Tweedle Beetle Tri-Atheletle

Some of us ride to train.
Some of us ride for general health.
Some of us ride to get from home to work and/or from work to home..
Some of us ride for our significant others, fathers, mothers or brothers.
Some of us ride because we can't drive, for one reason or another.
Some of us ride because it is hard... really hard, depending on how hard you want it be.

Others, a lucky few, ride because every once and a while - it allows us the capacity to capture an experience which is worth remembering.  Experiences like these can take place any-day, anytime, anywhere or with anyone.  My experience today though, took place on a beautiful February Day, about 60 degrees and sunny.  Cold enough to wear a sweatshirt but not cold enough for a jacket.

My riding partner for the day saddled up on his bike looking particular fast - a red skateboarding helmet, partially sliding off the back of his head because of the stocking cap being worn underneath, his Velcro-shoes, strapped stylishly in a "X".   I donned my more "stylish" Old Navy jeans, tucked strategically into my socks.  Instead of my Specialized bike shoes, I elected to go with a less common high top converse (old school style).

They ride was typical.  We covered rolling terrain, made especially tricky by the allowance of driveways gently greeting the pavement of the street.  For a bit it was stop and go, as we checked both ways before moving from one side walk to the other.  Our stats were also typical - 1 mile covered, 40 min of ride time, Average Speed of 4.2 mph... oh and a stop at the slides and a loop around the basketball court.

This ride was not special because of the sights seen, the weather, the speed or distance.  It wasn't special because my heart rate was in the "target range" for 80% of the ride or that I lead the pack for more than my fair share.  It was incredibly special because it was with my son - my very first ride with my 4 year old son.  In a life which is so unpredictable, so fleeting - these experiences are gifts, and these gifts are the reason why I ride.  Today's gift was unexpected, this experience was one to remember and document.  Today was certainly a ride of a lifetime - and I am grateful.

Why do you ride?

First - let me tell you all, that this blog has been exceptional for me.  In many ways, over the last 5 weeks - I feel like for the first time in many years, I have a passion.  I really enjoy writing, it keeps me present and allows me to share all that I enjoy, whether it is stories about my family, incredible physical pain, new additions to my spine or (To get back to the ORIGINAL point of this Blog) to discuss my training for Triathlons.  I am even considering branching out into authoring and submitting articles for publication in running/cycling/fitness related periodicals.

Hi All,

Just had my 2 week follow up X-Rays... Here they are.  I will have my follow up appointment tomorrow (I assume all is well!

Before...

• Name: Prodisc-C Total Disk Replacement
• http://us.synthesprodisc.com/EN-US/
• Description: 
• 
  

  The Prodisc-C total disc replacement has been determined to be safe and effective in the treatment of symptomatic cervical degenerative disc disease. The Prodisc-C total disc replacement surgery is intended to: – Remove the diseased disc – Decompress the neurological structures – Restore normal disc height – Preserve motion in affected vertebral segment – Improve patient function Since December 2007 the Prodisc-C total disc replacement is approved for use in the US by the FDA after an IDE clinical study.

  Photo: 

• My Photos:

• My Results Thus Far:  Wow!!!  Exactly one week after surgery, the radiating pain down my arm is gone and has stayed gone.  I am back to work and plan on starting into PT early next week.  The soreness around the surgical site was always minimal but has improved substantially from that.  My range of motion has improved significantly but I am still stiff.  God, thank you, I can finally sleep at night... and in any position I want!!!! I preyed for a really good outcome of the procedure and thus far, the outcome is exceeding my expectations significantly.  I am going to continue to be conservative and stick with the "Don't pick up anything more than a coffee cup" philosophy until the doctor gives me clearance (regardless if I think I "could" go for a run). If anyone is considering this procedure, I welcome you contacting me and asking questions but know that as long as your doctors see you as a good fit for the surgery and you trust them - I have no complaints!
• What I learned from all of this:

1. Take your health into your own hands!  Do not let anyone (Doctors especially) tell you how you are feeling.  You have the right to call them time after time after time to try and get in and see them.  If they tell you their first availability is in two weeks - take it and call back that afternoon to see if there has been a cancellation.  Call back EVERY day until they say "Yes, we have an opening!".  Your your disk was anything like mine, the impingement is killing your nerve and atrophying your muscles.  You are responsible for protecting yourself.
2. This surgery was not that painful - the drugs afterward were worse.  If I have to do this again I will tell them up front - in writing that I do not want anything more than Tylenol with Codeine.  
3. Have a good support network before the surgery.  My Dad, Step mom, Mother In Law, Step dad, Friends from my wifes Moms Club and friends made this such an easy time to take care of my self.

Oh to sleep again!!!

That's right, I went to bed at 11:00 PM and slept in until 7:00 AM.  Eight hours, haha!  I feel like I am on vacation.  Overall, I feel so much better today.  The pain in my throat has decreased substantially (although I am not eating any Nature Valley Granola Bars).  I am still stiff but really feel improved.

Now all I need is to... GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE!!!

I really do like my work but I would be lying if I said that I was running out the door every morning to get to the office.  Now I can't wait for my conservative half day tomorrow.  My associate Judy has been holding down the fort for me and I really feel bad about all the stuff she has been doing on my behalf.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to getting back to life.

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” - Lance Armstrong

Photo: AP
OK, OK...

I think I got a little ahead of myself in thinking I was out of the woods.  This morning I woke up feeling like I had just been pulled out from under a Mac Truck.  My esophagus felt like it had swollen substantially, my neck felt like it had been cemented into place and the muscles surrounding the incision were sore, sore, sore.  I was told to expect this but I was a bit spoiled yesterday as I felt very little pain.  Maybe the remaining adrenaline and other shock related hormones that came after the surgery helped in the 24 hrs after?  Regardless... it hurts now.

