Category Archives: Medical Files

My medical experiences.

Daddy – Daughter Strides

18 Saturday Feb 2017

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Boulder Marathon 2012

See the blood over my right breast in this photo?  A little chafing in the 2012 Boulder Marathon.  These things have a way of catching up with you.  I learned this past week I have gynecomastia in my right breast.  That’s essentially breast tissue growth.  It’s been sore for a couple of months.  At first I assumed it to be chaffing from long runs.  I get that occasionally.  Then I realized it wasn’t chaffed.  And then I freaked out a little bit because I felt a noticeable lump.  I probably over-reacted but having had cancer, it’s not an experience I care to rinse and repeat.

I had it checked out.  Blood tests and imaging, including a mammogram.  I’m fine.  I don’t really know the cause other than apparently my hormones, while they are all within their respective ranges, have likely changed their ratios.  My right nipple is about twice the size of my left.  Just another reason to keep my shirt on.

I’ve been running strides with Ellie the last couple of days.  She’s prepping for track to start in a week so we are learning form.  We run two miles and then run eight strides in the grass in our racing flats.  Yes, I have racing flats.  Ellie wears her spikes.  The point is not so much a physical workout as to teach Ellie what it’s like to run fast.  Speed might be natural talent but your legs still have to learn this.

We run about 200 meters, progressively working ourselves into a sprint.  We jog the first quarter, then double our pace for the next quarter, then stride near sprint pace and finish with an all-out sprint.  The distance for the sprint is a bit shorter than for the stride, which is shorter than the two previous legs, so they are not evenly spread legs.  Neither one of us is in shape to run big sprints, so that part is very short.

It’s all about form and muscle memory.  This training isn’t ideal for me, considering I’m training for a marathon, but it won’t hurt me to run less distance for a week.  I didn’t expect myself to be able to keep up with Ellie but I can.  I think the two mile warm up helps.  My upper thighs and glutes are sore though.  Maybe this week of running with Ellie will help my speed.  2016 was a slow year for me.  Muscles have memory and mine remember running fast.  Ellie might just help me qualify for Boston in my marathon this May.

Writing from Amarillo

20 Saturday Dec 2014

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race_604_photo_13905086This is a short training week because I’ll be driving all weekend to Austin.  So I ran my big mileage on Friday.  I didn’t have the three hours needed to run twenty miles.  Still, 15 miles took 2:10 hours.  I squeezed my run in between my morning Chiropractor session and finishing up Christmas cards and other errands.  I could go on about the Christmas cards.  Instead though, I’ll relate the story of my first visit to a Chiropractor.  Oh, and I keep meaning to give credit to the Colder Bolder for these race photos.  A dozen hi-res digital pictures for absolutely free.  Unbelievable race perk!

I’m currently sitting poolside in an Amarillo hotel.  I wanted to make it to Vernon to shorten tomorrow’s drive but my ass hurt too much to keep driving.  I think from doing leg weights.  I’m bad at weights, but I like to include them in my routine when training for a marathon.  Not because I think weights will improve my speed.  My experience suggests weights help me avoid injury as I increase my miles.

My Chiropractor is Dr. Doug Brisson at the Aspen Chiropractic & Wellness Center in my neighborhood.  He comes across to me as a very sensible doctor.  The kind of doctor who, after you say it hurts to do something would say, “Then don’t do that.”  I have zero experience with Chiropractic medicine and Dr. Brisson explained some things to me I never knew.  He detailed how his adjustments affect the nerves around the joints.  The nerves need to be trained on the proper musculoskeletal positions.  And they benefit from receiving the increased blood flow and nutrition that result from his corrections.  I wouldn’t really know but I believed him.  His assessment of my physical condition was this.  I have a “really twisted body.”  I’m not surprised by this.  That’s why I’m here.

He popped a few joints and I felt better.  He told me to expect feeling fatigue afterward.  It was hard to say if I did.  I went on my 15 mile run directly afterward.  I felt fatigue after that.  Saw the Sebestas out on their bikes on the LoBo Trail.  Amy gave me a high-five with her gloved hand.  With her biking momentum, she nearly broke my hand.  My muscles were heavy but I think that was due to my run the previous evening.  I ran a fast seven miles fairly late in the day.  Us older guys need a full 24 hours to recover from intense workouts.

