Your Impatience Cost Me My INDEPENDENCE
Your Impatience Cost Me My INDEPENDENCE
— Read on blindmovingon.com/2018/07/04/your-impatience-cost-me-my-independence/
This is an important read for everyone. We need to learn to slow down and be more aware of how our busy lives and (unintentional) selfish ways in our day can affect others. Please share this post too.
Happy Canada Day! It didn’t really feel like a holiday to me at all. Looked like lots of fun activities but no way I can easily manage crowds without really putting a lot of stress on my hip. Even crutches take a lot of effort.
My afternoon nap yesterday made for a sleepless night and I was up until 4am watching Marcella on Netflix – an interesting Netflix original series. I’m already almost finished it. I fell into a deep sleep even if late, and woke up at 9am. A deep ache in my hip overpowered my urge to go back to sleep. I got up for ice and breakfast, and let Ginny out. As I was getting ice, I realized I really needed to pee. Ever try to crutch quickly to the bathroom break? Yeah, we’ll crutching jostles you enough to want to pee even more! I barely made it. I crawled back into bed – getting out of bed has gotten a bit easier but getting back into bed is still painful. Short body and a oversized mattress equals a challenge.
I fell back asleep, and didn’t wake up until noon when Brad woke up. Decided to just shower and relax rest of day. With Brad’s help I got in and out of shower again. Damn the shower tub wall as there is just no easy way to get my left leg over it. Dressed and ready, I managed to make myself my own lunch today, and equipped with fresh ice, made my way back to bed.
My right shoulder is extremely sore today from crutching. And one of my four steri strips came off today. I’m bruising a lot across my abdomen and now with one steri strip off, my poor thigh area is definitely beaten up.
I still mostly just feel most of the ache deep in my hip joint – from the traction they have to do for this surgery and bringing hip out of joint. Surgeon told me hip replacements are actually less painful.
Today I managed to do my physio exercises and hope to do another set before bed.
It still is slow and sore but I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can. I’m very worried about my future – I was right that surgeon said surgery went well but I guess I missed the part where he told me I was already developing arthritis in my hip. I’m 33 years old – this terrifies me. Brad told me Thursday when we sharing each other’s stories of Surgery Day. I’m guessing being overweight for so long and then exercising overweight at the beginning of this lifestyle change has been hard on my body.
This news has made me seriously think the last two days. I love my Spartan races but though I’m not old, I’m no spring chicken. I don’t want to spend my newly found athletic lifestyle jumping injury to injury. This experience has taught me so much and I’d never change it. But I also don’t want to force things on my body that will mean more pain and surgeries down the road. I want to find the balance of being athletic but also reducing my risk of having another hip labral tear and even possibly hip replacement if the arthritis worsens. If I can make any changes in my sports and training that will mean less injuries- I’m open to that. This hurt too much to throw it all away just because I’ve fallen in love with something. I started all of this to become healthy – not to race. For me, being able to run, even if I do it less and shorter distances, and my Conviction Fitness training is all I need. Half marathons and Spartan races were the extras.
My follow up appointment is July 20 and I’ll get more answers then. I’m not going to overthink right now but just prepare myself for making smart choices. I’m going to focus on taking this injury and surgery recovery and rehab slow and steady. I’m keeping track of all my rehab this next year or two in a 2 year calendar. Just marking down what I do. I’ll even track my exercise when I am allowed to do that. I know this will be helpful for the first year after this surgery – you never know what information can help me, my coach, my physiotherapist, or my surgeon. I love the message on the cover.
My journal is with it. My coach created these athlete journals. This is my second one. Writing about this experience has been therapeutic and I know I’ll read about this journey again in my future. You can buy a copy of this journal here:
I also made my weekly to do’s in my weekly planner. Something I’ve done since this injury began – makes me feel like I have things to do and to not let days pass by without me trying to make the day worthwhile. Each day should count for something – even if one thing.
Besides that, listening to the pop pop of fireworks going off – just some neighbourhood ones. Ginny isn’t enjoying these odd sounds but is doing okay.
Nausea hit again today. Not sure if it’s some of the deep joint pain, the medications, or still some side effects from the general anesthesia. Either way, I ended up having soup and naan bread for supper instead of tilapia fish freezer meal. Sometimes you have to do what’s best for your body – something I struggle with. I like to follow my “plan”. I’ve been flexible since my surgery in allowing some detours of my meal plan but I can’t deny it doesn’t mentally bug me for a few minutes. I haven’t been back on my usual tight macro counting daily nutrition habits. I can’t even get to my protein powder right now as it’s on a bottom shelf and the almond milk and spinach is in the fridge at a position that would require me to bend 90 degrees at the hip. Brad kindly put 3 flavours of protein powder on the counter for me but I haven’t had the energy yet to make my daily shake. I think I have to let go of making my blended smoothie and just allow myself to mix a shake of powder and almond milk or water. If I remember to bring my reacher/grabber to kitchen I’d probably be able to reach more items. But crutches are hard enough without adding holding onto a long stick thing too.
But these are all things that will get easier with time. I’ll figure it out. I have to give myself a break. Today I was giving myself a mentally rough time for not doing a lot the past 5 days. But it hasn’t even been a full week since my surgery and it wasn’t the easiest procedure on my body between the anesthesia and the traction. My body was forced to do something we normally try to avoid – dislocating my hip joint. And it’s okay to take a week or two off. The surgeon told me it would be about 2 weeks until I felt better so I have give myself that break too. I’m doing what I can – eating wholesome healthier meals, even if a little bit of my exact macros; doing my daily physical therapy exercises, which hospital PT told me she knows so many people ignore them; and I’m trying to get up for ice and things myself as I know a little bit of movement out of bed, even if on my crutches, is good for my body too.
So today wasn’t a bad day at all. I still am taking my pain medication but already at a lower dose than surgeon expected I’d need the first week. I’m sleeping well without sleeping pills now – which makes me sooo happy! I’m off at least one medication! I did my exercises even though hard and sore, and I’ll do a second round of them for the first time after I finish this post up. I’m still smiling and even with all of this craziness, I’m happy. I have an experience that I’m making the best out of and becoming a better person and athlete because of it. I’m not giving up even when it hurts, and even though I’ve lost some of the weight loss and strength training progress I worked so hard for the last 5 years.
