The bike trainer

I've gone from 100 miles to 10 minutes. In 4 months. We did our century ride on September 8. And this is where I'm at. On Glenn's bike wearing his shoes that are too big. Oh well.

I saw Jocelyn my physical therapist last night and she said that things continue to improve. She replaced a few exercises that I would do lying down with a standing version. She asked me try something in her little gym that was painful, so we will hold off on that. In the meantime I'm riding a bike 10 minutes a day since Thursday. It feels great! But I dutifully set my timer for 10 minutes and stick to that. She says that I should be able to commute again starting next month.

If only!

Baby aspirin

Encaustic with shellac burn

Baby aspirin? what kind of title is that?

I just had my annual visit with my hematologist (yes, I have one of those, too). He told me about 3 recent studies and clinical trials.

But specific to me, he said that I am 80% likely to have APLS which is an autoimmune disorder that causes blood clots. I have known I've had this since fall 2015 but somehow I didn't appreciate until today how serious this can be. I thought - I'm on medication - all good.

He said that if I had all 3 indicators for APLS, that I'd be at super high risk for not only blood clots but high risk for heart attack or stroke. Crap! But I have tested inconsistently on all 3 measures. One time I had all 3. The other two times I didn't. If I had all 3 consistently, I'd be in a totally different risk category. But 80%? still very scary.

There are a few options - but he recommends to stay on the Xeralto and add baby aspirin. That can provide some protection against heart attack and stroke but puts me at risk for additional bleeding.

This consult got me quite alarmed. Maybe I'm not expressing this very clearly.

What terrifies me the most is surviving a stroke. And being disabled partially or totally. I actually am OK with dying - much better scenario. Lethal heart attack - fine. But to be rendered unable to function fully - I am going to review my health care proxy to make sure I say don't revive me if something catastrophic happens.

And on a more positive note - I was on the bike again for 10 minutes this morning, whizzing around the neighborhood. Yesterday in spite of sitting through 8 hours of therapy, I was really comfortable. I'm so grateful that the hip flexor tendinitis is resolving.

And this other shit ...  hopefully I can move back into "denial" fast.

And now... the bike!

11"x4" encaustic painting

I saw Jocelyn my physical therapist on Monday. We discussed how it's going to reintegrate yoga. I continue to make progress. She hasn't had to adjust me in a few weeks. Overall I'm feeling much better. Mornings are no longer agony. But sitting at work is a big challenge since I work 10-12 hour days. She taught me "engaged sitting" which is strengthening the core and engaging buttock muscles while shifting slightly onto the tailbone. And using lumbar support. I just started to work with it yesterday and I think it's helpful.

But as I was leaving she said - you can start on a stationary bike 10 minutes per day. Music to my ears! I don't belong to a gym so a trying to figure out how to access without paying $20 per session. We have a bike trainer in Connecticut so I may end up bringing it back to Brookline.

I met with oncology NP Lauren on Monday and everything looks good. I continue to have blood work every 6 weeks with a mini NP visit. Zumeta infusion every 3 months. And scans every 6 months.

All good!

Back on the Yoga Mat

12" x 9" mixed media collage

I was back on the yoga mat this morning for the first time since I started physical therapy on November 21. It feels like a lifetime - but it's only been 6 weeks. My therapist suggests that I do yoga once a day and PT once a day. To start to integrate it back in again. I've been practicing yoga daily since 1993 - which = 25 years now. I felt like a beginner all over again. I did the most basic poses - and it was a struggle! While trying to avoid poses that flex the groin. Jocelyn did a great job in suggesting what NOT to do as she's not a yoga person but she was very clear about what to avoid.

Happy, happy, happy.

It sounds like hyperbole after all the health situations I've had over the years. Cancer for god's sake. Lots of surgeries, etc. But this was/is the most painful thing I've ever dealt with. Going back to work yesterday was tough as my job is sit, sit, sit. Over vacation I basically avoided sitting down unless I had to. And I've been off the bike for 3+ weeks now.

I am a poor advise taker/rule follower but I have been following her instructions PERFECTLY. Nothing more and nothing less. And it's working. And I have never been late to an appointment. And it's working! I'm actually in no rush to get back on the bike. One step at a time.

2019

Bethlehem, Connecticut

I really don't make New Years resolutions. But what I always hope for is that I can have another year of good health. And specifically - no ER visits and no surgeries!

Glenn and I spent the holidays in Connecticut. I took this picture behind the house. Our land abuts 300 acres which is owned by a private school. We walked every day at least an hour with Sasha.

My tendinitis seems to be on the mend. I have not ridden a bike in about 3 weeks now. Maybe that helped? I'm doing physical therapy twice a day at home and will see my therapist today. I haven't seen her in 2 weeks. It was "less bad" for a while but now it's much, much better. Finally. This has been a very frustrating and painful experience. It has been so debilitating that I really think I'm done with century rides. Last September Glenn bought a gravel grinder in Maine. I may do the same - sell my road bike an just tool around on back roads on the gravel grinder.

The highlight of my time in Connecticut was New Years Eve. We got invited to Alan's birthday party/New Year Eve party. He's a bluegrass player - mandolin. I was told to bring along my guitar. And I played for 3 hours straight. There was another guy who played both guitar and banjo, and a woman who played a modified mandolin - on a ukulele body.

I'm grateful to be recovering - finally - from this tendinitis.
Otherwise all is well!