am on these 'last line of defence' antibiotics that should kill anything in my system. I was also told by the pharmacist that I can not consume any alcohol while on one of the antibiotics - not that I feel like drinking at the moment anyway.
Unfortunately I am still in a lot of pain when I move but hopefully these drugs will start doing their job and that I do have an infection and it all gets cleared up quickly.
I think I am still borderline about going tomorrow night, I don't want to have to walk very far from where the car will be parked and I ideally don't want to be standing a long time, which was going to be on the cards for the night down at the bar so i will really just have to wait and see.
Being sick like this really isn't cheap either, I think I nearly fainted when they told me the CT scan would cost $500! Then they told me that I would only be out of pocket $80.
- Sara Lee French Cheesecake
- Chocolate (Cadbury or Lindt balls)
- Cheese and Onion Chips
- Shortbread
- Chocolate Yogo
- Brie
- Half a slice of banana cake
- Corn on the cob
- Chicken rice thingy
My blood tests came back and they weren't so good. All the things that the specialist was looking for were indeed elevated and so then I had book in for a CT scan. For the CT scan I had to drink this awful liquid and then during the procedure they injected me with a dye thingy that makes all my veins glow in the dark or some such for the machine to pick up in my CT scan - the intersting thing about this dye is that when it is injected it makes you feel like you have peed your pants! Unfortunately I had to fast for 4 hrs before the CT scan so I couldn't eat anything between booking the appointment and having the appointment which meant that by the time the scan was done I hadn't really eaten any substantial food for 1.5 days or more. It is amazing how much better you can feel when you have food and liquid in your stomach, it was like an almost instant pick me up :D Who needs drugs, food works!
Speaking of drugs, the specialist has put me on two lots of antibiotics. The blood test results basically same back saying I have inflammation somewhere, and while I have a really sore throat, it isn't that. As a result the inflammation could mean an infecction, but the cat scan will show for sure if it is, either way I am on these 'last line of defence' antibiotics that should kill anything in my system. I was also told by the pharmacist that I can not consume any alcohol while on one of the antibiotics - not that I feel like drinking at the moment anyway.
Unfortunately I am still in a lot of pain when I move but hopefully these drugs will start doing their job and that I do have an infection and it all gets cleared up quickly.
I think I am still borderline about going tomorrow night, I don't want to have to walk very far from where the car will be parked and I ideally don't want to be standing a long time, which was going to be on the cards for the night down at the bar so i will really just have to wait and see.
Being sick like this really isn't cheap either, I think I nearly fainted when they told me the CT scan would cost $500! Then they told me that I would only be out of pocket $80.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tired...
Today has been another shit day. I have spent the majority of the day feeling nauseas and then it decided to follow through with the threats - good thing I had the bucket handy in case. My body then decided it also didn't need any water so it came back up as well.
I am still in pain and it still really hurts to take a breath any deeper than a 'normal' one. I also can't walk very fast due to the pain but also because of the not breathing well thing.
I have also had a couple of naps in my arm chair, although im not sure if 2 lots of 2-2.5hrs of sleep should really be called a nap. I have felt tired and exhausted for the majority of the day.
I have a sore throat too, which is kinda weird. It started to get sore last night and then this morning it was getting better but after praying to the bucket it is sore again - no idea if its related to the pain around my left kidney or not.
Hopefully the blood tests will show something tomorrow.
I am still in pain and it still really hurts to take a breath any deeper than a 'normal' one. I also can't walk very fast due to the pain but also because of the not breathing well thing.
I have also had a couple of naps in my arm chair, although im not sure if 2 lots of 2-2.5hrs of sleep should really be called a nap. I have felt tired and exhausted for the majority of the day.
I have a sore throat too, which is kinda weird. It started to get sore last night and then this morning it was getting better but after praying to the bucket it is sore again - no idea if its related to the pain around my left kidney or not.
Hopefully the blood tests will show something tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tired of it all
I saw my dr today and she sent me off to get an ultrasound done of my left kidney and also a chest xray as she wasn't sure what could be wrong - she was hoping it would be kidney stones and the chest xray was because it hurts when I take a semi deep breath in. Chest xray was fine and the ultrasound showed a 1.2cm something on my left kidney but it wasn't anything to worry about - umm sure.
She organised an appointment for me to go and see a surgeon (a gastroenterologist) straight away. He doesn't seem to know what is wrong either, so I have had some blood taken and will go see him again Friday to work out a plan of attack.
Because I can't be arsed typing stuff out again, here is the email I sent my boss just before about my next week:
I have a certificate for today and tomorrow from my GP. I also have an appointment on Friday with the surgeon I saw today to get the results of the blood tests done to try to find out what is wrong with me, so I will not be at work Friday either. He is doing blood tests to look for markers or locators or something or other - I assume this is to see if there is an infection or something in my system as he is not sure what could be wrong. He also mentioned that I will probably have to get a cat scan done as it is more accurate than an ultrasound.
Monday I should be at work provided I am not in pain and not booked in for some other test or procedure.
Tuesday and Wednesday I need to have off as I am overdue for my 3 yearly colonoscopy and the surgeon has booked me in to have that done on Wednesday and I need Tuesday off to do prep stuff for it. He isn't sure if it is related to this current problem but I need to get checked every 3 years for bowel cancer anyway and he is quite suprised that a pre-cancerous lump was found in my bowel at the age of 27.
I should be able to be at work on Thursday after the colonscopy but seeing as I don't know what the deal is with this pain I am in I have no idea what next week holds
I have no idea how much sick leave I have but I do know that I am bloody sick of being sick.
I really am fed up with everything. I called my sister earlier to ask her to drive me and pick me up from the colonoscopy on Wednesday and just broke down crying before I could even tell her what was wrong. I am tired due to only 3-4hrs sleep last night due to pain and about 5 the night before due to the heat. I have barely eaten all day in case I had to go and have surgery and I hadn't had any pain killers as I don't want to drive when I am taking panadeine forte.
Being sick like this also isn't cheap, I think today alone I am about $200-$250 out of pocket over medicare, which includes the $50 the surgeon charges above the normal fee's for the colonoscopy next week. I also have to pay a $250 excess for my health insurance next wednesday to have the colonoscopy done - so that's $300 and then the anaesthetist may charge me above what my health insurance covers too - bye bye savings!
