Diary of a wanna be :)

yop

Ryder wrote: »

have been following your log - great news about the tests. Is insanity worse or better than the turbo in terms of boredom? Is it the kind of thing that you can keep doing or do you get to the end and thats it for the season?

Thanks buck, suppose it actually helps to type it up whats happening and put a bit of logic on it.

I find the turbo sound to be honest with you, I have some of the sufferfest videos, I have big tv on the wall for watching the channels and I have trainer road also which is great.
I found a few workout videos on a download site also so I downloaded those, give you 1hr sessions.

Insanity is great, I am finding it very tough as I am a) on the verge of cramping all day b) my fitness is pants, but oddly if I come away from a workout whether it be insanity, weights, turbo or out on the bike and am not emptied then I feel I wasted the time.


Go the official letter today from the visit last Wednesday, LOADS of medical stuff! But he stated that Motor Neurons is NOT an issue, didn't mention MS, but I am happy he said it wasn't an issue.
He mentioned L5 nerve issues, so will see what that leads to when it goes back to Prof Bolger.
No mention of pre Xmas op.


I didn't do anything tonight, I went out on the bike and 13 mins in I was awful tight in my right hip and that started dragging the muscle on the outside of the knee so I got in only 1.5 hours at an avg of 24.5kmph, which is cat bad for the weather conditions that were in it.
Ice tonight and rest maybe for 2 or 3 days.

Ryder

I dont really mind the turbo either, although use rollers exclusively now. In fact the really depressing thing is that I havent been out on a training spin (commuting excluded) in months.....when I have only 2 hours to do a spin I find myself choosing an hour on the rollers instead to maximise the time

When I lived in Ireland I had a set of adjustable dumbbells - great for training at home. Need to get another set..

yop

Poor week, not sure whats going on here now. Zero energy have fallen asleep at 8pm 2 days during the week and got 11 hours sleep but still zero improvement.
Have a dulling headache now since Thurs but told its related to the cyst... don't know how they know that.
Exercise wish its be almost zero, a lot of tightness in lower back and hips made me go and do the Insanity Cardio recovery, it helped a little but I had very little power for the 30 mins program.

Got a letter re the xray on Friday. Hips are causing no concern though they have noticed a calcium build up on the right (paining) hip and they want another xray in 2 months to ensure its not growing.

I have noticed before that when I do train I have more energy, but at this moment in time I am just wrecked tired and the dull headache doesn't encourage me at all.

Weight wise, no change at all.

yop

Its been a month now, things not going well, training has ceased and my weight has gone up now to just under 15st.
Total lack of energy and pain in my legs means my ability to train has gone, suffering a cold for 3 weeks also and no matter how much sleep I have I get no recovery, it seems to be worse when I sleep.
Shakes are now very evident in my arms and have become violent in the right leg. Walking ability is circa 10 mins continuous without a rest.

On the treatment front I have a CT scan next Thurs 16th and then I am up to Dublin again for the final meeting to decide what we are going to do.
The options are:
a) Remove cyst, ensure not cancerous and hope that fixes it.
b) If discs are damaged do a double fusion, plate and bolt. Circa 4 weeks out. Be 3 months before I can cycle, be 6 before I can run.
c) If disc is cracked then need to do triple fusion, be in hospital for 9 days, out for min 8 weeks, 6 months before I can cycle and over 1 year before I can run.

So fingers crossed its option a), the other 2 are too depressing to contemplate.

On the the up side the sun shone today!

yop

Ok, well today is D-Day!!
Had CT scan there last Thurs and then meeting with Prof Bolger today, nervous to say the least!!

I got a few turbo sessions in the last few weeks, poor avg but great to get legs spinning.
Weight hit just under 15 stone, but I have shed weight and down to 14 7lbs now.

Started swimming lessons now also. So that may help keep things ticking over!

yop

Ok, so this is the update.
I am getting away with the best of the 3 options, for now.
Discussed his findings and agreed on an approach.
1 disc is fractured, he is saying it occurred when I was a teen, possible impact during sport, not necessarily a fall, which I dont recall a fall.

The cyst is sitting against the spinal cord and he is 99% happy that this is the cause of all my fasciculations and weakness, he also noted it has grown and he said that cysts like that which grow can be "nasty" so he wants it out.
So we are going to take that out first, get it sent off and ensure that its not "nasty".
We will see if that fixes the issues, the discs aren't great, but he is confident that I will return to form of 2 years ago when the cyst is out, that he doesnt want to do a fusion for the sake of it.
If removing the cyst doesn't work, then we need to reassess and look at a double fusion.