If this injury hadn’t happened, I’d have 3 half marathons for 2018 done out of 5, and I’d be training with my team for the Spartan Kimberley Beast in just under 2 weeks. I was so excited for this trip to the mountains and had an amazing place booked to stay. It was supposed to be a little vacation. It is hard as this event comes closer but I’m figuring out how to make the best of it. I won’t let this injury make me become grumpy and sullen. As much as it is hard to hear that I am developing arthritis, if it weren’t for this injury and surgery, I’d never had known that. Perhaps knowing about it earlier is going to become something that helps me be able to have a longer pain free athletic and healthy lifestyle by making the changes to how I train now instead of when it’s too late. If I hadn’t known, I wouldn’t have even considered stopping doing multiple half marathons and Spartan races each year – and I could have ran my hip into a point where I could never train again.
So I’m growing, learning, embracing change and getting stronger – even if it is a different journey than I had planned. The next 6 months will be the most crucial but I won’t stop at 6 months. I plan to embrace this for the rest of my life.
Today all my teacher friends are finishing up last things before summer holidays. I still can’t believe I missed 3 months of work, and I’m anxious to get a timeline at my follow up appointment on July 20 for a return.
Yesterday I was terrified to take off the bandage but I finally did. It isn’t the prettiest sight but it’s ok. It looks worse than it feels. I’m worried about the blood but it’s not hurting so hoping it’s okay.
I had been on sleeping pills since end of April when the pain was so bad, I couldn’t sleep. I used my last one Wednesday night and I didn’t want to ask for more as I hope to get off of all these medications I had during this injury. It took me some time to fall asleep but I also had a 2 hour supper time nap. I did a mindfulness session using the Calm app and then turned on an audiobook on audible. Since this injury, I don’t shift positions and wearing my corded Bose noise cancelling headphones don’t seem to be dangerous. I felt myself drifting off so I actually took off headphones and I fell asleep around 1:00am and I slept until 8:30am. I woke feeling really stiff and sore, and a deep joint pain, along with some nausea. I hadn’t woken up overnight so I hadn’t iced or taken meds for over 8 hours. Brad helped me get a muffin in me and some meds, and today’s first ice packs. It’s amazing how much better I feel with constant icing.
I put on my headphone to listen to my audiobook again, hoping pain and nausea would pass. The pain isn’t severe – just constant and so deep that it hurts enough to make you go crazy. After a couple hours in the dark with an audiobook, I knew I had to get in the shower. I had washed myself real good last 2 days but I was still starting to smell.
So Brad put together the shower chair we ordered, put the suction safety handle on the shower wall, and I put waterproof tegaderm bandages over my 4 incision areas and Saran wrapped the heck around my thigh. Now to get in – using one crutch as I’m not supposed to put full weight on left hip, I managed to get right leg in tub with almost a spill – didn’t think about the bath mat slipping from the weight of crutch pressed against it. Luckily Brad was there and caught it before crutch slipped completely. It was hard to get my left leg raised enough without pain over tub wall but I did it and I got onto the shower chair. Brad handed me the handheld shower head his parents had kindly installed before my surgery, and left. I didn’t think I’d be able to turn on the water and hit the shower button but I did and it felt sooo good to shower. I had left all my shampoos and soaps handy but it still was a bit sore turning and reaching for them. I was still scared about my incisions getting wet but nothing I could do as I was already under water.
Shower done, I called for Brad to help me out of shower. I had decided to use a terry cloth robe instead of bothering with a towel and trying to crutch. Wrapped towel around hair and actually got out of tub ok. When beginning to unwrap the Saran Wrap, I soaked the floor with water but between the plastic and the waterproof bandages, I think incisions stayed dry. The bandages stuck well so I’ve left them on for now. Might as well get a couple showers out of them.
I crutched myself to the spare room where I have clothes that I can wear over my leg. I set out a bunch of possible clothing before surgery. I didn’t want to have to reach or bend in multiple drawers and the closet. This has been so helpful. I bought some shorts a size bigger and I’m so glad I did. The swelling, even though improved since Tuesday, has made the shorts tight around the thigh. Slowly, using the grabber/reacher tool, I got myself dressed.
Since I was up, thought I could make my own lunch and get my own ice. Brad would have to carry my lunch to me but I could try and do some of it. While I was doing that, the teacher who was my replacement while I was off work stopped by with my teacher computer and a gift. I had gotten her a gift as she was amazing while I was away. I can’t believe she got me something as she helped me out! Ginny was hoping something in there was for her but it was all for me.
David’s Tea mug and a collection of organic teas. She knows me well and we just met when she subbed for me the day after my physio appointment and I thought I’d just be missing a few days. I’ve made a new friend during this, and she is going to be teaching French at another school in October so we’ll continue to work together when she needs any help.
By this time, I was exhausted. I crawled back into bed with ice and lunch and didn’t move for most of afternoon besides a bathroom break and one more ice swap. We had some rain but around 4:30 I got got up for more ice but thought maybe I could try to go outside for 5 minutes and throw Ginny the ball. We have the chuck it stick so I don’t have to bend. Took longer to figure out how to get my good sandals on without help. We got outside and I threw her the ball. She brings it back and I realized standing and trying to pick up the ball even with the chuck it stick was still hard on my hip. I navigated myself to a chair and was scared to sit as it was lower than anything I’ve really sat in. But I remembered I sat in the wheelchair at hospital and it was low so I slowly managed myself into the chair. I threw Ginny the ball about 10 times and I was tired and sore. It was also super hot. I didn’t want to overdo it so before I felt like crap, I got myself back up on crutches and made my way back in.
More ice and back in bed. I’m sore and hip throbs some so I may have done a bit too much, or it just may be sore from movement, but I’m happy, a good exhausted and ready for Day 4. After this post, I’ll do my physical therapy exercises I was given by hospital therapist. Yesterday didn’t go so well so hoping today has some improvement. I know I have to give myself time and be patient – one day these exercises will seem like nothing, but today it takes all my effort and that’s okay.
Each day seems to get better. Sure, there is pain and discomfort but it’s different now and I can’t explain in well. This is a pain that comes and goes, but will eventually go. The pain I had before was constant and sharp. It made every movement hurt. This pain gets better if I treat it right. It’s okay to move some if I use the crutches.
I’m finding my way back slowly one day at a time.
I had such a good couple days both Tuesday after surgery and most of yesterday that I was taken by surprise with a rough night. It was brought on my medication induced constipation – TMI? Well I was going to omit but if I hide behind only the good times, others out there struggling will continue to feel alone too. It’s life and it’s temporary. My goal for writing is to help others in same or similar experiences. This is something to I wish I would have been more prepared for.
