Time Flies

Well the old saying is true. Time does fly by when you are having fun! Almost a whole month has gone by since my last post. I have been released to run and have done a few half miles in the past two weeks. My quickest half mile time so far has been 5:07 and last night I ran a whole mile! My timing is nowhere near where I want it, but I am out there and I am completely enjoying the feeling of running again!

Next weekend is the big trip to Orange Beach and The Color Run (or the Color Walk/Jog for me)! I am excited about getting back out there and actually doing a "race" but am super glad that they do not time this one! I know my competitive side would come out and I would push myself way too hard. So for my girls going with me, I will meet y'all at the finish line! : )

I have certainly learned to listen to my body and a little about patience during this trial in my life. A lot of people say to push through the pain and keep going. Well I'm here to tell you I did that a few times and the pain got worse. If you physically cannot go anymore.. STOP. You could be hurting yourself worse than you already are and that will put you a lot further off in the recovering period.

Check out my healing legs here: https://twitter.com/tamramashea/status/331362451092283392

A little saying comes to mind when I feel like I am never going to get back to where I was. "It's not about being the best. It's about being better than you were yesterday." I am definitely better than I was yesterday and I have a feeling that this trend will continue. Until next time.. XOXO

H-E-Double Hockey Sticks

WOW.. What a crazy two weeks it has been! My last update I was looking forward to seeing the doctor and my release to run. I was having some issues with wanting to claw my legs off but other than that, things were just peachy! 

Two days before my doctor's appointment "the itchy" spread from my incisions to my thighs, my abdomen, and then to my chest and back. I thought I was going to die from itching. It felt like a bad sun burn with fire ants biting me on top of that; I was absolutely miserable. So the trip to the doctor wasn't what I had envisioned it to be. Instead of a pat on the back and a "Go get 'em!" from the doctor, I got meds and a "We'll see you again on Monday." Talk about heart-break. I was devastated. They think I had an allergic reaction to the steri-strips that were taped to my incisions.. no more steri-strips for me!

So I took my medicine and the itching went away. I got a thumbs up on Monday for "the itchy" going away and a "We'll see you again in a few weeks." about jogging and starting to train again. A little more heart-break but I am pretty used to that at this point. So, Wednesday morning rolls around and I wake up with "the itchy" everywhere but my legs, a swollen and splotchy face, and I was MISERABLE. On this particular Wednesday I HAVE to go to work because I have to get a new badge made, of course. (This picture will not be distributed or shown to anyone unless you have to see it for work. It is TERRIBLE; like worse than the 3rd grade bowl cut pictures.) After the new TERRIBLE badge was made, I left work and headed to the doctor. This doctor gave me two shots and more meds because I had an over load of anti-histamines in my system. After a 6 hour steroid shot induced coma.. I felt a wee bit better.

At this point all I wanted to say was "you've got to be kidding me. I get the weird RARE leg syndrome & have surgery, then I'm technically allergic to a band-aid, and now I have too many anti-histamines in my system?!?!" I honestly wondered what would happen next, and then I found out. My permanent retainer in my mouth broke, and there was nothing else to do but laugh. This was a quick lesson in learning to NOT ask what is next! 

So after things settled down a bit, I am getting into a better routine. I have been walking 30 minutes a day and doing some ab and arm workouts. My legs feel like they are getting a little stronger and I actually wore a pair of heels to work yesterday! Things are definitely looking up for me and I can't wait to start running again! Today marks the 2 month point that I haven't been able to run and I miss it so terribly bad! I did register for the Color Run in May, so hopefully I will be able to make it. I know it will not be a record setting race for me, but just being back out there with my friends will feel like I won the lottery!

In going through all of this the past few months and doing a lot of complaining and having a bunch of pity parties, I seriously got knocked back into my place on Monday. The Boston Marathon is something that many people live for. They dream it, it's a check off their bucket list, and for many it was an annual event they strive to accomplish. April 15, 2013 will always be remembered by the World, especially the running community. That day was supposed to be an amazing celebration and time of achievement for the runners and their families. Knowing how I have felt through a simple surgery and recovery period is nothing compared to those who lost limbs, dreams, and family members who were in the audience cheering them on. America is becoming a very scary place and it's a shame that the joy of accomplishing a MAJOR feat in life can't even be enjoyed anymore. My heart goes out to everyone involved, especially those who won't be able to get back out there and run. Keep Boston and those involved in your prayers. Until next time.... XOXO

Go for Great

Another week of recovery is in the history book, folks! I have been getting around much better and everyone seems to be very impressed that I am recovering so well from having both legs operated on a little over 3 weeks ago. Keep in mind that I only had to have the anterior compartments released. This was the only area that I was having trouble with so the doctor went back to the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Many blogs that I read before having the fasciotomy that scared me to death were by people who had all compartments released. No wonder I was terrified!

There is a possibility that since I have the “Exertional Compartment Syndrome” that the other compartments could start to flare at any time, but I will just continue to pray that those compartments will mind their own business… :) The steri-strips are starting to come off one by one and the incisions do not look near as bad as I thought they did, Praise the Lord! The only major problem that I have had this week while recovering was that I wanted to claw my legs off from them itching so badly! If this means they are healing like everyone tells me then I will gladly itch for a few weeks!

I go back to the doctor on Friday morning and I am anxiously waiting for him to tell me that I can start jogging a little and getting back on my road to training! If all goes as planned, a few of my friends and I will be traveling to Orange Beach on Memorial Day weekend to participate in The Color Run. (I was previously registered for the one in Nashville that took place this past weekend and was not able to do it...) How much fun is this going to be for my first official run back since the procedure?!?! With almost 2 months to prepare, I think I will make it!

