Little did I know the evening of July 21st, Tuesday night would be the beginning of the end for my first attempt at an Ironman. I came home after work and headed out for my easy 5-mile run. The run felt great. Better than most of my runs as I was able to run them at sub 9s within HR. After the run, I set up my bike on the trainer and planned an easy 90-minute spin while watching the Tour on my DVR.
That's when it all started. I went from a very good run to having zero energy in my legs while spinning on the trainer. I was in a VERY EASY gear and within 30 seconds I stopped. It was a feeling I can't describe...my legs couldn't produce squat. I got right off, packed up the bike and decided to rest up for tomorrow night’s MP ride/run and the next morning’s perimeter swim.
I took a shower, and as soon as I got out my entire stomach started to cramp. Not on and off cramps but just one giant cramp. I thought uh oh!!! I was on and off the toilet a few times and after some vicious dry-heaving I was on the floor. I was so weak and didn't even have the energy to lift a finger. I told Renee I honestly felt like I was dying, and my hand just collapsed against the counted, and Renee said I stopped breathing. As I came to Renee wanted to take me to the hospital but me being stupid was thinking it was just a bad stomach bug going around, and I just had to make it thru the night.
After 5-6 hours on the floor, I finally got to the bedroom and the next day the pain was tolerable. It still hurt a lot but not as much as the night before, so I thought I made it thru the hard part. Spending the day in bed and sipping on Gatorade that night brought back enough pain to get me to go to the hospital so off we went around 11:30 that night.
That night was the longest night of my life. I was in terrible pain and sat in the ER waiting room for just over 8 hours. The pain was so bad I finally got myself into a wheelchair and had Renee push me around when they called me in for reassessment. When I finally got called into triage, it was another 2+ hours until I finally got an IV, but I was happy enough to be in bed at that point. I also received the only pain meds my entire stay in the hospital. They slow down the healing process so as long as I could tolerate the pain I wasn't going to take them. My stomach was so distended that I looked pregnant.
After numerous tests, a CT scan and a ton of questions from countless staff I was finally admitted on 7 PM on Thursday night. My first time admitted to a hospital.
I had so many ups and downs during the next ten days being in that hospital room. Fevers up and down. Not being able to keep down the first attempt at liquids which resulted in receiving an NG tube. I had woke up that night and quickly asked Renee get me something quick - quick! The only thing she could find was this little plastic tray that I just shot everything over. I could hear Irene, my PCT running to get me a bag. Too late, I was already covered. After a quick change, the next day I got the tube. The WORST experience of my life. Delly, my nurse for that procedure, was GREAT!!! If there's one thing, I've got it's a powerful gag reflex. Once again covered in vomit. It felt so bad I asked her to take it out. She said she couldn't once it was in and did a phenomenal job calming me down. When I finally was calm, and I told her I was good that I think I'd be okay, she told me it had to go in further. For the last part, I just controlled my breathing as she slowly pushed it further in. What a horrible feeling! And the worst, I couldn't drink ANYTHING while I had the tube. That would be nothing for two days.
During my days there I did my best to get myself better. I put myself on a schedule that had me walking about nine times during the day and three times during the night. Sleep was not cutting it, and when I felt nauseous at night, I would get up and walk. Of course, my IV pole had one bad wheel so you could hear me coming especially during those 1 AM and 230AM strolls.
One night as I was walking my loop around 2 AM I was passing the waiting room. The corridors were dark and quiet and in the waiting room was a stretcher. The blankets on the stretcher looked as though they were covering a body, and there was a shopping bag hanging from the right foot. As I slowly got past the windows, I stopped and slowly backed up to see what I was looking at. I squinted my eyes and turned and headed toward the door so I could make my way into the waiting room. After one step, I changed my mind after having a Halloween 2 moment in my head and made my way back to my room. When I did my next loop a couple hours later, the stretcher was gone.