It has now been an hour since I took two panadeine forte and it still bloody hurts, although I feel more relaxed/less tense, but I can't take more than a normal breath and it hurts to cry and I think I am crying out of frustration more than anything. I also have a heatbag over where it hurts to try to help relax the muscles.
I also have no idea if I will even be able to go Saturday night to Revolution 1, the track night at Vodafone Arena and if I can't then that will really make me a sad panda.
She organised an appointment for me to go and see a surgeon (a gastroenterologist) straight away. He doesn't seem to know what is wrong either, so I have had some blood taken and will go see him again Friday to work out a plan of attack.
Because I can't be arsed typing stuff out again, here is the email I sent my boss just before about my next week:
I have a certificate for today and tomorrow from my GP. I also have an appointment on Friday with the surgeon I saw today to get the results of the blood tests done to try to find out what is wrong with me, so I will not be at work Friday either. He is doing blood tests to look for markers or locators or something or other - I assume this is to see if there is an infection or something in my system as he is not sure what could be wrong. He also mentioned that I will probably have to get a cat scan done as it is more accurate than an ultrasound.
Monday I should be at work provided I am not in pain and not booked in for some other test or procedure.
Tuesday and Wednesday I need to have off as I am overdue for my 3 yearly colonoscopy and the surgeon has booked me in to have that done on Wednesday and I need Tuesday off to do prep stuff for it. He isn't sure if it is related to this current problem but I need to get checked every 3 years for bowel cancer anyway and he is quite suprised that a pre-cancerous lump was found in my bowel at the age of 27.
I should be able to be at work on Thursday after the colonscopy but seeing as I don't know what the deal is with this pain I am in I have no idea what next week holds
I have no idea how much sick leave I have but I do know that I am bloody sick of being sick.
I really am fed up with everything. I called my sister earlier to ask her to drive me and pick me up from the colonoscopy on Wednesday and just broke down crying before I could even tell her what was wrong. I am tired due to only 3-4hrs sleep last night due to pain and about 5 the night before due to the heat. I have barely eaten all day in case I had to go and have surgery and I hadn't had any pain killers as I don't want to drive when I am taking panadeine forte.
Being sick like this also isn't cheap, I think today alone I am about $200-$250 out of pocket over medicare, which includes the $50 the surgeon charges above the normal fee's for the colonoscopy next week. I also have to pay a $250 excess for my health insurance next wednesday to have the colonoscopy done - so that's $300 and then the anaesthetist may charge me above what my health insurance covers too - bye bye savings!
It has now been an hour since I took two panadeine forte and it still bloody hurts, although I feel more relaxed/less tense, but I can't take more than a normal breath and it hurts to cry and I think I am crying out of frustration more than anything. I also have a heatbag over where it hurts to try to help relax the muscles.
I also have no idea if I will even be able to go Saturday night to Revolution 1, the track night at Vodafone Arena and if I can't then that will really make me a sad panda.
Round 2
It is almost 1am and I am wide awake, pain/discomfort combined with stress can do that I suppose. It is looking like I have to go back to the dr's tomorrow and I am assuming I will need further tests, most likely an ultrasound or something, that is providing I will be able to drive to the dr's. My brain is working overtime with possible outcomes and what it could mean and naturally I am thinking the worst things possible.
I am also going over in my head all the stuff I have to do at work in very short deadlines and I am flying to Sydney Thursday morning returning Friday and that probably wont be happening now so I have to remember to cancel that tomorrow and cancel the taxi.
My brain just wont stop turning over and over... I should have taken panadeine forte instead of normal panadeine because I don't think it has even done anything to help. I have to lie on my back in bed as lying on my sides ranges from medium discomfort on one side to medium pain on the other and I really have trouble getting to sleep lying on my back.
I am also going over in my head all the stuff I have to do at work in very short deadlines and I am flying to Sydney Thursday morning returning Friday and that probably wont be happening now so I have to remember to cancel that tomorrow and cancel the taxi.
My brain just wont stop turning over and over... I should have taken panadeine forte instead of normal panadeine because I don't think it has even done anything to help. I have to lie on my back in bed as lying on my sides ranges from medium discomfort on one side to medium pain on the other and I really have trouble getting to sleep lying on my back.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Four in a day
For years I have said that I am not scared of dying, I am scared of growing old. After spending about 16 years of my life to the age of 22 visiting my mothers parents in nursing homes every weekend and having my grandma live with us for several years in that time, I have more than a bit of an insight into old age. Tonight on Denton, he had an interview with Dr. Philip Nitschke and it was quite interesting. While I admit that I don't really know a lot about what and how he does things, but from his interview on Denton he makes a lot of sense and he isn't doing thing willy nilly - he has his own self applied rules. I think that people should have the choice of euthanasia - if a pet animal is sick we will put it down, but a relative/friend/loved one is terminally ill we will make them endure some of the worst pain possible - surely this is wrong!
The Revolution is here!!
I forgot to mention in the last post, speaking of getting yer arses somewhere - Revolution 1 is THIS Saturday!!!
I am really looking forward to this! Having gotten into track riding in August and doing the Womens Skills Session run by CSV (Thanks guys!!) I have a hell of a lot more insight into what it takes to do track racing, while I haven't raced yet due to my injury, I still can appreciate a hell of a lot more what it takes to take part in track racing, let alone at this level, it is really going to be simply awesome to be at this event.
It is going to be bloody awesome night - bring it on!!! :D Yeah, I am a bit Big Kev about it!!!
I am really looking forward to this! Having gotten into track riding in August and doing the Womens Skills Session run by CSV (Thanks guys!!) I have a hell of a lot more insight into what it takes to do track racing, while I haven't raced yet due to my injury, I still can appreciate a hell of a lot more what it takes to take part in track racing, let alone at this level, it is really going to be simply awesome to be at this event.
It is going to be bloody awesome night - bring it on!!! :D Yeah, I am a bit Big Kev about it!!!
I blame them -points-
In the past few days both Lawrence and Liz have commented on search engine hits to their blog, so this got me curious and for the first time in months I had a look at some of mine...
I blame this one "mcleod's daughter llama's names" on Shane and not quite what to make of this one "muddy wet lycra women" and I even get a hit when someone searched for ""dan hale" +"bike""!
Speaking of Dan - got my goodies in the mail today from Shifter Bikes today - Awesome :D
Oh and before I forget, speaking of Liz above, she is doing her Hour of Power record next Monday!! Get your arse down to DISC next Monday at 5pm for the start at 5:30pm and watch history in the making!!