I expect to run next on the Brushy Creek Regional Trail near my Mom’s house on Monday.  Hoping to get in some decent miles at low altitude.  And get a run or two in down on Town Lake.  If anyone wants to run with me in Austin, ping me.  I’ll be there through Friday.

Twin Lakes Twenty Milers

13 Saturday Dec 2014

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SkoopI began my training for the Austin Marathon with two twenty milers to Twin Lakes this week.  One last Sunday and another today – Saturday.  Not a bad start considering my hamstring pull.  I still don’t know how I ran twenty miles a day after pulling my hamstring.  I wasn’t sure I’d be able to run at all.

I set the day after the Colder Bolder as my first day of marathon training and despite my sore leg, figured I’d just run slow.  I started out hamstrung but my leg loosened up after a couple of miles and I ran a fairly normal 9 minute mile pace out to Twin Lakes.  This is the ten mile turn-around point.  I tripped running up the steps to the lake trail, on the last step, with my weak leg.  Then I had to stop a few times around mile 16 to stretch it out.  My pace then slowed to over 10 minute miles, but I was able to continue running.  My leg was super sore after that and I took Monday and Tuesday off.  Got in six miles Wednesday and joined Keith and Steve Thursday for the Shoes & Brews social run.  We’re pictured here tasting the Skoop samples.  I got in another slow ten miles yesterday and then, amazingly, I woke up today with my leg feeling much better.  So I ran another twenty miles.

I feel a bit silly now that I scheduled a visit to see a chiropractor, but that’s been long overdue.  I discovered Aetna, my insurance provider, won’t cover massages provided for by a massage therapist.  Aetna will cover massages performed by Physical Therapists and Chiropractors though.  There is a Chiropractor in my neighborhood that everyone speaks highly of, so I will see him next Friday.  I have enough issues for him to review other than my hamstring.  My hip is out of whack, probably has been for decades.  As a result, my right leg is shorter than my left.  I suspect this leads to most of my running injuries.  Time to find out.  I’m just happy this muscle pull isn’t severe and that I’ll be able to run through it.

I have an odd albeit short history with Chiropractic medicine.  I haven’t been a fan.  I know it has its place though and I’m going to give it a shot.  It’s not really possible to train for marathons without getting in some decent miles.  I need to stay healthy over the next two months.  Giving my body a tune up next Friday is probably a good idea.  Poor Steve, pictured in the middle of the above photo, is scheduled for surgery Thursday to correct his running injuries.  I won’t describe the procedure because talking about that stuff gives me chills.  But the whole neighborhood will be thinking of him.

Prostate Biopsy

18 Saturday Jan 2014

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Michelangelo's David with clipping path

Forgive the title.  I want to be clear upfront on the following content.  I held off blogging about this until I talked to my mom to give her a heads up.  Since she reads this blog, I have to be fucking careful about what I write.  A blood analysis last fall indicated an elevated PSA level.  I elected to take a second reading a few months later rather than proceed directly to a prostate biopsy.  Do-overs are standard policy in my book.  Unfortunately, the second test didn’t work out in my favor.

In case you’re interested because you expect a prostate biopsy in the future, the following is my experience.  I can tell you this is not some cavalier test.  Without even taking medication, simply having the procedure has potential side effects.  I find the risks acceptable, major inconveniences though for sure.  I can see not every guy feeling the same way.  Most of what I read suggests the side effects are temporary over the course of several weeks or months.  I find the more I subjugate myself to doctors and the more dignity I relinquish in their offices, the easier it becomes to accept such potential side effects.

I have to compare this procedure to a colonoscopy, mostly because I’ve had one of those too.  There’s the obvious rectal component.  In that sense, the biopsy is a mini colonoscopy.  There’s no prep to drink – so right there the biopsy wins.  And we’re talking about a rectal intrusion in terms of inches rather than feet, hence the mini.  There isn’t even anesthesia.  I was offered Valium but turned it down.  I needed to return to work afterward and I’m not exactly clear on IBM’s Valium in the workplace policy.  Believe it or not, I’ve never taken any of the popular anxiety drugs so I don’t truly know if there would be cause for concern.  Based on performance reviews, I do know that I’m overly transparent as it is at work.  I don’t need to be telling my coworkers what I really, really think.

