HILDEKQ'S Magnificently Motivational Mentor Group - CLOSED!! (Page 40)

Grin-- it's the simple things that count, right?

Off to start my intensive Steppenwolf gig tomorrow bright & early (AFTER a swim, of course!). Wish me luck-- I'm both excited and nervous...

Good grief - how old are you?  Were they still using gas lamps to light the place and chalk writing tablets because paper was too expensive as well?   :P

Then again, maybe the paddle explains your penchant for certain deviant behavior...

I went to Catholic schools - as recently as 15 years ago they still used punishment to make us think twice about crossing a teacher.  From French nuns who liked to throw chalk (deadly aim from 15 yards!) and whack you with a yardstick to priests who would make you crawl across the school's lawn on your hands and knees looking for scraps of litter, we all soon learned to stay in line!  There are times I see or hear my younger cousins and think that they could use a little of the "reform" that I experienced. 

Hey guys....just doing a quick drive by for now.  I hopefully will have some time tomorrow after my doctor appt to catch up.  So I don't have exactly good news about my breathing issues...not bad either - and hopefully not.  So I saw the pulmonologist today - come to find out this dude is top in his field - I guess the wait is normally more than 3 months...Gotta give my triathlete family physician some props here for getting me in to see this guy...so long story short I told him my history in detail about the 3 times I've coughed blood since February.  He was puzzled by my story and said my symptoms were atypical....so that didn't sound good.  At one point he said - I'm not sure what is going on here, but I promise you we'll get to the bottom of it.  So, his initial thought is that it ISN'T lung function after another pulmonary function test and hearing my story.....of course my thought was FU$#@%CK....He scheduled me an appt at the hospital tomorrow for an echocardiogram because he thinks I may have a heart issue instead.  Evidently if you have a flakey valve and you're at an elevated HR/stress it can fill the lungs and force you to cough blood.....because my first time was so much dark red blood he was concerned...He said exercise induced asthma normally doesn't present itself in that way.  When he listened to my heart he said my heart murmur, which I knew I had, was loud.  He also didn't like the suspicious sounds of other things.  That wasn't comforting.  So, tomorrow at 1:15 I will have the echo done and he's supposed to call me that afternoon with a game plan....So here is the three step plan.

1. Echocardiogram - if good goto step 2.  If not he said likely have to have open heart surgery to fix the valve.

2. Have me breath chemicals and try and induce asthma reaction in an office setting - I told him - hell i can go outside and run my off right now and be coughing blood in about 20 minutes if you want!!! haha...no, not too funny.  If they can find the trigger we may be able to treat it.

3. Have my lungs scoped - even though my x-ray and CT were clear he said some growths or tumors could have been missed...He talked a lot about tumors through my whole visit, that sucked too.

So, 85 lbs lost - the healthiest I've ever been in my FU$#@%$ING life and my medical bills are skyrocketing....as well as my anxiety!!!  I think I'll hit my stop loss this year of $6,000....that sound wonderful....don't worry, I'm happy to have good insurance - it's gunna pay off I have a feeling.  

So my friends there is my situation - I'm scared, worried, pissed off, depressed and a few others....I so want to just FU$#%#@ING exercise - SBR would make me feel so so so so so good right now.  Oh yeah, I'm prohibited to any exertion till the pulmonologist clears me....None, nada, he gave me a nasty glare when I asked and he answered....I think he was pretty serious....no elevated HR....so looks like the wife is on top tonight!!!!

I'll check in tomorrow and let you guys know what direction I'm gunna go....INDY is still ON!!!!!!! NO WORRIES>>>>Even if I have to cheer and photograph everyone doing their best!!!!!!

I corrected your typo there. 

I grew up in Maine with a whole other kind of redneck so I hear you!

Wilson - I'm so torn.  On the one hand, I feel awful for you.  On the other, I am so happy that you finally found someone that knows what they are talking about and can help you get better!  We'll all be thinking about you and sending our positive thoughts, prayers and vibes your way.

Hrm - nevermind the vibes.  With the way that your mind works, we'll have you thinking you're some kind of metaphysical vibrator and deluding yourself into believing you are even sexier than you already think you are. 

Hilde - I missed those wonderful days ... didn't start teaching until 2004.  Teaching is a second career for me.  Can you believe I actually went back to school to get an elementary ed degree --- what was I thinking!  haha    I, too, can totally identify with any teacher that would go crazy.  I have had students (8th graders mind you - as big as me or bigger) stand with their fists clenched and absolutely refuse to do what I told them (which was simply to change seats!)  I have had kids call me a and get no consequence from the dean.  I had a kid be openly defiant towards me while my principal was doing a walk through and she didn't do squat to the kid.  I absolutely love being a teacher and I don't expect much else from kids but what I would really appreciate would be an administrator who would "grow a pair" and back me up, stand up to parents, and give meaningful consequences to students (not a freaking slap on the wrist).    Okay, I'll get off my soap box.

OMG, Wilson, I'm so sorry for all that you've had to go through lately.  Sucks big time!!  I'm sending prayers your way that it turns out to be something easily corrected (no heart surgery, no tumors!).  I feel for you about no working out ... I think I might go nuts (or gain 50 lbs back).  Keep us posted.

