Category: Health

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Activities Family & Friends Health Me Running

The Second Race

Last week, on Monday, I blogged that I was ready to run, and I was going to push myself in my second 5K race on Saturday to see what I could accomplish. 

On Tuesday when I started to run, felt the start of shin splints in both my shins.  The pain wasn’t bad, but it was there.  I kept running and after the first mile or so, the pain went a way.  Later, I read up on the causes of shin splints, and I believe I was developing them because I had added several sprints after my normal runs to increase my speed.  The week before most of the path  I ran on was covered in snow and ice, and running on such an imbalanced course may have increased the pressure my shins were taking. 

I asked on Facebook what to do for shin splints, and I received a lot of good advice: from evaluating my shoes, to stretching,  to using ice and heat, to looking into ChiRunning, to stop running and rest my shins.  I looked up some specific stretches for the shins and calves, and started doing those immediately. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, the pain came and went.   Normally, I would have just stopped running for the week, but I had been looking forward to this race, and  I really wanted to run in it.  However, I knew it was not worth getting a serious injury, or having to sit out for months, just for one race.  I made the decision reluctantly on Thursday night, that if I had any more pain in my shins before the race, I was not going to run in it.  I started using heat and ice on my shins. 

I woke up on Friday and they felt great.  If I touched my shin bone, there was a tiny bit of discomfort, but it wasn’t painful.  I did not run on Friday, but Friday night I did some stretches and the heat and ice again before I went to bed.  Saturday morning I woke up, and there was no pain- not even when I touched my shin bones.  I was so excited, and was ready for the race!

The weather in Denver on Saturday for the Denver Veteran’s Day 5K Race, was beautiful.  It was sunny and in the high 30’s.  The race started at 8AM, and it was a perfect morning for running.  My dad was excited to come with me again, and he is now the “official” race photographer!

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Right after I had warmed up- about 15 minutes until race time!

I discovered that I was in the age category for 35 and older, but I had no idea how many people were in my age group. The top three winners in each age group, both male and female would be awarded a medal.   Most of the runners looked young- the race was on a college campus, so the vast majority of runners were college aged.  I lined up in the 8-10 mile group, or the second group to start:

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You can see my “secret weapon” I mentioned in my Ready to Run blog post in these two pictures P.S- the black ankle bracelets everyone is wearing is the timer chip

Since I started in the second wave, we had to stand around for about a minute waiting.  I was trying to visualize running the course, but it is really hard to stay calm, when you just want to start running!  They told us the course was two laps around, and it was time to go!

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This race was so uncrowded, I was able to run right by my dad when I started.  That was nice.  There was also a barefoot running club that had several runners running in their bare feet, as you can see in the picture above.  My dad got quite a kick out of that- he didn’t think anyone should be running on a public street in their bare feet! (that is a hint to my “secret weapon” too, if you haven’t guessed, or noticed yet. 🙂  )

As I started running, I realized I started out too fast. My pacing was off.  I was mad that I had let the excitement distract me.  I also felt hot immediately.  I had been debating taking my jacket off before the race, but it was cold.  The first few minutes I was already hot, but I didn’t want to take the time to mess up my pacing anymore by taking the jacket off.  I decided to run with it and then dump it at the start of the second lap.  

I tried to make the adjustment to get my pacing back on track.   A lot of people passed me, but I wasn’t paying too much attention to them.  I was focusing on getting my stride and breathing back to where I know it needed to be.  I was very happy though, I had not felt any pain in my shins.

After about half a mile, I felt like I was back on my pacing, and started to relax and just enjoy the run.  I noticed one female runner who had passed me at the beginning, looked about my age and she was about 50 yards ahead of me.  The course was great- there was lots of room to run, and there was no one around you.  It was very easy to concentrate and focus on running.  The only issue I was having was I was hot.  I had unzipped the jacket and that helped some, but I couldn’t wait until I could shed it.

I noticed a lot of younger guys were passing me, but that was okay.  I passed a few people too, but I wasn’t paying too much attention to their ages.  The only person I kept my sights on was the  female runner that was still ahead of me.