My experience began with the nurse instructing me to undress from the waist down and to lay on my side covering myself with a sheet made from paper.  This picked up my spirits a bit as, on some metaphorical level, I found this preferable to having to bend over.  If you’re concerned you might get an erection, trust me – you won’t.  The experience is overwhelmingly emasculating.  I was like a dog with its tail between its legs.  She registered my heart rate at 56bpm so I was managing the anxiety fairly well.  She then asked for my permission to allow a 3rd party into the room, a woman technician, to train the urologist on their brand new prostate biopsy ultrasound machine and monitor the imaging.  Like I was going to say no to that.  “No, let the doctor learn as he goes.  We’ll learn how to operate this thing together.”  While I don’t think of myself as an exhibitionist, I was actually fine with it.  The more the merrier.

Dr. Webster was quite good at setting my expectations.  The procedure took maybe 20 minutes.  While extremely uncomfortable, it didn’t really hurt.  The most painful aspect was two needle injections of something to numb my prostate.  This hurt on the level of any flu shot to the arm, only it wasn’t to the arm.  My online research led me to expect the biopsy pinpricks to feel similar to bee stings.  Had the doctor told me this I was prepared to reply, “American bees or African bees?”  I’m still a little disappointed I couldn’t reference that Monty Python skit.  Reminds me though, I need to erase my search history.

I received 12 biopsies and only two of them hurt a little, but less so than the initial shots.  After the fourth biopsy, my penis began to burn – acute dysuria. The sensation was fairly strong actually and maybe hurt more than those two initial shots.  Apparently, this is normal, I’m guessing from a dramatic change in the pH balance suddenly streaming through my urethra.  In other words – bleeding.  I should have asked what causes it because I’m just guessing.  Feels better this morning.  Dr. Webster told me I would jump at the first biopsy – which I did – but I didn’t overreact to any of the subsequent biopsies.  Each biopsy made a clicking noise like a cap gun being fired, or a mousetrap being sprung.  It’ll spook you the first time.

I review the results with Dr. Webster in a week.  I’m not nervous.  Cancer is far from the worse prostate malady from what I’ve read.  Everything is essentially treatable at my age.  That’s why you don’t procrastinate on health issues.  Just ask Steve Jobs.  Oh yeah, you can’t.  I already know from the exam that I don’t have an enlarged prostate, which is a good sign.  The elevated PSA levels are likely from running.  I might be a bit preoccupied waiting for the results; considering I’m up at 5:30 am blogging about it.  Karen and I are going snowshoeing in a couple of hours though.  That’ll take my mind off it.

It Tastes Like a Sports Drink

26 Monday Aug 2013

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iStock digestive tractSome people feign horror upon receiving an invitation to join AARP.  But really, they mail those out to you when you’re closer to 48 years old than 50.  I’m here to tell you that you haven’t arrived to your golden years until the cancer screening begins.  Two weeks ago I had my prostate probed.  Today it was a colonoscopy.  I suspect doctors have jars where they store your dignity.  They collect another piece with each visit.

They tell you the toughest part is the prep and I support that claim.  I had a choice between a half gallon jug and a gallon jug.  The half gallon mix was flavored whereas I could choose to flavor the full gallon concoction.  I went for the big boy because I was fairly certain flavor would make me gag.  At a minimum, I’d lose that flavor for my remaining years – which could limit my future selection of sports drinks.  My unflavored prep tasted like salt water.  I started prepping at 5pm last night with the goal of drinking half, and then finished it today – drowning 8 ounces every 15 minutes during conference calls.  My iPhone conversion app set my expectation for 8 rounds per half gallon.  This was true last night but not so today as I discovered my gallon was super-sized.  It took me three hours of drinking prep today vs two hours yesterday.  And I very nearly did vomit. Drinking the prep was a worse experience than the solution’s effect on my bowels.

