Friday, June 29, 2007

Quiet on the Western Front

Well, not much new to report here. I'm still waiting for my appointment with the doc to see if there's anything that can be done about the wait for the specialist. I don't think the antibiotics I'm taking are doing anything for my foot. The anti-inflammatories help, but the dose isn't high enough to make much difference (it's Prexige again, but only one a day).

Went to the run inn on wednesday to wish everyone luck at the coast. Really bittersweet because it made me remember how electric and exciting it was this time last year for me as I got ready to run my first 'proper' marathon. I know there'll hopefully be many more (and if nothing else, being on the bench is increasing my motivation for when I can run again) but it still made me want to cry! Whinge, whinge, whinge. I will never, ever, ever, take running like I was, for granted, ever again.

Have realised I'm supposed to be at a work-related function on saturday night and I can't really get out of it without looking enormously rude, so I have decided to car pool with the girls on the sunday morning. The lovely Susannah had offered me a bed in her apartment bless her and I feel reeeallyyyy bad about not using it, but I don't want to dampen anyone else's experience while I'm such a misery guts.

The truth is that my current state of woe is due to a bit more than a bung foot unfortunately and while I'm prepped and ready to cheer my lungs out for all and sundry, until I get my head together and sort myself out a bit, I have a suspicion that I'm going to tend to be a bit of a piker. The important thing is that I'm doing something about it, so I hope everyone can be a bit patient with me until I get myself together.

That said, I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the race. I am contemplating giving my chip to someone uber fast so that I can claim a sub 1:40 half, but I think that might be cheating ;) I am going to take my camera and take lots of pics for everyone, too.








Wednesday, June 27, 2007

fark!

Rang up today to get an appointment with the specialist. Whose first available appointment is October 31st. That's almost four months away. Four months. By which point, if this doesn't fix itself, I will have had !@%#$ bursitis for eight months straight. Far Out.

Did half an hour on the bike and a body balance class and then an RPM class this morning, followed by a brief swim. My butt is killing me from the bike seats and I've discovered I can't even do most of a body balance class because it involves flexing your feet in a painful manner. I am suspecting the same will be true of yoga.

Blah. Blah. Blah....

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

referral

Thanks for all the supportive comments, guys. Much appreciated!

Went back to see my lovely running doc and now have a referral for the specialist. I've also got another course of anti-inflams and some antibiotics to take (apparently there can be infection in the bursa). The Doc doesn't think another round of pills will help after all this time (but hey, worth a shot!) and that the specialist will go with cortisone, which, I've decided, if it's put to me as a treatment option, I will try in conjunction with no running for the foreseeable future while all this gets sorted out. If the cortisone doesn't work, then it means surgery. Blah!

It's been really interesting hearing about everyone's experiences with cortisone, good and bad, but currently I am at the stage where I am in pain at some point every day with it so I'm ready to do whatever it takes. If it doesn't work, nothing ventured, nothing gained. You never know, perhaps the specialist will have other options for me to consider, too.

Am doing RPM classes with running buddy L and some body balance with workmate, S. Will throw myself in the pool a few times a week and hopefully that (and my Psychologist!) will stop me rocketing all the way back to morbid obesity.

There you go, an almost positive blog! I'm going to have to think of other things to write about in the interim period ;)

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Went to the 5km TT this morning at Shorncliffe and had a bit of a chat with Uncle Phil about the bursitis and cortisone and stuff. He's not sure that getting an injection is the best thing and reckons it often doesn't work. After lots of reading (hurrah for CR and google) it seems there are definitely two schools of thought. Those for, those against.

So, I'm thinking perhaps I should just get in to see a podiatrist (Nathan Eadie was recommended to me but apparently he's hard to get in to see - very popular) get everything assessed and just take a few months off completely to see if it helps, before resorting to steroids. Gah. I dunno.

It is going to absolutely kill me not to run. Mostly because once the memory of the endorphins fades, I'm terrified I won't ever find the motivation to start again. I feel like running now defines a part of who I am and no other form of exercise really does it for me anymore. Anything else I might like to do (team sports like football, netball, volleyball) are all going to involve the same old pounding. I'm scared I'm really going to let lose the hounds and rocket back up to 126kg.

I picked up my GC race pack today as well. I didn't downgrade it to the 10km so technically I'm still entered in the half. I'm debating the wisdom of doing any event at all really - all it's going to do is agravate the situation and I don't even think I would make it to the 10km mark currently. The jury is still out but my foot hurts after a 5km jog this morning, so it's not looking good. What a waste of $65.00.