So, after 4 weeks of vacation, blistered feet from vacations, and 2 weeks of bronchitis and studying for my tests, I am back on the wagon!  Ran today for the first time since mid-May, which was right as I got hit with an allergy attack which settled in my chest for a nice round of bronchitis. Then it was vacation, where I got horribly blistered feet, which took another week after vacation to recover from.  Then it was another round of allergies and coughing, which is still here, but not nearly as bad.  I even took the dog with me today (she was crazy).  

So yeah, one more test and I'll be a certified (and certifiable) paramedic, with 2 bachelors degrees.  Now all I need is a job.

Just to let everyone know, I won't be going to INDY.  You probably guessed I was out from my other posts...  I really feel bad to miss all of the fun.  But is just isn't happening for me right now.  I hope to still do the Michigan Tris that I've signed up for and to concentrate on a fall marathon.

Now, enought about me... Wilson my friend, please take it easy and follow all of the doctor's orders to the letter.  Keep us posted on what is going on and know that we are all sending positive thoughts your way.

I'm happy to report that the echocardiogram came out as normal cardiac function!!!  Thank God!!!  So now they want to look at my CT scan again with other people and then do the induced asthma chemical thing...They are supposed to call tomorrow with more info - I am told that I still cannot restart training till they review the CT scan and whatever else is on their mind.  If they only knew how much it would help if they would tell me to go for a stress SBR!!!  I so need it - I'm not handling all the BS very well.  I almost didn't listen to them and ran today......I need an escape!!! UGH!!!

So, thank God the route to figure this out will hopefully be less torturous.....Till tomorrow!

Well, thank god they are not going to crack open that chest!  And no more talk of tumors!  I'm sure they are being overly cautious until they have definitive diagnosis, BUT, I do understand your frustration at not being able to SBR with a race coming up.  Hopefully, all this will get sorted out very soon and you can return to your routine.  I'm thinking there is some kind of problem between your junk and your brain... wait, those are the same thing! 

Just to make you feel better, I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in quite awhile, this is the friend who got me started in tris... her son does a lot of photography for local races and I see her husband helping out.  She had some kind of surgery on her ear back in April I think... they literally cut behind her ear, and went into her skull behind to to work on the inner ear.  She cannot do anything to get her HR up and can't get it wet (oh, she's a swimmer like me), she can't even strain like coughing, straining to poop, nothing.  Just when this ear gets healed, they're going to go in and do the other one... like in August and she'll have the same restraints then!  So basically nothing till who knows when in 2011.  She seems to be handling it okay, better than I would be handling it, but it's awful to WANT to train and feeling like you are ABLE to train, yet having dr. orders not to.  It's different when you're injured or life gets in the way...  so hang in there Wilson, I'm thinking you are near the end of this, or at least close to understanding it....

Wilson, I'm SO glad the first test came back normal for you! Sounds like you've got an ace team of medicos working on your case, so that's to be applauded as well. Believe me, I understand your frustration at not being able to SBR all too well... but here's hoping that they get to the bottom of this thing ASAP so you can get back out there! (Chances are your wife will be so relieved and happy that she'll gladly spring for a tri bike, right? ) Hang in there, man-- we're all cheering for you!

Steppenwolf is as intense and amazing as I thought it would be... which means I'm both tired and famished when I get home each night! But I'm still going for a swim tomorrow after a day off from exercise (outside of classes) today-- at least it'll help get me moving in the morning.

Take care, one and all-- the crazy hot & humid weather and spate of recent injuries are nothing to sneer at. Stay safe as you all kick a$$ out there!

Jen - Dude, I SOOOOO hear you on the degrees and no j-o-b!! I have a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and am wrapping up a frantic 18 months of studies for a Master's, TONS of life experience.....

Wilson - WOW! I think they'd have to medicate me to keep me from going BONKERS being unable to SBR!! Tell them to HTFU and figure out what's going on.........your harem awaits!!

Hilde & Janet - Not a teacher myself, but when I was in elementary school in Oregon and middle school in Vermont, the principal in each school was allowed to paddle the kids WITHOUT PARENTAL PERMISSION. We didn't have problems w/big ol' corn fed kids w/no home training challenging teachers. It just didn't happen! Of course, much of that begins at home - as you both know....I feel for every teacher out there dealing with most of these kids!!  It's a job I won't do.

Oh and Shawn....DEFINITELY don't mention the V word around Wilson...you don't know what may happen!! LMAO

Ahhhhh......a little confession is good for the soul right? I just ate a 3 scoop frozen yogurt sundae....w/sugar free hot fudge, pb cup pieces and wee bit of whip cream.......sat at the park and ate it alone....man that was YUMMMMY!!!

Janet, have you seen this? I've never seen anyone do THAT with a trombone!

Well, this video embed thing doesn't work so well for me....

http://youtu.be/07IhWD2Lr2A

Tammy ... No, that is a first!  Don't know how he could breathe in the costume, let alone play!

FYI -  I will be off line until Monday.  Its sister time! (that time of year where I spend quality time with my 3 sisters)