The procedure itself was not nearly as unpleasant as the prep.  I was apprehensive because I’ve never experienced this level of body maintenance before.  The idea of being put to sleep with some potion makes me uncomfortable.  Not sure why.  Fortunately they didn’t do that.  They inserted an IV into my right arm for the procedure, and to relax me they first squeezed in some Valium, followed by Fentanyl to numb my senses.  I never fell asleep and recall playing Pink Floyd’s The Wall in my head.  The procedure was over in a little over 10 minutes.  I suspect it was much longer and I probably did fall asleep, but I recall 10 minutes.  My vitals during the event recorded my blood pressure at 102 over 64 and heart rate at 50 beats per minute.  I’m no hummingbird.  They found and removed a single polyp and I’m good for another ten years.

Immediately afterward, Karen drove me to the Outback Steakhouse to refuel.  I’ve never fasted for 24 hours before and it nearly killed me.  I’m a food eater.  I like high flavor, high fat content, and large quantities of calories.  I’m very visual with food too and position vivid vegetables on my plate to heighten my pleasure.  I’m a friggin foodie and it took every ounce of discipline I had to not eat for this procedure.  I was more dizzy walking into the medical facility than I was walking out.  I ordered a ribeye, baked potato, bloomin onion app, and a wedge salad.  Since I’ve been home I’ve eaten Little Debbie Swiss Rolls and two bowls of ice cream.  I’ll return to running tomorrow.

Healing Waters

09 Friday Aug 2013

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indian hot springs hotelI’m taking a half day vacation this afternoon to drive up to Idaho Springs for the Georgetown-to-Idaho Springs Half Marathon tomorrow.  It’s only a 45 minute drive and I could go Saturday morning but this is the last chance to do something before school starts so I’m taking Karen and Ellie to the Indian Hot Springs “Healing Waters” Spa.  They have a pretty cool pool that Ellie should enjoy.

I could even schedule a rub down at the spa for after the half marathon but I won’t.  I will jump into their hot springs-fed pool though.  I don’t go in for the healing properties of whatever minerals their water contains.  A month ago in Pagosa Springs I soaked almost nightly and they also pitched the healing properties of all their minerals.  Actually, they detailed the specific properties of each mineral.  I found it fairly funny because I think it’s bullshit.  I do think the heat is wonderful.  Maybe the minerals can affect your skin.  Likely do as much harm as healing depending on one’s specific allergies.  I’ll take a bath for the healing properties of the heat.

Regarding healing, on Wednesday I had my first physical in over ten years.  I’m in good shape overall but the experience itself left me feeling somewhat older just for needing some of the cancer-screening procedures.  The only malady I related to the good doctor was that it’s been several years now that I’ve been able to piss like a man.  I know I’m not alone on this one.  In my last poker game nearly every guy in the room, and they are all ten years younger than me, was taking some form of Flowmax.  They also all reported it worked for them so I brought it up as a concern.

man pee on toiletI hate admitting to vanity but having to get up in the middle of the night to pee – shoot more like dribble – makes me feel old and it bugs me.  In every other manner, from physical vitality to maturity, I feel as young as I did in college.  Actually maybe high school because my maturity regressed a bit in college.

So now I am taking my very first pills.  I don’t know if that makes me unusual for a middle aged American but outside of over-the-counter Claritin or Zyrtec for allergies, I never take pills.  Every few years I throw away a bottle of expired vitamins I intended to take.  I had some pain pills after a car accident in high school and again for a sports injury in college, otherwise I’ve never had strong prescriptions for pain in over 25 years.  I have a heart condition called tachycardia arrhythmia but have never needed anything for it.  And based on this physical, it may have finally cured itself.  I might need more of a detailed cardiology exam to know that for sure but the symptoms were not apparent on my EKG.

Back to point, having my first regular pills sort of makes me feel old too, but I’m good with it.  After one night, I already feel better.  A bottle of 30 Tamsulosin capsules set me back $1.98.  I don’t care for the notion that thirty years in the future I’ll likely have a collection of pills, but I’m pragmatic and expect that to be the case.  Better living through chemistry.  I have two bottles presently of vitamins from Hammer Nutrition that I’m doing my best to remember to take each day in order to recover from my running regimen.  Honestly, I’m one of the few people on the planet who will admit to being a proponent of GMOs.  Being lactose intolerant does little to promote the value of real food to me over genetically engineered.  If the minerals in those Indian Hot Springs do actually have medicinal qualities, I’m all for it.