After two days having the NG tube in it was time to try taking it out and try clear liquids again. I asked if I don't do well does it go back in and they said yes. I didn't want that, so I got permission to take the clears with the tube in with it pinched off. It went well, but I was so nervous I had more dreams I was puking and woke up in cold sweats. Luckily I didn't, and the tube finally came out...which was so much easier than going in.
During my week, my temp would be perfect during the day but always seemed to go up to 99-100 at night. On Wednesday evening, it spiked to 102.7 which resulted in immediate responses from my nurse and doctors. This would result in another CT scan and portable chest x-ray. After the CT scan, they spotted the abscess and decided it needed to be drained.
Day 9: the morning my drain was going in. During my stay there I knew there was no chance I'd be healthy in time to race at IMMT but I never gave up hope. Even the morning I woke up knowing I was going to get the drain. I told people the race was off but inside I wouldn't let myself believe it. I would walk those corridors and keep telling myself it's not over - you can beat this! When the doctor spoke to me that morning about the drain and said I could be in the hospital for another week, that was the moment I lost all hope. It was the first time I had to fight back tears. It took nine days to do it, but it finally happened. It was the first moment I turned my head on my pillow and couldn't look at my doctors. I wasn't mad at them I was just depressed like never before. My answers now to the doctor were just yes or no. My hopes were shattered. When Renee left to get cleaned up and come back for the operation due at 10 am I got up and walked more loops. I was depressed, but I couldn't lay in bed. I had to walk and get back that hope. At 8:45 am, they already had me on a stretcher to take me back to CT for the operation.
When I got there, the tech said I looked nervous and to relax it would be over quick. I told her I wasn't nervous; I was extremely mellow. I was more intrigued by what they'd be doing than nervous. During the operation they gave me an initial injection followed by a muscle relaxer and local anesthetic. I was lying on my stomach, and the doctor made his way to the abscess via my upper left glute. The only time I felt anything was when he reached the abscess that resulted in a small jolt. I was back up to my room by 10 am about two minutes before Renee got back. I was outside on the stretcher, and she thought perfect timing they're just taking you down when I told he nope - they just finished.
The operation went well, and the result was the draining of a light pinkish fluid. Walking around with this thing is a real pain-in-the-ass. Pinning it to my clothes and being careful when I move around sucks but the next day (Day 10) I finally got the ok to go home. It was a little bittersweet, but at least I'd be home. Going in I was 178lbs, leaving I was 164lbs.
They couldn't put an exact cause of what happened. What we do know: My body's defenses were low from hard training, but the blood tests showed I wasn't severely dehydrated. There was a stomach bug going around and when the symptoms first hit it felt like a bug. In my opinion, I got hit with a bug at the worst possible time, and it took over my body. All my organs except for my brain, heart and lungs stopped getting oxygen. I was dying. My large intestine took a big hit and had a small rupture that caused my body to react and caused the abscess.
My thoughts on everything that happened: When I signed up for the Ironman I made a decision I wanted to do the best I could do. My previous years training I trained hard, but I followed my plan. I still left time for fun as I love to do many things, and I love my summers. I decided starting December 1st the next months would be dedicated to IMMT. I would dedicate all of my free time toward this race. I wanted to put all my eggs in this one basket; it was my own little Vision Quest. I knew it would be hard, and the dedication would be difficult, but I was determined. This was the year and after this I would cut back and make sure I left time for all the other things I love to do.
The winter program was awesome. I built up a very strong core using Sarah's program. When the program ended March 1st, I was going to hire a coach and become a better swimmer. My swims would no longer be done in 10 minutes. It was amazing how much faster I got when I focused on hard work. I loved not only swimming but creating 1-hour swim workouts that would accumulate 3000 yds.
Hiring Mary as a coach was great. She had me doing HR workouts, and I loved them. I'm not a huge fan of long bike rides, but I knew I had to get used to longer rides for the race. Longer than I was used to. It was amazing when I'd have an 80-mile ride and think YES!!! Only 80 miles!!! If the weather were too hot, I would cut them back a bit because I knew getting to the race was just as important as training for the race. And as working hard was a definite goal...killing myself was not. I did my best to listen to my body and rest when I needed it.
