Hey there,
Sorry for those that read this blog but I'm taking a mini leave from it all for a few reasons I don't want to go into.
I will be back at some point and will update you in the future.
Jodie x
16 March 2009
03 March 2009
Rock on the Winter Grand Prix!!!
WOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
I smashed my PB on the Grand Prix tonight by 2 min 51 sec!!! Immensely proud with myself : D It was windy on the slight decline which would normally serve as a way of going faster but more energy had to be put in, plus it was raining. I'm not suggesting I could have done better had the weather been better... well maybe I am hinting at this! But still I've done myself proud!
If I look at it in the realistic light, the last Grand Prix I did was my first... so I had to beat my time AND I knew I hadn't pushed myself so tonight I did go a little more hell for leather!
Andrew, whom my friend Amy knows of but I haven't managed to tell yet (its a small world), caught me in the last 150m!!! Gutted otherwise I would have come first! Jammy sod hasn't been running (except for with the kids in his P.E. class) for ages! Never mind, I came second... though first would have been nice! My problem now is I've gone and shot myself right in the foot! My handicap will not be so kind to me in the first of the summer Grand Prix's!
A little about the Grand Prix and how they are run at Wallsend Harriers (as far as I am aware). The first Tuesday of every month the Harriers do their Grand Prix, there are 8 in the Winter version (one is at the end of Sept and there's a 'special' one on New Years Day), so it works out as x7 3.1 mile course and x1 5 mile course on New Years Day (MAD). The summer Grand Prix is only 2 miles and there are only 6; first Tuesday of the months April - Sept.
Hmmm now need to wind down and get some sleep... not going to happen for a wee while yet!
Tomorrow night I meet Oli Lewington for a duo performance in front of ~120 people at Durham High School including the established author Bill Bryson... WOW Lets see how much of a twit I can make myself look. Its a black tie event, so I'm having to wear a dress... the world is sick and evil.
Best have a ego booster in front of the mirror and an audience of dog, two cats and 13... no sorry now 12 tropical fish before Chris gets back from work and he gets the better version of my labours!
Toodle-oo x
I smashed my PB on the Grand Prix tonight by 2 min 51 sec!!! Immensely proud with myself : D It was windy on the slight decline which would normally serve as a way of going faster but more energy had to be put in, plus it was raining. I'm not suggesting I could have done better had the weather been better... well maybe I am hinting at this! But still I've done myself proud!
If I look at it in the realistic light, the last Grand Prix I did was my first... so I had to beat my time AND I knew I hadn't pushed myself so tonight I did go a little more hell for leather!
Andrew, whom my friend Amy knows of but I haven't managed to tell yet (its a small world), caught me in the last 150m!!! Gutted otherwise I would have come first! Jammy sod hasn't been running (except for with the kids in his P.E. class) for ages! Never mind, I came second... though first would have been nice! My problem now is I've gone and shot myself right in the foot! My handicap will not be so kind to me in the first of the summer Grand Prix's!
A little about the Grand Prix and how they are run at Wallsend Harriers (as far as I am aware). The first Tuesday of every month the Harriers do their Grand Prix, there are 8 in the Winter version (one is at the end of Sept and there's a 'special' one on New Years Day), so it works out as x7 3.1 mile course and x1 5 mile course on New Years Day (MAD). The summer Grand Prix is only 2 miles and there are only 6; first Tuesday of the months April - Sept.
Hmmm now need to wind down and get some sleep... not going to happen for a wee while yet!
Tomorrow night I meet Oli Lewington for a duo performance in front of ~120 people at Durham High School including the established author Bill Bryson... WOW Lets see how much of a twit I can make myself look. Its a black tie event, so I'm having to wear a dress... the world is sick and evil.
Best have a ego booster in front of the mirror and an audience of dog, two cats and 13... no sorry now 12 tropical fish before Chris gets back from work and he gets the better version of my labours!
Toodle-oo x
17 February 2009
Moo-dy
I'm not well and not running. A lot of walking to and fro through campus went into that decision. The deciding factor came when I eventually got to my locker and asked why I was being so indecisive when I'm not well. The answer was I can't bear the earache I get for not running!
I'm not feeling to grand about doing a marathon at the moment. Will ignore that thought and all will be fine next week...
At present moment I am sitting with housemate, Chris, who is also suffering some form of abdominal pain. Possible appendicitis and has had blood etc taken today to check. He has to be back by 11am tomorrow morning for results if not I'll be escorting to A&E through the night. He's stealing my 'special needs' limelight! I'm kidding of course. My gall bladder pain is currently switched on and have been sick twice today. However no sympathy for myself, I had chips last week and I can't digest fat so it was inevitable. I now have my new replacement meds. Nutrizym-10 (instead of Creon 10,000), so will be able to digest food. What a novel concept.
