tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106019862024-03-12T21:03:17.480-05:00Gorilla on a BikeWhat happens when you go through a mid life crisis and instead of a porsche, you get a bike.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.comBlogger715125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-47733035485414685712018-05-27T20:09:00.002-05:002018-05-27T20:09:45.082-05:00Getting stuff together.So judy bought me a few pair of "basketball" shorts. these are supposed to be what is the preferable were when recouping form a TKR. She also took care of the medical equipment i'll be getting and she had her sister pick up a recovery package from a pharmacy.<br />
It seems that there is a lot of stuff you need. Ice packs, laxatives, 5lb weights, etc. The medical center got some chain pharmacy to get all these items togather and sell them as a package. <br />
Since julie lives up that way (near annapolis) she picked it up for us. it ended up costing us $75. I don't know if we got a deal or not.<br />
<br />
Getting closer. 4 days.<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-41512533780985955572018-05-23T20:04:00.000-05:002018-05-27T20:04:46.599-05:00Final step, pre surgery nurse meeting.I thought I was just going in to sit at a desk and have the nurse go over my results and give me last minute directions but I ended up getting xrays done.<br />
The doc wanted one for measurements so it had to be of the whole leg. Hip to ankle.<br />
they had to try 3 times to get in the whole thing. My being tall was a problem for them. The way they were having problems you'd think I was 7 ft tall instead of just 6'3".<br />
<br />
I got some wipes that I'm supposed to clean myself with 2 days before surgery. Something to cut down on bacteria and I got a prescription for an ointment I'm supposed to swab in by nose 3 days before surgery. Also to get rid of bacteria. Other than that not much to tell .<br />
<br />
I get a call the day before surgery (Wednesday) with my time to show up for the surgery.<br />
Thats kind of annoying. I don't know weather it'll be 7am or 2 pm.<br />
<br />
<br />
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-41118146004616211812018-05-22T19:55:00.000-05:002018-05-27T19:56:31.643-05:00Pre Anestesia testing.Instead of going to my primary doc, I went to the testing center at the medical center I'm getting the leg done.<br />
Much more convientant and alot faster.<br />
I did run into a hiccup as the lost my urnine sample.<br />
I got a call and had to go back in there to give them another. They had found it by the time I went in but it needed to be "fresh". They did give me some vouchers for the food courts for my trouble.<br />
They took blood, urine, and did an EKG. The blood results were posted up that evening .<br />
There's no way my primary doc's office would have gotten the results that quickly .<br />
I didn't know what most of the tests were but my numbers fell within the range of normal that they had also given.<br />
<br />
Next step is pre surgery nurse meeting.<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-73581342372541222052018-05-15T10:20:00.002-05:002018-05-15T10:20:16.609-05:00Final dentist appt.Finally done. The last step to get my dental clearance. Got a cleaning done. It was pretty fast and easy. Although I needed 3 root canals and 2 cavities filled by teeth were actually pretty clean. No build up. I wanna know how I can have no build up but still get cavities?<br />
She cleaned, doctor signed my paper and I was outta there. That will be the last that quack sees of me. After forgetting to give me antibiotics and one of my temporary fillings already fell out he won't see me again. Judy already lined up someone else for else to go to for us to go to in the future.<br />
<br />
Next step, pre surgery general screening. Monday May 21st.<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-32262549266632535972018-05-14T10:12:00.000-05:002018-05-15T10:13:23.740-05:00Knee replacement class.Had my required class joint replacement class at the medical center. I didn't learn much have that I haven't already learned off the internet. Judy went with me as my "coach". She took about a whole page of notes. I've never been much of a note taker. If its interesting enough to write down, I'll probly be able to remember it. I did learn I'd need a catheter. I've never had one but from what I hear they are no fun. so far thats the only thing I'm worried. about.<br />
I'm glad she went with me though. Medical stuff bores me to death and she tends to remember the little details that I missed or will forget. And since she's my wife and worried about me, she tends to ask alot of questions and get all the details ahead of time. I'm more of a "go with flow" type of person. I thought that I'd be the youngest person in there but not so much. There was actually somebody younger than me and most of the persons were only a little bit older than me. I felt like I was with "my people " . Everybody walked with a limp or wierd gait or were fidgeting in there seats or standing up to relieve our stiff achy joints.<br />
<br />
Next step, final dentist appt to get my clearance.<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-61538292456786485332018-04-26T14:04:00.000-05:002018-04-26T14:04:01.420-05:00Dentist appt 2.2nd dentist appointment today.<br />
Oh ,1st my tale about the 1st visit.<br />
Mouth is sore after the 1st 2 root canals. Starts to feel a little better after a day than it starts to hurt alot. Finally after 5 days my whole jaw is throbbing. <br />
The stupid ass doctor was supposed to give me anibiotics, which he didn't do.<br />
I called there office and they sent in a prescription. After 24 hours the pain goes way down.<br />
By this morning it was about gone.<br />
After I get this guy to sign off on my medical release, he will never see me again.<br />
<br />
2nd vist.<br />
Got 2 cavities filled and 1 root canal.<br />
he had a hell of time with the root canal.<br />