My surgeon had warned me of this and had prescribed medications for it. However, I did not expect it to be as bad as it was, and I hope to never experience something like that again. The hour long ordeal left me in tears and I had definitely unintentionally overstrained my hip. Today I’m trying to add Metamucil to the surgeon’s prescribed medication. I’ve also been able to cut back one pain pill every 4 hours so far, and that should help too. Hopefully my healthy diet will also help me to restore less painful bodily functions.
When you face surgery, you only focus really on the part of your body undergoing the surgery. I was so prepared for anything with my hip, I did not fully take into account other issues. My throat has been the worst – even more painful more often than my hip. The breathing tube must have been massive and scratched the whole length of my throat. As well I’ve had deep chest congestion that I’m trying to use deep breathing to clear up. It’s also a side effect of the breathing tube. I also had a catheter which has left some pain but minor compared to the breathing tube.
I woke up today after an extremely painful night that even max dose pain meds didn’t touch so I lay in bed watching Harry Potter marathon with Brad rubbing my head. It helped and eventually I drifted off to sleep the movie still playing.
I woke up at 8am and Brad was completely asleep. He had a rough night being up with me so I hated to wake him up. I got myself up as I had to use bathroom, and managed to also make it to kitchen to grab ice packs and a muffin. Not my typical breakfast but I had no energy yet to warm up my freezer meal breakfast and find a way to carry it to bed. Been balancing eating healthy but also getting food into me when I can too – sometimes meaning something I can easily transport to bed until I can get help.
After getting my ice wrap on and settling back into bed, Brad was still sleeping so I put on my Bose soundproof headphones and began listening to the Obstacle Order Podcast – Yancy Culp was guest and he’s always so inspiring. I dozed off towards the end of it.
Brad woke up around 10am and his movements woke me up too. I asked for my freezer breakfast meal of eggs and veggies to be warmed up, and he did. I managed most of them but nausea hit again. It’s off and on. More ice and I began to feel better. I got up and decided to wash up some with sink and dress myself – thank god for my $12 Amazon reacher/grabber. 
This tool has been sooo handy. I can pull on my own underwear and shorts. I decided I really wanted a tea and more ice and decided to try to go get it myself. It was 1:05pm so decided I might as well get my lunch too. Lunch was pre made already – diced turkey burger with a side of romaine lettuce, hemp seeds with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. I warmed the meat in a bowl and put back into the bento box. I had managed to steep a tea. This meant cleaning out my mug from day before st sink, putting the mug bag into my lunch kit attached to my crutch and crutch across kitchen to the water cooler to make my tea. Lunch warmed up, banana put with my lunch, tea steeping, swapped ice – lunch kit only fit the ice packs and the tea mug so I still had to ask Brad to bring me my lunch – but I did get it ready myself!
Made it back it bed and ate most of my lunch and nausea hit again just at the end, as well as drowsiness. Dozed in and out a bit but I think I’ll need a good nap here soon. I really struggle with sleeping during the day but I’m getting better at accepting I need naps. The more I nap, the better I seem to feel.
The pain I feel is a deep heavy pain – it feels like the hip is trying to heal back into the socket. That it had been jarred (well in reality forcibly dislocated) and now is getting comfortable being back in joint. My swelling seems better today I think – we’ve done a decent job with icing. It’s not as easy to keep up on as you think. Either I have to ask for ice every 1.5 hours or get up myself. But my ice wrap I bought seems to keep ice cold long enough that I don’t need to rotate every 1.5 hours. We are getting 7-8 times a day of icing in out of the 5-10 tines recommended.
Today I’m allowed to take off the bulky bandage but we haven’t yet. I’m anxious and scared to. There was some bleeding yesterday I could see through the bandage so wondering if waiting for tomorrow morning may be better just since yesterday’s bleeding. But at same time – I really want it off as it’s huge. Icing will be easier when it’s off. But to be completely honest – seeing my leg bruised (most likely) and stitches is not easy for me. I think I’ll get the courage eventually – curiosity and discomfort of the big bandage is stronger than the fear of what’s underneath.
Made my follow up appointment today – was supposed to be 4 weeks post op but has to be a wee bit sooner as he’s away the week of my 4 weeks. Receptionist will make sure surgeon is okay with it but it’s only 3 days early so should be fine.
But it’s 3:17pm. Most of today is over it seems. Days seems so slow but also seem to fly by. Though last night scared us a bit and was no fun, I’m still hopeful that the worst is behind us.
Yesterday happened so fast, I didn’t even have time to write anything before surgery. A fax glitch left me without any pain meds the day before surgery, so I checked myself in for the day surgery in a pretty miserable state. Even after the surgery, the nurses joked that I looked worse before surgery than after.
I checked in at 6:30am and made my way to day surgery unit. I changed to a gown and was quickly prepped for surgery. We had issues with IV and it hurt so bad the first time they tried to do it. I warned her my veins jumped and after the nurse said “Holy – you weren’t kidding”. She had tried to do my right hand but the vein jumped and she hit bone instead. She wouldn’t try again and had another nurse who they called their IV queen do it and she did it no problem on my left hand.
The surgeon came by, chatted, and signed my left hip. I was told to bring something to do before surgery so I had brought headphones for audiobook, my kindle, and my journal but I had no time for any of it. I was given a cap for my hair and at 8:00am (surgery was schedule for 7:45), I was rolled to the operating room.
I had to move myself from the gurney to the bed as there was a special traction for my leg. I was starting to get anxious after seeing it but my surgeon came in and asked me for my name and date of birth, had me confirm it was my left hip they were doing, and then said have a nice nap.
I woke up in post op in some serious pain but they treated it with intravenous medication. Post op is a blur of seeing a blurry nurse face twice and of just moaning. Next thing I am aware of is being rolled back to day surgery unit. The nurses there let my boyfriend come in and say hi, then they said they wanted me to sleep more and closed the curtain some.
I woke up around noon and had to pee. The nurse asked if I could wait for physical therapist as she was just with another patient but I was next. I said I’d try. She said she could bring a bed pan but I wanted to use a real bathroom. In 10-15 minutes I couldn’t wait much longer. I was mentally aware of knowing it would take me longer to get up and get to bathroom so I knew I had to get up on it. I convinced them I felt like I could navigate with my crutches as I’d been using them for a couple weeks already so we went off to the bathroom which was about 30 feet away. A nurse had already put on an elevated chair for me. The therapist has come just as we started moving but she told me to go ahead and looked impressed. We got back and she wheeled me to a room with some practice stairs. Luckily our house only has 2 steps on a deck so unless I want to go to basement, I don’t have many stairs. Basement is mostly freezer for food, laundry, and my home fitness equipment. Brad can get our food, I can wait at least 10 days for laundry and Brad will do it until I can, and I won’t be needing that type of fitness equipment for some time.