I blame this one "mcleod's daughter llama's names" on Shane and not quite what to make of this one "muddy wet lycra women" and I even get a hit when someone searched for ""dan hale" +"bike""!
Speaking of Dan - got my goodies in the mail today from Shifter Bikes today - Awesome :D
Oh and before I forget, speaking of Liz above, she is doing her Hour of Power record next Monday!! Get your arse down to DISC next Monday at 5pm for the start at 5:30pm and watch history in the making!!
All good
Friday I saw the physio again, but a different physio as the person I originally saw was away. She seemed impressed with the outcome from my strength stuff that I was doing and has given me a few different ones to do. She also commented that my back was a bit tight, but was reluctant to manipulate it if it wasn't causing me any issues - I agreed.
She also said that seeing as I did a 7.5km ride and was OK that I could do a 10km ride and if my back was fine that evening and the next morning then I can increase my riding my 2km a go. I mentioned how frustrating I was finding it, but her answer was that it is better to go slowly than do too much too soon and end up back at the start again.
Friday night I had dinner with a friend who I haven't seen in about 8-9 years, since they moved to the US! It was great to catch up :)
Saturday I headed down to the Brunswick outdoor velodrome where some folks from fixed.org.au where doing an hour challenge - how many laps can you do around the velodrome on a track bike in an hour! It was a difficult morning for it, quite breezy and the sun was really hot! I took a heap of photo's and some of them can be found here
Saturday arvo I was told there would be racing at the outdoor Brunswick velo and while racing didn't happen as such, it did turn into a training session and was interesting enough to watch and listen to Alf's stories.
Sunday I headed down to DISC for track training WITH MY BIKE!! Yes, that's right, I rode around DISC!! And yes it was that exciting for me! Only being able to do 10km's (40 laps of DISC) meant that I pretty much could only do the warmup, which is normally 65 laps, I didn't do the whole warmup as my chest is still a bit blergh from the infection last week, but it was really awesome being back on the boards and going around with everyone and ended up doing about 50 laps including warm up and down. I then hung around and watched the rest of the training session where they were learning how to box people in during a race - looked like lots of fun, especially with the groupings of Nath, Brent and Andrew and Darren, Ewin and Adrian! Darren is crazy and it really makes him entertaining to watch.
Good news is that last night and this morning my back hasn't been sore at all so tomorrow night at DISC I will do a massive 12km's during the training/warmup period and will then hang around to watch the racing and maybe attend the CSV womens committee meeting - not sure if anyone can just attend though.
All up I had a really pleasant weekend
She also said that seeing as I did a 7.5km ride and was OK that I could do a 10km ride and if my back was fine that evening and the next morning then I can increase my riding my 2km a go. I mentioned how frustrating I was finding it, but her answer was that it is better to go slowly than do too much too soon and end up back at the start again.
Friday night I had dinner with a friend who I haven't seen in about 8-9 years, since they moved to the US! It was great to catch up :)
Saturday I headed down to the Brunswick outdoor velodrome where some folks from fixed.org.au where doing an hour challenge - how many laps can you do around the velodrome on a track bike in an hour! It was a difficult morning for it, quite breezy and the sun was really hot! I took a heap of photo's and some of them can be found here
Saturday arvo I was told there would be racing at the outdoor Brunswick velo and while racing didn't happen as such, it did turn into a training session and was interesting enough to watch and listen to Alf's stories.
Sunday I headed down to DISC for track training WITH MY BIKE!! Yes, that's right, I rode around DISC!! And yes it was that exciting for me! Only being able to do 10km's (40 laps of DISC) meant that I pretty much could only do the warmup, which is normally 65 laps, I didn't do the whole warmup as my chest is still a bit blergh from the infection last week, but it was really awesome being back on the boards and going around with everyone and ended up doing about 50 laps including warm up and down. I then hung around and watched the rest of the training session where they were learning how to box people in during a race - looked like lots of fun, especially with the groupings of Nath, Brent and Andrew and Darren, Ewin and Adrian! Darren is crazy and it really makes him entertaining to watch.
Good news is that last night and this morning my back hasn't been sore at all so tomorrow night at DISC I will do a massive 12km's during the training/warmup period and will then hang around to watch the racing and maybe attend the CSV womens committee meeting - not sure if anyone can just attend though.
All up I had a really pleasant weekend
Friday, November 16, 2007
How's the serenity
Today is an awesome summer day in Melbourne!! It was so enjoyable sitting out in the beer garden at one of the pubs near work while eating some nice food and downing a few pure blondes. It would have been great to stay there chatting and drinking but there is work to be done and I have things to do after work!
I love days like today!
I love days like today!
Random thought
Have you ever wondered why it is that dogs are so loyal to their owners? I did this morning on my way to work. Think about it, you come home from work and they are soooooo excited to see you, it's like you have been gone forever and they love you, they really do love you. You feed them and they get really excited and love you for it. You take them for a walk and they are always so happy to be out and about and love spending time with you. You may be in a grumpy mood and your dog will pick up on it and come and sit with you and just be there for you - they pick up on these things and then they help you be in a better mood.
Why do dogs have such unconditional love and why are they always so happy?? It is awesome in the most simplest of simple ways, I love it.
Why do dogs have such unconditional love and why are they always so happy?? It is awesome in the most simplest of simple ways, I love it.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Without a cause
I am a rebel, I did 7.24km's on the bike tonight instead of the prescribed 5km, it took me a bit under 20 mins with the stopping and slowing down for traffic. It felt awesome being back on the bike although a little odd, the position just felt strange for some reason. In the past 3 weeks, this is the 2nd time I have been on either bike and it is the longest ride I have done! I am still feeling the effects of the infection in my lungs and in general, I was quite tired from just being at work today, and I normally wouldn't have ridden, but it was such a small distance and the sun was shining and ahhhhh it was great being on the bike in the sun :D
My lower back is a little stiff from the ride, nothing that has bothered me, but I can feel it, but again that could be also because I have barely ridden for so many weeks.
I see the physio again tomorrow night, and I hope to work something out with them where I can say ride for a time instead of a distance, the time I want to propose is 1hr :D
I hope I felt unfit due to the infection... I doubt it :(
My lower back is a little stiff from the ride, nothing that has bothered me, but I can feel it, but again that could be also because I have barely ridden for so many weeks.