I'm not sure what was going on but it took him a long time.<br />
<br />
Befoe he'll sign my form I still have to go back and have a cleaning.<br />
Christ! Just sign the damn form already.<br />
Hasn't he made enough money off of me.<br />
<br />
Seeya<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-56598109351478167042018-04-20T15:31:00.000-05:002018-04-20T15:31:14.262-05:00Dentist appt for clearance.So I'll elaborate a little on this.<br />
I go in there expecting it to be no big deal. I know I have some cavities but my mouth feels fine. I'm thinking he'll look at the mouth . Tell me about the cavities, and than fill the form out for me.<br />
<br />
No.<br />
They take xrays and his assistant says something about needing root canals and the doctor not signing the form till they're done. he comes in a little later to confirm.<br />
<br />
I AM PISSED.<br />
Things that go through my head<br />
-this guy don't take our insurance. its going to cost a fortune.<br />
-is it too close to surgery date to get the root canals done? Will this mean surgery needs to be post poned.<br />
-do i have time enough to find a dentist who takes our insurance?<br />
<br />
Before I get out of there they give me an estimate for the procedures. $3400 which doesn't include crowns which can be done later. I know I'll be paying deductible later for the actaul TKR but I sure wasn't counting on this.<br />
<br />
So to cut it short, everything is working out.<br />
-the doctors NOW DOES take out insurance. My better half did all the leg work for me and took care of the paperwork. Instead of $3400, it might cost me a grand. I had 2 of the canals done yesterday and it only cost me $214. That I can handle.<br />
-so long as I have it done 14 days before surgery (5-31) I'm ok.<br />
<br />
I go next thursday to get the rest of the dental work done.<br />
<br />
Its probly been 6-10 years since I've seen the dentist. Not again. Now that we have insurance and I'm getting older I will be taking care of my teeth.<br />
I will be seeing him atleast once a year and I'm going to start using that expensive mouth wash that has floride in it. <br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-16260312913209311362018-04-20T15:11:00.000-05:002018-04-20T15:11:58.993-05:00saw the new doctorOh boy. If I keep this up I might as well quit.<br />
I saw the new doctor. He agreed with needing a TKR.<br />
He has a whole team for the procedure. Not like Bauk who wanted to to it in a out paitent surgery center and left it completely up to me to get releases.<br />
It will happen at the Anne Arrundel Coutny Medical Center (AAMC). <br />
I got a 17 page instruction manual with things to get done and name and numbers of his team members who I'm to get in touch with.<br />
Surgery is set for May 31,2018.<br />
Things to get done.<br />
1. pre surgery pt appt. To guage me know and give me exercises to strengthen mucscle. DONE. Had the appointment on 4-18.<br />
2. Get dental release. Oh that was a clusterfuck. Originally saw dentist on 4-13. Before he'll release I need 3, yes 3 root canals and a cavity filled. I got 2 of the root canals yesterday (4-19) and have appt next thursday to get the other items done. <br />
3. Take a joist replacement class. Thats set for 5-14-18. It said my "coach" should come so Judy plans on going with me. I think I go in there and they go over whats going to be done, show us the differnt areas (surgery, recovery, PT) and tell us what we can expect.<br />
4. Pre surgery medical release. He said I could use my primary physician or use the testing center that is attached to the AAMC. Since I haven't seen my primary in 4 years and I'm not fond of him anyways I'm using their testing center. Thats set up for 5-21-18. They'll test for virus's, give me an EKG and blood work.<br />
5. Final history and physical appt. I meet with the final nurse about a week before surgery. She goes over my medical history and makes sure I've completed the previous 4 items. This is scheduled for 5-23-18.<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-79508927675375350422018-03-05T15:06:00.000-05:002018-03-05T15:06:15.102-05:00New blog, Na lets just use the old one. TKR in the future.Not going to rehash what has or has not been happening.<br />
Don't care if anyone reads this other me . <br />
I'm going to be getting a total knee replacement in the near future and am going to try to document the procedure here. I did the same thing for the ACL and found it interesting to go back and see exactly how long the re hab was.<br />
I started this as a biking blog but know I went off on tangets before with life changes so it going off again.<br />
My biking has been practically non-existent . Trying to get moms house fixed to sell has been a big part of it but the knee has been another part.<br />
Its been 6 weeks since I even got on the trainer.<br />
A month ago i tried riding the MTB around the front yard but couldn't even get in one complete roation.<br />
Good thing I was on a decent or I would have fallen over.<br />
<br />
So saw my old ortho surgeon last Friday. March 1.<br />
it was a follow up on synvisc injections in the left knee. Unfortunately the injections didn't help a damn bit . He said only thing left was to get the TKR. He originally told me 12 years ago that I was going to need one but to hold off as long as possible. Well I'm 52 now and i can't go on like this.<br />
<br />
I limp everywhere. I go down steps one at a time, ya know like someone who's 70.<br />
After standing on my feet working for 2 hours I've gotta take a break cause of the knee.<br />
Pulling the leg in and out of a truck in a major event. I trip over shit cause I'm not lifting the foot up hi enough. And lastly, I can't even ride the bike for exercise/ fun.<br />
<br />