I am Healed

19 Saturday Nov 2011

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Pounded out my first run since getting the cortisone treatment Wednesday, and I am healed.  Absolutely no more pain.  I felt fat and still ran slow, but my abdomen was strong.  I am so happy.  I can’t believe I’ve lived with this for a full year when I didn’t need to.  I still remember wondering why I hurt so much after the 2010 Denver Marathon.  I should have followed up with my doctor much sooner.  Lesson learned.

This has me pretty excited.  The arthritis in my symphysis pubis had been seriously slowing me down.  It was never the kind of pain to keep me from running.  But it took a half mile to recede and would return if I ran too fast.  This was most annoying in the 2011 Bolder Boulder when I felt great at 5 miles and tried to pick up my pace but the pain in my abdomen acted like a governor.

I’m psyched up now to train again for the 2012 trail running season.  I don’t care how ridiculous it might sound for a 49 year old to want to race, but I do.  I want to be competitive in my age division.  I like running fast but was beginning to think I couldn’t anymore.  My new training regimen begins this Thanksgiving break.  I’m climbing back in the saddle.    I’m going to sign up right now for the Moab Half Marathon in March.

Sucker Punch

16 Wednesday Nov 2011

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I wasn’t totally certain what to expect from this steroid shot.  I took off a half day of work since they said it would take 3 hours.  Still somehow I’ve logged in a 10 hour work day.  That’s what they call an IBM vacation.  I could have easily spent 2 hours simply finding a parking spot.  Boulder parking sucks.

True to the expectations set by Nurse Heather, prep took an hour.  A few forms and questions to answer, but mostly waiting.  I read a few chapters from the Steve Jobs biography on my iPhone Kindle app.  Should have brought my Kindle but the sweet thing is how what you are reading on the Kindle synch’s wirelessly to your iPhone.  I was able to get some of my questions answered from Dr. Stilp.  She said it is indeed possible that this treatment will last a lifetime.  She performs this treatment for the same condition every 2 or 3 years.  Typically to runners over 30.  It is possible though I might need a second shot after a few weeks.  I should know based on how the pain recedes and that I should followup with Dr. WW.  It might be that I’ll need some rehab therapy rather than a second shot.  I can run this weekend but should not expect noticeable results for a few more days after that.

The door to the surgery room had a sign reading, “Pain Free Area”.  I asked the nurse if that was some sick humor.  She responded in a serious manner that perhaps so for me since it only applies to patients who receive anesthesia – which I had declined.  Hmm.  She instructed me to lie supine on the surgical bed and she proceeded to prep my lower abdomen with betadine and sterile towels.  Because I expected this as well, I trimmed my belly hair.  I simply trimmed it with clippers.  I didn’t want to shave it with a razor because I think that’s a bit weird.  I don’t want too prepubescent a look lest I suddenly get hit on by football coaches.  Which reminds me, have you heard what high school athletes are saying in the locker room now?  “You can stick it in coach, I’m ready to play.”

Anyway, I’m glad I trimmed because the betadine would have been a hairy mess otherwise.  I suspect they would have shaved me if necessary, but they didn’t so I think my efforts were smart.  The nurse wrapped a blood pressure monitor around my right arm and attached a heart rate monitor to a finger on my left hand.  She then had me fold my arms up over my chest.  A second nurse handed me two squeeze balls, sort of like little stress relievers.  She said I would want them.  Dr. Stilp came in and was quite efficient about things.  She adjusted the towels leaving me embarrassingly exposed.  I now know where the needle’s point of entry will be.  Less than an inch north of my Johnson.

Dr. Stilp applied some topical analgesic to minimize the pain of the needle breaking my skin.  It still hurt a tad bit more than a flu shot, but nothing to cry home about.  That is until she went deep.  After entering the needle, she paused in order to adjust her fluoroscope.  This is an xray image on a monitor directly over my abdomen.  She then looked at the monitor as she pushed the needle further into the joint.  I wasn’t expecting this type of pain.  It honestly felt as if she had punched me in the gut with all her strength.  The nurses on both sides of me then applied moderate pressure to my arms to ensure I didn’t whack anything and exhorted me to take deep breaths.  The scene was not unlike a woman delivering a baby.