That said, I do believe it is time to reevaluate some of my fitness goals and acknowledge what the next 6 months are really going to look like.  For one, I think it prudent to rethink the Pacific Crest long course triathlon - and maybe target a long course triathlon later in the year.

OK - here are how things look:

• Jan 21st - Recovery from surgery begins.
• Feb 4th - Follow up with surgeon - hopefully relieved from "coffee cup lifting limit". Start back into cardio training on recline (granny) stationary bike. Start physical therapy to regain strength in tricep and maintain/increase range of motion safely. Start water running.
  
• March 4th - 6 week mark - hopefully relieved from "milk jug lifting limit".  Get started back into Spin (stationary bike) bike and road trainer.  Start back into swim training. Start light running.
• April 4th - 10 week mark - hopefully relieved to full duty.  Ease back into full training and begin racing.
• May 15th - Run 10K at Pole Pedal Paddle (Defend title with the "Innovators") PR - 35:42.
  

Getting back to training on April 4th, gives me 10 weeks to be ready for the Pacific Crest Long Tri and looking at this realistically, I think it foolish and irresponsible to try and force my body into such a grueling race on such a short training schedule.  I don't want to give up on the idea of racing though so I am revising my goal to compete in the Olympic Distance Triathalon on June 26th, so...

• June 26th - Compete in the Pacific Crest Olympic Distance Triathalon

I will be adding some more events to the schedule but even more than all of this - I am simply looking forward to being a Dad again and a Husband.  It kills me each time my son asks me, "Is your back feeling better Dad?" I am so excited to say - yep! and snatch him off his feet and tickle him as he dangles mid air from my shoulder...

The worst is over...

Overall, the surgery (Complete Cervical C6/7 Artificial Disk Replacement) was a complete success (at least 2 days later). After gowning up, it was simply a waiting game.  The surgery before me was delayed by about an hour which in most circumstances would be a real bummer as you anticipate the worst.  Actually, though - it gave me time to meditate and get centered before the procedure was done.  I went in feeling very calm, collected and centered.  Here are some of the before photos showing everyone in a nervous but good spirit...

It's not the camera that adds the extra 40 lbs - its the gown... terribly unflattering especially when they pump it full of warm air.  That said, its like sitting in a sauna at the gym and a huge improvement over past surgeries where your nerves seam to turn you into an icicle.  You also may notice my uncommonly unshaven face.  I had a truly grand plan of shaving the morning of the surgery.  I failed at reading the "pre-opp" direction which are fairly clear - no shaving two days before surgery as it may increase infection.  I was stuck with the Itchiest face ever going into the procedure.

The procedure started at about 4:30 and I finally came out at about 6:30 and woke up around 8:00.  I can't remember much except talking my wife's yoga class up to the recovery nurse.  It was a long night - walking up every few hours and getting restless sleep between.  Overall the effects of the surgery paled in comparison to the side effects of the drugs they were giving me in fairly high dosages.  First they started me out on Dilaudid.

For me, the worst of my night started with my second dose of Dilaudid where it felt like my chest was being compressed with a 250 lb weight.  It took all my focus to raise and lower my chest and it scared the crap out of me.  While this effect eventually died off, it meant that the nurses hooked me up to all the machines again to send an alarm if I did go into respiratory arrest.  Later, the nausea and vomiting kicked in.  To combat this, at about 8:00 the next morning they gave me some sort of anti-nausea drug which brought on the worst of my recovery - I had uncontrollable twitching, leg muscle spasms and shaking.  On top of that, I had the worst anxiety - I would have done anything to get out of that hospital bed.  It was the worst feeling on the planet and one that I would never want to repeat again.  I finally got relief with more drugs, some sort of anti-convulsion/anti-seizure drug and Valium which helped me sleep a bit more.

Finally they asked me if I was in pain and I flatly lied to them saying NOPE - I FEEL GREAT! In hopes that they wouldn't give me anything else to make me feel worst.  The good news is that they then prescribed good old Tylenol which I have been on ever sense.  Sometimes I think it better that you just endure the "real" pain as opposed to the more awful side effects of the drugs they give you to cover it up.

All the worst said, I am soooooo relieved at the outcome of the surgery.  The radiating pain in my shoulder and arm is GONE. The numbness in my fingers has lessened and the strength in my triceps has increased substantially.  Am I sore?  Yes - especially the muscles around my incision on the front of my neck.  Honestly though, I have been in worse pain after a solid lacrosse game.  I really can't complain and feel so blessed that I could get this surgery as soon as I did.  I am looking forward to a 100% complete recovery!!!

I spoke with the surgeon after the procedure and he said I was a text book example of the perfect surgery.  The herniated disk was one of the top 3 largest that he had seen in the cervical spine and hernias of this size are usually reserved for the larger disks in the lower part of the back  It really justified the amount of pain, numbness and paralysis that I was feeling.  A very heart felt thank you to the expertise, caring and excellent skills of Dr. Keenen and Dr. Tatsumi of Oregon Spine Specialist (www.orspine.com).

My wife has been fantastic - she has been so strong through this and so caring.  I couldn't be a luckier husband.  My mother-in-law Susan, my Dad and Step Mom have all been out here spoiling my boys and keeping them from using their delicate daddy as a jungle gym.  Thanks to all who send their thoughts and prayers during and after the surgery and the meals coming in from Shannon's friends at "Mom's Club".  You have all made this difficult time so much easier to bare.

I am looking forward to taking my first shower after my surgery - although with my Dad's help, I did shave last night to great relief.  It also made me feel good that "Dad Duties" don't ever end :).