So I led Dr Bauk on to belive that I wasn't sure when I wanted the surgery done but actually I'm getting a 2nd opinion. I don't like the way he was so conservative in my ACL rehab, the way he did surgery twice on my shoulder and couldn't fix it and I learned about a girl (daughter of judys friend) who had bauk do a ACL repair , didn't do it right so she went to another doctor and he did it correctly and said bauk did a shit job.<br />
<br />
So I've go an appt March 21 to see a doc in annapoilis who was reccommended to me by a former riding buddy Sue who's in the medical profession. His webpage says he does 300 of these a year so shit , with that much practice he should be pretty good at it. When I talked to bauk he said he also did this as out patient procedure. I'm not so sure i want that. I remember after the ACL replacement the way it seemed they were trying to rush me out cause I was the last patient in there. <br />
<br />
Ok. enough for this post.<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-605714287610993712014-10-07T07:49:00.001-05:002014-10-07T07:53:02.586-05:00Don't stop now.Ok, been almost 2 weeks.<br />
Got to keep this up.<br />
Did 2.5 laps at the Rose last weekend (27 miles).<br />
As long as I can keep pushing my limits a little bit, I'll be happy.<br />
As long as when next spring rolls around I don't have to start from zero.<br />
<br />
I'm fighting a problem with my fork right now. After I'd changed the oil in it, it decided to start losing air pressure on rides. Rebuilt it again. Its losing less air, but still a little on each ride.<br />
<br />
Daylite is starting to wane in the evenings. Its hard getting out after work.<br />
I put the road bike in the basement on the trainer getting ready for those evening netflix riding sessions.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-44491901144261987302014-09-17T06:47:00.000-05:002014-09-18T06:48:31.279-05:00out with the roadiesJoined the "fab brew crew" on a Tuesday night road ride.<br />
I haven't ridden with a group of roadies in long time. On the prompting of my "friends" I went out with the "A". It was only 21 miles so I thought I could hang.<br />
I was wrong.<br />
I'm definately a strong "B" rider.<br />
We passed the B group about 12 miles in and I'd had enough. I defected to the B's.<br />
Rode at the back for a few minutes than realized how slow some of them were. <br />
I ended up passing 95% of the b group and hung with the 2 guys off the front.<br />
Me and the lead guy ended up being the 1st of the b's in.<br />
17.8 mile average to end the ride.<br />
My solo road rides (between 24&35 miles) usually average 16.5 mph so they pushed me out of my comfort zone.<br />
Mission accomplished.<br />
<br />
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-68424251986024895562014-09-15T10:11:00.001-05:002014-09-15T10:11:42.580-05:00Ho hum.After work rides are getting hard.<br />
Sunset at 7:20<br />
9-11-14 1 lap at rose -started with julius but he broke his rear d.<br />
9-12 20 miles at cedarville<br />
9-14 15 miles at the rose. Medium ride with the road riders "fab brew crew". I mostly road with Randy Roads and we kept a pretty good pace. Good to see some old buddies. Sue,Barry, Chris and Dennis.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-25280800986144698772014-09-04T14:28:00.001-05:002014-09-04T14:28:21.224-05:00The only blogger left. 9-4-2014Ok, now that everyones on facebook or tweeting each other I can do posts the way I really want to do them. No spell checking and just the facts for my future reference.<br />
Why pick it back up now?<br />
Last weekend was labor day weekend and the shenandoah mt 100 mtb race.<br />
I wanted to be there so badly so I've decided next year will be my comeback.<br />
I turn 50 next year so what better way to celebrate.<br />
<br />
I spent some time going over my previous posts to see what I did to get ready, what I might have done right/wrong. So glad I didn't do like alot of people and delete the blog when I stopped posting.<br />
<br />
Did a little updating to the blog. Added link for all the races I entered and updated the timer.<br />
<br />
I got a whole year to get ready. Only goal is to finish. I didn't want my last time at the race to be a DNF so "here we go again".<br />
<br />
Bicycle fitness wise I suck.<br />
22 miles at Rosaryville leaves me ragged and my longest road ride this whole year was 40 miles.<br />
Atleast I didn't gain the wieght back . I fluctuate between 214 and 220. Usually around 215 most days.<br />
<br />
I did do 28 miles at St.Marys lake last weekend and didn't feel too bad afterwards though I did catch "chiggers" again. Nastly little buggers that bite the shit outta my ankles and leave me alot of little bumps.<br />
<br />
Next post- more details of what I'm up to.<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-38434906363932527452012-03-19T16:02:00.001-05:002012-03-19T16:02:48.968-05:00I haven't worked at the bike shop since last October.<br />
They left it as they weren't busy enough for me to worry to about it.<br />
I've got a few rides on the bikes and starting to think about maintenace.<br />
It was so easy when I worked at the shop.<br />
Cheap parts, all the tools I needed (usually).<br />
<br />
Its spring and I know they're busy but I'm not doing it.<br />
Job #1 is busy as shit, I'm putting in 45+ hours a week.<br />
I don't feel like leaving job #1 just to go work on hybrids or road bikes for 3 hours.<br />
<br />
Damn I'm going to miss that discount though. <br />
Guess I gotta buy my own bike stand now.<br />
Shit!<br />
You know what the shops are charging for tubes?<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-83445419997906373402012-03-15T12:40:00.004-05:002012-03-15T12:40:50.662-05:00Back in the saddle.<br />
<br />
I've gotten out twice to see how I'm going to do.<br />
Saturday I did an "epic" of 2 laps at Rosaryville that just about killed me.<br />
1st lap went ok. I was dragging ass on the 2nd though.<br />
Still had flat pedals on, so I didn't do anything technical.<br />
I can't hop logs worth a crap without clipless pedals.<br />
<br />