Dr. Stilp then told me that she’ll need to do this again and it will hurt the same amount, and that I should try to relax and let her know when I’m ready.  “Are you fucking kidding me?”  I’m not certain I said those exact words.  I might have, I was in a highly emotional and reactive state.  I couldn’t believe she would ask me to relaunch the needle.  It’s like asking someone to commit hari-kari.  I took a couple of deep breaths and told her to go ahead.  I didn’t want time to think about it.  She was right, it hurt just as much the second time.

And before I knew it they were helping me to my feet and escorting me out of the pain free area.  A nurse monitored my vitals for about 5 minutes and then sent me home.  Despite feeling like I was sucker punched twice in the abdomen, I’m glad I declined the anesthesia.  I’ve seen people take that stuff and I’m confident the side effects would not have been worth the pain avoidance in this scenario.  Not feeling any pain now – a few hours later.  We’ll soon see how effective the steroids are when I try out my treated pubic symphysis on a run.

Shot of Steroids

12 Saturday Nov 2011

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Dr. WW called back again to let me know he’d reviewed my MRI with Dr. Stilp – an Orthopedic Surgeon across the street at the Boulder Surgery Center.  She concurs with the radiology diagnosis of arthritis in my symphysis pubis and wants me to call her to schedule myself to receive a fluoroscopic-guided shot of cortisone.  Dr. WW actually let me agree first that I was interested in receiving the shot.  He might have been following some ethics protocol.  He seemed happy with my decision though.  And he related to me that I’m only the second case of symphysis pubis arthritis he’s treated.  The other guy was a few years ago.  That guy was in his 30s which makes me feel better about this not simply being about my age.  Dr. WW ended the call by giving me the phone number to Dr. Stilp’s nurse Heather, to setup the procedure.

Nurse Heather penciled me in for this coming Wednesday afternoon.  I’ll take a half day vacation as this will suck up too much time to simply squeeze it in between conference calls.  Heather briefed me on what to expect.  The shot itself will take just a few minutes, but I’ll need an hour for prep and another hour post-op.  Apparently this isn’t a simple flu shot.  The doctor will use fluoroscopy to guide the needle into the area of my hip bone.  Heather surveyed my medical history over the phone so I won’t have to spend time filling out forms once I arrive.  I declined the anesthesia so I’ll be able to drive myself home afterward.  I’ve never had anesthesia before but have seen others receive it and can say that it doesn’t appeal to me.  Heather answered most of my questions.  I’ll have to wait to talk with Dr. Stilp to answer other questions such as ongoing expectations.  I neglected to ask just exactly where the point of entry will be for the needle.  My buddy Dave suggested I should expect it to be where I least want it, and that stirrups might be involved.  Ouch.

The Call Back

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

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After the trailer MRI by a Radiologist likely located half way around the world, I wasn’t expecting much in terms of a call back.  A voice message from the Orthopedic’s nurse perhaps.  Shoot, assuming there was no big news to relate, I’d be good with a text.  I personally could not read into the picture I took of the MRI scan, but I did have my own guess.  I side with my primary care physician.  She thinks I have a tear in the tendons connecting the abdomen to the symphysis pubis.  It feels that way to me and I could see that taking a long time to heal without proper rehab.  I don’t know enough about sports hernias to say anything intelligent, but a hernia does not sound like the sort of thing I would be running marathons with or hauling up 14,000 foot peaks on the Colorado Trail.  My optimism might be biased by wanting to avoid the potential surgery required for a sports hernia.  So that was my frame of mind as I waited for the call back.

Dr. William Williams called me on my mobile tonight at 7:19 MST.  He used a lot of big words and never definitively committed to anything.  It might as well had been Alan Greenspan who called me.  I’ll be much more direct in my translation.  My symphysis pubis is arthritic.  This is apparently rare in this type of joint.  Dr WW then lectured for several minutes tangentially on the different types of joints and how the symphysis isn’t really a joint anymore than spinal vertebrae.  But it sort of is a joint.  He’d either made his point or realized I was no longer responding and returned to topic.  He exhorted that a hernia is still possible but less likely now given my symptoms.  The advised treatment for the arthritis is a steroid shot and he thinks he might know someone who could administer such a thing if I were interested.  I am.  He’ll talk to Heather. I envisioned my eye doctor’s clinic where the eye glass and frame shop seem to exist as separate entities yet within the same building.  This guy distances himself from the dealers. The upside is that a positive response to the steroids would further suggest I don’t have a hernia.  Or perhaps the upside is that I’ll now have a fairly valid subterfuge for a medicinal marijuana card.