It only took a week from being prescribed to get this. Thank you to reception and pharmacy at RVI and The Glen Medical Group for all their help. Cynicism doesn't really become me but its staying in. I was really annoyed by the lack of human compassion and helpfulness. As a result I've went another week without medication.
Hmmm angry. Going to say good-bye.
I'm not feeling to grand about doing a marathon at the moment. Will ignore that thought and all will be fine next week...
At present moment I am sitting with housemate, Chris, who is also suffering some form of abdominal pain. Possible appendicitis and has had blood etc taken today to check. He has to be back by 11am tomorrow morning for results if not I'll be escorting to A&E through the night. He's stealing my 'special needs' limelight! I'm kidding of course. My gall bladder pain is currently switched on and have been sick twice today. However no sympathy for myself, I had chips last week and I can't digest fat so it was inevitable. I now have my new replacement meds. Nutrizym-10 (instead of Creon 10,000), so will be able to digest food. What a novel concept.
It only took a week from being prescribed to get this. Thank you to reception and pharmacy at RVI and The Glen Medical Group for all their help. Cynicism doesn't really become me but its staying in. I was really annoyed by the lack of human compassion and helpfulness. As a result I've went another week without medication.
Hmmm angry. Going to say good-bye.
09 February 2009
Joe/Pancreas wonders/PhDs/Stress
Wee update. I went running on Sunday with Gill and Joe (her 16yr old son). Gill lasted to the corner of the Nook round about and left us to continue the remaining run to my house in Hebburn. She admitted she'd been doing naught and would be attempting more and in summer she'll come out on bike and chase me to run faster... when she remembers how to ride a bike!
Joe wants to do marathons, iron mans and all this mad malark! He's going to try out the Harriers soon too. Joe had to be at work for 12 on Sunday so we ran to mine in Hebburn, which worked out at 7.2mile. I still felt really strong and could have ran to Newcastle. I had to take the dog out later in the day and ended up running in my hiking boots to get rid of the extra energy! Its wrong, running and walking all the time are meant to be tiring me out and its doing no such bloody thing! Instead when I walk I want to run so I end up storm trooping from place to place.
The head cold I had a week or so ago is still lingering around (grrr). But I can still run so its OK! I had some more results back from bloods (although they appear to have lost the extra pint they took....) to check vit levels. How can you lose a pint of blood!!! Don't they know the stuff is precious to me! Mehmehmeh! They'll want more of it to check seen as my hands resemble that of a 50yr old! Actually that's unfair, its more like a flaking corpse! My hands crack a lot and I don't realise that I have blood seeping out! LOVELY! Moisturisers/E45 etc do not work, they just make it worse, so maybe its vit related, hence need those results!
Otherwise all other blood tests were fine, even my HbA1C whoop whoop! My pancreatic sufficiency confirms I am a medical mystery/marvel. I'm virtually totally insufficient yet a healthy weight and don't take replacement enzymes... go figure that one out!
And I'm highly stressed with all my uni work and applying for PhDs but I've found one I really want to do, closing date is my birthday (16th Feb) so maybe its an omen.... please please please. Oh well back to the Bioremediation essay and a little revision before bed. I'm jogging into uni tomorrow morning so will be up early to walk dog, then jog and be showered and ready for 9am lecture... fond of a treat?
Jodie
Joe wants to do marathons, iron mans and all this mad malark! He's going to try out the Harriers soon too. Joe had to be at work for 12 on Sunday so we ran to mine in Hebburn, which worked out at 7.2mile. I still felt really strong and could have ran to Newcastle. I had to take the dog out later in the day and ended up running in my hiking boots to get rid of the extra energy! Its wrong, running and walking all the time are meant to be tiring me out and its doing no such bloody thing! Instead when I walk I want to run so I end up storm trooping from place to place.
The head cold I had a week or so ago is still lingering around (grrr). But I can still run so its OK! I had some more results back from bloods (although they appear to have lost the extra pint they took....) to check vit levels. How can you lose a pint of blood!!! Don't they know the stuff is precious to me! Mehmehmeh! They'll want more of it to check seen as my hands resemble that of a 50yr old! Actually that's unfair, its more like a flaking corpse! My hands crack a lot and I don't realise that I have blood seeping out! LOVELY! Moisturisers/E45 etc do not work, they just make it worse, so maybe its vit related, hence need those results!
Otherwise all other blood tests were fine, even my HbA1C whoop whoop! My pancreatic sufficiency confirms I am a medical mystery/marvel. I'm virtually totally insufficient yet a healthy weight and don't take replacement enzymes... go figure that one out!
