Latin (tem-pu̇s-ˈfü-git): Time Flies
For 6 weeks or more, for sure since the double pneumonia my stomach has been upset, achy, on edge and generally quite uncomfortable.
There were two rounds of antibiotics for the pneumonia, one which I’ve had several times before without any problem. I’ve had less experience with the other type (ciprofloxacin). So, it could be the drugs.
Pneumonia in the lower lobes of the lung can cause abdominal pain as well. Who knew?
Dr. Google can be a dangerous place.
The sound track of my hospital stay for the plurodectamy.
As the drainage and air leak continue I’m told “one more night” and then we’ll re-evaluate.
Surgery was Feb. 20th and the stay was planed for overnight. It’s Day 4, Feb 23rd.
Delight that it’s finally completed!
So, back in June of 2022 I was at the dentist complaining about some pain in one of my molars. This molar had a root canal and crown done a while back and I didn’t think anything else could go wrong with that tooth but, apparently I was wrong! The opinion was that the root had cracked and the only remedy was an extraction.
This particular molar was the last one on the lower right side so it is kind of important for chewing so just an extraction is not the end of the story. The further recommendation is to get an implant and oh by the way start saving. My dentist gives me an estimate of around $3,500!
Confirm the diagnosis by having a consult with a specialist and a panoramic X-ray. This happens on 2022/7/31 and sure enough the specialist agrees and recommends the implant as well. He makes a referal to Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery and the journey gets officially underway.
I meet Maxillo on 2022/9/28. this appointment was delayed by some other health issues but I’m finally able to sit in the chair. I’m assigned an implant specialist and the first thing he does is another fancy X-ray just like in Step 1 even though I had that X-ray sent over to Maxillo. They want their own and up to date image. They too confirm that implant is the way to go and by the time I leave the office I have a detailed estimate of the cost and an appointment for the extraction.
Extract the tooth – 2023/01/12. This is the least favourite of the steps. They are super professional and in exactly one hour, as per the estimate, it’s done. The tooth is extracted and the resulting “hole” is packed with bone graft material. Now I need to wait a minimum of 6 months for everything to heal and the bone graft material to take hold. After 2 weeks there is a quick checkup to make sure things are healing properly.
Place the Implant – 2023/09/12
This is the post that they are going to screw into my jaw bone.
And to help them place it exactly there has been another hi-tech pano x-ray and the results are up on the screen in the procedure room.
Once the post is “implanted” a cap is put on the top and I’m on my way for another 3 month wait for this to heal up.
The next appointment is a quick visit for a “torque test” where they ensure the post is solidly in place by putting a torque wrench, a very small one, on the post and give it a twist to ensure it can handle the tooth being bolted on. At this point the Maxillo team has completed their work and I’m handed off back to my dentist. Why the two organizations? Turns out it’s a licensing thing that the oral surgeons can’t hold the two licensed required by the Manitoba Government to perform both type of work. Other provinces can, but not in Manitoba.
On 2023/12/18 I’m back at my dentist’s office and they take impressions to send off to the lab to have my new tooth created. Impressions are made by biting into those huge metal trays filled with goop like play-doh except it hardens quite quickly and while this is happening you try to not choke. ?
On 2024/01/09 the tooth is back from the lab, after an unexpected 2 week delay due to a parts shortage, and it’s time to install the finished product. And here it is!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo from the top of the tooth where you would see a hole going straight down into the silver metal part. This is where they will insert a bolt and torque the tooth to the post. At this point there is another X-ray to ensure that the tooth is seated properly.
At this point things are looking good and the top of the tooth where the bolt went in is covered with dental material to finish the install. Some buffing and polishing and I’m done and the tooth is ready for use immediately.
It’s good to have it completed. A procedure that should have taken 9 months was extended due to my other health issues to 18 months. Steak dinner tonight. ?
My room is quite a nice room. Just me, lots of space and a washroom. Because it’s reverse isolation there are a pair of doors and a small hallway to get in. Sort of like an air lock. But, there are no locks on the doors or curtains on the windows in the doors or any signage as to what may be going on in the room. Doctors knock, everyone else just flies in and out.
While this is sort of a part of The Journey I’m posting over here because I didn’t want this flying out to all the subscribers. If they see it here well, no problem, but I’m not advertising.
Part of my care in hospital is wound care for the PITA (perianal abscess & fistulas) plus an infection that popped up in the area as well ?. Wound care involves soaking the area twice a day in an 25% acidic (vinegar) solution. Surprisingly, this doesn’t hurt. Anyway, to do this I’m quite exposed with my rear end pointing towards the ceiling.
As the nurse is performing the procedure and orderly wings in to pick up my lunch tray. It happened.
I’m typing this post from the hospital lobby after picking up some lifesavers in the convenience store. Then there was a walk around the front circle drive and I’m sitting in a chair and feeling pretty comfortable.