Trailer Medicine

02 Wednesday Nov 2011

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Today was the big event – my first MRI.  I woke up to a half foot of fresh snow.  Much less on the sidewalks and roads.  Not that it mattered, my appointment wasn’t until late afternoon.  The roads were dry and clear by then.  I left a bit early anyway since I’d never been to the Lafayette branch of the Boulder Community Hospital.  Good thing as I mistakenly drove to the Exlempa Good Samaritan Medical Center first.  I figured it out after Registration couldn’t find a record of my appointment.  Still made my appointment on time as the two medical centers are located fairly close to one another.

Registration was quick although Cigna never called in my negotiated rate.  I know I will eventually owe 20%, but don’t know what the 100% is yet.  Fortunately I did not have to pay in advance.  I understand MRIs to cost over $3000.  The Cigna negotiated rate should be about half that, give or take 10%.  I was still ahead of schedule and sat down to read my WSJ that I brought along.  I brought my own newspaper for two reasons.  First, it was delivered late today due to the weather so I wasn’t able to read it in the morning.  Second, I’ve been disappointed lately with the lobby magazine selection in medical offices.  And I say this from experience having been to three others in less than a week.  My Primary Care physician is a woman which might explain the literary tripe in her office.  Then the Orthopedist had a bunch of Yacht Club magazines.  Who the hell even boats in Colorado let alone owns a yacht?  And to his credit, the Podiatrist at least had Time Magazine, but still, my erudite tastes are particular.  I read the Internet.

I just completed a survey of the page one index when the MRI tech stepped in to escort me to the lab.  The MRI room.  The magnetic resonance imaging facility.  We exited the back through sliding doors and walked into the parking lot as she droned on about why her MRI machine was temporarily located in a trailer.  It was one of those modular buildings that often are used as class rooms in fast growing school districts.  She warned me to be cautious navigating the ice as I climbed the pressure-treated wood stairs.

She locked my metallic valuables in a file cabinet and explained the procedure to me.  I was surprised to learn the routine would take 30 to 45 minutes.  My previous experience consisted of 10 minute x-rays.  Good thing I’d dressed comfortably.  Expecting belts and buckles to be an issue with the big magnet, I sported Under Armour fleece lounge wear.  I was both warm and comfy and declined her offer for a blanket.

Recumbent in a supine position, I pierced the alluring grotto feet first.  Soon the machine emitted a noise not unlike a tennis shoe bouncing around inside a clothes dryer, but more synchronous.  A minute or two later I was done.  Apparently I fell asleep to the rhythmic drumming as my iPhone confirmed I’d been in there at least 20 minutes.  So I’m unable to report much more on the details of being MRI’d, but can tell you it’s very cozy.  The pic above is the image of my symphysis pubis after redacting some of the personally identifiable information from the upper right.  Supposedly some Radiologist whom I never met – likely working out of a cubicle in Bangalore – will provide the results to my Orthopedist in about 3 days.  Stay tuned.

Foot and Ankle

31 Monday Oct 2011

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My visit to the Podiatrist wasn’t too bad.  Not sure why I had to undress since it was just my foot, but all in all it was a good prognosis.  Just kidding of course, but I was very happy to have this doctor confirm that yes, I have plantar fasciitus, but totally treatable and not something more serious.

This ultra sound shows abnormal thickness near the heel and inconsistent width throughout the fascia – confirming plantar fasciitus.  The doctor explained a number of stretches I can do and showed me what sort of insoles will help.  Turns out nothing from SofSole is any good.  Even their models intended for pronation won’t provide the necessary support – they are way too soft.  The type of insoles that will work are made of hard plastic – like from Superfeet.

Best of all, this doctor didn’t even blink at my bloodstained toenails.  Didn’t suggest toe treatment.  Didn’t say squat.  He looks pretty fit himself and seems to understand toenails are over-rated.  MRI for my symphysis on Wednesday.