I see the physio again tomorrow night, and I hope to work something out with them where I can say ride for a time instead of a distance, the time I want to propose is 1hr :D
I hope I felt unfit due to the infection... I doubt it :(
Selling Out
I don't know how many people read Fat Cyclist's blog, but if you don't then you should read this entry, his latest, as it is a pearler!! It has a link in there to his original email and I fully suggest reading that too cos it is also great :D
I am feeling heaps better today and was at work where defect after defect keeps popping up in production even though it ALL WORKED IN TESTING!! grrrr
Also what is with today? People are going spack and being all high and bloody mighty - get over yourselves! Don't expect to receive support and encouragement when you come back and abuse people FFS grow up!
I am feeling heaps better today and was at work where defect after defect keeps popping up in production even though it ALL WORKED IN TESTING!! grrrr
Also what is with today? People are going spack and being all high and bloody mighty - get over yourselves! Don't expect to receive support and encouragement when you come back and abuse people FFS grow up!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Feeling better
Last night was really awful, in fact I don't know what was worse, last night or the pain from last weekend. I had a temperature all night and it would go from me violently shaking with the chills to then sweating from being way too hot. The drugs I was taking for it didn't seem to be doing anything at all! At least last weekend if I remained relatively still I wasn't in too much pain, but this violent shaking from the chills was just awful, I don't know if I have ever had a temperature like that before and if I have it would have to have been when I was a kid cos I dont' remember it. I am still running a temperature but at around 7:30 this morning the chills finally stopped at least.
I went to the dr's today and I have an infection, swollen glands and I have a very wheezy chest so I am on antibiotics and I have to increase my asthma drugs to try to stop it turning into asthma and if the cough gets worse then I will start using the ventolin nebuliser. I also have today and tomorrow off work. I feel better than yesterday but still feel pretty shit.
I wont go and watch track racing tonight even if I am feeling better, which is doubtful, because I don't want to pass this onto anyone down there because I know that I wouldn't appreciate it in return
A big thanks to people who called me or sms'ed me last night offering to take my bins out and to go get me food!
I went to the dr's today and I have an infection, swollen glands and I have a very wheezy chest so I am on antibiotics and I have to increase my asthma drugs to try to stop it turning into asthma and if the cough gets worse then I will start using the ventolin nebuliser. I also have today and tomorrow off work. I feel better than yesterday but still feel pretty shit.
I wont go and watch track racing tonight even if I am feeling better, which is doubtful, because I don't want to pass this onto anyone down there because I know that I wouldn't appreciate it in return
A big thanks to people who called me or sms'ed me last night offering to take my bins out and to go get me food!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Here we go again
I am really bloody sick of being sick or having something wrong with me (apart from all the obvious ;). According to my pharmacist, I most likely have the flu due to the fluctuations of one minute shaking with chills and then later sweating from feeling so hot and the soreness and achey'ness of my muscles. I am not really sure achey'ness is a word, but right now I really couldn't GAF. My throat is also killing me.
I am sucking down difflam lozenges for my throat and on flu drugs and even with the drugs I feel pretty crappy AND my temperature is going spack. Driving back from the chemist, one minute I was freezing and then the next I had the aircon on - yeah normal stuff...
Yes I am in a whingy mood, but like I said above, I am sick of my body just not working properly!! Oh and I pretty much went home straight away after my last post. My back is achey, my legs and arms are also achey due to the flu and I just feel shit
My bins have to go out tonight and I just can't be bothered so they can stay where they are, I don't generate enough rubbish anyway to warrant it being a problem.
Meh.
I am sucking down difflam lozenges for my throat and on flu drugs and even with the drugs I feel pretty crappy AND my temperature is going spack. Driving back from the chemist, one minute I was freezing and then the next I had the aircon on - yeah normal stuff...
Yes I am in a whingy mood, but like I said above, I am sick of my body just not working properly!! Oh and I pretty much went home straight away after my last post. My back is achey, my legs and arms are also achey due to the flu and I just feel shit
My bins have to go out tonight and I just can't be bothered so they can stay where they are, I don't generate enough rubbish anyway to warrant it being a problem.
Meh.
Crappy!
I didn't ride today - poo! After not falling asleep until about 1am I woke up in the middle of the night with the start of a cold, I assume I got his from baby sitting my niece on Friday night as she had a snotty nose - great.
In hindsight it is probably also a good thing as I took the tape off my back yesterday (day 4) and today my back is a bit achey - it was actually doing something!
I feel sick and crappy, my back is achey and I have no work to do so I am extremely bored and I just want to go home and be miserable on my own with my cold, but I have to wait for my boss to get out of meetings to call me to tell me what work I am doing to be doing now that the project finished on Friday.
In hindsight it is probably also a good thing as I took the tape off my back yesterday (day 4) and today my back is a bit achey - it was actually doing something!
I feel sick and crappy, my back is achey and I have no work to do so I am extremely bored and I just want to go home and be miserable on my own with my cold, but I have to wait for my boss to get out of meetings to call me to tell me what work I am doing to be doing now that the project finished on Friday.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Before I forget
Karma is a bitch and it will bite you on the arse, sometimes its delivered sooner rather than later. Don't expect to get away with stealing something from someone that is helping you achieve something and then not having something go arse up for you - you deserve it.
Road Trip!
Friday night I decided that if i wasn't going to be riding this weekend then I wanted to get out of Melbourne. Saturday morning I got out a map of Victoria and debated north or west, north won and I got in the car and headed towards Echuca, with a detour via Shepparton. I made a few stops along the way at the Goulburn Weir, the SPC factory and the sales outlet - can anyone say CHEAP! and then headed towards Echuca. I got to Echuca around 2pm and decided I wanted to keep driving, so after checking a map again, I decided to head towards Deniliquin, for no other reason than I have never been there before - I now know why ;) What I saw of the town was quite nice, but I wasn't really in the mood for exploring the town and it looked really dead and quiet, so I found some accomodation, some beer, some food and sat down to watch the cricket. The guy who owns the place where I stayed couldn't believe I left Melbourne to get away and take some photo's and just ended up in Deni, especially seeing as I had never been there before.
Today saw me heading back to Melbourne via Bendigo, but by the time I got to Bendigo or anywhere I could get some good photo's the sun was just too bright for what I was wanting to shoot.