I am booked in for surgury since Oct so he expects I will get a letter in the next 2 weeks, if not then I need to get onto them and we might move it to a private hospital.

So thats it for now, I AM relieved

Fingers crossed it works!!!

Ryder

yop wrote: »

Ok, so this is the update.
I am getting away with the best of the 3 options, for now.
Discussed his findings and agreed on an approach.
1 disc is fractured, he is saying it occurred when I was a teen, possible impact during sport, not necessarily a fall, which I dont recall a fall.

The cyst is sitting against the spinal cord and he is 99% happy that this is the cause of all my fasciculations and weakness, he also noted it has grown and he said that cysts like that which grow can be "nasty" so he wants it out.
So we are going to take that out first, get it sent off and ensure that its not "nasty".
We will see if that fixes the issues, the discs aren't great, but he is confident that I will return to form of 2 years ago when the cyst is out, that he doesnt want to do a fusion for the sake of it.
If removing the cyst doesn't work, then we need to reassess and look at a double fusion.

I am booked in for surgury since Oct so he expects I will get a letter in the next 2 weeks, if not then I need to get onto them and we might move it to a private hospital.

So thats it for now, I AM relieved

Fingers crossed it works!!!

glad you got an answer and best of luck with the surgery. Keep us updated when you're able

yop

Ryder wrote: »

glad you got an answer and best of luck with the surgery. Keep us updated when you're able

Thanks v much

nilhg

Best of luck with it, hopefully this will sort you out, it's never nice going to hospitals for tests, then waiting for results and the docs to come up with a plan but at least you know the road ahead now.

yop

nilhg wrote: »

Best of luck with it, hopefully this will sort you out, it's never nice going to hospitals for tests, then waiting for results and the docs to come up with a plan but at least you know the road ahead now.

Cheers hey, ya HOPEFULLY I might get back on the bike for May time.

yop

Well been at the swimming lessons now and gone once on my own. Finding the sessions in the pool very tough as legs are tired and stiff before I start, but they really loosen me out.
Had 2 lessons and have the legs working a lot better, arms and trying to breath is the next steps now over the next 2 weeks.
Did my first few strokes on my back which went very well, was SHOCKED!
So in the pool again Friday on my own. Will get 40 mins in again. Start with legs only and then try getting breathing at the wall to see if I can get my head turned.
My aim for the end of 2014 is 10 lenghts! That should be fun

Have been on the turbo as well, nothing major just a 15km session. Bit of stretching and my calves are in shreds.

Still no appointment, will buzz them early next week if I hear nothing.

yop

Finally got my date: In on 20th March, op 21st and then out 22nd all going well, in time for the birthday
They are removing the cyst and realigning the discs.
So fingers and toes crossed that this will work.

Swimming now twice per week, bought a snorkel as couldn't manage the breathing, so managed 12 lengths (with breaks after each one) on Monday last and 16 on Friday.

Been out on the bike for last 2 weekends, 60km and 50km. Swimming seems to have loosened up the hips and the pain isn't as bad on the bike.
Few turbo sessions also.

So keeping ticking away. Weight back down to 14st 3lbs so hoping to get sub 14 before the op.

pprendeville

Good luck with the op. Will say an aul prayer for you.

yop

pprendeville wrote: »

Good luck with the op. Will say an aul prayer for you.

Cheers buck.

yop

Well 1.5 weeks away, nearly didn't happen!

First off, its all "swimming", well cheating of course with the snorkel and then I started to use the flippers.
Last week I had a lesson Monday, trying to get the breathing working, not going great, my own fault.
I went then for a swim at lunch on Wed and Fri and then at 8am on Sat morning, did 50 mins and 64 lengths of the 18m pool, was BUCKLED after it.

Anyway, got a call last week from Beaumont (op is scheduled for 21st in Hermitage). Said "we have a bed for you for Friday, 14th.
I said nope, I am checked in for 21st in the Hermitage and with work is it not possible to drop tools and have an op just like that.

I got a call then from Bolgers secretary, she said that they wanted it in Beaumont, I explained my wife with the 2 kids will be leaving me up and collecting me. That she had never driven on a motorway and putting her on the M50 to find Beaumont would be entertaining to say the least and that Hermitage was my preference.