The biggest advantage new variants have on us is our behaviour. The real Kraken is no longer the virus – it’s our monstrous level of indifference to the pandemic’s ongoing, and inequitable, carnage.
You know, those “things” that you discover by experience that “somebody” could have told you about, given you a heads up, perhaps a subtle hint or something rather that discovering it cold turkey.
Many of these “things” seem to be age related. As you get older have you ever found yourself thinking “I wish somebody had told/cautioned/warned me about this?” “Why didn’t by parents/grandparents/close friends/co-workers tell me that this might happen?”
Here is a recent “things they don’t tell you” that I’ve experienced.
After an ostomy your farts are no longer under your control in any way shape or form and they are now stored in a bag.
They tell you all kinds of other stuff and some stuff you just seem to know. In an ostomy somewhere on you intestinal tract it is diverted onto a stoma (opening in the body) and your intestinal output (aka poop) is diverted into an ostomy bag. This bag needs care. My first into to this care was “emptying 2x per day and changing 2x per week”. Turns out there are exceptions to this when things go wrong (aka there is a leak) but generally true.
But along with poop your farts have been diverted into the bag too. Farts can be pretty smelly but now they are mixed and allowed to marinate with the other contents of the bag, poop. This does not enhance the situation.
These bags have a charcoal filter at the top for venting the gas and in my experience so far with two different bag types these gas releasing filters can work quite differently.
Bag type #1 allowed a pretty free flow of the gas. Also, the charcoal part did very little to neutralize the smell. Since the bag is on the front of your body and under your pants and shirt the fart flow out of this bag, up the inside of you shirt and exits the collar right under you nose. Not pleasant at all especially if you’re eating dinner with friends ?
Bag type #2 has a very similar looking charcoal filter valve but it’s way more restrictive. The result is farts accumulate and the bag blows up like a ballon! ?Now there is this big bulge under your clothes it’s a little uncomfortable and you’re left wondering if it will explode or the whole bag will detach unexpectedly from your body. Neither has happened yet but the thought is pretty scary. The solution? “Burp the Bag”. This is similar to the emptying procedure but the only goal is to let out the gas. This would be best done outside in a nice light breeze but it’s winter in Winnipeg and this option is a little less feasible at -25°C. Lot of air freshener and working to prevent stinking up the entire house is the name of the game. The “burp” can be pretty intense with a collection of marinated farts.
Probably a super close friend who’s experienced an ostomy would clue you in to the finer points but, I guess like a lot of life, experience is still the teacher.
2022 is the 15th anniversary of Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer to raise funds for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre research and my 2nd ride. Not being in Toronto it’s a bit of a solo event as opposed to the fully supported ride from Toronto to Hamilton on Day 1 and then on to Niagara Falls on Day 2 with pit stops, lunch, dinner accommodations etc.
Last year I was at the lake riding but this year I find myself in the city. The “official” ride is on the weekend, June 11 & 12 but the Saturday forecast here in Winnipeg is a bit iffy so I opted to ride on Thursday which was a perfect day, sunny, mid-twenties and very light winds.
The FOG casual ride group had planned a ride on Thursday as well which meant that I could hook up with them and have company for the first 100km, perhaps more and then finish up the remaining distance on my own to get to the 160km goal. 160km or 100 miles is a bit of a cyclists achievement referred to as a Century ride.
I load up the jersey pockets with provisions for the anticipated 5+ hours of riding and I leave the house at 8 am to meet the group at the Legion near Henderson Highway and the Perimeter. I’ve ridden from home to the Legion before but always on a Saturday morning. The rush hour traffic is crazy, especially with the one lane closure on Archibald right at the Tim Horton which causes it’s own traffic jam thanks to the drive-thru.
I meet up with the group and there are eight of us with another rider joining en route. The ride is the usual lively pace holding between 30-35km/hr with some faster bits thanks to a slight tail wind from time to time.
All is going well and I’m on target to reach 100 km by the time we get back into the city. As we’re proceeding south on Hwy 59 coming back from Birds Hill Park, I hit something, likely a rock, and get a pinch flat. Everyone stops and helps me repair the flat and we’re back underway, for about 100 feet and then there is a gunshot loud “explosion” as the same front tire gets another flat!
Upon closer inspection, which I should have done the first time, there is a sizeable cut in the sidewall of the tire and sort of like a hernia the tube which is at 100psi squeezes out the cut and explodes. Again, everyone stops and assists with this “discovery”.
The fix this time, in addition to my last new tube, is duct tape to the rescue! Dave somehow comes up with a small piece and places it over the cut on the inside of the tire. The new tube is then inflated to about 50-60 psi so as not to put too much pressure on the duct tape fix. It’s rideable but a little squishy feeling in the front. Now the goal is to get back home for some more serious repairs. Dave sticks with me as we ride to Windsor Park and the tire holds up all the way home.
