Medication and other things

A pretty Teton Valley sunrise

A pretty Teton Valley resident at Grand Targhee

I have to tell you all that the last week as been awful. I decreased my hydrocortisone too much immediately post race. I also messed up when filling my med trays and put in half the amount of Florinef I needed. Why this happened, I don't know, Brain Fog?? Within a few days of the Vineman, I decreased my HC from 25 to 22.5 mg/day. Decreasing that much post big effort was too much. Usually I let myself feel bad for a day or two and then I increase my HC. OR by the third day I get so out of it that I forget to increase my HC entirely and wonder why the heck I can't focus on anything and why I feel so bad!!! I increased by 10 mg/day for 2 days and then 5 mg for a day. I'm staying at 25 mg/day until well after my next race, a 50 mile foot race at Grand Targhee on September 1, 2007.

I have a couple of suggestions for anyone who feels bad that wants to feel better:

• Sleep consistently at normal hours. For example, go to bed every night at 10 pm and awaken at 6 am.
• Take meds at consistent times EVERY DAY, even weekends! Take AM dose of HC at the same time every morning. Try taking morning HC 30 minutes before getting out of bed if your stomach can handle it. You'll be surprised at how much more alert you'll be when you get out of bed.
• Eat well and eat regularly. Eat healthy foods.
• Don't drink too much alcohol.
• Exercise if you can. Exercise consistently. If you can walk to the end of your driveway, try to do it consistently. Set a goal to walk a little further the next week, if you can.