Here are some photo's from the road trip, all up I drove around 800-900km's and really enjoyed my time away from Melbourne - I love driving country roads!
Today saw me heading back to Melbourne via Bendigo, but by the time I got to Bendigo or anywhere I could get some good photo's the sun was just too bright for what I was wanting to shoot.
Here are some photo's from the road trip, all up I drove around 800-900km's and really enjoyed my time away from Melbourne - I love driving country roads!
I'm just gonna
I am putting some serious thought into disobeying my physio and doing a 20km ride in the morning before work. 20km's is not a lot and it would really give me a good idea about what my body can currently handle, more than a 5km ride. It is really difficult to get motivated to ride 5km's, its like what's the point. I might just do it and see how I go.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Home time?
It is working. The software works! All I have to do now is get the sign offs for the test summary report and I am walking out the door and going home. The deadline is midday to have it all signed off, so either way I am walking out the door then.
I am quite tired today, but then after working 14hrs yesterday and then getting in at 6:30am today plus all the other days in the past 2-3 weeks I have worked 10-12hrs+ and with my illness last week and my constant back issue - no bloody wonder I am tired!
I am quite tired today, but then after working 14hrs yesterday and then getting in at 6:30am today plus all the other days in the past 2-3 weeks I have worked 10-12hrs+ and with my illness last week and my constant back issue - no bloody wonder I am tired!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Can you see the problem with this?
I am still at work, yes, still here. I will most likely be here for half of the evening waiting for the software to release too so I can do some final testing. I am just finishing my 12th hour for the day...
I told my boss today that if my next project is designed as badly as this one that I will resign or take up the offer to move departments - she laughed at me and said 'I better bloody not!' heh. Of course I told her I wasn't serious and it's good that she fully understands what I have been going through with this project.
I have been on projects before where bad Project Manager's have caused lots of issues, but this isn't that kind of project. The PM is actually doing an awesome job, it's just that it was designed by a couple offucksticks people who don't know the systems and they didn't ask the right questions. One of these total fucking morons people also talks and acts about things as if he knows it all. The way he presents everything with the tone and body language he uses gives you the impression that he knows what he is talking about - well he can't do that with me because I know these systems a lot better than him, maybe that's why he has a problem asking me for help with things, because he doesn't want to look like he doesn't know something and a female does...
Yes, I am extremely pissed off with myself for not noticing earlier a couple of the things poorly designed, but it really isn't my job to do that, I do it cos I know it all so well.
There is so much more I could say, like how it is his fault I am still here at work because he made a decision to remove something while I was at home sick last week, no one challenged or questioned it, I come in on Monday and find it gone and go umm err sure and assume people were consulted. Today the department who use this application say they want this specific bit back in the workflow! Did he consult anyone about removing this before he told the developer to do so? No, of course not! Did he consult anyone today when I told the project team that they want this put back in and he said 'well no, it's not going back in cos the system doesn't need it?' No, he didn't! But I did, I rang around, and I spoke to the people that wanted this put back and I asked the questions that the BA should have been asking and I came to the same agreement that this should be put back, so I then spoke to the PM and we both agreed it should be put back in. So here I am sitting here waiting for the developer to make the changes required, release the code, build the code and then we can test it in maybe 3 hrs time.
Anyway, ranting on here, while making me feel slightly better, isn't helping me get my document completed, so now that I have had a peppermint tea, I will go and complete writing my document. I may also sneak away to get someliquid dinner while the code is building.
I also can't stand up and sit down properly from my work chair with this tape on my back either so that is starting to get annoying too! ARGH!!
I told my boss today that if my next project is designed as badly as this one that I will resign or take up the offer to move departments - she laughed at me and said 'I better bloody not!' heh. Of course I told her I wasn't serious and it's good that she fully understands what I have been going through with this project.
I have been on projects before where bad Project Manager's have caused lots of issues, but this isn't that kind of project. The PM is actually doing an awesome job, it's just that it was designed by a couple of
Yes, I am extremely pissed off with myself for not noticing earlier a couple of the things poorly designed, but it really isn't my job to do that, I do it cos I know it all so well.
There is so much more I could say, like how it is his fault I am still here at work because he made a decision to remove something while I was at home sick last week, no one challenged or questioned it, I come in on Monday and find it gone and go umm err sure and assume people were consulted. Today the department who use this application say they want this specific bit back in the workflow! Did he consult anyone about removing this before he told the developer to do so? No, of course not! Did he consult anyone today when I told the project team that they want this put back in and he said 'well no, it's not going back in cos the system doesn't need it?' No, he didn't! But I did, I rang around, and I spoke to the people that wanted this put back and I asked the questions that the BA should have been asking and I came to the same agreement that this should be put back, so I then spoke to the PM and we both agreed it should be put back in. So here I am sitting here waiting for the developer to make the changes required, release the code, build the code and then we can test it in maybe 3 hrs time.
Anyway, ranting on here, while making me feel slightly better, isn't helping me get my document completed, so now that I have had a peppermint tea, I will go and complete writing my document. I may also sneak away to get some
I also can't stand up and sit down properly from my work chair with this tape on my back either so that is starting to get annoying too! ARGH!!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Share and share alike
And in other news, I am a first time shareholder! My health insurance provider floated on the stock market on Monday and I have 400 shares. I will probably keep track of them and then forget about them - isn't that what you do with shares?
Also, the cricket starts tomorrow :D :D
Also, the cricket starts tomorrow :D :D
Physio Appointment
OK so my back isn't fixed - wishful thinking on my behalf really, but at least that pain has gone :D All I can say is wow, Physio's are a lot more thorough (waits for all the people to say 'I told you so'), it could just be because it was my first visit to the clinic, but I don't think so. I was asked a lot of questions about when I get soreness/tightness, what causes it (other than riding), what helps to relieve the pain etc etc. All up I was there with the physio for an hour - I was the last appointment for the day so I don't know if that had an impact on the time or not.
He didn't do any manipulation, he felt my back to see if certain area's were tight or not and got me to walk up and down while he watched me walk to see how I moved. He also checked my reflexes and flexibility. He also confirmed that I have a lot of mobility, but the way he explained it is actually a problem and not just a thing. I am in the 5% of society that has a lot of movement which requires my muscles to be stronger to be able to prevent over movement of joints and to hold me upright and together as such.
