WHEW!  Its been a while...After such a huge event such as an IRONMAN or an ULTRA we need alittle time to lick our wounds..reflect,  generalize as to what just happened to us and figure out what we're gonna do with it in the future.

I told what happened at the race but let me expose myself a bit and bring you up to date....

Following my body weight after an event like this is pretty important...your caloric needs are what they used to be but your metabolism is cranking burning of the calories like you would not believe.

Looking back my crew fed me over 120,000 calories which allowed me to finish the race at the same weight at which ai started. 182.5 lbs.

2 days later I would find myself, not feeling so great but needing to turn the legs a bit so I went ot spin class, sat in the back and turned my legs slowly.

I began to feel a little worse but finished up the cool down and headed home. 

Wednesday AM  I went owork but something was'nt right, I was feeling sick, bad sick, stomach started hurting and by noon I had cancelled all clients and left work.

Body weight - 177

Thursday AM  - 173 - dont ask how....but I cancelled work and by noon I wa slaying in the floor curled up, my gut was wrenching!   I made a couple of calls to include my crew chief who was adamant about me getting to the ER.   I knew something was wrong with me when I did'nt hesitate and I said OK.  Off I went blurry eye'd and lethargic...rushing to St. Vincents..Something just was'nt right...The race was tough but this is the worse I've felt in years!   I was doubled over!  

Body weight - 172

Into the ER I went, my stomach never let up....2 ltrs of fluid, I started feeling worse....Fever of 102 and then the heavens opened up and a nurse came in with MORPHIINE drip!!

I like morphine....morphine gooood......this was my mantra for the next 4 days.....3 doctors agreed, they were'nt sure, unsure of my story of riding my bike 517 miles....now whithering away ...170 lbs.. I had not eaten since Tuesday, it was now Fruday....

The nurses decided that I had "beautiful veins" which mean't, I was pefect to let the nursing student practice on...And instead of a standard 20 gauge needle, they decided that a 16 gauge needle  would support both my "beautiful veins" but the Alaskan pipline as well...16 guage...thats a huge frikken needle and makes a big hole..I swear the catheter was a damn crazy straw!!!

Anyway to shorten the story....I had somehow contracted a bacteria which decided to have an orgy/ mosh pit in my intestines...leaving my intestine infected...so for 4 days I recieved 2 IV antibiotics and a morphine drip.......morphine good....

After 3days in hospital Doctor Doogie Howzer walks in and asks ME WHAT I THOUGHT........

Isnt he supposed to be the doctor? Okay I thought, I'll play this game...so I said to Doctor Doogie Howzer.."Well the samples you wanted to run tests on have been sitting over there for 24 hrs.  I've punched cleaner holes with a crazy straw in a milkshake with regards to my IV and I have not had anythng to eat since Tuesday...SO here is what we're gonna do...( hey, he asked...) ..We're gonna finish this round of Antiobiotics, if I quit crapping blood and my temperature stays gone, then you're gonna release my at about 3 o'clock today....and btw, can I have a second breakfast?........

Oddly enough he agreed with my plan of intervention, JCHO would have been impressed!  I walked out at 3:00 on Saturday, weighing at 172 pounds....

Tonight I weighed in at 185!

Oh yeah, and the Phlebitus from my IV is finally gone!