Saturday, March 29, 2008

Training: A kink in the weekend plans

I know I keep banging on about the weather, the snow and the cold. It's March 26th and many of you are getting out your patio furniture and summer clothes in anticipation of spring.

We awoke all night to snow hitting the windows and high winds. Unbelievable!! When I got up and looked outside, it's a blizzard...again. Here's the National Weather Service Advisory:

Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory

/O.CON.KPIH.SB.Y.0005.000000T0000Z- 080329T1800Z/ UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DRIGGS... DUBOIS...ISLAND PARK... ST. ANTHONY 317 AM MDT SAT MAR 29 2008
...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MDT TODAY...
A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MDT TODAY.
SNOW HAS SPREAD INTO THE UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS AND WILL BECOME MODERATE AT TIMES TODAY WITH STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE BY NOON TODAY. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THE SYSTEM THROUGH THE REGION PRODUCING AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED VISIBILITY AT TIMES.
A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY WINDS AND SNOWFALL WILL LEAD TO HAZARDOUS TRAVELING CONDITIONS IN NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES.
I've got to do 2, 2 hour runs this weekend and it looks like they're both going to be on the treadmill. Even though the forecast says blowing snow will all be over at noon, it could still be pretty ugly out there from noon on. I'd hate to get an hour away from the house and have whiteout conditions kick up again, I'd have to hitchhike home!!
I'd post a picture but it would look like the ones below where there's blowing snow. Boring.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Training: 50 mile trail run, training update

I'll be participating in the Desert Race Across The Sand (RATS) on April 19th, 2008. I'll be doing 50 miles of running with 8,000+ feet of elevation gain, walking and crawling, if I have to, to finish within the 13.5 hour time limit.

Today I'm going to work on my running plan (hydration/food/meds) and goals for the race. Are any of you interested in what they are? If so, I will post them when done, if requested. Also, if you have any questions about Addison's and slow running, email me or put a question in the comments. I will get back to you or post it here.

I'm currently running on the treadmill, on packed snowmobile trails and slick, icy roads. Right now we've got a blizzard happening. The race will be in the amazing Western Colorado desert on slick rock, sand and TRAILS (my favorite)!! I'm concerned that the different conditions will pose a problems with balance.

Today's conditions in Victor, Idaho

Fruita, Colorado where the race will take place. A view of the trail, from the trail.

A typical big drop on the trail

I will be taking pictures while I'm running this year because I got a great camera for Christmas!!

I feel pretty good overall. Lethargic when the weather is blizzard conditions and I have to run on the treadmill. When I do get outside, I feel pretty good overall. With the 50, I have the option of quitting at the 25 mile mark or the 31 mile mark. Colleen encouraged me to wait until the 31 to decide. That's part of my plan now. Thanks Colleen!

Will you do 50 of something with me??? Please????? If so, click on the "comments" button below the post and put your 50 there. Do it anonymously if you want. Please someone post something, I feel really lame that NO ONE has said that they are going to do 50 of anything!!! Come on people! I'm going 50 miles on foot on Saturday, April 19, 2008!!!
Suggestions:

50 jumping jacks
Give 50 cents to a homeless person
Read 50 pages of a book
Smile 50 times
Walk 50 steps
Say thank you 50 times
Volunteer 50 minutes
Thank your lucky stars 50 times that you don't live in Victor, Idaho in the spring
You get the picture

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Addison's: Choosing a doctor

HN sent me the link to this New York Times article:

But First, Doctor, What Was Your Marathon Time?

Don't be intimidated by the title, it's about choosing a doctor who is like minded so that you get the best treatment possible, especially if you're active.

When I was getting diagnosed about 7 years ago, I barely remember flailing around trying to find a doctor. What I do remember is calling the University of Utah and being put on a 3 month waiting list by a rude, uncaring receptionist. My office experience was much of the same. Rude, uncaring doctors who ridiculed me for doing my own research and accused me of being depressed. Recently, a woman with whom I've been friends for 25 years was put into adrenal suppression by massive doses of injected steroids and then she was not tapered. She's still struggling with adrenal suppression now, months later.

Thanks to all of you emailed me and sent information for my friend. From J and J, I received many referrals. Thank you Ladies! I called a three of the doctors that looked good on paper and here were the very, very different results.

I called a doctor in central Jersey. The receptionist sounded like she had a mouthful of gum and tried to assure me the doctor had experience with adrenal patients. When I asked her if she could ask the doctor what kind of adrenal patients he had, she ridiculed me and told me she "didn't have an alphabetized list of patient diagnoses". Once again, I asked her to ask the doctor. To her credit, she called me back within hours. She couldn't tell me what type of adrenal problems her doctor treated but most of his patients were thyroid and diabetes.
I called a doctor on Long Island, got his answering machine, his voice was that on the machine, I left a message. That was over a week ago, I haven't heard from him.
Lastly, I called MacLaren in Manhattan. He's a pediatric endo but treats adults. My experience has been as follows:

Spoke to the receptionist who spoke clearly and pleasantly. She asked all the right questions and seemed truly compassionate. She apologized for not being able to make an immediate appointment for my friend because the doctor spends over an hour with every new patient.
At 6:15 am, my phone rang and someone left a message. I checked the answering machine and it was the actual doctor. Tell me, how many of you have ever had the doctor call you?!?! I live in small town USA and it doesn't frequently happen here.
I immediately called him back and got the receptionists. She put me on hold. Within a minute, I was on the phone with the doctor. He listened eagerly and interestedly (to me! a friend of a potential patient) to my friend's situation. He told me to have her register with his office ASAP. He also recommended I Google him to find out more about him. I love MacLaren. I was crying when I got off the phone with him. N is so lucky to have found a doctor who will listen.
N registered with the office and had requested lab work faxed to her within the hour! In addition, she had an appointment within the month. The wonderful receptionist also promised to keep her on the cancellation list.

Overall, I think the way the receptionist treats you is indicative of how the doctor will treat you. If the receptionist is unwilling to be forthcoming about the number of adrenal patients the doctor has, its probably because the doctor is unwilling to expose his lack of interest or experience with adrenal patients.

If you call a doctor's office and don't like the way the receptionist treats you, HANG UP and call the next doctor on your list!!!! Interview the doctor's receptionist. Don't schedule an appointment until you get the answers you're looking for.

You would not believe how many endocrinologists have little to NO experience with the adrenal/pituitary problems you have or potentially have. A doctor like this has no need for continuing education in the adrenal field so when he/she treats an oddity like you or me, it's "old school", uneducated or misremembered information from 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. SCARY!