As I approached the end of the first lap, I started trying to take my jacket off, and it got stuck!  Then it wouldn’t go over my gloves! I was so frustrated, but was trying not to let it break my concentration.  I passed the start line, saw my dad, and finally got the jacket off!  I was very happy to throw it in the grass.  But then my earphones got twisted up and were dangling off of me.  I had to take my gloves off to fix the earphones, and then put the gloves back on.

By the time these issues were fixed, I felt like I had lost some time.  Having been around the course once already, I started making a mental plan on when I could make some time up, or at least try not to slow down.  A female barefoot runner passed me, and that seemed to give me a shot of motivation.  I didn’t want anyone else to pass me.  Around 2.5 miles, I started to speed up slightly, trying to making up some of the time I felt I had lost. 

I focused on my breathing, and stride.  I was tired, but I told myself I was almost done, and this would show me what I could do. I started running faster.  We were coming down the last 300 yards or so, and I was right about to pass the female runner that had been ahead of me the entire run. I thought for a second if my shins could handle it, but I had been training sprinting 400 yards.  I decided to go for it!!

As soon as I started sprinting she did too. I told myself I didn’t work that hard on my sprinting for nothing.  This was the moment I could give it my all- my absolute best now, and see what would happen.  This is a picture of that moment:

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I passed her with about 100 yards left to go (she’s wearing the cap), and I crossed the finish line!  I heard the announcer say my number and name, and she added, “What a finish!”

I was elated and thrilled!  Despite all the issues I dealt with during this race, I was able to work them out, and had a strong finish.  I also knew without checking the clock or time, that it was the fastest I have ever ran!

My dad gave me a hug, and I told him I had to keep moving for a few minutes.  He walked with me, and told me had timed me for the first lap and he thought I was about 14 minutes.  He said if I had done that for my second lap, I’d be right around the 28 minute mark.  My goal for this race for time was under 30 minutes.  I had only hit this once before- the Tuesday before the race- I had run the distance in 29:53.

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Moments after I had finished the race

I ate some food and talked to my dad while we waited the results.  He was happy to tell me that the first few people that had crossed the finish line were runners that were wearing shoes!  We walked around looking at the vendor’s swag, and I got some cool whistles for Ryan and Cole.  I was going to go put my jacket in the car, when I saw they had the results posted.  I had to wait about five minutes before I could work my way in to the table to check.  It took me a few minutes to find my name, and when I did, I checked, double checked, and triple checked.  I thought I was reading the results wrong. 

My dad was a few feet away from the table, and he was dying to know my time.  I had my results memorized by now, and I left the result table to tell him.  My results were:

Time: 27:07. My personal best!   I finished at 36:35 at the Race for the Cure.  I dropped 9:28 off my time in a month!

Lap 1 Time: 13:34

Lap 2 Time: 13:33

I was in 5th place for my age group out of 32 runners. 

I finished 64th overall out of 135 runners.

I finished 16 seconds behind the 4th place finisher, 1:08 behind the third place finisher, 6:02 behind the second finisher, and 6:32 behind the first place finisher. 

I missed a medal by only two people.  I wasn’t sad, but amazed that I finished that close to runners who medaled!  I never would have thought that this was possible three months ago, when I barely had enough energy to function!

I pushed myself, and I was on cloud nine with the results! 

I had no shin pain after the race, but on Saturday night, the tendons above my right ankle hurt.  On Sunday my shins felt great, but on Sunday night I woke up in the middle of the night and they were throbbing.  On Monday, they hurt again, like they did last week. 

I am taking at least a week off from running to let my shins, and tendons rest.  I have some good news about my dad, that I’ll share in another blog post soon. 

I’m eyeing another 5K in December- the ColderBolder at the CU campus in Boulder, or the Rudolph Ramble in City Park in Denver.

To be continued…

Categories
Cancer Giveaways/Contests Health

Earth Mama Angel Baby Giveaway- C-Mama Healing Salve (Scar Healing)

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I promised a few months ago, I would share the amazing scar reducing-healing product that was sent to me complimentary from Earth Mama Angel Baby, after my thyroid cancer, and neck dissection surgery.  I have mentioned in a few previous blog posts that I could not believe how wonderful this salve works, and I promised to write a blog post about it.  Since then, I have received a number of e-mails from people asking me what this product is- from other thyroid cancer patients to parents wanting something for their children who have had surgery, or scars. 