Thinking back about my training I'm sure I did everything right with fueling and hydrating, and I have no regrets. When I decide to train for another Ironman, I won't go at it as hard. Not because I didn't like the training because I did, and I loved all the people I trained with BUT I don't want to miss out on my other passions. Hiking, golfing, going to the beach, relaxing during vacations, bike rides with Renee, Newport, Video Games (Yes, Video Games), etc. I know you can do these things when training for an Ironman but not at the level that I like to enjoy them.
It'll be a long slow recovery back to where I was, but I know I'll get there. As disappointed as I am that I won't make the race I will still enjoy very much rooting for all of my friends. This is the first time I have ever experienced a setback like this but as bad as it got I kept fighting trying to get better.
As crazy as it sounds I still haven't given up hope on IMMT. I know it's nearly impossible but without hope why bother. Hope keeps us going. It gives us inspiration and drive. I'll never give up hope completely even when the door slams in my face. I'll just find another one!!! And as sad as I’ll be not being able to race I’ll be happier to see my friends finish, especially the first timers like I was supposed to be.
Final thought: It is possible what put me in the hospital was simply the over-training. It is possible that my body just couldn’t handle it. It is also possible there was another contributing factor. In my opinion, the smart thing to do would be alter my training the next time I train for a full. Whether or not there was or wasn’t a contributing factor without knowing for sure it would be best to assume there wasn’t and look into an alternate training plan that would be less taxing on my body. Back off on those really hot days and try to schedule around them or just cut back the workouts. Who knows, if I cut back and do it right I may come back stronger.
In the end, people will form their opinions as to what happened, and that’s ok. I know I fueled and hydrated during before and after my workouts and kept hydrated on my off days. I know I worked my body hard, but I felt good up until that night. I followed my plan and cut it back when I felt like I needed to. I will always believe there was another contributing factor that acted as a catalyst to what happened. Above everything though maintaining a healthy body is most important because without that then why do it? So I'll be taking some time to recover fully and take a couple nice restful vacations.
"OUR GREATEST GLORY IS NOT IN NEVER FALLING BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL" - CONFUCIOUS
That's when it all started. I went from a very good run to having zero energy in my legs while spinning on the trainer. I was in a VERY EASY gear and within 30 seconds I stopped. It was a feeling I can't describe...my legs couldn't produce squat. I got right off, packed up the bike and decided to rest up for tomorrow night’s MP ride/run and the next morning’s perimeter swim.
I took a shower, and as soon as I got out my entire stomach started to cramp. Not on and off cramps but just one giant cramp. I thought uh oh!!! I was on and off the toilet a few times and after some vicious dry-heaving I was on the floor. I was so weak and didn't even have the energy to lift a finger. I told Renee I honestly felt like I was dying, and my hand just collapsed against the counted, and Renee said I stopped breathing. As I came to Renee wanted to take me to the hospital but me being stupid was thinking it was just a bad stomach bug going around, and I just had to make it thru the night.
After 5-6 hours on the floor, I finally got to the bedroom and the next day the pain was tolerable. It still hurt a lot but not as much as the night before, so I thought I made it thru the hard part. Spending the day in bed and sipping on Gatorade that night brought back enough pain to get me to go to the hospital so off we went around 11:30 that night.
That night was the longest night of my life. I was in terrible pain and sat in the ER waiting room for just over 8 hours. The pain was so bad I finally got myself into a wheelchair and had Renee push me around when they called me in for reassessment. When I finally got called into triage, it was another 2+ hours until I finally got an IV, but I was happy enough to be in bed at that point. I also received the only pain meds my entire stay in the hospital. They slow down the healing process so as long as I could tolerate the pain I wasn't going to take them. My stomach was so distended that I looked pregnant.
After numerous tests, a CT scan and a ton of questions from countless staff I was finally admitted on 7 PM on Thursday night. My first time admitted to a hospital.