So yesterday I had a few missed calls from Beaumont, returned the calls 3 times but could't get a hold of your man.
Then again the receptionist rang me, said it had to be Beaumont, I said, ok what can I do.
She then says yes but you have to come up Monday next......... I said this wasn't an option, I had a project to deliver for the 19th and that I was working all hours and weekends and 17th in order to achieve this. My contract depended on it and it would jeopordise my work if I didn't get it delivered.

So she said it may have to be cancelled.

I wasn't happy. So she said she would ring me back. After an hour they came back and have restored all the dates and operation again!

Talk about messing!

pprendeville

Good luck with this. Hope it all works out on the M50.

yop

pprendeville wrote: »

Good luck with this. Hope it all works out on the M50.

Cheers, I think I will have to get the presidents cavalcade to escort her

yop

Well I'm not writing from heaven

Op went well, 2hrs under the knife, was out the following day. The Hermitage is some spot though, more hotel than hospital, except the drugs are legal

I didn't go to Mayo on the Saturday as the pain after each bump or hump was not good, so we went to Naas to my sisters and that was plenty. I spent most of Saturday sleeping then and had a great kip. We went home via the motorway to Galway in order to avoid as much of the bad roads a possible, took us 6 hrs as I had to stop every while to stretch the legs and back.

Over the next few days all i literally did was sleep, I have never been so zonked. Pain wasn't bad, I managed a few walks and was in good form. I thought the spams had gone but alas returned towards the end of last week. But I have been told that these will die off after a period of time... we can only hope!

Staples (4) came out today, they were sound, pinchy but great to get them out. Today I did a bit more walking.

Have to return to work next Monday, though Doc and Consulatant are telling me I need 4 to 6 weeks, but it can't be done as I am self employed and my contract will be under threat if I stay off longer. I might do some 1/2 days or something.
I can't drive for another week and not allowed to drive over 1hr for 6 in total.


But I am positive about it all, time will tell of course, but onwards and upwards.

pprendeville

Great to hear it was a success. Hope they didn't put any EPO in the drip.

yop

pprendeville wrote: »

Great to hear it was a success. Hope they didn't put any EPO in the drip.

Not sure what it is but it makes me sleep

yop

Well 5 weeks in now and things are not great, over the last 2 weeks i have had considerable swelling under the skin, what seems to be happening is that the swelling must be occurring on the spinal cord as its pushed the discs tight against the skin.
What this means is that I have a few CM of swelling spread over an area of 8 * 2 inches. The pain is in my hips, deep in my things, my shins, shoulders and chest, I lost power in my arms over 2 to 3 days also which was fun

I have spoke to the consultant who said to leave it a week and buzz him back, when I did that yesterday he was gone for a weeks holidays... not ideal

So as I was not able to sleep, not able to stand and in pain 24 * 7 I went to my doc who put a drain in, took probably 25-30ml of goo out of the swollen area, it reduced it by 1/3 which is no harm, the intense pain and pressure is 10 times less, but I still have the very violent fasciculations in my right leg, but we have to wait to see what happens next Tuesday on the consultants return. The Doc reckons I will be brought straight up to Dublin to get it looked at, after that, who knows!

I guess I won't be back on the bike in June
No one dying, but its frustrating.

smacl

Hadn't read your blog for awhile yop, so just caught up with the back episodes. Delighted to hear your on the right side of the op and on the road to recovery.

yop

smacl wrote: »

Hadn't read your blog for awhile yop, so just caught up with the back episodes. Delighted to hear your on the right side of the op and on the road to recovery.

Cheers for that. Ya on the other side of it for sure, though a very very slow recovery, up with Prof Bolger now next Wed week, he rang me twice over the last few days to see how the swelling was, its reduced but still there, but he will review it now when I get up.

yop

so, went to Dublin last Wed. Prof Bolger said the swelling was odd and that it wasn't expected and couldn't explain it.
I have an MRI booked for 4 weeks time, then another checkup then 2 weeks after. If the swelling is still there, then he will have to open me again....great.

In the meantime he said I should "return to normal". So I am back trying to walk 5km a day, will go back to the pool this week also. He said the movements might help the swelling go. We will see.

Brutal pain in my neck and shoulders though, had physio but still there. Ah well, the joys.