The surgeon came by just as we were getting ready to go practice stairs. He told me that it went well. He was able to clean up the tear – debridement. There was fraying so he also did a capsular closure – I believe that means closing the socket where fraying was? But he didn’t have to shave off any of the hip femur bone which was a relief as that procedure can result in easier fracturing of the hip during recovery if too much weight is put on. Originally I was told I would be non weight bearing after surgery and now I’m partial weight bearing! It helps a lot with mobility. Surgeon warned it doesn’t mean putting weight on hip but that I can still put foot to floor with crutches taking most of the weight. It really makes a difference.
After we returned from practicing the stairs, my clothes were at my bed, and the nurse said she could help me or Brad, and Brad said he would. I had worn a comfy grey cotton dress. I put on my bra and slipped it overhead and went home commando. Brad wheeled me down to the front and the nurses followed (to get back their wheelchair haha) and we actually managed to get me into Brad’s Jeep with less problem than we had been worried about the day before. He had pulled it up to a curb and a boost – I’m short that I always have to climb into his Jeep. Somehow we figured it out easy but backing myself into the chair.
The drive home was short – luckily we lived just 8 minutes from the hospital the surgery was at. The angle of chair was not the most comfortable for this surgery so it was a bit hard but luckily a short drive. I managed myself inside with a happy dog to greet me. She was very calm and gentle which is unlike her when she sees me. We promptly got into bed, I grabbed my stash of digestive cookies I had in my bag for hospital and ate them while Brad went to get my 7 post op medications filled. When he got back he made me a turkey meat bun and it tasted amazing.
Mostly I’ve been sleeping or watching Netflix (right now decided on a Harry Potter Marathon using our DVD collection). My throat is mighty sore from the breathing tube and some congestion that I believe is from breathing tube too. Getting into and out of bed is the hardest part of my mobility. But once I’m in crutches it’s not too bad for about 5 minutes. More than that I start to hurt. I’m so thankful we did buy the post op recommendations such as a elevated toilet seat and a shower chair. The handles on the toilet seat have also been a huge help. They are wide enough that my big hip (because of bandage) can get in without bumping but really helps to sit down and get up with less pain. The biggest thing is making sure I get up when I need to go right away instead of waiting as it takes so long!
I can actually remove the bulky bandage tomorrow and shower if I cover the sutures.
The sutures are dissolvable too so they’ll go on their own! I asked when I can start going back to my physiotherapist and I thought he’d say a week but he said 2 weeks. I have some exercises at home that I’m excited to even have – though not like the typical exercise I do but something!
I am so glad I ordered about 80 bento boxes and 20 soup containers on Amazon for around $50. It’s going to help with less dishes. With my mom in law’s help, I meal prepped 28 breakfasts, lunches, and suppers to make it through a month. Already this has been a huge help – we don’t have to question what to make, or if we have the ingredients, and we’ve decided to just toss them even though reusable. One, we don’t really have the storage and two, having less dishes to do in this first month is a benefit to me and Brad. It feels good to have healthy options already made as the healthy food is going to be a benefit to my recovery. I even made over 90 snack bags labelled with inspirational quotes on them. Some quotes from friends and teammates and some I found myself. It’s been actually very motivating to read each time I have a snack. I’m saving each slip of paper and putting in my jar of messages I received from my team earlier during this injury.
So now it’s 5:15pm and 27 hours since I came home. I am dying for the first shower – I can’t have until tomorrow afternoon. But I will go wash up some soon. I don’t like this greasy feeling. I had just gotten up to get more ice, bathroom, make a tea (first tea since Monday!), and grab a banana (yay for lunch kit I clipped to crutches). But that excursion quickly wore me out so I had to lie back down.
I’ve been spoiled with puppy snuggles, and flowers from my parents in law and brother & sister in law. And a bag of Swedish berries because as my mom in law put it, if I remember right from yesterday, “I think what you went through deserves at least one whole bag of Swedish berries to eat.”
I’m excited for where this injury may take me. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve been through but even in my dark, hard days – I found my way through. I’m a fighter. A survivor. The surgeon said to me yesterday that keeping my weight low is going to help this type of injury. I’ve always wondered how I didn’t have more injuries during my previous obesity before I changed my life. But this injury could have been developed during those years and shovelling in that snow storm just tore it enough for pain. We will never know for sure but I’ll find my way back to fitness and keeping myself healthy.
When I meet with the surgeon at my 4 week follow up appointment, I will ask him his honest opinion about my OCR racing and even my running. I’m not a young kid. I’m not old by any means. But I know that I may have to reconsider some of my exercise options in order for not have this hip tear reoccur. I’d rather run 2-3 5k runs a week with Ginny for the rest of my life rather than run one half marathon that ends my running completely. I’m not sure how that conversation will go – he may have no limits for me or he suggest some. Either way – I’ll always be committed to a healthy lifestyle. I know I’ll continue to train with my team – even if it means some modifications and changes to goals and dreams. But my dream when I began this journey was never to collect a ton of medals or to see how many races I can do. My dream was to be healthier and happier. And I can still do that – that’s my reality regardless of how I do it. Here’s to a new chapter in this journey.
It seems like a lifetime ago when my back and hip pain first began March 5. The end of winter, all of spring, and beginning of summer has flown by. Everyone’s lives around me seem to me moving forward and I feel stuck in the middle, unmoving. It’s an extremely lonely and isolated journey even with amazing friends and family. Unless you’ve experienced over 100 days in your bed, it isn’t something you can easily say you understand.
I’ve been to 6 doctor/surgeon appointments, 14 physio appointments, 2 cortisone shots, 1 ER visit, 3 X-rays, 1 MRI with contrast, and now finally tomorrow hip arthroscopy surgery. I was diagnosed on June 13 with a hip labral tear in my left hip. So on the surface – I’m ready for surgery as I have a month of meals planned, post op mobility equipment ready, and bag packed. And my body is ready to begin healing.
But mentally, I’m a mess – scared and anxious. I’m worried how this injury will affect my future and if it will affect some of the new passions I’ve fallen for in sports such as half marathon running and OCR races, specially Spartans. I’ve realized during this time off that I want to refocus my half marathon road racing to trail running by I still want to do it. I have fallen in love with my healthy lifestyle, feeling energetic, and moving freely feeling good. I’m scared of forever feeling pain in even just walking. But a friend shared this quote with me last week from soccer player Abby Wambuch: “You see soccer didn’t make me who I was. I brought who I was to soccer. And I get to bring who I am wherever I go. And guess what? So do you. As you leave here today and every day going forward, don’t just ask yourself, what do I want to do? Ask yourself, who do I want to be? Because the most important thing I’ve learned is that what you do will never define you. Who you are always will.”
