Up, Up and Up!

Got to work 1 of 2 shifts this weekend on nights. Was called off for the one, we only had 1 patient! The second shift went well, made it the whole 12 hours! Was totally exhausted, but the crew I worked with was GREAT! A little sore today, but not too bad.

Now the big thing I want to start other than working all of my shifts is getting in some strength training on a regular basis along with my conditioning. Our Wii Fit program actually has some good stuff to it, and I am going to use that along with my other things to get back to where I need to be. Basically this year is a wash as far as any kind of competitive cycling goes, but I can use it as a spring board for next season!

I also have been trying to work on my guitar a little more, which has been a lot of fun. Just need to work more on reading music, thank goodness for my wife who understands all of that! When things get a little more under control maybe I will actually enroll in lessons!

Overall things seem like the are moving upwards, just hope they continue that trend!

Findings

So, the colonoscopy went well. They took lots of biopsies, but the meat of the story is that it looks like I have a pretty bad infections that is finally on the way out. There were multiple sections that had areas that showed the ends signs of infection. The problem would have been the infections would cause the bowel walls to swell, thicken and narrow. This would then cause pain every time something passed through, pain, pain and more pain along with nausea! So it looks like we found an answer, and I may never know what kind of infection if was. I'm just happy to know that there was actually something wrong that was causing all this pain and trouble. It's just scary that with all the test I had done, nothing pointed to the infection, and the fact that it had been going on for over 2 months!

So whats up next? Going to get back into the swing of things; work lots of hours, start exercising again and build up my endurance, loose some more weight, and just enjoy spending time outside!

This whole thing has been horrible, and I am hoping that it is all behind me now. While today I still have a little discomfort in my abdomen it's nothing compared to what it had been.

Where no man should ever go!

So, where to begin I guess all my stomach problems really never have cleared up. Scans and numerous doctors later I am still wondering what is going on. I have periods of feeling good, followed up by periods of horrible abdominal pain, sort of like being kicked in the stomach! The nausea is OK, have meds that seem to help with that end of it. The good news is that I am now finally seeing a specialist! I saw a GI doctor on Monday of this week, and already I have a colonoscopy scheduled for the same Thursday, yippee! Not real thrilled about the procedure, but who would be? I guess I am happy that I might start to have answers, and the procedure will tell us a lot of information quickly. While looking where no person should look, they will also take some biopsies to help rule out things.

Some of the possible diagnoses are benign; just a pain in the ass (Ha Ha). Others scare me to death, of which include cancer and Crohn's disease! So as of now all cycling for performance is put on hold. Hell, I can barley afford to live little lone try and afford racing this year. I did go for a very short 10 mile ride about 10 days ago, man did it feel great, but I was beat. Instead I have been doing some easy walking to help rebuild up some endurance and try to get back some of my life.

This whole process has been like living in a prison. I don't dare try to go out and do anything for fear that I will end up in pain again. I also don't dare eat anything normal, for fear of the same results. So I stick to simple, boring foods and a very sedentary life, something I am not enjoying much. Just to be outside, even in the rain is a treat! I have worked very little, cause of the painful cramping in my stomach is so bad at times I cannot get out of bed. Overall right now I feel pretty good. The cramps are not as intense, and don't come on as bad. I have a 2 day stretch of 12 hour nights this Friday and Saturday; and I am praying I get through them without a problem.

I just found out today that my paperwork for my absences needs updating. I'm hoping that is about all it needs and this will be the last time I will have to do this. The thing that sucks it getting the doctors to sign the paperwork and get it back in time to the HR dept, otherwise I have a wonderful risk of losing me job!

I have to say I am thankful for my director at work! She has been so supportive through the whole process, I just cannot thank her enough! Finally I want to thank my wife for her continued support, my family, friends and everyone at church who has kept me in their prayers. Without all of them I would have given up a long time ago!