And I'm highly stressed with all my uni work and applying for PhDs but I've found one I really want to do, closing date is my birthday (16th Feb) so maybe its an omen.... please please please. Oh well back to the Bioremediation essay and a little revision before bed. I'm jogging into uni tomorrow morning so will be up early to walk dog, then jog and be showered and ready for 9am lecture... fond of a treat?
Jodie
04 February 2009
My stomach is not going to fall out of my ass!
I had my appointment yesterday to get the results of endoscopy/ultrasound and 24h pH test. I didn't realise how anxious I had become about it. I knew I was as I did what I do best when it comes to my health and its negative aspects, I switch off and ignore it. Well thats what everyone around me may think, to be honest I don't really talk to my family about it all too much (apart from when they've read this and bring it up!). This kind of attention I don't encourage... anything else then I'll happily take the limelight :p
Part of the spiral of anxiety led me to think the worst, 'Christ I've got liver tumours!', 'I'm going to be on parenteral feeding for the rest of my life!, 'My stomach is going to collapse and fall through my ass!' All normal thoughts of a well-informed/rounded scientist. Thankfully my stomach does not need to be held up via a noose attached to a bullring piercing through my nose.
The results were as I think I may have postulated in a past post. My cardiac sphincter (that nmuscle at the base of the oesophagus/entrance to stomach) needs tightening. The endoscopy had shown signs of acid errosion at the entrance to my stomach, the 24h pH test confirmed how often/severe this was. I was supposed to stop treatment for 14days prior, I managed 4days but told the nurse it had been a week *wicked*. Nevertheless the results showed significant signs of acid reflux which only surgery can cure, which confirmed my suspicions, the Drugs Don't Work (The Verve, Urban Hymns). As to the other problem, my gall bladder is badly diseased and although other options are available it would be a recurrent problem. So popping it out is the best option.
I decided this yesterday in the clinic. Seen as I'd assumed those possibilities (neglecting my other bizarre manifestations) there was no need to deliberate. The only thing I did have to discuss was when. Now I could have this done ASAP. However the London Marathon is at the end of April and it is also my final year at univeristy. Recovery can take 2-3months particurlarly if the operation turned into open surgery (if key hole became impossible). I technically have the perfect excuse to miss the LM by having this done now! But instead I have opted to have it done June/July after LM and wheh I finish Uni. It gives me the summer to recover on soft mushy food and soup... hopefully healed before *fingers crossed + lots of luck + knowledge* I begin a PhD.
I feel OK to write this today. Yesterday on the other hand I was slightly disgruntled and somewhat rude/not myself with people. I had a real teenage mental hissy fit and thought why the hell do I bother being so bloody compliant with meds? Initial thought was 'Sod it Jodie, eat Jelly-Tots and Jam til your eyes bleed, smoke like a chimney, drown in ethanol and go see the local dealer!'
My mood was alleviated by talk/progression of finding a PhD and by running with the harriers in my first Grand Prix (winter version)! It was a FREEZING 3 mile run and overall I came 2nd last (lol) but due to the handicap time I came pretty much middle of the line. Next month I will be better! My time was 3mile/28min23sec. I was anticipating 10min15sec/mile, so I'm overly pleased with the fact I was actually doing ~9min30sec/mile.
This has been a long rambling post. I needed to vent a lot of things, which have built up over the past few months, off my chest. Glad to say I feel better about it all.
Toodle-oo,
Jodie
And no I'm not going to go on a anti-health strike... jelly-tots and jam still seem like a good idea though : )
Part of the spiral of anxiety led me to think the worst, 'Christ I've got liver tumours!', 'I'm going to be on parenteral feeding for the rest of my life!, 'My stomach is going to collapse and fall through my ass!' All normal thoughts of a well-informed/rounded scientist. Thankfully my stomach does not need to be held up via a noose attached to a bullring piercing through my nose.
The results were as I think I may have postulated in a past post. My cardiac sphincter (that nmuscle at the base of the oesophagus/entrance to stomach) needs tightening. The endoscopy had shown signs of acid errosion at the entrance to my stomach, the 24h pH test confirmed how often/severe this was. I was supposed to stop treatment for 14days prior, I managed 4days but told the nurse it had been a week *wicked*. Nevertheless the results showed significant signs of acid reflux which only surgery can cure, which confirmed my suspicions, the Drugs Don't Work (The Verve, Urban Hymns). As to the other problem, my gall bladder is badly diseased and although other options are available it would be a recurrent problem. So popping it out is the best option.