Tuesday after work, same deal but I had clipless back on.<br />
Did a 49 minute lap on my 1st round. Not shabby considering my average fast times last year were 46.<br />
The bad news is that the shoulder is going to be a factor in my riding.<br />
I'd feel twinges whenever I hopped logs or tried to pull up on the bars while cranking up a hill.<br />
By the time I was done, it was pretty sore.<br />
Did a 2nd lap and finished up barely in time to make it out without getting caught in the dark.<br />
<br />
I'm getting there.<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-80991384161540188502012-03-07T11:03:00.002-05:002012-03-07T11:03:27.154-05:00I'm going to do a race.Not that I expect to do anything, but its motivation to start some real riding again.<br />
The 1st race I ever did was a 12 hour-3 man relay race at Quantico marine base.<br />
I answered an "AD" from a guy named Brad on the MORE site.<br />
We ended up finishing 3rd in the beginner category...Go team.<br />
This was waaaaay back, atleast 5 years ago, maybe more.<br />
<br />
So he emails me outta the blue and wants to know if I wanna be the 3rd member of his team for the 9 hour relay race at Rocky Gap State park. <br />
I'm not going to lie. I'm in the crappiest shape I've been in 3 years. But hey I can do a 9 mile lap then repeat 90 minutes later.<br />
Plus if I remember correctly, Brad was the slow guy back then and I doubt he's gotten alot faster.<br />
The race is May 5th. 2 months is plently of time to get in just good enough shape where I could pull laps faster than Brad and not be the "slow" guy.<br />
<br />
Health news.<br />
-Knee-so far this year it hasn't given me any problems. I'm pretty sure its because I haven't done a damn thing to stress it. I'm worried that once I up my riding intensity, it'll go out. We'll see.<br />
-Shoulder- Its been 12 weeks since surgery. I had another follow up this morning. Doc said I could resume all normal activities. He told me that since the repair wasn't done completely If I try to go heavy with the weightlifting it'll hasten the deterioration of the shoulder and step up how quickly I'd need to go to the next step. (joint replacement.).<br />
-weight- don't really care but about 225.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-66409767510463460352012-02-07T18:36:00.000-05:002012-02-07T18:36:13.753-05:00Before I lose these.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisZhtVDNWT_pMoLLUPd7-1Jmwny9b0gUo8vWqnj94l0Tdm461uD0ofNYSlCVaV2uPeRf8UXc7heAbvdUqThNGPB3qy-PnQqsVUxbRWEfvs6PUJ3PWQ73PMa8qB3Yje2Cm7h1ICQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisZhtVDNWT_pMoLLUPd7-1Jmwny9b0gUo8vWqnj94l0Tdm461uD0ofNYSlCVaV2uPeRf8UXc7heAbvdUqThNGPB3qy-PnQqsVUxbRWEfvs6PUJ3PWQ73PMa8qB3Yje2Cm7h1ICQ/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
As a dislaimer; my leg is swollen in this pict. Its not normally this fat.....or atleast I hope not.<br />
<br />
The cut was so wide the wife couldn't get the whole thing with 1 pict.<br />
<br />
That purplish hue isn't a photo screw-up. Thats some of the bruising that was going on. The pict doesn't do it justice.<br />
27 staples on the outside, 20-30 on the inside.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_TWqYDF8RWjr3jvxNZ5bcLm0eMtaWMY45Qp7ge_C8-ook4CGm1bKtyI49QbhR0xUD4lqP1UuH_-sXYUCH_3QQmjinr2DaH9UQSGNXFd5cMjCik-RshXjPwWMZwBL4w64KYl1Xw/s1600/photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_TWqYDF8RWjr3jvxNZ5bcLm0eMtaWMY45Qp7ge_C8-ook4CGm1bKtyI49QbhR0xUD4lqP1UuH_-sXYUCH_3QQmjinr2DaH9UQSGNXFd5cMjCik-RshXjPwWMZwBL4w64KYl1Xw/s320/photo2.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-53504551327856410482012-02-07T18:29:00.001-05:002012-02-07T18:29:05.172-05:00Still alive and kick'n.Looks like 2 weeks since my last post, lets see whats happened.<br />
<br /> The leg. <br />
I got some pictures somewhere and will put them up some time. <br />
I got the staples pulled out 2 weeks after the initial injury. Thats the longest I've waited to have suturers removed. It swelled up pretty good for 10 days. Had me worried that it had got infected, but all the leg, except for the cut area is back to normal. Doc gave me the OK to get back on the bike (the trainer).1st night back on the trainer I had a spot open and drip a little blood. Other than that the pedaling seems to be helping the leg get back to normal.<br />
<br />
The shoulder.<br />
Doc gave me the ok to get back on the bike for that too. Although he didn't explicitly say the mountain bike, and I didn't explicitly ask. I went out to the Rose and tried doing a lap a week ago.<br />
Nope, its not ready yet. I did a lap but had to hold back on anything technical. The shoulder doesn't feel like it has the strength to handle the rough stuff. I'll give it another 2weeks and try again.<br />
<br />
To pass the time I'm back on the trainer in the basement. <br />
I had my 1st MTB with slicks on the trainer. I went about changing out the seatpost after the accident.<br />
That SOB would not budge. Over a period of 3 nights I soaked it with a lubricant ,put a torch to it, and put a pipe wrench on it while beating it with a small sledge hammer. It didn't move AT ALL.<br />
I ended up taking the road bike and putting it on the trainer. Next step is to flip it, take out the bottom bracket and spray some lube from the bottom.<br />
If that doesn't work, I'm at a lost. I guess I'll need to trash the bike.<br />
<br />
Next doc appt is in 4 weeks. Until then I'm doing a little bit of lifting trying to build the strength.<br />
So far I've gone from 5 to 10 lbs doing deltoid raises. For reference, I use a 45lb dumbell on the good arm. <br />
Baby steps.<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-11062418849855367332012-01-20T14:02:00.002-05:002012-01-20T14:02:42.910-05:00Somthing interesting happened.First, happy new year.<br />
Had my 2nd surgery for the shoulder, it feels like shit at the moment but I go back to the doc in a week and we'll talk about physical therapy.<br />