Abby listed four rules:
1 Make failure your fuel
2 Lead from the bench
3 Champion each other.
4 Demand the ball.
So who am I? I am someone who has come back from other setbacks. Since 2013 and first starting this journey, I’ve always fought to improve myself. Even now from bed, I love seeing my teammates race this summer and conquer personal goals. I am a better athlete for who I train with. They push me forward and I hope they know I am cheering them on even from the sidelines. I want the ball back. Metaphorically. Whatever that “ball” is for me after all of this. Even my rehab will be a “ball” for me for some time and I’ll strive to be the best “ball” player in my physical therapy. From there, a day at a time and I’ll come back – even if it isn’t exactly to everything I was doing before.
In Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore said: “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” So tomorrow I begin to live and I’ll figure out my dreams as each day comes. A new chapter begins tomorrow.
Here’s the link to the whole Abby Wambuch speech if you wish:
http://time.com/5281711/abby-wambach-barnard-commencement-2018-speech/
On Sunday, a jar full of messages was given to me from my team and I know organized by an amazing teammate and friend. I cried with each message but I still did not see what they see. I lost sight of this girl, and it has always been very hard for me to look beyond my weaknesses.
I grew up feeling inferior, worthless, that my weight was the root of all my problems in life, being bounced diet to diet since 11 years of age, and thinking to make my life easier that I had to make people happy by doing what they wanted instead of my own dreams. I spent 24 years living like this until I set the most difficult boundary and break up of my life and began to slowly learn who I was and what I wanted — and that it was okay to do that.
At 29, after counseling to build the blocks of a stronger, no longer co-dependent me, I was ready to address the physical issue. In August 2013, a pre diabetic scare jumpstarted my first steps to tackle the physical and emotional weight I had been carrying for way too long. For the first quarter of my life, I thought it was my fault when each fad diet didn’t work, or if we had to spend more money on plus clothing. I was, whether intentionally or unintentionally, treated as an embarrassment whenever we went clothes shopping or had a special event to attend. I thought the fighting in my home was my fault. If I could only lose that weight that someone, who is supposed to love you regardless, so wanted me to lose then our family problems would be solved. A mixture of this daily struggle between us was partially for my health, but as I grew older, it was also apparent it was more about the image of the thin pretty daughter she wanted her to have. This manipulation ruled my childhood until the first years of my life. Arguments about weight, clothes, haircuts, sports, friends, hobbies, future career… could only be ended if I conceded to let her control the outcome or the process of how it happened.
I was never a wild child so though I know these are arguments many kids have with their parents, it’s hard to explain unless you lived it. I was counting calories at 12. I was told I couldn’t buy designer Tommy Hilfiger clothing because I lacked control to eat healthy and exercise at 13. I was financially supporting my parents since I started babysitting because “a family helps each other”. And yet the more I aimed to please my parents, the more wrong I seemed to do or it never was good enough. If I attempted to challenge the image of the daughter she had planned for me, I was unthankful, and the reason my parents were arguing so much- because I stressed them out. The best way to describe how this parent-child relationship was unhealthy is that my first thought whenever I had a new idea or a new dream was not of how much it excited me or how much I wanted it, nor a belief that it could happen. But I’d always first question myself if it would make her happy, doubt it would be encouraged, and I learned to stop asking in order to reduce our arguments. It’s a very heavy thing to do to live your life trying to impress someone who will never be happy with letting go and encouraging you to be different and to take risks and go for your dreams. When I did accomplish something that seemed to make her proud, it always felt more of a celebration of what she had done to raise me then the work I put into it.
I have never been this open before and it’s very difficult for me to write about this. For me, it’s not about blame or hurting someone. But it’s my story and I am learning it’s okay to share it, even if some may not agree with it. That is okay. That is their story.
Why do I choose tonight to write this? I have no idea. But a moment tonight had me realize that by keeping quiet, that story could become my life again if I don’t admit that it is still something I carry with me always. Part 1 of my story came with a huge loss in my life but it also was necessary. Why is this relevant now? I realized tonight why these past 2 months have gone beyond accepting the injury and the journey of healing and recovery. This injury has brought back my story that I’ve kept buried. As Thomas King says “The truth about stories is, that’s all we are”. This is my story. I aim to not impress or please anyone but to unbury what I keep inside.
I don’t want sympathy. I don’t want to hurt my family. But if I don’t begin to let ALL my story be told, I’ll never fully become the woman I want to be, and become again the depressed girl I’ve so strongly spent fighting to teach her to go for her dreams without needing approval of others. If I don’t pull the roots and lay it all out there for myself, my hidden story will always entangle itself in the new me and have a chance to take over again. If I want to come back after this injury 110% a better mental athlete I need to admit to why I struggle to trust myself to be able to do certain challenges and to confront why those fears are there. If I don’t, there’s a chance this injury could just become another story I shove deep down when over and as it tangles with my childhood story, I’ll never be able to see myself as the person everyone else sees. Each day I deny to voice the story of where I came from, I am allowing for that girl’s weaknesses of self doubt and self sacrifice to continue to control my NOW.
There is a reason for my journey that began at age 29 and both the good and the bad moments of my childhood part played a role to my moments of today. It is why I struggled (struggle?) with weight, taking on too much, not letting others help me, and easily becoming discouraged. The outside doesn’t always show it, but it is rooted deep inside me with the story only few of you know.
This hip injury had me becoming that girl of 12 again. Wondering if I did something to deserve this. That I guess I really wasn’t meant to run. That I’m going to gain back all this weight that took 4.5 years of damn hard work and no fad diets but passion, dedication and perseverance to do.
Bits and pieces of the messages I received in that jar (hope my team doesn’t mind me sharing but it’s my jar! Haha):
I read all of these notes in my jar once, twice, three times with tears streaming down my face. How is it that the hardest thing we do in life is believing in ourselves? What was evident the most was that all of these messages had similarities in their words. It is obvious with such common messages that these messages weren’t just written to make me happy. But to remind me of what I don’t often allow to see in myself and of myself. I didn’t really let that happen when I read and re-read these messages.