He thinks that basically I have a slightly squashed disc in my back and the smaller muscles around my spine are weak and aren't engaging and doing what they should be doing to support my spine and the nerves around it and as a result the bigger outer muscles are doing the work when they shouldn't be. He also thinks that I have had this problem for years and that I have just done something recently to trigger it to go beyond a manageable point.
I have been given a program of exercises to do several times a day, which are extremely different to what the osteo gave me as these are around creating strength and engaging the smaller muscles around my spine, which are similar to what you would do at the start of a pilates course. I have also been given some stretching to reverse the squashed spine position of sitting at a desk all day and will also help when I am back on the bike as well.
I also have to take nurofen for a week for inflammation and I am allowed to do a 5km bike ride and then 2-3 days later do another 5km bike ride and rinse repeat until my next appointment next Friday. Lets see, 5km's is 20 laps of DISC... not many but better than none!
I have tape on my back to try and make my body engage the smaller muscles around my spine, it is to try to trigger them into working and stimulate them and to try to stop the bigger outer muscles from getting in the way of this. The tape feels really weird and is quite restrictive in my movements, but that is the point really. I have to leave it on for 2-4 days unless it causes a skin irritation
Basically, what the osteo was doing was manipulation to try to fix the symptoms but it doesn't actually fix the root of the problem. The physio also said that you can't tell if there is inflammation deep down around the spine, all you can do is tell if the muscles are tight.
Moving forward, I need to see how I go with this program and then will re-evaluate at the next appointment, which at this point will be weekly. I can hopefully also gradually increase my riding distances each week. We are starting at 5km sessions as i rode two lots of 2.5km yesterday and was fine, so after the next appointment it will probably be 7.5km rides.
I was in with the physio for an hour so I may have forgotten some things, but this is the guts of it. Also, I wont be able to see the same person for the next two weeks as next week he is away for his brothers wedding and the week after he is on the road with the Melbourne Tigers Basketball team - kinda impressive.
I feel like I am starting from scratch again, but at least this time there is a game plan.
He didn't do any manipulation, he felt my back to see if certain area's were tight or not and got me to walk up and down while he watched me walk to see how I moved. He also checked my reflexes and flexibility. He also confirmed that I have a lot of mobility, but the way he explained it is actually a problem and not just a thing. I am in the 5% of society that has a lot of movement which requires my muscles to be stronger to be able to prevent over movement of joints and to hold me upright and together as such.
He thinks that basically I have a slightly squashed disc in my back and the smaller muscles around my spine are weak and aren't engaging and doing what they should be doing to support my spine and the nerves around it and as a result the bigger outer muscles are doing the work when they shouldn't be. He also thinks that I have had this problem for years and that I have just done something recently to trigger it to go beyond a manageable point.
I have been given a program of exercises to do several times a day, which are extremely different to what the osteo gave me as these are around creating strength and engaging the smaller muscles around my spine, which are similar to what you would do at the start of a pilates course. I have also been given some stretching to reverse the squashed spine position of sitting at a desk all day and will also help when I am back on the bike as well.
I also have to take nurofen for a week for inflammation and I am allowed to do a 5km bike ride and then 2-3 days later do another 5km bike ride and rinse repeat until my next appointment next Friday. Lets see, 5km's is 20 laps of DISC... not many but better than none!
I have tape on my back to try and make my body engage the smaller muscles around my spine, it is to try to trigger them into working and stimulate them and to try to stop the bigger outer muscles from getting in the way of this. The tape feels really weird and is quite restrictive in my movements, but that is the point really. I have to leave it on for 2-4 days unless it causes a skin irritation
Basically, what the osteo was doing was manipulation to try to fix the symptoms but it doesn't actually fix the root of the problem. The physio also said that you can't tell if there is inflammation deep down around the spine, all you can do is tell if the muscles are tight.
Moving forward, I need to see how I go with this program and then will re-evaluate at the next appointment, which at this point will be weekly. I can hopefully also gradually increase my riding distances each week. We are starting at 5km sessions as i rode two lots of 2.5km yesterday and was fine, so after the next appointment it will probably be 7.5km rides.
I was in with the physio for an hour so I may have forgotten some things, but this is the guts of it. Also, I wont be able to see the same person for the next two weeks as next week he is away for his brothers wedding and the week after he is on the road with the Melbourne Tigers Basketball team - kinda impressive.
I feel like I am starting from scratch again, but at least this time there is a game plan.
Cup Day
Well yesterday didn't quite go to plan. I got up around 7am to go for a ride but I still had some tenderness so I made the executive decision to go back to bed. The thought of ending up however far from home on the bike and in pain and not be able to ride wasn't overly appealing.
I also didn't end up riding at track last night, a friend stopped around in the arvo and we had a beer or three.
I did however decide to ride down to watch the racing last night! I can now officialy say that I live a mere 2.3km's from DISC and that it only took me 5-6 mins on my bike to get there :D So all up yesterday I rode less than 5km's... -sheepish look- It was also a good thing that I didn't ride in the morning as on the ride home from DISC I could feel some tenderness, not a lot, but it was there.
Yesterday I did at least do some cleaning around the house, so I did something productive. I did all the dishes and vacuumed and mopped all the floors. I should have also finished sanding and painting the wooden kitchen bench that is still in progress and cleaned off the kitchen table... maybe on the weekend instead, you can't rush these things.
The plan today had been to get up early, around 5-5:30am and do a gentle ride before work, but after getting home at midnight after the after racing feed at Bimbo's, I decided that a 5am start just wasn't going to happen!
The pizza at bimbo's last night was great! It's been ages since I have been there for pizza and it is just as good as always and a bargain at $4! We got lamb ones and even though I had barely eaten all day, I still only ended up eating a 1/3 to half of the small pizza, the boy's were happy to finish it off and Nath had definately earnt it with that motorpace he did last night!
My apetite is still really low but I don't see this as a bad thing considering that I have gone from doing lots of riding to barely anything. I seem to be grazing more, and its not like I am not eating, I am just listening to my body and eating when I am hungry.
I sure hope this wonderful Melbourne weather continues the way it is, I am really loving the sunshine :D
I also didn't end up riding at track last night, a friend stopped around in the arvo and we had a beer or three.
I did however decide to ride down to watch the racing last night! I can now officialy say that I live a mere 2.3km's from DISC and that it only took me 5-6 mins on my bike to get there :D So all up yesterday I rode less than 5km's... -sheepish look- It was also a good thing that I didn't ride in the morning as on the ride home from DISC I could feel some tenderness, not a lot, but it was there.