I had so many ups and downs during the next ten days being in that hospital room. Fevers up and down. Not being able to keep down the first attempt at liquids which resulted in receiving an NG tube. I had woke up that night and quickly asked Renee get me something quick - quick! The only thing she could find was this little plastic tray that I just shot everything over. I could hear Irene, my PCT running to get me a bag. Too late, I was already covered. After a quick change, the next day I got the tube. The WORST experience of my life. Delly, my nurse for that procedure, was GREAT!!! If there's one thing, I've got it's a powerful gag reflex. Once again covered in vomit. It felt so bad I asked her to take it out. She said she couldn't once it was in and did a phenomenal job calming me down. When I finally was calm, and I told her I was good that I think I'd be okay, she told me it had to go in further. For the last part, I just controlled my breathing as she slowly pushed it further in. What a horrible feeling! And the worst, I couldn't drink ANYTHING while I had the tube. That would be nothing for two days.
During my days there I did my best to get myself better. I put myself on a schedule that had me walking about nine times during the day and three times during the night. Sleep was not cutting it, and when I felt nauseous at night, I would get up and walk. Of course, my IV pole had one bad wheel so you could hear me coming especially during those 1 AM and 230AM strolls.
One night as I was walking my loop around 2 AM I was passing the waiting room. The corridors were dark and quiet and in the waiting room was a stretcher. The blankets on the stretcher looked as though they were covering a body, and there was a shopping bag hanging from the right foot. As I slowly got past the windows, I stopped and slowly backed up to see what I was looking at. I squinted my eyes and turned and headed toward the door so I could make my way into the waiting room. After one step, I changed my mind after having a Halloween 2 moment in my head and made my way back to my room. When I did my next loop a couple hours later, the stretcher was gone.
After two days having the NG tube in it was time to try taking it out and try clear liquids again. I asked if I don't do well does it go back in and they said yes. I didn't want that, so I got permission to take the clears with the tube in with it pinched off. It went well, but I was so nervous I had more dreams I was puking and woke up in cold sweats. Luckily I didn't, and the tube finally came out...which was so much easier than going in.
During my week, my temp would be perfect during the day but always seemed to go up to 99-100 at night. On Wednesday evening, it spiked to 102.7 which resulted in immediate responses from my nurse and doctors. This would result in another CT scan and portable chest x-ray. After the CT scan, they spotted the abscess and decided it needed to be drained.
Day 9: the morning my drain was going in. During my stay there I knew there was no chance I'd be healthy in time to race at IMMT but I never gave up hope. Even the morning I woke up knowing I was going to get the drain. I told people the race was off but inside I wouldn't let myself believe it. I would walk those corridors and keep telling myself it's not over - you can beat this! When the doctor spoke to me that morning about the drain and said I could be in the hospital for another week, that was the moment I lost all hope. It was the first time I had to fight back tears. It took nine days to do it, but it finally happened. It was the first moment I turned my head on my pillow and couldn't look at my doctors. I wasn't mad at them I was just depressed like never before. My answers now to the doctor were just yes or no. My hopes were shattered. When Renee left to get cleaned up and come back for the operation due at 10 am I got up and walked more loops. I was depressed, but I couldn't lay in bed. I had to walk and get back that hope. At 8:45 am, they already had me on a stretcher to take me back to CT for the operation.
When I got there, the tech said I looked nervous and to relax it would be over quick. I told her I wasn't nervous; I was extremely mellow. I was more intrigued by what they'd be doing than nervous. During the operation they gave me an initial injection followed by a muscle relaxer and local anesthetic. I was lying on my stomach, and the doctor made his way to the abscess via my upper left glute. The only time I felt anything was when he reached the abscess that resulted in a small jolt. I was back up to my room by 10 am about two minutes before Renee got back. I was outside on the stretcher, and she thought perfect timing they're just taking you down when I told he nope - they just finished.
The operation went well, and the result was the draining of a light pinkish fluid. Walking around with this thing is a real pain-in-the-ass. Pinning it to my clothes and being careful when I move around sucks but the next day (Day 10) I finally got the ok to go home. It was a little bittersweet, but at least I'd be home. Going in I was 178lbs, leaving I was 164lbs.