To keep myself in some sort of shape I've been using the trainer in the basement while watching TV.<br />
<br />
Tuesday night, the 17th, I'm down there pedaling away watching an episode of Shameless.<br />
With shoulder the way it is, I don't evan hold onto the bars most of time. I just sit in an upright position and pedal away. I'm 30 minutes into my workout ,taking it easy doing about 14mph.<br />
Next thing I know I'm falling backwards and feel a pain in my leg.<br />
I cuss and hobble up and see blood splatters all over the floor. My leg has got a "huge" gash in it.<br />
It looks like a huge hunk of leg has been torn off and I'm staring at the muscle.<br />
Shit! This is serious.<br />
I grab a "sweat" towel I have and wrap it as tight as I can around the leg.<br />
Hobble up the stairs, and inform the wife she needs to take me to the emergency room.<br />
She puts up no argument. She's seen me get wounded before and knows that I don't see doctors unless I think my life is in jeopardy. I grab a belt before we leave and tie it around the towel.<br />
The closet hospital is only 10 miles away or so in Laplata. I try to act as calm as possible as to not freak the wife out. She doesn't do well in medical situations. As we're driving over, she's doing about 60?? Really? I'm worried about bleeding out in the truck and she's doing only 60?<br />
<br />
Get to the hospital. She drops me at the entrance. I hobble in half bent over trying to hold this bright pink/red/blue beach towel around my leg. I'm wearing a nasty ass pair of workout shorts, and a beat up coat thats oversized to acccomodate the shoulder. I was a sight.<br />
After 15 minutes somebody finally calls us into the "triage" area. I'm thinking, finally about fuck'n time.<br />
This medical person, I don't evan think she's a nurse takes my temp, BP, and asks some questions.<br />
"On a scale of 1-10 hows the pain?". I'm a man. I've had worse pain. Its about a 5-6.<br />
"Is the bleeding under control?". "Well, I'm not moving the towel to look, and I don't see a puddle of blood on the floor, so I assume it is". <br />
She than tells us to go over to this other area and doesn't evan bother looking at the wound??<br />
I didn't realize it at the time, but she was sending me over to the area where the the low lifes go, who have a headache and are too poor to buy asprin so they go to the emergency room.<br />
<br />
Finally after a fuck'n hour they call me back. It's now after 10pm, we walked into the hospital a little after 8.<br />
I tell the wife to stay in the waiting area. If she see this she'll freak.<br />
This little medical assistant (once again, not even a real nurse) has me remove the towel.<br />
He takes one look at it and tells me to put the towel back on it and apply pressure and he'll be right back.<br />
He come back with 2 doctors and 1 nurse (real this time, or as real as this shitty hospital has). <br />
They have me move my leg and decide I hadn't sliced any real muscle. I think the doc took it as a challenge and said "yeah I can suture that".<br />
They want to flood it with saline solution 1st. So the "not a nurse" sets a bottle of water up and runs a IV tube from it. He than has me sit on the edge of the bed with my leg over a bucket and hold this dripping IV tube over the wound.<br />
Now, let me set this straight. He has ME hold the dripping IV over the wound. What is this? A self service hospital?<br />
After 30 minutes of holding the drip with no one even checking in, the nurse comes in and gives me a tetnis shot, and hooks up some anti-biotics into the IV.<br />
The doc finally makes his way back in, stictches up the 2 inner layers that have been cut.<br />
Looks around and he can't find his "staple" gun. He leaves to find it. 30 minutes later he actually finds his way back, without the stapler. Leaves for another 5 and come back.<br />
He finishes and finally bandages me up. BTW, the bandage goes to fall down my leg before I evan make it out of the hospital.<br />
<br />
I get home at 2. I'm tired but want to see what happend.<br />
The hole time I'm in the hospital I'm assuming the carbon fibre seatpost had broke.<br />
Nope. The saddle was held onto the seatpost with 1 bolt, and it snapped.<br />
When I fell backwards my leg snagged the top of the v-brake.<br />
<br />
seeya<br />
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-3361071843686533492011-12-09T08:36:00.001-05:002011-12-09T08:47:50.657-05:00Post-pre surgery.Got the 2nd surgery set up for dec 13.<br />
In my post op appt with the doc I got a few things straight.<br />
All my shoulder muscles are in good shape except for the tendon that is ripped.<br />
Its not attached, hence no blood flow.<br />
No matter how much I try to exercise, its not going to grow.<br />
<br />
The Doc said he isn't a "specialist" in shoulders. His specialty is knees and hips.<br />
He is bringing in a specialist to do or assist, I'm not sure which with the surgery.<br />
<br />
It's going to be interesting trying to x-mas shop and wrap presents with the arm in a sling.<br />
<br />
I got out for an easy ride at the Rose with Doc,Barry, and Matt last Sunday.<br />
Beautiful day in the 60's.<br />
I could ride as long as I purposely put little or no pressure on the right arm.<br />
It kinda makes you more effecient. You end up using the legs more and relying less on your upper body for momentum.<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-10556904852800884152011-11-24T18:44:00.001-05:002011-11-24T18:57:38.237-05:00Surgery-FailAtleast it wasn't my fault.<br />
Show up at 6 for my 7 am rotor cuff surgery.<br />
I'm all set, ready to be in a sling and have my daily routine turned upside down for the next 2 months, atleast.<br />
(I've been in an armcast before, maybe I won't be in a cast this time but still down to 1 arm. It sucks)<br />
I wake up from the anestethia. <br />
I remember something about bad news???<br />
Well atleast I'm not dead, or am I?<br />
Is my wife really a ghost whisperer? <br />