The product is  C-Mama Healing Salve.  Earth Mama Angel Baby describes the salve as:

Our amazing bodies are naturally designed to close wounds, soothe inflammations and rashes, staunch bleeding, resist infection and fade scars. Yet sometimes even nature’s perfection needs a helping hand!  So for you, this revolutionary, clinically tested healing salve was created with 100% natural ingredients rich in Vitamin C, essential fatty acids and amino acids – all nutrients necessary for proper cell regeneration and wound repair. Formulated especially for cesarean section and other surgical wounds, old c-section scars and stretch marks, and inflamed rashes and burns. Optimize your skin’s natural healing power with C-Mama Healing Salve™.

C-Mama Healing Salve was developed after a year of research.  It is also clinically tested, dermatologist tested, toxin-free, cruelty-free, and certified vegan.  It contains vitamin E, lavender oil, and organic calendula extract, among its ingredients. 

I have very sensitive skin, and so many cosmetics and products irritate it.  I have been using this salve every day since July, and have never had any sensitivity to it.  I have been astonished on how wonderful C-Mama Healing Salve has worked in reducing my scar on my neck.  I received the salve when I was recuperating at my dad’s house, a week after my surgery.  I didn’t mention anything to my dad about the salve.  I put the salve on at bedtime, and the next morning my dad asked me what had happened to my scar.  When I asked him what he meant, he said it didn’t look as red, and it looked like it had healed a lot over night!  He was right- it had!

I have posted pictures of my surgery scars, including some right after the surgery, in previous blog posts, so I am not going to post those again in this post.  But you can click on the links if you want to see them.  But since a picture speaks a thousand words, here is a picture of my scar that was taken on July 15, which was 33 days after my surgery.  I had been using the salve for about two weeks at this point:

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I am happy to say that the scar is so faint now, taking a close-up of it, doesn’t really turn out.  Below is a picture of me on my birthday, just three weeks ago.  If you look closely at my neck, you might be able to see the faint line of a scar.  🙂 

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I have only used the C-Mama Healing Salve on my scar.  The jar is 1 ounce, but a little goes a long way.  I still have the original jar that Earth Mama Angel Baby sent me!  Also, my surgeon (who is also a plastic surgeon) was surprised on how faint the incision had become.  He sells a professional line of scar reducing products.  He asked me if I had been using them, and I told him no, and told him I had been using this product.  He said it looked perfect, and couldn’t be healing any better!  I agree! I don’t do very many giveaways, but I am so impressed with this product, and I think it can help so many people- thyroid cancer patients included!

 I am thrilled to announce that the wonderful people at Earth Mama Angel Baby have offered one jar of their C-Mama Healing Salve for a very lucky reader!  All you have to do to enter for a chance to win it is go to Earth Mama Angel Baby‘s site, and look around.  They have so many other natural and organic products that support the common discomforts of the entire process of birth, from pregnancy through labor, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, baby care and even the loss of a baby.

Then leave a comment here, on A Mama’s Blog, stating which product or products caught your eye, or which ones you would like to try.  The giveaway will run from November 3, to 10pm, Mountain Time, November 18th.  A winner will be selected by random.org.  I will announce the winner in a separate blog post.

When my surgeon told me I was going to be left with a U-shaped incision from the surgery, I was worried about the scar’s appearance.  No one wants a big, ugly, noticeable scar on their neck.  Fortunately my surgery ended up not being so extensive, but I still had a very large scar. C-Mama Healing Salve has helped reduce that in three months, to barely noticeable.  I am so happy with the results, and am thankful to Earth Mama Angel Baby for making such a great product- that actually works- to help with scar healing! 

Good luck!!

Categories
Activities Cancer Health Me Running

Ready to Run!

Last month I ran in my first ever running race, The Denver Koman Race for the Cure, supporting breast cancer.  At the end of that post, I mentioned my running journey was going to be continued.  

On Saturday, I will run in my second race.  It is the Denver’s Veteran’s 5K race, before the Veteran’s Day Parade in downtown Denver.   One big difference in this race from the Race for the Cure, is this race will be timed.  I will have an official finishing time and ranking at the end of the race.  I’m curious to see where I end up for my age group.