Yesterday I did at least do some cleaning around the house, so I did something productive. I did all the dishes and vacuumed and mopped all the floors. I should have also finished sanding and painting the wooden kitchen bench that is still in progress and cleaned off the kitchen table... maybe on the weekend instead, you can't rush these things.
The plan today had been to get up early, around 5-5:30am and do a gentle ride before work, but after getting home at midnight after the after racing feed at Bimbo's, I decided that a 5am start just wasn't going to happen!
The pizza at bimbo's last night was great! It's been ages since I have been there for pizza and it is just as good as always and a bargain at $4! We got lamb ones and even though I had barely eaten all day, I still only ended up eating a 1/3 to half of the small pizza, the boy's were happy to finish it off and Nath had definately earnt it with that motorpace he did last night!
My apetite is still really low but I don't see this as a bad thing considering that I have gone from doing lots of riding to barely anything. I seem to be grazing more, and its not like I am not eating, I am just listening to my body and eating when I am hungry.
I sure hope this wonderful Melbourne weather continues the way it is, I am really loving the sunshine :D
Monday, November 5, 2007
Stupid technology
My mobile phone is playing up. It isn't bringing up everyone's names when they call or send me a message, so if I reply to an sms you sent me and I ask who it is, please don't get offended its just my phone being stupid :( It has been doing it for a while now I really should investigate fixing it
Big Kev!
I am so extremely excited by the prospect that my back is better! I am in a fantastic mood, the best mood I have been in for many many weeks. If my back is better, I now have to be cautious about not doing too much too soon so I don't cause an injury.
I can focus again on what is important and what I enjoy and love doing - riding! I can start losing weight again, which I had started doing again before my back injury, which will only help to improve my cycling and just getting out on the bike again - ahhhh!! :D
Two months is a long time to be off the bike, to go from doing 200km's a week to aalmost nothing is quite a big drop and I can't expect to get back to doing those km's again in the first few weeks.
If my back isn't better, it will be very dissapointing, but I will still try to focus on the positives.
I can focus again on what is important and what I enjoy and love doing - riding! I can start losing weight again, which I had started doing again before my back injury, which will only help to improve my cycling and just getting out on the bike again - ahhhh!! :D
Two months is a long time to be off the bike, to go from doing 200km's a week to aalmost nothing is quite a big drop and I can't expect to get back to doing those km's again in the first few weeks.
If my back isn't better, it will be very dissapointing, but I will still try to focus on the positives.
It is nice
Even if my back isn't fixed, not only is it really nice to no longer have that one sore spot, but it is great that my back no longer hurts when I cough! For probably the past 4 months or so, whenever I would cough all the muscles along my mid to lower spine would hurt. Yes 4 months is a lot longer than the time I have been seeing the osteo, but I had always just put it down to tightness of my back muscles - looks like I was wrong.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Could it be possible?
My back isn't sore, at all. You would think that with the amount of sitting I have been doing since Thursday morning and how I wasn't able to really stand up straight until yesterday that my back would be sore, but it isn't, I also haven't done any stretching since Wednesday morning. Also, the one spot on my lower left back that has _always_ been tight, even as I am leaving the osteo, is no longer tight or sore in anyway at all. If you drew a line from where that sore spot has been in my back, to the front of my body, it would almost directly hit the spot which has had the localised pain from the burst ovarian cyst - co-incidence? I doubt it.
Also, on Wednesday my back was the sorest it has ever been and for seemingly no reason. I had been to the osteo on Monday and hadn't been on the bike since the previous Thursday and was really at a loss as to why it hurt so much. Then the abdominal pain started that night and got worse over night and I saw the Dr. I asked the Dr if the pain in my back could have been because of the cyst ande she said it probably was. Now I only put that down to the increased pain on Wednesday but what if it is what has been causing the whole problem?? I have no idea how big the cyst was before it burst, but this is all too co-incidental for me. It could also explain why my pelvis being out of alignment for years hasn't affected my cycling till now - maybe it hasn't been the problem at all.
Hrmmm...
Do I now go to the osteo tomorrow to get him to check it out to see what he says if it seems better, or just not go at all. Do I go to the Physio appointment on Wednesday or cancel it? I can't ride today as there is still pain around breathing and moving certain ways, but I am wondering if I should try to go for a ride Tuesday morning and see how it goes, if I can.
It is all very interesting. If this has been the cause of my back pain, then I am very excited by the prospect of it being 'fixed'
Also, on Wednesday my back was the sorest it has ever been and for seemingly no reason. I had been to the osteo on Monday and hadn't been on the bike since the previous Thursday and was really at a loss as to why it hurt so much. Then the abdominal pain started that night and got worse over night and I saw the Dr. I asked the Dr if the pain in my back could have been because of the cyst ande she said it probably was. Now I only put that down to the increased pain on Wednesday but what if it is what has been causing the whole problem?? I have no idea how big the cyst was before it burst, but this is all too co-incidental for me. It could also explain why my pelvis being out of alignment for years hasn't affected my cycling till now - maybe it hasn't been the problem at all.
Hrmmm...
Do I now go to the osteo tomorrow to get him to check it out to see what he says if it seems better, or just not go at all. Do I go to the Physio appointment on Wednesday or cancel it? I can't ride today as there is still pain around breathing and moving certain ways, but I am wondering if I should try to go for a ride Tuesday morning and see how it goes, if I can.
It is all very interesting. If this has been the cause of my back pain, then I am very excited by the prospect of it being 'fixed'
Saturday, November 3, 2007
On the improve
Yesterday I spent the majority of the afternoon and all of the evening with a bucket next to me. The nausea was just so extreme and yet I didn't throw up once, although a few dry runs were had :( The pain had reduced a bit, but again even with the panadeine forte I was in a lot of pain, but sitting still in my archair it wasn't a bit better, apart from the nausea.
Sleeping last night was a lot better too, it wasn't as difficult to get into bed and I could actually lie flat on my back which helped a lot!! I could also lie on both sides a bit easier, which made getting comfy and getting off to sleep a lot better - of course the drugs helped with the getting to sleep bit too :)
I still can't walk at a normal pace, but at least I can almost stand up straight when I do and I am still in quite a bit of pain when I move, but if I breath deeply or cough then it hurts quite a lot still.