I decided this yesterday in the clinic. Seen as I'd assumed those possibilities (neglecting my other bizarre manifestations) there was no need to deliberate. The only thing I did have to discuss was when. Now I could have this done ASAP. However the London Marathon is at the end of April and it is also my final year at univeristy. Recovery can take 2-3months particurlarly if the operation turned into open surgery (if key hole became impossible). I technically have the perfect excuse to miss the LM by having this done now! But instead I have opted to have it done June/July after LM and wheh I finish Uni. It gives me the summer to recover on soft mushy food and soup... hopefully healed before *fingers crossed + lots of luck + knowledge* I begin a PhD.
I feel OK to write this today. Yesterday on the other hand I was slightly disgruntled and somewhat rude/not myself with people. I had a real teenage mental hissy fit and thought why the hell do I bother being so bloody compliant with meds? Initial thought was 'Sod it Jodie, eat Jelly-Tots and Jam til your eyes bleed, smoke like a chimney, drown in ethanol and go see the local dealer!'
My mood was alleviated by talk/progression of finding a PhD and by running with the harriers in my first Grand Prix (winter version)! It was a FREEZING 3 mile run and overall I came 2nd last (lol) but due to the handicap time I came pretty much middle of the line. Next month I will be better! My time was 3mile/28min23sec. I was anticipating 10min15sec/mile, so I'm overly pleased with the fact I was actually doing ~9min30sec/mile.
This has been a long rambling post. I needed to vent a lot of things, which have built up over the past few months, off my chest. Glad to say I feel better about it all.
Toodle-oo,
Jodie
And no I'm not going to go on a anti-health strike... jelly-tots and jam still seem like a good idea though : )
31 January 2009
Update on training
Ey-up!
Training with Wallsend Harriers is going well. Tuesdays (the hard training) I was on form people! The Himalayas have made me a juggernaut at hills! Thursday (the steady long run) I managed to keep up with the group for the most part, it was the last 1.5 miles that I flagged and dropped back. The first Thursday I couldn't even see them! So definite improvement in the space of 3 weeks!
Terry/Billy herd our group and on Thursday we had a new face. So myself and Catherine (who were the latest to the group) are now subject to Terry's taunts and ridicule! Actually that began on the second week, once you come back a second time its as if you were always there! So I was told several times if I stopped now Terry actually was going to kick me up the ass! They're a brill supportive bunch : )
I have been attacked by a cold/virus since. Its a head cold I think and nothing more. My head hurts, ears and throat are scratchy. I'm still sucking on the cortico's to hold off any chest inflammation. But if I do become productive Newcastle Uni is literally across the road and in parts attached to the RVI, so I'm never more than few mins away from clinic when on campus. Sometimes this is a pain as there is no excuse not to drop off a sputum and have things checked out!
Exams went OK. Annoyed with myself as there is a lot I left out and I haven't looked at my notes/revision to say that, I know what I've left out! I wouldn't say I panicked, or I didn't go blank, I just didn't plan my answers effectively and therefore left key things out. Damn it, need to stop thinking about it! My Genomics exam is going to be set for the beginning of March, which is pretty much before other deadlines for semester 2 come in. My stress levels have reduced slightly and the witch has been buried for several months....
Toodle-oo Chris is trying to feed me thinks and I'm not hungry so I'm vacating premises : )
Training with Wallsend Harriers is going well. Tuesdays (the hard training) I was on form people! The Himalayas have made me a juggernaut at hills! Thursday (the steady long run) I managed to keep up with the group for the most part, it was the last 1.5 miles that I flagged and dropped back. The first Thursday I couldn't even see them! So definite improvement in the space of 3 weeks!
Terry/Billy herd our group and on Thursday we had a new face. So myself and Catherine (who were the latest to the group) are now subject to Terry's taunts and ridicule! Actually that began on the second week, once you come back a second time its as if you were always there! So I was told several times if I stopped now Terry actually was going to kick me up the ass! They're a brill supportive bunch : )
I have been attacked by a cold/virus since. Its a head cold I think and nothing more. My head hurts, ears and throat are scratchy. I'm still sucking on the cortico's to hold off any chest inflammation. But if I do become productive Newcastle Uni is literally across the road and in parts attached to the RVI, so I'm never more than few mins away from clinic when on campus. Sometimes this is a pain as there is no excuse not to drop off a sputum and have things checked out!
Exams went OK. Annoyed with myself as there is a lot I left out and I haven't looked at my notes/revision to say that, I know what I've left out! I wouldn't say I panicked, or I didn't go blank, I just didn't plan my answers effectively and therefore left key things out. Damn it, need to stop thinking about it! My Genomics exam is going to be set for the beginning of March, which is pretty much before other deadlines for semester 2 come in. My stress levels have reduced slightly and the witch has been buried for several months....