I have been running three to four times a week, and doing some yoga stretches and breathing on the days I don’t run.  I have been reading up on some suggestions on how to improve speed, and after a few trial and errors, I think I found a method that works for me.  Part of what I have included in my training, is I have been trying to run up more hills once a week to strengthen my legs.  I have also been devoting one run to half the distance of a 5K (1.6 miles) but running at a faster pace.  After another run, I will sprint about 400 yards, and then walk 400 yards a few times.

This seems to be working.  Before the Race for the Cure, my time averaged around 38 minutes.  Last week I had my best 5K run time ever- exactly 30 minutes.  I’m pretty happy in less than a month, I’ve been able to drop eight minutes off my time.  On Friday I went on a run, and more than half the path was icy and snow packed.  I adjusted my running to run on the snow, and I ran 3.4 miles in 31 minutes. Running in the snow was a good work-out for my legs as well.  I’ll admit it though- I have a bit of a competitive streak in me.  Running seems to bring that out, in that I want to keep getting faster.  My goal for the race on Saturday is to finish under 30 minutes.

Part of what I enjoy about running are the challenges.  Obviously there is the physical aspect, but I also like the mental challenge.  I have learned (and am still learning) how to really zero in on what my body is doing, and it forces me to stay focused. I have never been a great breather- I am finding in order to do so, I really have to concentrate on it. For me, that is the key to a good run-proper breathing. 

The elements are another challenge.  The weather has been cold, and it is totally different running in 20 degree weather than 40 degree weather.  I went on a run today dressed warmly, but ten minutes into it, I was way too hot.  I didn’t want to stop, so I shed some layers, tying them around my waist while running and kept on. I don’t want to be shedding layers during the race and be carrying extra clothing, so every time something like this happens, I learn something from it and learn how to make the adjustment. 

I also have a “secret weapon” for this race, which I didn’t have in the last race.  I’m not quite ready to reveal it yet, but I think part of me getting faster can be attributed to these!  For the rest this week, I am going to do another 5K run on Tuesday, followed by some sprinting, a 1.6 mile run on Thursday, and I should be rested and ready for Saturday.  Like last month, I’m excited and so happy that I’m healthy enough to do this! 

The race last month was a good way to get back into an exercise program while taking it at a comfortable pace.  I’m going to push myself more in this race and see how far I can go- I’m ready to run!

If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now.  Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.  ~ Priscilla Welch 

Categories
Cancer Cole Family & Friends Health Me Ryan

Good-Bye to Cancer

Two weeks ago, I had a follow up appointment with the surgeon who performed my thyroidectomy and neck dissection, Dr. S.  He said the incision site on the side of my neck was still swollen some, and is healing.  That side of my neck is pretty numb- I get a “pins and needles” sensation when I touch it, but it doesn’t bother me.  Dr. S. said the entire incision is healing perfectly, and just as it should.  He examined my neck and throat area and said everything felt just like it should- translation: no new enlarged lymph nodes or nodules.

I informed him I had not had my thyroglobulin level tested since I completed radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy in August.  Dr. S. ordered the blood work and I left with the perscription in my hand for the test.  I was very happy everything seemed to be on track, but I knew the results of thyroglobulin test would be the true indicator if I was cancer free.

The type of thyroid cancer I had, papillary, produces elevated levels of thyroglobulin.  Before my surgery, Dr. S. told me a person with no cancer thyroglobulin’s level would be zero.  Mine before surgery, was 38!  Dr. S., said that was very high, and he had never seen a person my age with that high of a thyroglobulin level.  Before my RAI treatment in August, the endocrinologist measured my thyroglobulin level, and they were amazed to see it was down to 4!  They said it was very rare- almost impossible to get the thyroglobulin level that low, with just surgery.  They said a reading around 13-20 is more common.  This confirmed Dr. S., did an outstanding job on my surgery. 

I had no reason to feel anything but optimistic, assuming the RAI would have killed off any remaining cancer cells. Still, I couldn’t help but worry a little bit.  All those thoughts crept into my mind…all the what-if’s?  It didn’t help that I had to wait a week for the results- for some reason the lab was really slow in getting the bloodwork back. 

