Marathon training, stubbed toe and Diverticulitis
So after the LA marathon and an amazing fun trip with my friends to Japan, I was ready to buckle down and get serious about training for the Tunnel marathon. I did plan with other friends about traveling by bicycle across Nevada but I figured that would take a week in the middle of my training so no big deal.
I've tried different training plans over the years and fell to my default one which is not scientifically proven to do anything but make you run 1 more mile every week on the longer runs. So I was doing that and we had a longer Winter this year so I was able to run in 60 degrees temps even for the long runs.
My friends started getting really serious about the Nevada trip and I started having some regrets. Just as I got into the groove of running consistently several days a week, I will have to put everything on-hold as I rode my bicycle across Nevada and Utah for 10 days.... I couldn't back out as it was my idea to begin with but I was second guessing my ability to recover 10 days of lost training. (Yes, I would be riding 65 miles per day but those are different muscles from running and the only commonality would be cardiovascular training.)
But then just like that we had to cancel the trip. One of the main friends was being threatened with downsizing at work and he didn't think he should take the time off in May. I really didn't want him to lose his job and I know that it would constantly be on his mind were he to take the trip so canceling the trip was the right choice. At first blush, I thought this will lessen my anxiety about losing the marathon training but I found I was really disappointed the trip was cancelled. I spent about a week searching for other bicycling trips we could do later in the Summer.
Since I was surfing the internet, I read a bunch of articles on marathon training and came across Hal Higdon's plan. So this became my defacto one and I started following the intermediate plan. The weather was getting warmer so I planned my longer runs on the days where the temp stayed no higher that low 70's. I had just finished the first 20 mile long run and had planned which days to attempt the second 20 miler when I started to get indigestion one night.
That night I didn't sleep well and got up at 4:30am to my dogs having a fit about something outside. I couldn't see anything but the dogs were insistent that something bad was happening outside. I figured it was racoons so I opened the front door thinking that would make them scatter if they were out there. Just then one of the dogs decided to bolt out the front door. I really didn't want to run down the street in my pajamas chasing after my dog so I used my foot to block her path out. Instead of kicking into air between the door jamb and the door, I slammed my big toe into the door jamb...hard. My first thought was a deja vu from when I heard my collarbone pop as I fell off my bike in October...Fuck, there's goes the marathon. My toe was in great pain and starting to swell.
I consoled myself with carbs that day, wondering if I should get it x-rayed to see if I broke it. I think my logic was: If it's broken, I will not do the Tunnel marathon. If it's not broken, I will run it anyway.
So there I was, icing my toe and eating carbs (leftover vegetarian pizza and white rice). I noticed my indigestion not really going away but my toe was still the main focus. Then Sunday night came with a great GoT episode that I watched sharing popcorn with my husband. The next morning, my indigestion had turned into a fever, severe side ache and cramps. I decided to go to Urgent Care since I suspected Diverticulitis (something I got for the first time in my life, 14 months earlier). They didn't have a CT scanner but from my history and an examination, the doctor diagnosed it as Diverticulitis and sent me on my way with 2 kinds of antibiotics. She said to go to ER if it doesn't get better in two days. (note for next time, don't bother with Urgent Care because they don't have the equipment to correctly diagnose and will send me to ER anyway)
I did get an Xray of my toe at the Urgent Care and the doc didn't see a fracture but she couldn't say for sure that there isn't a hairline fracture. The toe had become pretty bruised so she did say I shouldn't run for 6 weeks and gave me a special shoe to use.
Two days passed and my fever was gone but the side ache continued. I took a shower and got ready to go to ER but then I thought, "do I really want to spend three hours sitting in the lobby/exam room getting a bunch of tests only to confirm I have diverticulitis and am already on the correct regiment of antibiotics?" I decided not to go.
So here I am.
I've tried different training plans over the years and fell to my default one which is not scientifically proven to do anything but make you run 1 more mile every week on the longer runs. So I was doing that and we had a longer Winter this year so I was able to run in 60 degrees temps even for the long runs.
My friends started getting really serious about the Nevada trip and I started having some regrets. Just as I got into the groove of running consistently several days a week, I will have to put everything on-hold as I rode my bicycle across Nevada and Utah for 10 days.... I couldn't back out as it was my idea to begin with but I was second guessing my ability to recover 10 days of lost training. (Yes, I would be riding 65 miles per day but those are different muscles from running and the only commonality would be cardiovascular training.)