Toodle-oo Chris is trying to feed me thinks and I'm not hungry so I'm vacating premises : )
15 January 2009
Wallsend Harriers
Hello,
I'm now into the University examination period lacking on the Zzzzz's, drinking coffee, eating less and thinking about sleeping. Classic signs of stress. I get periodic panic attacks where I forget everything I've revised, trying to sieve through it doesn't help. I simply have to walk away. My head is going to explode. I've been like this all over the Christmas and New Year. Evil evil evil university exams!
On a good note, the staying in has reaped its rewards in terms of my health, lung wise that is. I'm now able to run again and have been plodding along with the Wallsend Harriers; and I mean in the literal sense 'plodding' along! They're a great group though and nobody gets left behind so someone is always with you no matter how slow! I started on Tuesday after having done a few runs on my own (I got to 8.3mile on Sunday gone). Tuesday is apparently their hard training, hill work, fast runs, shuttles/sprints etc. Hurt like hell. Tonight was the middle circuit distance at a steady pace... steady if you can run at that pace! Oh I'm going to be sore tomorrow; however I said that on Tuesday and was remarkably 'relatively' unscathed, I say relatively as there was a 'hint' of muscle tenderness going on.
My stomach is a pain, no pun intended. Remove it, I'm sure I'll work just as well on tube feeding with just the right carb/fat/protein/micronutrients in. But then I'd miss food :-P I had my 24h pH test, I looked a right plank at uni walking around with a tube up my nose. Trust out of the whole week that the revision session would be on that day it was in; someone does not like me or likes to have a laugh at my expense. I was supposed to stop some med's for 14 days beforehand. I couldn't and only managed 4 days (I told them it was 7 days... whoops!). I had garlic today ( a rarity after Everest), had reflux since and sick several times. never touching the cursed stuff again! Appointment to conclude my stomach problems is in a few weeks time. Hopefully the plan of action will be swift and not keep me out of action for too long. Although my port really needs to come out. It hurts when I'm running, spreading through to my back. Hmmm possible heart attack before my 24th birthday in a month's time, maybe if I induce this it'll be taken out sooner...
Off home to sit in HOT bath and possibly eat something, try and sleep give up and revise, walk dog and come back to the library. Oh goodie!
I do have more to write but its not surfacing in the mind tank what it is I need to write!
Toodle-oo
I'm now into the University examination period lacking on the Zzzzz's, drinking coffee, eating less and thinking about sleeping. Classic signs of stress. I get periodic panic attacks where I forget everything I've revised, trying to sieve through it doesn't help. I simply have to walk away. My head is going to explode. I've been like this all over the Christmas and New Year. Evil evil evil university exams!
On a good note, the staying in has reaped its rewards in terms of my health, lung wise that is. I'm now able to run again and have been plodding along with the Wallsend Harriers; and I mean in the literal sense 'plodding' along! They're a great group though and nobody gets left behind so someone is always with you no matter how slow! I started on Tuesday after having done a few runs on my own (I got to 8.3mile on Sunday gone). Tuesday is apparently their hard training, hill work, fast runs, shuttles/sprints etc. Hurt like hell. Tonight was the middle circuit distance at a steady pace... steady if you can run at that pace! Oh I'm going to be sore tomorrow; however I said that on Tuesday and was remarkably 'relatively' unscathed, I say relatively as there was a 'hint' of muscle tenderness going on.
My stomach is a pain, no pun intended. Remove it, I'm sure I'll work just as well on tube feeding with just the right carb/fat/protein/micronutrients in. But then I'd miss food :-P I had my 24h pH test, I looked a right plank at uni walking around with a tube up my nose. Trust out of the whole week that the revision session would be on that day it was in; someone does not like me or likes to have a laugh at my expense. I was supposed to stop some med's for 14 days beforehand. I couldn't and only managed 4 days (I told them it was 7 days... whoops!). I had garlic today ( a rarity after Everest), had reflux since and sick several times. never touching the cursed stuff again! Appointment to conclude my stomach problems is in a few weeks time. Hopefully the plan of action will be swift and not keep me out of action for too long. Although my port really needs to come out. It hurts when I'm running, spreading through to my back. Hmmm possible heart attack before my 24th birthday in a month's time, maybe if I induce this it'll be taken out sooner...
Off home to sit in HOT bath and possibly eat something, try and sleep give up and revise, walk dog and come back to the library. Oh goodie!
I do have more to write but its not surfacing in the mind tank what it is I need to write!
Toodle-oo
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