But last Thursday, on my 37th birthday, Dr. S’s office called with the results.  My thyroglobulin level was undetectable and surpressed.  The levels were perfect, and I am officially cancer free! 

I was beyond thrilled and happy!  As it sunk in, I got very emotional.  It had been six months from my first diagnosis to this news, but it has seemed at times, the longest journey of my life, and like I would never reach this point, or if I did reach it, I would never be quite the same again.  I thought back to when Dr. S. called me on a Saturday in April to tell me he was sorry, but the biopsy showed I had thyroid cancer, and how the second I hung up with him I cried, and didn’t stop for hours. 

That seemed like a lifetime ago.  Everything I have experienced- the tests, the cancer diagnosis, the uncertainty, the fear, finding out the cancer had spread,  the surgery, the time I lost with my children, the incision, the numbness in my neck, the medical mistakes that were made, the diet, the severe hypothyroidism, the medication, the days I could barely function- all of those things, brought me full circle and I am healthy again. 

I couldn’t wait to share the happy news with my family and friends- all those people who have been there for me through all of this.  And most of all, I couldn’t wait to tell the boys.  Ryan smiled and hugged me when I told him- he understands all of it- probably even more than I care to admit.  Cole does too, but he asked if that meant the doctor didn’t have to cut my neck open again. 🙂

It has occurred to me sometime in the past few days, that this is the end.  My cancer journey is over.  There will still be routine check-up’s to monitor my levels, but thankfully papillary cancer has a very high cure rate, and reoccurrence is very rare.  

I have shared my experience with thyroid cancer in part, because it was very hard for me to find real-life information on it when I was researching it.  Most of the medical information describes it as no big deal, more or less.  While that is true from a medical standpoint, this experience has been anything but “no big deal.”  I have categorized every time I have written about my cancer, under the Cancer topic (35 posts in all), and I hope what I have experienced, will help others in their research. 

I am amazed and touched by the e-mails I receive daily from other thyroid cancer patients and survivors- in every stage.   I’m shocked that so many people tell me they have learned more about thyroid cancer from my blog than from their doctors. So many of the patients are afraid- just like I was.  I hope the cancer posts will continue to help and inform.  I will try to continue to answer as many of the personal e-mails that I can.  I am brainstorming some ways I can offer more assistance personally, and locally to thyroid cancer patients. 

This is where my experience ends.  It has been a journey that has been one of the hardest for me, but also one that has taught me so much about myself and others, and one that will never leave me.   But for now, it is time for me to say good-bye to my cancer.

Categories
Cole Current Events Health Ryan

H1N1/Swine & Seasonal Flu Vaccines

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I was concerned when the outbreak of H1N1, or swine flu occurred last April.  Like many parents, I worried about my children catching the virus.  In April there was no vaccine for H1N1.  As I researched it, most experts recommended hand washing was the best way to protect yourself and children from the flu.  I also came across statistics that said more people die of the regular flu virus yearly, than what would be expected from the H1N1 virus. 

Since it was the end of flu season in April, I decided the chances of us catching it, were pretty slim.  Fast forward six months later, and we are at the start of regular flu season, and now there is a vaccine for H1N1. What is a parent to do?  Just some of the questions that have crossed my mind are: Do kids really need the regular flu shot, and the H1N1 vaccine too?  Would a flu vaccine even help against every strain of the regular flu?  Will the H1N1 vaccine cause children to develop swine flu?   Will our natural immune systems develop immunity to these viruses without the vaccine? 

I have followed a delayed schedule for the childhood vaccinations for both Ryan and Cole.  It is my opinion that children are over vaccinated today.  I have talked to the children’s doctor extensively about this, and have done my own research on the subject over the years.  Often, the long range effects of vaccines are unknown.   

It makes me nervous to vaccinate my children with the H1N1 vaccine because it is such a new vaccine.  I watched a news story the other night, on a local news station where a doctor said there was nothing to worry about with the H1N1 vaccine, because it wasn’t much different from a regular flu vaccine.  He then added that most of the scientists who developed the vaccine tried it out on themselves while developing it. While that is noble, an adults system (I’m assuming the researchers were all adults) is fully developed, while a child’s system is not.  What are the long-term effects of this vaccine when given to children?  No one can answer this question-yet.  