… until tonight. Somehow it took two dogs, Ginny (my lab) and Shadow (one of my best friend’s dog in dogsitting), to open my heart and my eyes to remember what I worked so hard starting at age 24 to change in my life. It took four years after that where finally was learning to be true to myself and that it’s okay to separate yourself from a cycle that doesn’t change. After the mental work, I was able to begin my journey of my lifestyle change. This time it wasn’t just about losing weight, counting calories, or finding the quickest way to do it. It wasn’t about doing it to gain the approval of someone I never could. Somehow with many careful steps, and yes so many setbacks, I had managed to find a smile I didn’t think I’d ever have in my life. A smile of someone finally living her life for herself, choosing what she wants in life and learning to not apologize if my dreams for myself didn’t match the expectations of another.
Tonight, I climbed into bed with a handful of meds, a heavy heart, a headache, eyes full of tears, and physically and mentally exhausted. And one dog curled up at my feet and another in my arms.
After 5 minutes of just sitting in bed overwhelmed by the simple and unconditional love surrounding me, I began to smile. And even if you can’t see it, you can feel it. And I know that smile. It’s the one that took 29-30 years to find. It’s one that used to come so easily to me these past 4.5 years. It’s one I kept finding over and over again as I dealt with physical and emotional blows, especially this past year. Even I miss seeing this smile on my face and before the moment passed I had to take a couple selfies so I have something to remind me this moment. My face is blown up from steroids, my face is scattered with acne, and I’m in pjs… I don’t care. It’s been too long since I’ve felt this smile. Lately all my smiles have felt forced and taken so much effort that I am not going to let anything miss an opportunity to lose this smile again. I know that now when I struggle to smile as this journey unfolds, I will be able to refer back to these photos tonight and it will all it come back again. The pain is still there but through it, I feel something even stronger. I feel beautiful, alive, and worthy again tonight. I feel what I’m told others see. I feel that woman that I decided to I wanted to be at age 24 and again at age 29.
It’s amazing what a team and two dogs can do that I didn’t think I’d feel ever again. I feel “so worth it” with these two curled up beside me re-reading for the fourth time the messages written for me. But this time I believe it and I feel it come back in me. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to hurt, or cry, or struggle during this journey of healing. But it does mean I’m going to fight each and every day to not let what I worked so hard for to slowly fizzle out.
It took just one moment, that is still making me smile ear to ear, for these two brown eyed, furry, four legged, non blood related dog “sisters” to finally let me see and accept what they saw – that I was beautiful, strong, and worthy of their love.
So I’m not going to let this moment be forgotten. I’m not going to let the struggle be the only focus of my day. Even if it’s a day like today, I’m going to take one moment, no matter how hard it is, and write one positive word or one phrase about myself that day with whatever I was dealing with, and add it to the jar. Even if it’s a message someone else sent to me. I’m going to take the bucket my team began to fill for me, and keep adding to it until I am allowed to carry this jar myself on my first workout back (whenever that is) and at the end of that workout, I will run (or walk depending on my recovery at the time) one kilometre with it to celebrate the end of this journey and a beginning of the next one.
I will be the one in control of this journey and the next, working each day to make myself happy as the sun sets and waking up each morning saying “What do I want to do today?” As Yancy Culp said “What big rock are YOU going to move today?” Not what rock I think my teammates or trainer want me to move, or Brad (spouse), or friends. My rock has to be what I want or it’s that much harder to move it. I’m still learning how to not be a person pleaser, but as a compassionate and reliable friend, that goes for what she wants in life.
I’ve also realized tonight that the difference of the girl who lived on a thin thread of a life lived for someone else and who I am today? Is the people I’m surrounded by that don’t allow me to live that life by modelling it for me with their own lives. I choose to be with family and friends who may tell me a dream is crazy but they never tell me not to go for it, and are always there when I do. And even if are right and don’t want my dream for themselves, instead of being told “I told you that was stupid” or “you shouldn’t do that”, they ask you what you want to do next to make that dream possible, even it comes along with advice of “take it slow” or “you don’t have to do it tomorow”. And what’s more is they give you everything (physical, moral, sometimes even financial support) they can to help you achieve it.
I’ve dug in deep, let it out, and this is my story. Now, as Thomas King said: “Take it. It’s yours. Do with it what you will. But don’t say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story. You’ve heard it now.”
I am so worth it. You are so worth it.
And if you still can’t see it, come spend a day with my dog, or adopt one of your own. For whatever reason, a dog is able to see the person you are, and they have a way to make you believe it too.
On March 5, my life would change drastically but I hadn’t realized it yet. My hip and back began to hurt. On March 20, it was obvious to the physiotherapist my doctor sent me to that there was a severe injury. Physio believes I have a hip labral tear in my left hip. I was put off work the next day by my doctor and referred to a surgeon. I saw the surgeon April 5, who assumes the injury is exactly that but only a MRI can detect it. In Canada, that means a wait possibly of 3-6 months. So now I’ve been off work since March 21 and on bed rest, while trying to manage the pain and still at least eat healthy while I’m pretty much bedridden. During this time I’ve been writing in a journal, listening to podcasts, reading motivational books for athletes, working on thesis when able, using Headspace’s app for mindfulness, and reading for fun when able. This has led to a lot of learning.
I made this huge life changing decision last week and only shared with a few people. It isn’t an easy one to make but it’s the right one. I’ve spent many moments since making this decision questioning if it’s the right one and wondering if I’ll be able to stick to it. I wasn’t sure when I’d share this publicly but the podcast I listened today featuring Jax Mariash opened up the door to share as well as reassured me that I’m making a smart choice for myself.
We already know my 2018 race season is over. My surgeon hopes to get my back for 2019 but over the past 6 weeks of bed rest and missing out on training, I’ve learned a lot of myself and some mistakes I’ve made in training and racing, that may have caused and/or contributed to my injury. In this podcast, Jax talks about a hectic race season where her body just began to crash. Her kidneys were failing and numerous other problems. After race season, it bounced back and they never found a reason why. She believes it was from not having proper recovery and back to back races and said she learned that year that you got to take care of your system. The host of the podcast, Margaret, piped in and shared that as runners and OCR athletes, we can get into this pattern of feeling really accomplished so all we do is “racing racing racing”. Racing fills up every weekend or every other weekend. she said “It’s like you race, you go home, you recover, you barely train again and then you’re at again”. After 2 years of this, Margaret suffered an ankle injury and she said it was like her body saying you need to slow down and you’re not going to do it on your own so we’re going to do it for you.
Back to Jax: she said the media always asked her “what’s next?” With her own ego combined with media expectations, she thought “shit I gotta come with a really intense schedule” and she got caught up in it instead of really listening to herself, even after her body was shutting down. She made it through season but at the end, her body was done. She took a long break and today she looks at it like this: “Do you remember the results or the journey? It’s the people you meet. The adventures your travel. The epic journeys people have come from. That’s the shit that matters. Be appreciative of the surroundings and what you get to do. Take a few moments, look around, and take it all in and put it into your memory bank”. Is it about crossing that finish line over and over again or is about how your journey to get there?