Just kidding.<br />
Private joke for the wife, she loved that show.<br />
<br />
From what I've been able to gather from my wife,what I remember of what the doctor said and my own deduction-<br />
The rip in the rotor cuff is old, the recent injury must have just aggrivated it and caused pain.<br />
Because of the age of the tear and the poor condition of the neighboring muscle, the doc couldn't do the procedure as he had planned.<br />
Bassically he cut me open in 3 spots, had a look around and got scared off.<br />
<br />
He wants to get togather with another doc in his practice who's a "speciallist" and get his assistance in doing a repair with a different type of procedure.<br />
<br />
I'm going in to see him next week, to get the stiches out and talk to him while not doped up, to get a better idea of what going to happen.<br />
<br />
If I don't like the way he talks I'm looking into getting another orthopedic doc.<br />
I need somebody who specializes is athletes. Now that I think about it, his office is always full of old people.<br />
<br />
seeya<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-18806581107838786192011-11-17T08:20:00.001-05:002011-11-17T08:33:02.013-05:00Surgery is set to go.Got the surgery for the torn rotor cuff set up for Novemeber 23, the day before Thanksgiving. Guess who won't be carving the turkey this year.<br />
When the nurse suggested the date, initially I didn't like the idea but after some thought, it'll work out for work.<br />
The day before holidays are always slow and I've got 4 full days off before I gotta go back.<br />
Been trying to take care of stuff that I won't be able to do with 1 arm.<br />
Changed the oil in the vehicles, did some yard work etc.<br />
Last thing I want to do this weekend is crawl up on the roof and adjust my satellite dish.<br />
<br />
I had the pre-op meeting with my Doc yesterday. They've got to drill into bone to place the sutures. He tells me "sometimes" the drill bits break and rather than dig them out they leave them in there.<br />
?????<br />
Atleast he's honest and up front with that.<br />
What do I care? I'm sure I've got a crap load of debris floating around in me from my days in construction.<br />
<br />
Health update:<br />
Hell, just to keep track of where I'm at.<br />
Right around #215. Last time I had surgery, despite sitting on my ass most of the time and satisfying my craving for kettle cooked bbq potatoe chips, I actually lost weight.<br />
Muscle atrophy? I don't know.<br />
I'll see what happens this time.<br />
<br />
Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can get 1 last spin on the Mt. bike at Cedarville this weekend.<br />
<br />
seeya<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-30044528503648235552011-11-03T15:36:00.001-05:002011-11-03T15:37:23.132-05:00Lets see where this goes.Not much has been going on since the beginning of September.<br />
Riding went way down. A lot because I got burnt out from riding, and when I really did want to ride I've been having problems with the shoulder. It hasn't been bad enough where I "couldn't" ride. Its just bad enough where it made riding less enjoyable.<br />
I've been trying to bulk back up by hitting the weights and the shoulder is holding that back too.<br />
2 months after the injury and its not better. Ok, I go and see my orthopedic doctor. The injury happened back in the 2nd week of August.<br />
After a few range of motion ,strength tests, and x rays he thinks I've got a torn rotor cuff.<br />
????<br />
Thats a new one for me. <br />
He sends me to get an MRI. I've gotta wait a week for that and than can't get an appt with him for a week after that. <br />
I go to the MRI expecting to just to be put inside the "tube". These buttheads tell me they've got to inject some crap into into my shoulder. I didn't come prepared for all that.<br />
Anyways, they give me a disk (CD) with the images from the MRI. I can't wait a week to hear the prognosis from the doc so I load the disk up and look at the images myself.<br />
As far as I can tell, I'm 5 months pregnant.......<br />
<br />
Back to the doc yesterday, finally.<br />
He tells me "yup, you've got a BIG tear, we'd better schedule surgery ASAP".<br />
No "lets try physical therapy" or "wait and see what happens".<br />
Fucker just wants to cut me open.<br />
<br />
I've had surgery on the arm before. I had a torn biceps tendon fixed 11 years ago(from what I understand its a common injury among baseball pitchers. I didn't play baseball, just lifted really heavy things too fast).<br />
It wasn't fun, and from what I've read this sounds like a pretty similar.<br />
6 weeks in a sling, and than another 6 before I'll be able to fully use it.<br />
Damn thing was feeling pretty good when I walked in his office.<br />
<br />
I told him I'd have to talk to the wife and see whats going on at work before we schedule anything.<br />
He says he'll give the info to his surgical coordinator and she'll call with a date. If it doesn't work , let her know. Pushy bastard. The recession must be hitting him too. Needs to make that Mercedes payment.<br />
<br />
So, for a while the blog content will go from "Why I'm so Slow on a Bike" to "Why is Tom Picking his Nose with His Left Hand".<br />
<br />
<b>Bonus Info</b> <br />
SM100 Content. <br />
I feel better now about not being able to man handle my bike on some of the hike-a-bike stuff during the race. Give me a break, I had a torn rotor cuff.<br />
Oh yeah, I'm going to milk this for all its worth.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-19624502640242836192011-09-07T12:09:00.000-05:002011-09-13T12:11:24.743-05:00SM100 20113rd DNF at this dumb race.<br />
2 days after the race and my legs are still killing me.<br />
I might have quit at AS4, but by god, I gave it my all this time.<br />
Starting to have a few doubts at the moment. I keep wondering if I had continued would the cramps have gotten better and went away or would all that damn food I was eating finally metabolize and give me some energy back.<br />