But then just like that we had to cancel the trip. One of the main friends was being threatened with downsizing at work and he didn't think he should take the time off in May. I really didn't want him to lose his job and I know that it would constantly be on his mind were he to take the trip so canceling the trip was the right choice. At first blush, I thought this will lessen my anxiety about losing the marathon training but I found I was really disappointed the trip was cancelled. I spent about a week searching for other bicycling trips we could do later in the Summer.
Since I was surfing the internet, I read a bunch of articles on marathon training and came across Hal Higdon's plan. So this became my defacto one and I started following the intermediate plan. The weather was getting warmer so I planned my longer runs on the days where the temp stayed no higher that low 70's. I had just finished the first 20 mile long run and had planned which days to attempt the second 20 miler when I started to get indigestion one night.
That night I didn't sleep well and got up at 4:30am to my dogs having a fit about something outside. I couldn't see anything but the dogs were insistent that something bad was happening outside. I figured it was racoons so I opened the front door thinking that would make them scatter if they were out there. Just then one of the dogs decided to bolt out the front door. I really didn't want to run down the street in my pajamas chasing after my dog so I used my foot to block her path out. Instead of kicking into air between the door jamb and the door, I slammed my big toe into the door jamb...hard. My first thought was a deja vu from when I heard my collarbone pop as I fell off my bike in October...Fuck, there's goes the marathon. My toe was in great pain and starting to swell.
I consoled myself with carbs that day, wondering if I should get it x-rayed to see if I broke it. I think my logic was: If it's broken, I will not do the Tunnel marathon. If it's not broken, I will run it anyway.
So there I was, icing my toe and eating carbs (leftover vegetarian pizza and white rice). I noticed my indigestion not really going away but my toe was still the main focus. Then Sunday night came with a great GoT episode that I watched sharing popcorn with my husband. The next morning, my indigestion had turned into a fever, severe side ache and cramps. I decided to go to Urgent Care since I suspected Diverticulitis (something I got for the first time in my life, 14 months earlier). They didn't have a CT scanner but from my history and an examination, the doctor diagnosed it as Diverticulitis and sent me on my way with 2 kinds of antibiotics. She said to go to ER if it doesn't get better in two days. (note for next time, don't bother with Urgent Care because they don't have the equipment to correctly diagnose and will send me to ER anyway)
I did get an Xray of my toe at the Urgent Care and the doc didn't see a fracture but she couldn't say for sure that there isn't a hairline fracture. The toe had become pretty bruised so she did say I shouldn't run for 6 weeks and gave me a special shoe to use.
Two days passed and my fever was gone but the side ache continued. I took a shower and got ready to go to ER but then I thought, "do I really want to spend three hours sitting in the lobby/exam room getting a bunch of tests only to confirm I have diverticulitis and am already on the correct regiment of antibiotics?" I decided not to go.
So here I am.
- It's been five days since I hurt my toe; I cannot bend it without pain and it hurts to walk.
- It's been 3 days since I started antibiotics; my side hurts and it also hurts to lift my left leg up in front of me.
- My marathon is in 24 days
- It's been 6 days since I ran any distance.
Argh.
What I have learned about the diverticulitis:
- Old school thought was that a low fiber/inactivity is a recipe for this disease. I am a high fiber queen, eating a raw salad everyday and poop like a goose. I run at least 30 miles/week. Apparently the old thoughts of high fiber protecting you from diverticulitis is no longer accepted. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4849520/)
- Your body can recover from it with an all liquid diet and rest. Had I heeded this from the onset of the indigestion on Friday night, this might have worked. But I was feeling sorry for myself from banging my toe and consoling myself with carbs so I probably made it worse.
- The antibiotics do work but it has side effects. I have the typical Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea (AAD). I've tried probiotics and pepto bismol but they have not stemmed the tide. Also everything tastes off to me right now and I cannot have alcohol until I've finished taking the antibiotics.
- Day 1: Fever is gone
- Day 2: Appetite is back
- Day 3: Still pain on side and cannot lift leg.
I don't remember my leg hurting this badly the last time I had this. This is why I'm blogging to remind myself of the symptoms and to track how long it takes for me to recover.
I recently read that a study in Germany confirmed that Actimel (Danone) probiotic drinks will reduce the AAD so I think I'll go get some today. I'm trying to limit my fiber but I'm craving salad and fruit so will probably have a little. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229551/)
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