Back to me. I’ve had to time to think back to my past few years. I began to change my life and then I got hooked to racing. I’ve got swept away by that finish line feeling. The quantity of races medals, Personal Bests, and finish lines overtook me and blinded me to what’s really important.
From Jim Afremow’s book “A Champion’s Comeback”
It’s not about the racing. It’s about the every day. It’s about the places that the races can take me and the people I meet along the way. It’s about the workouts and being with my amazing team. It’s about the views I’ve seen during the races and the mountains I’ve climbed that I never used to. It’s about the time I spent with my four legged running partner. It’s about being healthy. It’s about planning just a few races to have fun and to see how my year of training has got me.
Spartan’s motto “I’ll see you at the finish line”? You will but it won’t be until 2020. My decision is that no matter what happens this year, and no matter when or if I can return to training and running in 2019, I will not be signing up for any races. Maybe I’ll travel to some with my team to cheer them on and be in that atmosphere. I’ll definitely attend local ones to cheer on friends and teammates. Maybe even volunteer. But my new plan is to be patient. To listen to my body. Once we finally pinpoint the exact injury and have a solution, I’ll take the time necessary and the steps set out by my surgeon and physiotherapist to fix the injury and heal. I’ll take any negative news with the positivity. The reality is we don’t know the severity or the exact injury and there is always the slim possibility that running or obstacle course racing may not be in my cards again. That maybe I need to focus on other goals – like kettlebells and walking. Hopefully I can get back to it all but I’m not going to jump right back in and return to my current situation.
This is about learning from the situation and applying it to my comeback, not about getting it over with and repeating same mistakes. Will I miss racing? Hell yes I will. But by taking a year off, whether that means next year or even 2020, I’ll learn how to plan the right balance of racing in my life. I want one full year of just training only before I return to race season and that might mean one year off or five years off racing. When I look back at my best 5 years, the moments I enjoy most are the daily workouts and challenges with my team, with Ginny, and with myself.
I’ve neglected training the mental athlete in me and that will also become a part of my routine. I’m not going to just be a runner or a racer. I’m going to be a champion. I can’t wait until the first race again but it will come when I’m ready physically and mentally, with the blessing of my surgeon and my trainer. I’m going to start planning races with my trainer instead of booking them all on my own and telling him my goals after I’ve already committed. I’m going to learn to focus on the journey and on the memories – not the number of medals I can get in a year or on the idea that I need to have personal bests every single race. As Dr. Jim Afremow’s book says – “This is where I need to be to get my game back”.
I’m going to get back to loving the feeling of living and not just living for the moment of short glory from racing.
I’ve listened to the Obstacle Order podcasts too and they, and many guests they’ve had, have helped so much. Most memorable is Yancy Culp – OCR athlete who had to take time off racing while treating cancer. He said what got him through every day was asking each morning “What big rock am I going to move today?” This decision has been the heaviest weight and the biggest rock I’ve ever lifted and moved. And I’m proud of myself and no matter how many people might say “Why not just one race?” I’m going to remember how hard this rock was to move and not fall into that. Just one can easily become ten. Before I can race again, I need to learn to be that girl who crosses the finish line and doesn’t care that she crossed a finish line or that she was in a race but that she had an amazing journey to get to the starting line, and enjoyed every moment to the finish line, not just the finish line itself.
From Jim Afremow’s book “A Champion’s Comeback”
I’d give anything to be lacing up my shoes to be running with her tomorrow . 💔
I haven’t posted in awhile. Been in a funk. I have been wanting to write but didn’t have the heart, the energy, or the words of what I wanted to say. This post isn’t about sympathy. It’s about a lesson learned as well as maybe to do two other things – to let others struggling know they aren’t the only ones and to let those who are able to run or walk but don’t due to stress, work, funks, exhaustion… to just do it and not complain about it. It could be so much worse. You might get told one day you can’t. Maybe for a week. A month. Maybe forever. If you have now, don’t waste ever take it for granted.
I’m here in hell. I haven’t walk, worked out, or ran in 3 weeks. An injury (I thought from shovelling March 5&6 but could have been from a run I did before shovelling, or from kettlebell workout I did 2 days after shovelling, or one that had been worsening for some time and I didn’t know) has left me in extreme pain and limited mobility. I kept working (I am a teacher and a mixture of guilt, stubbornness and a bit of denial of how terrible I felt) and my first idea was to try massage. Unfortunately, it got worse. So I went to my family doctor who prescribed anti-inflammatory and immediately sent me to physio. Saw physio last Tuesday (March 20). Physio thinks I actually have a hip labral tear and a back injury. She also believes it may have been one that started before shovelling and that just worsened it.
I think back to Sunday, March 4. I had gone for a 7k run in the afternoon of the day the large amount of snow started to fall. I could have skipped it. I could have done the treadmill. I could have freaking snowshoed – I have new ones I haven’t even tried yet! But I’m so strict on myself and my routines that I do fixate on that damn schedule I make for myself based off of recommendations. I let myself ignore that the training plan can be modified or skipped if necessary. Snow was up to my ankles or deeper. Today should have been one of this skipped or modified workouts. But it was long run Sunday and my stubborn self fixated on that so… I ran.
I thought it was awesome to be that runner who braved the elements and did her run anyway anyhow. But what I forgot in my superwoman moment was that running in snow so deep that made me run in a bad form – sort of like a wide leg hop run? If you’re a runner you probably know what I mean! So – was it worth risking an injury by running in it? Then, I’d probably say yes. Now – I know it was the worst decision. You never regret until it’s too late. Lesson learned and hopefully if you’re like me, you’ll remember this story and my hard lesson learned if you’re ever stuck with a decision of running in bad weather that will affect your form. My Conviction Fitness trainer has said to me before – “the most important workout is tomorrow’s”. I wish I’d listen to his advice that week. I wouldn’t have ran in that deep snow. I wouldn’t have shovelled for 6 hours straight. I wouldn’t have gone to a kettlebell workout exhausted and already sore from shovelling.
But back to that day at my first physio appointment. My therapist was shocked that I was working and adamantly encouraged me to take time off as I could be hurting myself even more. She also sent me back to my family doctor to discuss this time off as she can’t actually do the doctor note for work. Upon her suggestion, my doctor also ordered X-rays (though physio was sure that wouldn’t show the injury she expected, she was wanting to eliminate a fracture in hip). Pain meds were prescribed as this appointment showed him a side of me he’s never seen – he said he’s never seen me not smile even when sick or when I dislocated my finger. My doctor also referred me to a surgeon as urgent but the surgeon told my physician they don’t treat urgent referrals any differently. And it could be 3 months before I see him – for just a freaking diagnosis and plan. My doctor wasn’t happy. He has now referred to a special hip surgeon as only he can order an mri for it. He does treat cases based on urgency and is reviewing my case now.
