The Mayo Clinic confirmed the diagnosis today. For those who do not know, this heart diseae causes the heart walls to be abnormally thick. It is also the disease that causes sudden death, especially in young athletes. I knew going in today that there was a chance that my doctor would tell me this, but I was totally optimistic that he would say everything is fine. The thought has been in my mind for quite some time now that I was on borrowed time in regards to the strides I was making in cycling. Today my doctor agreed that I've been lucky.
So what does this mean? No more training, racing, running, lifting, playing ball...basically everything athletic that I have done since I was old enough to throw a ball. From here I have a whole new series of tests to have done to decide on my direction. The end result could be an implanted defibrillator. I am confident that the doctors at Mayo and the experts at the Mayo in Rochester will get this all managed. Either way, considering that there is no cure for this disease, I have plenty of time to figure out what to do with myself. More important, I need to get my princess checked right away because this disease is hereditary. My hopes above and beyond everything is that she didn't get this nonsense.
I think its going to take a few days for this to set in and for me to accept my fate. I have no choice but to slow down quite a bit and enjoy life. There are tons of things that I now have time to do and learn. I also don't have a reason to be so selfish with my time anymore...
September 10, 2008
September 9, 2008
Blue Rambling
Man, we had an awesome time Satuday night at the wedding. Great setup, great people, great time! I'll get some pictures posted soon...
Ok, so yesterday I spent the entire day at the Mayo Clinic, seeing the doc and getting the full gamut of heart tests done. Everything went well and I should know some results after my follow up appointment on Wednesday. I am pretty nervous but am anxious to find out the next path for me to follow. I am handling things as if I will be ok and able to race this weekend...
Speaking of racing, I sure would love to have a bike to race on this weekend. Trek says my bike is somewhere in paint and should be here soon. I thought it was painted last week. Either way, I told them I want it here, like now...
Real quick- this weekend was also awesome for football!! The NFL kicked off this past weekend and college provided all of the usual excitement. UK and UofL romped over some junior colleges, Urban took the dirty route over the U, Spurrier got a taste of his own medicine, OSU looks ripe to get slaughtered by USC nest week and East Carolina is this year's surprise so far. In the pro league, our beloved Jags looked horrible as their D still couldn't stop Tennesee's ground game, Garrard played like he just got paid (shoddy) and the O line is in serious trouble with all the injuries. Man, it could be a longer year than anticipated. But there was all kinds of other excitement across the league and plenty of good story lines (Brady out for the year?) developing. Man, football friggin rulez!
One last thought, I heard Lance may be coming back for the 2009 Tour. Stay tuned...
Ok, so yesterday I spent the entire day at the Mayo Clinic, seeing the doc and getting the full gamut of heart tests done. Everything went well and I should know some results after my follow up appointment on Wednesday. I am pretty nervous but am anxious to find out the next path for me to follow. I am handling things as if I will be ok and able to race this weekend...
Speaking of racing, I sure would love to have a bike to race on this weekend. Trek says my bike is somewhere in paint and should be here soon. I thought it was painted last week. Either way, I told them I want it here, like now...
Real quick- this weekend was also awesome for football!! The NFL kicked off this past weekend and college provided all of the usual excitement. UK and UofL romped over some junior colleges, Urban took the dirty route over the U, Spurrier got a taste of his own medicine, OSU looks ripe to get slaughtered by USC nest week and East Carolina is this year's surprise so far. In the pro league, our beloved Jags looked horrible as their D still couldn't stop Tennesee's ground game, Garrard played like he just got paid (shoddy) and the O line is in serious trouble with all the injuries. Man, it could be a longer year than anticipated. But there was all kinds of other excitement across the league and plenty of good story lines (Brady out for the year?) developing. Man, football friggin rulez!
One last thought, I heard Lance may be coming back for the 2009 Tour. Stay tuned...
September 5, 2008
almost out of focus...
Where to start? Hmm...football season is in full swing...my bike frame is still not back from warranty yet...the fall series starts next week...hurricanes are all over the place...the 8 hour race that went terribly wrong...my upcoming visit to the Mayo Clinic's cardiology department...my bestest buddy getting married tomorrow....all of life's events keeping my ADD riddled mind in a virtual tailspin....aahhh!!
Ok, since I have plenty of time to talk about football (and about UK puttin a spankin on UofL last weekend)- I'll get into the sorta serious mess. 4 years ago it was discovered that my heart was abnormal. While getting several opinions, there was no clear diagnosis on what had caused my heart walls to get so thick nor was there ever a definite "green-light" given to participate in competitive athletics. Back then I took a year off from everything, got on medication and my heart managed to get better. As of now I am on light medication, I fight a few symptoms here and there and I have been pursuing mountain bike racing with a full head of steam. One doctor advised against it, one thought it was ok and one didn't know. Who do you think I listened to?
This year I hired a coach and followed a structured training regimen for the first time ever. My goal was to achieve the greatest success possible this fall in the Florida Series expert class. Everything seems to be building quite well so far. Well, so far so good...kinda...
