Friday 30 May 2014

The dreaded C

So the thing that no-one wants to be in their life has happened in our family.


My dad was told 10 days ago he has bladder cancer which has come as a shock to us all.


On the positive side, 70% of cases are early stage and a simple operation to scrape the tumour away and a pellet of high dose chemotherapy direct into the bladder, is often enough to resolve the issue, followed by 3 monthly checks and a repeat of this procedure as and when required. The average age of diagnosis is 69 years old and my dad was 70 last week. So, in reality the odds are in his favour.


We are obviously very worried though, and up until today I was feeling very positive about it.


Dad though looks grey, it is pure worry, I know he must be scared shitless.


He also got a urine infection following the initial camera stuck up inside him to look at the bladder and it knocked him for 6. He was really quite poorly, another unheard of for my Dad, the person that normally carries on regardless.


They have just popped in now to see me, and he is so down, no matter how hard he is trying not to show it, the worry and fear is etched over his face.


Suddenly he looks every one of his 70 years.


Wednesday he had a CT scan to check for anything else.


Yesterday he was apparently called back to the hospital as his kidney function test bloods had come back showing a problem, so they wanted to repeat it. This was done, and still it wasn't right so he then had to see a consultant, who is unsure why the results are high.


It could be the medication he takes for his diabetes has reacted with the medication he had for the urine infection. It could just be due to the urine infection or it could be to do with the cancer, he has told me today, they have now said the tumour (no longer cancerous cells) is right at the entry to the bladder from the kidneys so could be causing a blockage.


He has also been told he has a heart mummer which needs reviewing before they operate next week.  This heart mummer could be due to the diabetes medication or might not be.


Everything seems to be 'possibly due to the diabetes medication'


As I said I was really quite positive until today, but seeing him, seeing how worried he is has really worried me.


I am taking comfort in the fact that if the CT scan had shown anything else like shadows in his lung or bowel or liver, they wouldn't go ahead with a simple bladder scrape but would rather be getting him in front of the consultant to discuss further and other investigations.



Tuesday 27 May 2014

How to run using lampposts.

Three and a half years ago I couldn't run for a bus - no lie.


Then we got a dog, who needed walking, who needed lots of walking, who had unboundless energy.


My problem was I did not have the time to walk said dog for long enough to wear him out.


I also wanted to get fitter so my clever little brain said running and dog exercising made a perfect combination.


To some extent it did as the dog proved very useful for pulling me up the roads and any hills, while making me look like I was still capable of running (I like to think that was the image I portrayed and not one of a sweaty mess being dragged along against her will).


2012 Edinburgh Rock and Roll half marathon


In April 2012, I ran my first half marathon.  My training for said marathon had begun with an aim to run from my front door to the end of the road without stopping (about 200 yards), once this was accomplished, I added running round the corner to the bus-stop without stopping, and again once accomplished I then added the next lamppost long the street.


This technique actually worked, and I taught myself to run using lampposts, anybody watching me probably wondered who the mad woman was who every few days ran past them and stood clinging to random lampposts for support while looking very elated. Probably thought I had some odd fetish.


Anyhow, the weekend of the half marathon arrived and saw myself, hubby and 2 kids in sunny Edinburgh. I had to register on the Saturday in Holyrod Park, and actually said to my OH that I wasn't going to bother and we should just have a nice weekend away. My training although going well, had actually only seen me walk run a distance of 6 miles in one go, once, so the thought of 13.2 miles was horrendous, plus no-one told me how hilly Edinburgh was - I mean serious hills!


My OH said ' don't be stupid, register, even if you walk/run it you can still say you have done it and you know you can walk 26 miles in 7 hours having done the London Moon Walk twice, so you will definitely complete this'.


I obeyed and do you know what, I completed that course and amazingly did it in 2.36 hours running the majority.


This experience taught me a number of things:


  1. You are capable of a lot more than you think
  2. Running a half marathon is a fab way to see a new town
  3. Vaseline is an essential to stop sore nipples
  4. Powergels are vomit worthy
  5. I actually liked running
2013 Great North Run


2013 saw me complete the Great North Run with a cold in the time of 2.21 hours.


I did the GNR for my Uncle who had recently died of cancer and raised money for the local hospice.


Not only on this occasion did I do it for someone else, I also got a personal best and felt rubbish due to my cold.


For the GNR though I trained properly, I even did a 12 mile run in the lead up to it.


2014 Great North Run


And being completely stupid I am running the GNR again this year. 3 weeks after a 2 week all inclusive holiday, mmmm possibly not the best plan, where there is a free sweet factory and sweets are my downfall.


This year I would really, really like to get another personal best. If I am completely honest, I would like to run a half marathon in less than 2 hours, but is it possible to improve my running by a huge 22 minutes at least?


I am going to aim for it.


I have downloaded a 0-10k running app, and have gone back to basics. I am using it to try and run fast, so each running interval I am really pushing myself to have a much fast pace rather than my normal plod (where someone with a zimmer frame could quite frankly overtake me).


I am also planning on running hills, regularly to try and do some intensity training.


I would just love to do a sub 2 hours - is it possible though?

Monday 26 May 2014

Half term already

I cant believe that half term is already here! They only seem to have gone back to school a few weeks ago.


I also can't believe how long it is since I last blogged.


I would like to find the time to blog again regularly - time will tell.


I am trying to get back into my running


I am trying to lose a little weight and tone up - my aim is to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight by our hols in August (bear in mind pre-pregnancy was 10 yrs ago now lol).


I am also very busy with work but for the first time ever, we are now beginning to see the rewards of all the work I do and actually have  a little (not much) money saved in the bank. I turn 40 next week and it is the first time we have ever had savings :(


I also have a lot on personally - my Dad isn't well but more about that later.


Turning 40 has also made me think more about me, what I would like to do, what I would like to achieve, to stop being so tired (earlier nights would help), spend more time with the kids, less time at the computer, and to start eating properly again.


So there is lot's I could be blogging about, but time is my issue.


I blog, I then sit reading other blogs and suddenly I have lost a morning of my working day and each hour is money as I am self employed.


Anyhow nough said, let's see if this continues.................................