It looks like my Dr was right with the diagnoses so I can stop worrying about it being anything overly serious and I wont need to have the ultrasound done.
Tomorrow I wont be able to do the last of the track skills sessions, but I will go down and watch at least and try to take in the advice and what is being said. It is a shame really because I missed last week cos I had to work.
This arvo, if I have the energy, I might go and watch the track racing at Blackburn, I am really sick of just sitting at home and none of my family are around this weekend to go and visit, but it really depends on if I think I can drive that far. Just driving to the local shops this morning caused a bit of discomfort with any slight bumps in the road causing me pain.
Sleeping last night was a lot better too, it wasn't as difficult to get into bed and I could actually lie flat on my back which helped a lot!! I could also lie on both sides a bit easier, which made getting comfy and getting off to sleep a lot better - of course the drugs helped with the getting to sleep bit too :)
I still can't walk at a normal pace, but at least I can almost stand up straight when I do and I am still in quite a bit of pain when I move, but if I breath deeply or cough then it hurts quite a lot still.
It looks like my Dr was right with the diagnoses so I can stop worrying about it being anything overly serious and I wont need to have the ultrasound done.
Tomorrow I wont be able to do the last of the track skills sessions, but I will go down and watch at least and try to take in the advice and what is being said. It is a shame really because I missed last week cos I had to work.
This arvo, if I have the energy, I might go and watch the track racing at Blackburn, I am really sick of just sitting at home and none of my family are around this weekend to go and visit, but it really depends on if I think I can drive that far. Just driving to the local shops this morning caused a bit of discomfort with any slight bumps in the road causing me pain.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Slight improvement
Trying to sleep last night was interesting. The first problem was trying to lift my left leg up to be able to get into bed, this alone took a few minutes of trying to work out a way that would cause minimal paint. Once in bed I couldn't lie on my back as I couldn't straighten my body, I also found it really difficult to find a position on either side that didn't cause pain, I ended up finding one or two ways to lie on my side that caused the least amount of pain and discomfort, but it was really frustrating not being able to move around.
I am in less pain today, but it is still pretty bad, even with the panadeine forte. Again getting dressed after my shower this morning was a challenge as I can't lift my left leg up very high off the ground and it hurts getting in and out of my arm chair, it even hurts to breath in deeply.
I am also experiencing more nausea today than yesterday and I am not sure if its the panadeine forte or not, either way its not fun.
This pain and discomfort level is on par with the pain I had when I had my appendix removed.
I am in less pain today, but it is still pretty bad, even with the panadeine forte. Again getting dressed after my shower this morning was a challenge as I can't lift my left leg up very high off the ground and it hurts getting in and out of my arm chair, it even hurts to breath in deeply.
I am also experiencing more nausea today than yesterday and I am not sure if its the panadeine forte or not, either way its not fun.
This pain and discomfort level is on par with the pain I had when I had my appendix removed.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Pain is my friend?
Even with panadeine forte I am in quite a lot of pain, but at least now it isn't bringing me to tears. It takes a bit of effort to carefully get out of my arm chair and I can't really stand up straight when I am walking hobbling to the kitchen or down to the bathroom. I had a shower earlier and it was quite difficult getting my left leg back into my track pants. I can also tell when its been about 3 hrs since taking my last dose of drugs as the pain and discomfort starts to increase and my back starts hurting. I haven't been able to do any of my stretching for my back and staying seated for long periods of time without moving, because it hurts to move, is not a good for it. I also have to remember to ring up and change my physio appointment that's on tomorrow night.
It has only been one day and I am already feeling housebound.
Someone mentioned that there is a big tattslotto draw on Saturday night, If I can manage to leave the house and get to the shops I might buy a ticket cos my 'luck' has to change.
On a happy note, I am enjoying the sound of the rain.
It has only been one day and I am already feeling housebound.
Someone mentioned that there is a big tattslotto draw on Saturday night, If I can manage to leave the house and get to the shops I might buy a ticket cos my 'luck' has to change.
On a happy note, I am enjoying the sound of the rain.
Not good
Yesterday my back was really sore and I couldn't work out why, it hadn't been so painful like that before and I hadn't been on the bike since last Thursday, so a week and I had seen the osteo two days before.
Last night I started to get general abdominal discomfort, kinda like when you have wind, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Last night in bed the pain became a lot more localised to just inside my hip bone area. I couldn't lay on that side of my body and everytime Imoved it hurt. The pain this morning just got worse, and not better like I had hoped, so I made an appointment to go see my Dr.
By the time of getting to my Dr (a 1 hour drive from work) I was getting really bad abdominal cramps, so I was mostly hunched over which was then making my back hurt, as well as the localised pain. The Dr thinks that I have a cyst on my ovary that has burst. I have been given panadeine forte and told that it should just go away on its own, but if it doesn't then I have to get some scans done on Monday. My Dr also thinks this is why my back was so sore yesterday.
I have just taken the panadeine forte and I really hope it kicks in soon because these cramps and pains that I am getting are literally bringing tears to my eyes. When I am not experiencing a cramp it hurts to walk, stand up/sit down, cough, laugh and I really really shouldn't have been driving home, not only because of the cramps were so severe whilst driving and I was distracted, but also because it was hard to push the clutch in cos it hurt each time.
Last night I started to get general abdominal discomfort, kinda like when you have wind, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Last night in bed the pain became a lot more localised to just inside my hip bone area. I couldn't lay on that side of my body and everytime Imoved it hurt. The pain this morning just got worse, and not better like I had hoped, so I made an appointment to go see my Dr.
By the time of getting to my Dr (a 1 hour drive from work) I was getting really bad abdominal cramps, so I was mostly hunched over which was then making my back hurt, as well as the localised pain. The Dr thinks that I have a cyst on my ovary that has burst. I have been given panadeine forte and told that it should just go away on its own, but if it doesn't then I have to get some scans done on Monday. My Dr also thinks this is why my back was so sore yesterday.
I have just taken the panadeine forte and I really hope it kicks in soon because these cramps and pains that I am getting are literally bringing tears to my eyes. When I am not experiencing a cramp it hurts to walk, stand up/sit down, cough, laugh and I really really shouldn't have been driving home, not only because of the cramps were so severe whilst driving and I was distracted, but also because it was hard to push the clutch in cos it hurt each time.
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