The MRI

29 Saturday Oct 2011

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I don’t imagine MRIs to be very scary, unless of course you are claustrophobic which I’m not.  From what I know, they don’t even use X-Rays like a Cat Scan but instead generate radio waves from a big magnet.  It certainly doesn’t appear to be painful although it could brick my iPhone.  But I’m stupefied how I reached this ripe old age without ever having been referred to a specialist and I now am having four medical visits in less than seven days.  My doctor referred me to a Podiatrist for my plantar fasciitus and to an Orthopedic Specialist for my abdomen.

I immediately started doing the math on potential out-of-pocket costs and discovered both specialists would be in network.  So OK, fine.  I visited Boulder Orthopedics yesterday.  The visit took over an hour which I didn’t expect.  I got an X-Ray which suggests a possible sports hernia – whatever that is, it sounds made up – and the need for an MRI.  Dr. Williams couldn’t be certain of my injury but my Symphysis looks to have some issues.  I’ll spare you the profanity here but know that I’m cussing under my breath as I write this.  I called Cigna as soon as I got home and learned I will be responsible for 20% of the MRI cost.

Seeing how one visit to a specialist has begun to spiral out-of-control, I’m no longer looking forward to visiting the Podiatrist Monday.  I’m picturing thousand dollar custom-built insoles made from rare earth metals.  And I’ll probably have to travel to China to be fitted.  This isn’t going well.

Prognostication

26 Wednesday Oct 2011

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In terms of commitments or event schedules, I am now officially in the off-season.  Having an off-season makes me feel semi-pro.  I encourage all other weekend warriors to define an off-season as well.  Now that I am not committed to completing some big event, I felt it was safe yesterday to visit my doctor to review some of my long standing irritations.  Key among my maladies are plantar fasciitis and a very sore stomach.

I know that my left foot over pronates and also understand I was wearing the wrong shoes, as well as wore them for too long.  The intent of seeing my doctor for this is to not stop training while recovering.  I was hoping she would prescribe some treatment or refer me to a specialist.  I also know that considering I’ve been running with this pain for nearly a year, there might be other issues.  And I have to also assume it’s possible I have misdiagnosed myself.  I don’t believe I have though because I have had this twice in the past.  Once in college.  A new pair of shoes remedied the problem.  And again a little less than 10 years ago.  I had gotten into decent shape and had to stop running for the fasciitis to heal.  Subsequently I lost my fitness along with all my training discipline.  I don’t want that to happen again.

My doctor suggested I might also have a bone spur and that the best thing to do would be to see a Podiatrist.  She referred me to a specialist here in Longmont.  This is what I was hoping she would do.  And believe it or not, at 49 years of age, this will be the first time I’ve ever been referred to a specialist.  I don’t go to see the doctor much.  Visiting the doctor is a sure fire way to be told you’re aging.  As long as no one points this out to me, I feel as young as ever.  I sort of recognize I’m aging, but it’s almost an out-of-body experience because quite frankly my maturity level hasn’t progressed much beyond college.  Just ask anyone at last weekend’s Halloween party where I was dancing in a cage with another guy and generally acting like a frat boy.  I set my appointment with the podiatrist up for Halloween next Monday.  I’ll blog the results.

I injured my stomach a full year ago in the Denver Marathon.  I was running along fine until the final three miles wherein my stomach just melted.  It didn’t cramp exactly but became very sore and weak at the lowest point of my abdomen.  I was fairly certain this wasn’t a hernia or groin injury because it didn’t match all those symptoms.  She confirmed that and suggested it is very likely some pulled tendons – a rectus abdominus tear just above the symphysis pubis.  For this she referred me to the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine for an orthopedic specialist to confirm her prognosis and provide treatment.  I didn’t know organs like the stomach had tendons.  I’d always associated tendons with standard muscles.  But again, I was hoping for a referral so that I could continue training.  My fear, and why I didn’t go see her earlier, was to be told to stop training altogether.  She did suggest cross training – biking and swimming.  I don’t have a bike.  And considering there’s a half foot of snow outside, I think the biking season is over.  And I’ve always been negatively buoyant making me suck ass at swimming.  Although, given the expansion that has occurred in my middle over the years, perhaps I’ve gained some float.  Expect future blogs on my treatments and possible evolution to new sports.