Blah. Just call me Ms.Misery Guts. I'm not blogging again until I have something positive to say! I can't stand listening to myself!

Friday, June 22, 2007

MRI results are back

Well, the good (?) news is that my foot problems werent just my imagination.

I have bursitis in two of the joints in my big toe. The MRI picked up fluid in them and a bit of distention, but apparently not enough to need draining (!)

I haven't really had a chance to google/search CR about it yet, but from a brief glance at the web, seems treatment is rest (check) anti-inflammatories (check) ice (check) and failing those three (check) cortisone injections. Bugger me :(

Besides the fact that I'm not too fabulous with huge needles, I'll have to find out if this is a long term solution or just a temporary one. If it's a temporary one and it's going to come back, what's the point?

Blah. Who would have thought something so small could cause so many problems!

But on the bright side, at least it's not more serious.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

50 minutes

Finally went for a run this morning, after getting over the worst of the bug. I haven't been that sick in ages! Blah!

Met Linda at the park down the road and we did a slow 50 minute plod. Hopefully we can increase that slow 50 minute plod to 60 minutes next week.

My MRI is booked for thursday. If it doesn't show anything (and therefore that I am not doing myself any major damage through increasing training) I've decided I am going to just going to bite the bullet, stick my head down and try and run through the pain. If something does show up (and I totally can't believe it won't!) I guess I can find out what my options are but at least I'll know where I'm at.

Thinking about going to Lake Manchester tomorrow.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

All change...

Forgive me, running gods - it has been some days since my last confession.

No change with my foot. I've been running very little. Toyed with the idea of running at the Queensland Half, but an attempt at running 10km the wednesday prior put rest to that idea. I got 5km in and then the pain in my foot kicked back in and I ended up walking the rest of the way home. Instead, I helped out by doing rego and then giving out bling and towels to the finishers. Nice to see familiar faces, even if it was a bit hard not to be out there.

I stopped taking the voltaren about a week ago, as my kidneys and back started to hurt. The minute I came off it, the foot problems started back up. Although, I think it's not quite as bad. Hard to tell if that's my wishful thinking!

Running on wednesday night was interesting. The heavy rain meant that no other beginners showed up and consequently, I almost escaped without a run. Ended up being shoved out of the door with Uncle Phil and Kylie and ran a few kms. They slowed down for me, but it was still pretty fast for me. Gone are the days when I could just about keep up when they did slow down!

Eventually, Uncle Phil, Kylie and Mattie dropped off the back with me. I hate other people having to do that for me, but I needed a break, so we walked a way. I'd done a PT session in the morning, so I suppose that didn't help matters, either!

I've been working really, really hard lately both at work and on another exhibition that I have coming up next month. Consequently, I'm a bit run down and have caught a nasty bug from somewhere that is making me feel like death warmed up.

I'm getting so sick of hearing myself whinge, I can't imagine how bloody irritating it must be to have to listen to me lately! LOL! As Uncle Phil reminded me on wednesday, there are worse things in life to deal with than a sore foot and I will eventually get my fitness back and run without pain again.

I've also started getting help working on some of the issues that tie into my problems with food and depression. It's not a very pleasant process - reopening old wounds, and facing some nasty stuff, but if it means that I can come out of the other side of all this feeling stronger, fitter, healthier and happier, then it's got to be worth it in the end.

Everything seems to be in a state of change lately - my personal trainer has increased his fees way beyond my budget, so I've got three more sessions left before I give that up. I feel a bit sad about that, too - I've been training with him for over three years and he's helped me a lot. That said, it's probably also a good thing for me, too. I've rejoined the gym so I'm not going to stop exercising or anything, but I really need to just take some time to sort myself out.

Having this bloody foot problem has definitely taught me about humility and not to take fitness or exercise or running for granted. I'd forgotten how much of an achievement it is to even be able to run 5km - 5km currently feels like 30km used to. I'm still undecided as to whether to go ahead with an MRI but I probably will.

At the moment, I feel a bit like I've fallen apart and am currently trying to put myself back together. The good thing about that I suppose, is that as I remake myself, I can be better than I was before.

Anyway, enough of a heartfelt entry from me and back to your regular viewing. Speaking of which, Shane, where is your blog now? I keep meaning to catch up and leave you comments, but I can't find it!