So much for 160km all in one go. But wait, there is more!?
I knew I’d need new tires sometime this year so last fall I caught a sale and had ordered a pair of Continental 5000s which were ready and waiting. Into the basement shop for a full tire change and I’m good to go again. Since I’m at home anyway I take the time to have a bit of lunch and refresh the water bottles before heading out for the last 60km.
Heading south to Ile de Chene will take me to 30+ and a good place to turn around and head home. Tires were great and no further incidents happened. Listening to a few podcasts helps the time solo riding pass.
Some additional Strava info for the cycling geeks. Part 2 was a fair bit slower as I was more tired at this point and it’s easy to slack off when you’re not pacing with other riders.
Fundraising turned out well! A big thanks to all who supported this worthy cause.
So, in the end it all turns out well and my goal of 100 miles was achieved, just not the way I anticipated, like so much of life.
UPDATE: The Ride raised $16.37 million for breakthrough research at The Princess Margaret, and it rained on them going from Hamilton to Niagara Falls ?
Well, today it happened. 200 or less on Tuesday!
As I posted a week ago I set a goal earlier in the year. And, in spite of Domino’s pizza and a couple of glasses of wine last night, the goal was achieved this morning at 198.4. I know nobody but me cares about this but goal achieved. Feels good.
Now the new goal is to hold between 195 and 200 and make this my new normal.
Back in February 2022 I embarked on a weight loss program. I’m sure that this is something that many of us have done from time to time but this is the first time I’ve been serious (sort of) about Dorning some weight.
Back in April 2021 I dipped below 200 lbs and I wasn’t even trying. II’d say it was my medical situation that did it all by itself with no conscious help from me. I remember feeling good about that weight and how I looked etc. It’s the weight I was when I graduated high school and hadn’t seen since that time. So that was the goal, get back to 200.
For me the weight loss was primarily about helping my performance on the bike. Less weight to ride around with makes you faster as you increase your fitness levels. Less weight to pedal up those hills at the lake. All that plus I’ll look a bit better in the bathing suit this summer. ?
So here is the plan. Eat and drink less, exercise more. Pretty simple eh? Eating less was aided by a daily reminder I put on my phone.
I am consistent – Back to 200! Healthy foods in healthy amounts – skip desserts! smaller plate, one plate, no seconds
I’m a firm believer in that it’s all about the calories. Less calories in and the body will burn off the weight. So how did that go? Well… it was a good reminder for sure and some days I stuck with the program and some days I didn’t. I’ve not yet got into the “small plate” habit but I think my portion control is a bit better. Desserts are less frequent and it’s 1-2 cookies not half a bag of Fudgeeos
More exercise = more riding the bike + some weight training. This part is going very well. Almost daily there is 1+hours on the bike either indoors on the trainer doing formal interval training or outside on generally longer rides. On non-riding days there is a 1 hour weight program. Occasionally, both on the same day. ?
I decided to record weight daily and have an official weigh-in day once a week on Tuesday. Why Tuesday? Well, I thought if I messed up the program on the weekend that I might be able to get back on track on Sunday and Monday and make the weekly goal on Tuesday.
And what was the weekly goal? Well somewhere I heard that 1 lb/week was a reasonable rate of loss and 2lbs/week would be fairly aggressive. So, being a bit of a data guy II created a spreadsheet and targeted somewhere between 1-2 lbs/week.
So all of this put together has worked out fairly well overall with one little exception, 200 Tuesday. Here is the data to date.
What the chart doesn’t show is that there have been several days recently where I’ve been under 200, just never (so far) on Tuesday, the “official” weigh-in day. Generally, I manage to self-sabotage myself in the days right before Tuesday with a little to much self congratulation on making the goal. Right now I’m hovering daily between 201-202, agonizingly close, but no prize. May long weekend was the planned date to make the goal which is only 8 days away. The pressure is on!
So, along with loosing some weight I’ve been focused on another cycling fitness goal, that of improving my Functional Threshold Power or FTP.
Once upon time I hit a record high in my FTP of 311 way back in January 2014 and that was the last time it’s been anywhere near that good.
Over the last 4 1/2 years various health issues have put a dint in my cycling abilities and correspondingly the FTP has been on a bit of a roller coaster. But after some steady workouts over the winter things are once again looking up. Today, I hit 230, the highest it’s been in a while.
I’ve been using the Wahoo X (formerly known as Wahoo Systm before they acquired RGT) for measuring FTP for the last little while and TrainerRoad before that all the way back to March 2012.
Wahoo Systm has two tests that they use to measure FTP the Half Monty and the Full Frontal. My last few testing results are below.
Pretty excited to be back to the cycling fitness level prior to starting on The Journey