Oh well.<br />
Like I've heard the only things we really regret are the things we didn't try.<br />
<br />
So the official report. I'm going to make it sound really sucky so I don't read this in a couple of months and think, "it wasn't so bad let me give it one more shot".<br />
<br />
Friday.<br />
Leave work at 9am after being there 2 hours. I go home and cut the grass so Judys not staring at it all weekend (she might think twice before issuing the next hall pass). Maybe this attributed to my dnf? Any excuse at this point will be good. Get all my stuff packed and ready to go for Saturday morning.<br />
<br />
Saturday.<br />
Randy calls me while I'm driving down, through a thunderstorm around Front Royal. He's there, and has our spot from last year. Good, I can stop speeding and relax. Make it down and its hot and dry. Set up camp, register, fill up my 2 drop bags (lights at cp5,soda and powered gatorade for cp3) eat the spaghetti dinner and than back to camp. It was kinda warm and humid. No need for the extra blankets I'd brought.<br />
<br />
Sunday-Race day.<br />
Woke up @ 5 with noise of the wake up gong. Warm enough were I didn't need a jacket getting ready.<br />
Sleeveless jersery was fine, unlike last year were it was freezing and I had to dig a sleeved jersery out of pile of crap from the truck. Had a breakfast of iced cinnamon roll and coffee. Walked up to the start line at 6:15. Just enough light say I could make out the road. They had a bracketed start like last year. Instead of lining up all the way in the back I lined up with the 12 hour people although I think there was only 1 bracket behind us. Chris Scott gave out last minute instructions which none of us in the 2nd to last bracket could hear. And the race started.<br />
<br />
Start-CP1<br />
Name of the game this year was 12.5 hours. I was treating this as more of race than I had in years past. I was passing quite a few people on the asphalt and fireroads to the first climb. Not pushing hard, just going a pace I felt comfortable with and not getting lazy and following someone cause I didn't feel like passing.<br />
The 1st real climb started and it was so much nicer than last year. It didn't seem as croweded. I was still passing people, not alot, but I was passing more than being passed. Right before the top you had one final steep pitch that 80% of the riders walked. I rode it with 3 other guys.<br />
The entrance to the single track had 10 or so riders waiting to get in, about 1/2 of what there was last year. While trying to weed my way in I had my 1st accident. I did one of those falls to the side while your clipped in. Nothing hurt, just embarrassed.<br />
I was starting to get pissed on the ridgeline. I couldn't believe the shit that some people were walking. Come on dammit, get out of the way! Finally the decent. I bombed the hell outta it. My bike is noisy. I can't figure it out. Might be a combo of chain slap and loose stuff saddle bag contents but it works to my advantage. If someone was in front of me they always heard me coming and got out of the way fast. I saw 5 crashes on the way down, including 1 tandem.<br />
Came up on CP1, I didn't need water so just blew by.<br />
<br />
CP1-2<br />
Took a minute on the road and sucked down some of gu they had given us, than I was back at it. I kept thinking about last year when I got passed by all the people I had passed on the previous descent. I kept a pretty good pace, a few people passed me, not many. I make it to the 2nd climb and join in the conga line of other riders walking to the top. You had a few riders who would try to ride, but they usually ended up walking a couple of hundred feet later. It was on this climb I was starting to get tired. I shouldn't be this tired this early. Not ragged out or anything just more tired than I should have been at this point in the race. <br />
I get to the top and I see my buddy Pat who took me out a few weeks ago to Wolf Gap. Nice surprise.<br />
While everyone else is taking a moment, I head down. Bombed down it at my normal pace. I must be getting better at descending, even tired I road well.<br />
Hit the bottom and have a few miles of gravel and asphalt to cp2. I roll into CP2 not wanting to waste time. A volunteer grabs my camelback and fills it halfway with water. I grab what amounts a whole PB&j sandwhich and some chips. I pour some gatorade powder into the CB than take off. As I'm leaving I see Pat rolling in. Its 10:15 am at this point. 30+ miles in 3:40. I'm doing ok.<br />
<br />
CP2-3<br />
Roll along the asphalt to the beginning of the 3 miles fireroad climb. I figure out something is really happening on the fireroad. Its hotter than shit and my head is throbbing. I get off and walk 4 times before I make it to the single track. I rode this completely the last time I finished the race. Make it to the singletrack and I'm hiking it all. The tightness in the legs are now turning to cramps. Even got passed by some other folks who were hiking. At this point I see my buddy Pat. That SOB is riding this damn thing. He's making all us hikers look like shit. I tell him how good he's doing but he makes a general remark back. What is he mad at me for not waiting for him at 2? I finally make it to the top and he's still there. I chat with him for a minute and he didn't even realize it was me who he had passed. Must have been in the pain tunnel. <br />
He takes off with a few other riders while I'm still resting and drinking. I take off and end up passing him and some others on the descent.<br />
Get to cp3. have them look for my drop bag and they can't find it. I didn't really need the soda but I kind of wanted that gatorade mix. I see my buddy Sue there volunteering. I tell her I'm not doing so hot and she doles out some words of encourgement. Pat get in and leaves while I'm resting. With the way I'm feeling, I'm pretty sure I won't see him again. On the bike and to the next climb. Its 12:20.<br />