This morning I read a little quote that I found very fitting for my situation… “Don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great.” I could have very easily said no, I don’t want to have this done and give up on running. Running is still very new to me, but it has given me so much in a very short amount of time that I can't imagine giving up so early in the game. I have BIG… BIG dreams, people and I am going for Great.  I hope that somehow little old me can inspire you to go for Great as well.  Until next time… XOXO! 

One Step at a Time

What a great week of recovery this has been; So much progress has been made! I started driving again, went back to work, I got to take an actual shower and got to hang out with some of my fabulous friends!

Driving proved to be a little tough, only because I hadn't used my leg muscles in over a week. Pushing the pedal wasn't hard at all but the next morning, I could feel the burn! (This only lasted a few days though.. so no worries!) Work was work; and I felt like I had been hit with an 18 wheeler Monday afternoon. Even though I kept my feet and legs elevated while I was at my desk my legs and ankles were extremely swollen and really bad bruises popped up.

Friday morning I visited Dr. Davis again and he removed the stitches and the steri-strips. My legs already feel so much better! He cleared me to take a shower and the new steri-strips they put on should stay on a few more days. He told me I am progressing so well that maybe when I come back in two weeks I can start jogging!!!!! (YIPPPPPEY!!!! I was over the moon about this!) Since the weather has been a little nicer I have seen more runners than I did in the past year. Ok, maybe not all of last year but it has certainly felt like it!

Warning for all of the squeamish: You may want to skip down to the bottom. I am about to share my progress in photos!

 



So after work on Monday I thought my legs are never going to be pretty again, this is terrible, etc., etc. Then after my doctor visit on Friday I felt a little better... These strips should come off soon and then we can work on the marker stain!



So to celebrate my wonderful week I spent my Saturday night with some great friends, delicious sushi, and cards!! I absolutely can't wait to get back to running and reaching more goals!

Road to Recovery

Well it's been a little over a week now that I had the fasciotomy procedure done. This week has been full of.... SLEEP! I feel like I have been in hibernation sleeping 10-12 hours a night and taking 2-3 hour naps after lunch! I honestly don't know what I am going to do this coming week at work; I better pull out the kindergarten nap time mat!!!

After the surgery it was a little hard to walk, especially with the crutches, but the pain was never really bad for me. I took the pain medicine through Tuesday and decided I didn't need it anymore. On Wednesday I only used one crutch and that thing just got in the way. After stubbing my toe on it and pinching my arm between the crutch and a chair, I decided I was totally over them! I finally ditched those by Thursday (6 days after the procedure)! NOTE: I am still walking like an 80+ year old grandma, but I am getting around!

Dr. Davis bragged on me at my follow up appointment on Friday and of course I have to share... I got the label of a "Tough Patient" since I only took my pain meds for a few days and because I was there without crutches! After the nurse re-wrapped my legs and I started my long journey up the 20 foot hallway, Dr. Davis caught up to me (easily!) and said again how impressed he was of me walking without crutches. I was thrilled!

The only bad things I have experienced this week while recovering is:

1. Sleeping on my back with my feet and legs elevated.
2. The incisions on my legs.

You are probably thinking well that's not bad; I completely agree. If the worst part of the past week was sleep issues and the looks of an incision (I almost passed out the first time I seen them...) then I am doing pretty durn good. I obviously caught up on my sleep and the incisions will get better with time.... sooner than later I hope. Until then, I will wear my fair share of maxi dresses this spring!

So all in all, I am extremely happy (so far) with choosing this path. I absolutely can not wait to get back out on the track. It will be a slow start, but eventually I will be running stronger than before. Until next time... XOXO

Playing Catch Up

This is a totally new arena for me... I have never really liked to write but I feel like this is something I need to do and will eventually start to enjoy. Some of you may know that in the past year and a half I took up with running. 2 years ago I would have probably bet against everything I own if you would have told me I would be running and actually love it. Guess what?! I would have lost.

It all started with running a mile or two here and there with my sister, Terra. She had ran a 5K before and ran to exercise but nothing more than that. We decided that we should start training for the local "Cotton Row 10K" in May, so that is what we did. I am not sure when the love affair with running started but mid-March 2012 we decided we would be running our first half marathon in November. Each day we would check off another run on our list getting closer and closer to our races and continuously registering for more! (More on our races and accomplishments later...)

Fast forward to February 2013...

I registered for the Oak Barrel Half and had been training since mid-January. I was enjoying getting back to the groove of training and on a schedule, but not loving the treadmill so much! One Sunday I went out to the park for my 8 miler and something just did not feel right. I thought my calves were going to EXPLODE, my feet felt like they were falling asleep and this all happened before I made it to one mile. I tried to "push through the pain" and ended up only running 3 miles that day. I decided I could do my 8 miler the next day and didn't think twice about the "pain". The next day I didn't make it to a mile and the same pain came up along with knots on my calves. I got referred to an orthopedic surgeon and had an appointment that same week. Little did I know I have what they call "Exertional Compartment Syndrome". (http://orthopedics.about.com/od/overuseinjuries/a/compartment.htm)

My doctor said I could have the fasciotomy procedure done or I would have to stop running. Stop running was something that I did not want to do... I mean one of my goals this year was to run a full marathon. I wasn't ready to stop or find something else to do. I felt like I still had a ton of miles left to run. On the other hand though, he was going to cut both of my legs in very visible spots. I literally thought my nerves were going to take over. I was caught between not being able to do something I love and my legs being cut up and scarred.

I chose to have the procedure after going back and forth, googling the procedure (which I don't recommend), and searching runner blogs on the recovery from the surgery. All the feedback I read was brutal which freaked me out more, but my doctor really helped me understand what was going to happen and every step we would take to make sure things that I read would not happen to me. My procedure was this past Friday so I will have an update soon on recovery and how the scars are shaping up... I am too chicken to look at them right now!