I’m starting to think about MdS as a restful vacation with a bit running thrown in. I’m not underestimating the desert...
100,000 mile tune up
Liza
I haven’t walked into anything since we last talked. The fourth toe on my left foot is a great shade of black and blue, but it seems like I’ll be running without a hobbling, gimpy gait by tomorrow. I was at the doctor’s office for a 100,000 mile tune up yesterday and he allayed my panic that I’d broken another foot. The toe felt better as soon as he made his just a “damaged joint capsule” prognosis. I have to say that part of my brain shut down for a while before the appointment when I thought I was going to have to put that dang boot back on and stop running. The only thought in the part of my brain that was still working was “BORING.” I am bored with foot injuries. I’m sure you’re bored with reading about them.
Because I’m so grateful to the doctor for being 99% sure my foot was fine, I will not rant about how his office scheduled my appointment for 8:15 when he does not arrive until 9:00 in the morning (or sometimes 9:15). I will only thank my good friend Olivia again for watching Asa while I was held hostage in the waiting room.
The doctor also carved out a tiny growth on my shoulder and went over my lab work. As a result I have to carry my purse on the other shoulder (which is surprisingly challenging) and take liquid Vitamin B12 and some thyroid hormone for some very mild hypothyroidism. I took the rest of the day off after I buddy taped my toe.
I’m heading up to Dallas late tonight to teach a Wilderness First Aid course over the weekend. Gotta go do some laundry now. Hope you have a wonderful Friday.
PS. No costume contest for Javelina. Sarah’s bunny costume idea is too good and fits my artistic skill set too well. I’m thinking floppy-eared bunny for decreased wind resistance.
Running log: 25 minutes
Food log:
Glad the prognosis is good. Phew!
I once waited for an hour to see my lady doc (in a waiting room with really loud crying babies), only to be informed that I wasn’t allowed to see her for another month because my insurance only allowed one lady doc appointment in a 12 month period. I wondered aloud why they let me even schedule an appointment if they had that information in front of them at the time. She said I should keep better track of when I last saw her. I had some very choice words that popped into my head at that point. That was mildly annoying. Doctors are the best!
The wilderness first aid and NOLS stuff you do sounds so cool. I have to ask, how did you get into that? It’s something I think I would really enjoy learning once we actually live somewhere awesome, like the mountains 🙂 Though, I guess it would be pretty darn scary actually having to use those skills! But, awesome knowledge nonetheless.
I was a paramedic for a number of years in Virginia and then I started working for Outward Bound and then the National Outdoor Leadership School after my “mid-course correction in life.” I’d taken a couple of studnet courses with each. Working for the Wilderness Medicine Institute was an easy step — especially since I didn’t have any winter skills to speak of, so I was unemployable with NOLS for part of the year. It’s a great organization and I love teaching for them. I’m thinking about sponsoring a course that’d be geared to trail runners — same first aid curriculum — just trail-centric scenarios.
And I can’t believe your head didn’t explode when the doctor’s office said you should have kept better track after you’d been there for an hour. Why say that to you?
Awesome, you were a paramedic?! That’s pretty cool. It’s always fun to learn about others’ paths. I like your idea about a course for trail runners. I’d totally sign up for a course like that. Thanks for sharing!
I still look back in awe of my ability to keep my head from exploding. Maybe the shock numbed me so much that it prevented adequate reaction, lol 😉
Cool. Waiting to hear how much facilities would cost — and trying to figure out what kind of amenities to offer.
I have an underactive thyroid too! I’ve tried and tried to eat high selenium foods and reduce stress level, but the only thing that works is synthetic thyroid. It’s amazing that you were able to get up and put on soaking wet clothes in the morning so efficiently in Alaska, because when I’m off my meds I’m sloth-like. I wonder if your thyroid was underactive then. I love philosophizing about thyroids and everything you can blame on them when they don’t work right.
You really can blame the thyroid for anything. I’ve decided to believe the T3 replacement will get rid of my sloth-like afternoons and evenings — and so, of course, it will.