<br />
CP3-4<br />
I'm riding the 5 miles of road till the next single track. The sun is really pounding down on me. My pace has slacked off, I'm doing at the most 9mph on the mostly climbing asphalt. The cramping is starting to get worse. I try standing some and mashing. Nope, it doesn't help only sets off a different set of muscle cramps. Walk once to alleviate the cramps and now I'm getting a hotspot on my foot at the cleat. I'm not happy.<br />
Get to the start of the single track. Before crossing the mostly dry riverbed I stumble and fall on a slick rock. Christ, WTH is going on. I'm falling apart before my eyes. <br />
Theres is a steep little ledge that you've got to pick you bike up onto before the real singletrack climb. I'm bonking hard now and it takes me 3 trys to get the bike up. <br />
I try to ride some of the single track up. I lower my seat remembering how it helped me on the pre ride. Nope not going to work. That makes the cramps even worse.<br />
I finally settle for knowing I'm walking (stumbling really) the 2 miles to the top. I'd walk for 30 feet, stop and take a breather. Walk another 30, rest. Anybody who came up behind me I'd let past. Must have had 30 people pass me on that climb. The cramping is getting worse, my hands evan start cramping.<br />
Finally I make the top and I can't believe it. Pat is there sitting on the ground?? From what he told me he must have bonked too and walked up the same way I did. <br />
I try to lie on the ground for a few minutes but than my stomach muscles started cramping. All I could do was stand there and rest. Pat starts the descent, I take off 2 minutes behind him.<br />
I'm not sure what it is but I could still descend with no problem. Maybe its the adrenaline that offsets the cramps. I don't know but I'm bombing the trail down. Caught up and passed about 6 riders, including Pat.<br />
Make the bottom and I'm actually debating going on (still pumped full of adrenaline). Pat catches up to me at the bottom I tell him go ahead. There are a few small hills, and I mean small, till the next AS. As soon as the rush of descending wears off I'm back to walking and cramping. I finally make it to the flat section the last 1/2 mile before the AS. I can't evan stay on the bike and need to rest on that.<br />
Thats it I'm done.<br />
Finally make it to the AS. Its 3:15 1st person I see is Randys wife, Becky. She comes over to me and I tell her I'm bagging it. Pat has been there a few minutes and is getting ready to leave. He says he's feeling a little better and is heading out to AS5. I give him my baggy of endurolytes, I still have about 10 left. He ran out but has more in his drop bag at 5. I hope they work better for him than they did for me.<br />
Me and another rider get a lift with Becky back to the campground. <br />
<br />
Campground.<br />
Becky drops me off and walks up to the finish line to wait for Randy to come in. I still felt like crap. I don't think I felt this bad when I finished 2 years ago. I sit in my truck with the a/c going for 40 minutes before I got the energy up to evan change outta my riding gear. Everytime I'd bend over to pull my socks off I'd get cramps in the legs and stomach. I finally get changed and than pack my camp up.<br />
Randy and Becky come back (I wanted to go up and see him come in but didn't have the energy to walk up the hill). I talk with them a while. Becky packs up there camp and they leave.<br />
I go up to the finish to get something to eat and get me and Randys drop bags from AS5. Talk a little with Denis and Chris. Drop bags finally get back about 8:30.<br />
I get in my little pick up and leave.<br />
SM100- 2011 is over for me.<br />
<br />
Post thoughts.<br />
I don't feel too bad about quitting. I left it all out there. You have good days on the bike and bad days. This wasn't one of the better days. Now that I think back, I'm not evan sure if I would have made the cut off for AS 5 if I had tried. I wonder what would have happened if I'd gone out slower. I was making excellent time till 34 miles in. I also wonder if I had left AS4 if I would have gotten one of those "2nd winds" and maybe the cramps would have finally subsided. <br />
<br />
There's always next year. Bullshit.<br />
Thats it for me.<br />
Maybe I'll be back in 4 years to celebrate my 50th birthday and go Masters instead of Clydesdale.<br />
..<br />
..<br />
..<br />
..<br />
..<br />
..<br />
To my future self reading this: DON'T YOU SIGN UP FOR THIS RACE AGAIN IN 2012. DUMBASS.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10601986.post-39186298142715288422011-09-01T20:11:00.000-05:002011-09-01T20:11:18.109-05:00Shakedown ride part deuxMet Randy and Paul for an easy ride at the Rose for a last ride and to check out the bike.<br />
Dennis S. showed up too. He's also doing the 100 this weekend.<br />
Bike worked great.<br />
Shows that shimano makes one cheap ring that only last a couple of months.<br />
With the exception of Paul (who is not racing) we were all riding like a bunch of amateurs.<br />
None of us wanted to chance either screwing up ourselves or the bikes.<br />
Half way through I said " Maybe we should all just walk back to cars".<br />
Randy evan carried his bike over one of the stream crossings so he wouldn't get his brakes wet.<br />
Set the tent up in the house to air it out and to make sure the mice hadn't gotten to it.<br />
In to work for a few hours tomorrow, back home and cut my grass than a little shopping and final packing for the weekend.<br />
<br />
Finally, I didn't think this weekend would ever get here.<br />
I'm hoping for a 12.5 finish. I'm not taking it easy this year. I'm not going out total race pace, but I'm also not going to be treating this like a long ride. <br />
If I'm not resting, I'm cranking it hard.<br />
Remember to eat and drink.<br />
<br />
This is better than Christmas.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13567910002028750396noreply@blogger.com1