Well the last few weeks have been filled with much emotion. As I mentioned in earlier posts, I really noticed that my stomach was acting up towards the end of march. Things haven't become worse but at the same time they haven't improved. A sigmoidoscopy (the scope about the forst 40cm of so of your colon) revealed considerable inflammation. The good news is that the inflammation is in the same place it has always been which further proves the diagnosis of colitis. The bad news that came down the line was that it was time to seriously consider a course of treatment. Remicade was mentioned. After some reading I was starting to sway towards it thinking, let's give it a try and see what happens, definitely easier said than done. However, after some more searching I was back on that fence, questioning whether the possible outcome was worth the risk. This past week my wonderful doctor took some time to respond to an email of mine outlining my concerns in regards to my training and ultimately my successful completion of Calgary 70.3. He said I could try some 5-asa again but that a reaction would probably arise. He then brought up two "atlernative" medicines, which oddly enough I had just come across in a book I had been reading. The first is Aloe Vera juice - it is supposed to soothe inflammation, heal raw wounds as well as have anitviral properties. The second is Curcumin - it is the main ingredient in tumeric. It took has anti-inflammatory effects as well inteferes with NF-kB which is linked to inflammation and is the same factor that the immunosuppressant drugs look to put on hold. I am really optimistic going into this. I have also made some changes to my diet, including weening myself from chocolate and am working on sugar. Am trying to avoid milk and have switched to rice pasta. David, thanks for doing this with me. I totally agree that rice pasta resembles soggy cardboard!
I would like to take a moment an say a HUGE THANKS to my parents and David. Dealing with this can quickly become all consuming and one giant emotional roller coaster. David is always there, pokes the occasional joke when the time is right just to make me smile, hugs me when I am having a melt down, and in his very David way says it like it is which always seems to provide clarity. My mom and dad are my pillars, without them helping me along this journey I would have a tough time keeping my head above it all. I never thought that b.ms would be such a topic of conversation, ah well, what is family for if they can't be there through the good, the bad and the crappy (my attempt at humor).
On a training note: Last weekend Santa came and I got my long awaited Blue Seventy Helix wetsuit. I am super excited to get into some open water and become one with it! My swimming is coming along really well. Back in January I didn't think I would be anticipating my Mon/Wed/Fri swims quite so much. I am continually working on my stroke in hopes that one day I will keep pace with Jack on the pull! Last weekend saw a Talisman Tri Club training camp. I opted to do my own workout the Saturday but joined up for the group ride south of the city on the Sunday. It was so much fun to be out riding with others. We rode 773 to hiway 549 then out towards Millarville (I will admit that Dave is right when he says the riding down there is much better than up north). I don't think a person could train down south and not be good at hills…. they are everywhere! Running too is going well. May 31 is the Calgary Half marathon. I am really interested to see how this is going to go. As much as I say I am just going to run it and see how things turn out, to run a 1:30 would put me over the moon and be the perfect intro into June which will see Wasa and the Chinook 1/2. Now if only I could get my shoe situation sorted out (I am now sporting a hideous blister in my right arch…. am thinking some duct tape action will be in order for Sunday's run).
Well on that note, I will sign off. Time to pack up and head home for a night of csi… amazing how much time there is when one does their run at 5:30!