They couldn't put an exact cause of what happened. What we do know: My body's defenses were low from hard training, but the blood tests showed I wasn't severely dehydrated. There was a stomach bug going around and when the symptoms first hit it felt like a bug. In my opinion, I got hit with a bug at the worst possible time, and it took over my body. All my organs except for my brain, heart and lungs stopped getting oxygen. I was dying. My large intestine took a big hit and had a small rupture that caused my body to react and caused the abscess.
My thoughts on everything that happened: When I signed up for the Ironman I made a decision I wanted to do the best I could do. My previous years training I trained hard, but I followed my plan. I still left time for fun as I love to do many things, and I love my summers. I decided starting December 1st the next months would be dedicated to IMMT. I would dedicate all of my free time toward this race. I wanted to put all my eggs in this one basket; it was my own little Vision Quest. I knew it would be hard, and the dedication would be difficult, but I was determined. This was the year and after this I would cut back and make sure I left time for all the other things I love to do.
The winter program was awesome. I built up a very strong core using Sarah's program. When the program ended March 1st, I was going to hire a coach and become a better swimmer. My swims would no longer be done in 10 minutes. It was amazing how much faster I got when I focused on hard work. I loved not only swimming but creating 1-hour swim workouts that would accumulate 3000 yds.
Hiring Mary as a coach was great. She had me doing HR workouts, and I loved them. I'm not a huge fan of long bike rides, but I knew I had to get used to longer rides for the race. Longer than I was used to. It was amazing when I'd have an 80-mile ride and think YES!!! Only 80 miles!!! If the weather were too hot, I would cut them back a bit because I knew getting to the race was just as important as training for the race. And as working hard was a definite goal...killing myself was not. I did my best to listen to my body and rest when I needed it.
Thinking back about my training I'm sure I did everything right with fueling and hydrating, and I have no regrets. When I decide to train for another Ironman, I won't go at it as hard. Not because I didn't like the training because I did, and I loved all the people I trained with BUT I don't want to miss out on my other passions. Hiking, golfing, going to the beach, relaxing during vacations, bike rides with Renee, Newport, Video Games (Yes, Video Games), etc. I know you can do these things when training for an Ironman but not at the level that I like to enjoy them.
It'll be a long slow recovery back to where I was, but I know I'll get there. As disappointed as I am that I won't make the race I will still enjoy very much rooting for all of my friends. This is the first time I have ever experienced a setback like this but as bad as it got I kept fighting trying to get better.
As crazy as it sounds I still haven't given up hope on IMMT. I know it's nearly impossible but without hope why bother. Hope keeps us going. It gives us inspiration and drive. I'll never give up hope completely even when the door slams in my face. I'll just find another one!!! And as sad as I’ll be not being able to race I’ll be happier to see my friends finish, especially the first timers like I was supposed to be.
Final thought: It is possible what put me in the hospital was simply the over-training. It is possible that my body just couldn’t handle it. It is also possible there was another contributing factor. In my opinion, the smart thing to do would be alter my training the next time I train for a full. Whether or not there was or wasn’t a contributing factor without knowing for sure it would be best to assume there wasn’t and look into an alternate training plan that would be less taxing on my body. Back off on those really hot days and try to schedule around them or just cut back the workouts. Who knows, if I cut back and do it right I may come back stronger.
In the end, people will form their opinions as to what happened, and that’s ok. I know I fueled and hydrated during before and after my workouts and kept hydrated on my off days. I know I worked my body hard, but I felt good up until that night. I followed my plan and cut it back when I felt like I needed to. I will always believe there was another contributing factor that acted as a catalyst to what happened. Above everything though maintaining a healthy body is most important because without that then why do it? So I'll be taking some time to recover fully and take a couple nice restful vacations.
"OUR GREATEST GLORY IS NOT IN NEVER FALLING BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL" - CONFUCIOUS