I had physio again today. Though she can’t do as much as they normally do, she’s working on helping the muscle spasms by loosening the muscles around injury (not working the injury itself) very carefully with some finger pressure techniques. Taught how to do some at home. She said the muscles are extremely tight from trying to protect the injury which is causing some of my extreme pain.
The most positive news I’ve heard in some time was today when she said that it is actually better that I’m now being referred to this 2nd surgeon as only this doctor treats hip injuries like mine. If I’d waited 3 months to see the other one, he would have actually sent me to see the 2nd one himself as well – wasting all that time. She knows him and will email him as well hoping to help make my case even more a priority. I saw this surgeon’s website and he highly respects physiotherapists and says they should be able to do referrals to surgeons too. Something my province is trying to change. Hopefully her email helps. I hate being stuck in limbo. Freaking about the missed steps (typically 15000-25000 for me), the runs, the spartan workouts, the Kettlebell workouts, the adventures, the time with my fur baby running partner and just all the life I’ve been missing.
I went from 3 Spartan SGX workouts a week with the best team ever, 3-4 runs a week of about 25-30km weekly, multiple walks and hikes, bike rides (mostly in spring and summer), and 3 Kettlebell workouts a week – to literally nothing. Life isn’t meant to be alone from the world and stuck in bed on multiple pain meds just to function a little while waiting for the phone to ring and counting how many days you’ve already waited.
So when you don’t think you can get out there mentally but you can physically – do it. Don’t let the barrier from being physical be your excuses. Do it for me. Do it for others who can’t. Do it for you. And enjoy every single freaking moment of it. You can’t guarantee to get that run or walk or adventure you missed back if something ever happens that leaves you on the sidelines.
Life is meant to be lived hard and to be lived to the fullest. Get out there and do just that.
As for me, no idea when surgeon will call. I’m doing my best to stay positive but I can’t lie – each day hurts the heart and soul a little bit more. I have amazing family, friends, teammates, and trainer. I’ll let myself cry. But I’ll also keep my smile. I’ll get through this perhaps with some heavy leaning on friends and family. But I will get through it. This too shall pass and I will tie up those shoes again, remember this experience, and make sure that I’m always thinking about the most important workout – tomorrow’s.
My running partner is currently now my medicine for the heart and soul. Waiting by me patiently with unconditional love. Together we wait for the first day, regardless of when, to take the first walk (I want to say run but I know it will have to be a walk first) together after this injury.
Where I live is getting hit with one heck of a cold spell. We are into day 7 of an extreme cold warning.
It’s really hard to be motivated when the air you breath hurts you and even hurts to just be outside. But I’ve let excuses get me to a spot I never want to return to again.
I decided to skip my long run on Sunday and do it Monday instead as my body was hurting from just returning to training and doing 2 weekend outdoor workouts back to back instead of just one.
I sort of regret it as Christmas Day is when the cold spell hit even worse then on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day was low key so after an early turkey dinner lunch to accommodate my sister in law’s 2pm shift for her nursing job, my boyfriend and I went home. I bundled myself and Ginny up and off we went.
My goal for my long run this week was 10k. At -40, I knew it may not be that long but thought I’d manage 8k. By 4K, I could tell that no matter how bundle we were, both Ginny and I were not going to make it past 6k. Even that 6th kilometre was painful for us.
So Tuesday, we bundled up again in another frigid day and did a short 4K to make my 10k goal.
I normally don’t run Tuesday’s but thought it would be a way to get in some kilometres since I couldn’t go past 5 or 6k in a run at -40 right now. Sure, I could use a treadmill, but I hate that treadmill even more than this cold weather.
Wednesday we managed a short walk with me wearing my 20lb weighted vest.
I was crosssing fingers and toes that by weekend hit and my training group was facing our outdoor workout, the weather would improve even if a little. Nope. We can sign up for either a Friday or Saturday workout but are allowed to do both if we feel up to it. I signed up for both and decided to see how it went. Friday’s evening one had us facing the coldest temperature we’ve seen yet at -45. It was not easy at all. I layered right.
But working out in multiple layers is not easy. It restricts you a lot! I normally wear runners with cleats on them for these workouts but at -40, I needed the warm boots. Running in heavy boots also adds to the workout. I actually had a (minor luckily) asthma attack midway through. I began to panic worrying I was going to have to stop or I was going to slow everyone down but then I just slowed myself down, stopped for a moment. I slowed my breathing down, dug out my inhaler, first puff, second puff. I could feel it help almost immediately. I waited a few moments and kept working at slowing down my breathing and regaining control. I did. With that, I had another decision to make. Stop or keep going. I wasn’t feeling that severe exhaustion or chest pain of a severe attack so I made the decision to push but go slowly. And I did! I had to be careful to not let breathing to get out of control so I worked at keeping my body working at the right level that I was pushing as hard as I can but without crossing the line of another attack.
I finished the workout.
So this morning came and I could slightly feel the affects of my asthma due to the cold air. The core temperature was extreme at -36 before even the windchill which made it feel like -40. But I had a tea, took emergency inhaler in morning and my daily one before I left. I had time to relax this morning with reading a book for my thesis. And by 9, I felt great.
I went to the workout. It was tough but more so because of the layers. I need them but they sure make it hard! But I was warm and I was healthy and I was strong. And I finished today’s workout too…without asthma attacks.
Asthma used to be an excuse of why I couldn’t do these things I do now. Now I push through and work with my doctor to make it work with me and not me work around it. I’ve learned when an attack means slow down or when it means stop. Working out has actually made the attacks less. That was the first one I’ve had since a a minor one due to humidity in the summer. I used to have them weekly, sometimes daily. Last night, it was the cold air that triggered it. I couldn’t have done anything to stop it. But I read the signals early instead of waiting until too late and treated it right away and followed my body signals to slow down.
I was told I was hardcore today. I’m anything but hardcore. I am mentally battling myself about being out there. I’m whining in my head when the hill sucks to run up with boots. But I have goals in my life now. One is not going back to the person who used to say “Oh sorry asthma attack. Have to stop now.” Or “nope sorry, can’t do that because my asthma may act up”. I am not hardcore, I am determined with goals.
Bring on 2018.
myliferunningblog 