Yesterday Ryan’s school sent home an information sheet on H1N1, and said they would be offering vaccine clinics.  It is not mandatory,  It said that the students will be vaccinated in one of two ways: “by an intramuscular injection, or in the form a “flumist,” nasal spray.”  It depends on what they receive from state and federal authorities.  As I read further, it said that children under the age of 10, will need to receive a second dose of the vaccine, a month after the first dose, to “assure full immunity.”  I looked this up on the CDC’s website, and it is confirmed by the CDC. 

Another issue that the school district raised was the vaccines contain thimerosal.  It warned parents that any child who was sensitive to thimerosal, should not receive the vaccine.  They described thimerosal as “a substance used as an antiseptic and germ killer.  While this is partly true, they failed to mention that thimerosal is a byproduct of mercury.  Mercury is a neurotoxin (when it is in the form of methyl mercury).  There are no levels of mercury considered “safe” in the human body.  Thimerosal is an ethyl mercury, which is chemically different from methyl mercury. However, the CDC says this about thimerosal:

Since 2001, no new vaccine licensed by FDA for use in children has contained thimerosal as a preservative, and all vaccines routinely recommended by CDC for children under six years of age have been thimerosal-free, or contain only trace amounts, except for multi-dose formulations of influenza vaccine. This was done as a precautionary step and not because there was evidence confirming that thimerosal-containing vaccines were causing health problems. The most recent and rigorous scientific research does not support the hypothesis that thimerosal-containing vaccines are harmful.

From my previous research I discovered thimerosal was approved with very little research by the FDA in the 1940’s. In recent years, thousands and thousands of parents have called into question thimerosal’s safety, with some experts and parents pointing to thimerosal laced vaccines as a cause for autism, and vaccine-injuries. While there has not been scientific proof of this yet, the theory will not go away.  In March, 2008 I wrote a blog post citing the story government health officials conceded that childhood vaccines caused autism-like symptoms in a Georgia girl, and she should be rewarded from a federal vaccine-injury fund.

This raises the question, does the potential of being harmed by thimerosal outweigh the protection the H1N1 vaccine could provide?  The symptoms of H1N1, cited by the CDC are:

The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Severe illnesses and deaths have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

Obviously, I take notice of the “severe illness and death” warning.  However, the children’s doctor, who has been a doctor for over 25 years, isn’t even offering the H1N1 vaccine, because usally the symptoms are so mild.  Looking into the statistics, aaccording to the CDC, between August 30, and October 10, 2009 the death toll from H1N1 in the age group of 0-4 years old was 3%, and in the 5-18 year old group it was 14%.  The 50-64 age group had the highest death rate with 32%. 

Additionally, the seasonal flu vaccine only protects against one strain of the flu, and there are many strains possible.  Having a seasonal flu shot does not guarantee that you will not get the flu.  Seasonal flu shots also contain thimerosal.   

These statistics and facts bring me to the conclusion, while current research does not show a definite link between thimerisol/mercury vaccines and autism or vaccine injury, the proof that they don’t injure, is not conclusive enough for me.  Having reservations anyway about the H1N1 vaccine, and then discovering that my children would need two doses of the thimerosal-containing vaccine, is the nail in the coffin.  I think the potential risk of the unknown long-term effects from the H1N1 vaccine and the fact that contains thimerosal, has the potential to do more damage than catching the virus itself. 

I also believe the body’s immune system is amazing, if it is given the chance.  If it is over-run with many foreign substances, like vaccines, especially with children, how can it operate as it was intended? 

There are other alternatives, like following a good hand washing schedule, and a proper diet, that can help build the body’s immunity and ward off illness. Dr. Nicole Sundene, a licensed Naturopathic Physician maintains the blog, Kitchen Table Medicine, which has a very informative article on swine flu, and also what you can do to help prevent it.   

Every parent has to make the choice for their family, but not every vaccine that is available is right for every child, or family. I wanted to make an informed knowledge-based choice regarding these vaccines, not one based in fear or on media-hype.  I chose to share what I have discovered in hopes it can help other parents who are trying to make the best decision for their families too.