I went into the 8 Hour Race this past Sunday feeling good, in a good place training-wise and also in a good position as far as rest, hydration and diet. I felt pretty good that Char and I would be able to win the co-ed team class. But when I finished my first lap Sunday, I didn't feel quite right. During my 2nd lap, cramps set in (already?) and then everything fell apart for me- I shut down. I crawled though that lap and the next two fighting no energy or power at all, severe leg and body cramps, headaches, nausea, blurred vision, disorientation, a strong desire to go sleep and also fought off several episodes of passing out. This scared me, bad. I have felt pretty bad a few times when I have raced/ridden in the heat, but it usually takes over 4 hours of non-stop riding to get close to any of these symptoms- more like 5 to 6 hours. But I have never experienced anything this bad. This was well beyond bonking.
What went wrong? Dunno. Chemical imbalance? Severe dehydration? Heart issues? Heart medication reaction? Diabetes? Char and myself have been all over the internet researching possible causes. Either way, I need to get myself figured out, and who better to do it than the Mayo Clinic. I have been itching to go here for years but have hesitated due to money/insurance reasons- but now they are covered. I am hoping to get an answer on my heart condition and an answer to racing mountain bikes at the expert level. Can I? Can my heart handle it? Do I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (my original diagnosis) or not? Or is my heart even the problem? Maybe an answer will be had Monday or maybe it will take a little longer. I also have arranged for my primary care to be handled at the Mayo Clinic so if my issues are not heart related, another avenue can be taken to determine my apparent imbalance- in the same building. But for now, racing is on the back burner until I know for sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that it is safe for me to continue.
In the meantime, I will continue to spin so that I do not lose the fitness that I have worked so hard on building. I will stay busy with Avery and her homework, tennis, biking, running, etc. I will help Char in every way possible with her race season and the trip to Tahoe for the XTERRA National Championship. I still plan to be at all the races this fall and I even still have it in my head that I will race next week in Gainesville. I have been stressed but I have decided not to let it beat me down like it did last time. Hell, its fall and its football season! What's more exciting than that? Also, my boy sbc is gettin married tomorrow! Party time starting tonight! There is just too much good stuff going on around me to let one hiccup spoil the party!
Oh, with me barely moving on the bike Sunday while spinning around the cuckoo's nest- we managed to get 2nd!
Ok, since I have plenty of time to talk about football (and about UK puttin a spankin on UofL last weekend)- I'll get into the sorta serious mess. 4 years ago it was discovered that my heart was abnormal. While getting several opinions, there was no clear diagnosis on what had caused my heart walls to get so thick nor was there ever a definite "green-light" given to participate in competitive athletics. Back then I took a year off from everything, got on medication and my heart managed to get better. As of now I am on light medication, I fight a few symptoms here and there and I have been pursuing mountain bike racing with a full head of steam. One doctor advised against it, one thought it was ok and one didn't know. Who do you think I listened to?
This year I hired a coach and followed a structured training regimen for the first time ever. My goal was to achieve the greatest success possible this fall in the Florida Series expert class. Everything seems to be building quite well so far. Well, so far so good...kinda...
I went into the 8 Hour Race this past Sunday feeling good, in a good place training-wise and also in a good position as far as rest, hydration and diet. I felt pretty good that Char and I would be able to win the co-ed team class. But when I finished my first lap Sunday, I didn't feel quite right. During my 2nd lap, cramps set in (already?) and then everything fell apart for me- I shut down. I crawled though that lap and the next two fighting no energy or power at all, severe leg and body cramps, headaches, nausea, blurred vision, disorientation, a strong desire to go sleep and also fought off several episodes of passing out. This scared me, bad. I have felt pretty bad a few times when I have raced/ridden in the heat, but it usually takes over 4 hours of non-stop riding to get close to any of these symptoms- more like 5 to 6 hours. But I have never experienced anything this bad. This was well beyond bonking.
What went wrong? Dunno. Chemical imbalance? Severe dehydration? Heart issues? Heart medication reaction? Diabetes? Char and myself have been all over the internet researching possible causes. Either way, I need to get myself figured out, and who better to do it than the Mayo Clinic. I have been itching to go here for years but have hesitated due to money/insurance reasons- but now they are covered. I am hoping to get an answer on my heart condition and an answer to racing mountain bikes at the expert level. Can I? Can my heart handle it? Do I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (my original diagnosis) or not? Or is my heart even the problem? Maybe an answer will be had Monday or maybe it will take a little longer. I also have arranged for my primary care to be handled at the Mayo Clinic so if my issues are not heart related, another avenue can be taken to determine my apparent imbalance- in the same building. But for now, racing is on the back burner until I know for sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that it is safe for me to continue.
In the meantime, I will continue to spin so that I do not lose the fitness that I have worked so hard on building. I will stay busy with Avery and her homework, tennis, biking, running, etc. I will help Char in every way possible with her race season and the trip to Tahoe for the XTERRA National Championship. I still plan to be at all the races this fall and I even still have it in my head that I will race next week in Gainesville. I have been stressed but I have decided not to let it beat me down like it did last time. Hell, its fall and its football season! What's more exciting than that? Also, my boy sbc is gettin married tomorrow! Party time starting tonight! There is just too much good stuff going on around me to let one hiccup spoil the party!
Oh, with me barely moving on the bike Sunday while spinning around the cuckoo's nest- we managed to get 2nd!
September 3, 2008
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