DClog

Movie test

After goofing around with the really easy to use Windows Movie Maker , I decided it works well and best of all it's free. I don't really have anything but a cheesy little webcam but you can also import and capture video and audio from other sources. It also has an array of drag & drop transitions, titles and effects. Here's a really simple video of me warming-up on my guitar earlier this morning.

rainbow.wmv
filesize = 5MB length = 1:54

Summer Base Miles

My teammate, "Big Jon" Atkins, laughingly referred to my starting over now as building those "summer base miles", and he figures I should be rolling good by the time the racing season is over.

Traditionally bike racers log at least a thousand miles of easy (Zones 1 & 2) saddle time each winter, this is for base aerobic fitness and is the foundation prior to the hard intervals and sprint workouts done during the build phase as they prepare for the racing season.

Today I continued to ride with the governor on around the GTC TT course, but tried to be as efficient and fast as possible within my restrictions. Riding low and narrow for aerodynamic advantages, using optimum cadence and pedaling techniques and picking the fastest lines through turns. This is what I call a "Zone 1 Time Trial", but today I was a little bit aggressive and instead of averaging 132 BPM, I averaged 133 BPM -- let's call that Zone 1.1!

The primary difference between this and last Monday's same workout, was this time I did a brief warm-up before starting, and switched to a 21x11 cassette.

Graduation Photos

I found these photos on the Internet from the Dacula 2004 Graduation. Also, here is a short video of the family being seated prior to the ceremony. 2004 Dacula Graduation video

 

Back In The Saddle Again

The chest pain and suffering are slowly becoming a memory. This past week I rode 8+ hours (~150 miles) and jogged a couple of times. It feels like I'm emerging from a dark and stormy past 6 or 7 months into the sunshine.

Early this morning I joined my club, GTC, for a group ride, which I only did part of the ride and then soloed back to the car. It's good to be back in the saddle again, but I'm going to keep it easy for a while and re-build my fitness in the proper sequence and appropriate intensities.

Improvement

Gradual Healing: It seems Dr. Tanner may have discovered and prescribed the right thing for what's been ailing me.

Bike Ride: Doug called to see if I wanted to ride this morning. Feeling no ill-effects from last evening's "Zone 1 Time Trial", I said sure. We took off around the 25-mile "Mt Moriah - Doc Hughes Loop" and after we got warmed-up I wanted to ride in my Zone 2 (~140 BPM), so I rode at the front except for the climbs. Still feeling good at the end, I tried to instigate a short sprint for the sign at the top of Sunny Hill but it didn't really happen -- I surged anyway and it felt good.

Almost Painless Time Trial

The perfect time trial would be to ride as fast as you possibly can for the entire duration of the course. Any successful time trialist will tell you this has nothing to do with SPEED or AVERAGE SPEED but instead the highest sustainable level of output. Most of us measure that "output" with a heart rate monitor, although power meters are becoming more common among both racers and non-competitive cyclist.

While a HRM alone does not supply a complete picture of how hard your motor is working, it does provide some point of reference. You must also consider your cadence, for example you may be spinning a small gear wildly at 150+ rpm sending your heart rate through the roof, but not propelling your bike very fast at all. With some practice and experimenting you can find your optimal cadence, an RPM that produces the most power without bogging down the legs or blowing up the HRM.

You do not always need to practice full-speed, all-out time trials to discover your optimal cadence and position. Below is a HRM graph of a ride I call a "Zone 1 Time Trial" around the 19.6 mile GTC TT Course. This is a relatively painless effort and when the weather is nice you won't even hardly break a sweat. What it does require is CONCENTRATION! Zone 1 is the easiest zone, often considered the recovery zone (for me the top of Zone 1 = 132 BPM). Click here to Calculate your Heart Rate.

You will notice that the level of output or effort was consistent throughout the ride, except in the beginning because I did not warm-up at all prior to the start, and there was a noticable power drop while descending Indain Shoals because I was tucked instead of spinning (using my weight advantage). Even though the graph indicates I averaged only 132 BPM (max 142) my average speed was well over 19 mph as a result of the steady effort.

Other notable facts:
* Solo - no drafting.
* Standard road bike w/no aero equipment.
* 12x25 cassette (could have used a lower gear on the climbs)
* Overcast, windy with occasional gusts.
* More than 10 pounds overweight (see below).
* I've been off the bike for the past 6+ months due to illness and injuries.

Bottom line: maintaining a consistent and steady effort produces better time trial results.

Little Purple Pill

The Nexium must be helping because the chest pain is not as bad.

Yesterday was Father's Day so Ruth and Rachel took their Dad out to lunch at the Olive Garden and Marble Slab Creamery. They gave me a new pair of Oakley M-frame sunglasses -- thank you very much, nice gift! The remainder of the day was spent on a 2-hour solo bike ride, then home alone watching a movie and doing computer stuff.

Riding Road Bikes: Yesterday's route was on the mostly quiet back-roads of NW Gwinnett County, the old "Blackjack Loop". There was one motorist who came upon me as I was going down the long steep hill on Rock Quarry Rd., beside the prison. I was already exceeding the speed limit but this person felt compelled to overtake me from behind, lay on the horn and attempt to run me off the road. There was no other traffic or any reason for this other than to attempt to terrorize. [WARNING: Rant Ahead]

Ignorance & Arrogance: Just exactly like the Al Queda terrorist of 9/11, vigilante motorist believe they are in some way doing society a service by piloting their vehicles at innocent people like joggers, cyclists and whomever they believe are infidels, idiots or whatever. It's time to wake up and realize that these people strolling their babies, jogging and cycling along the roads are your neighbors and fellow human beings, not the enemy. [End Rant]

Follow-up From Procedures

Dr. Tanner just called me and said I have Barrett's Esophagus and recommends a more aggressive treatment with Nexium twice a day for 2 months. He also said that Barrett's Esophagus make me more prone to cancer and needs to be screened at least once a year. Dr. Tanner said the hiatal hernia I have will not respond to manual manipulation.

I asked about the anesthesia and he confirmed it was Versed ( Midazoliam ).

Midazolam_Ticket to dreamland

Generic Name: Midazolam ( MID-ay-zoe-lam).
Trade Name: Versed.
Action: Sedative / Hypnotic Anxiolytic / Amnesic.

Midazolam is generally accepted as the injectable benzodiazepine. Like no other drug, it induces an anterograde amnesia and conscious sedation.

I'm pretty darn sure this is what they gave me yesterday, and it worked. Midazolam can lead to the patient experiencing daydreams with a sexual content. I hope I didn't embarrass myself during the procedure, fortunately they stuck something in my mouth so I couldn't speak, at least not clearly. A little research on the internet revealed that this type of drug is also available in pills and oral syrup. Midazolam is reported to be the "date rape" drug.

I have to wonder what the possibilities are for accessing the subconscious mind while in this hypnotic state. Do the doctors and nurses use this opportunity for behavior modification? I wonder if it is possible or legal to record audio in a Day Surgery situation?

Day Surgery Results

A polyp was removed from the colon and esophagitis was noted. A sample from the esophagitis and the polyp were sent to a lab for biopsy. I'm scheduled to go back a see Dr. Tanner in a few days, in the mean time, he prescribed 40mg Nexium.

While this may have something to do with the pain in the chest area, it does nothing to explain the constant sinus drainage and congestion, slow healing and overall fatigue.

I was basically OK by the time I got home, so Rachel & I went out to lunch and then shopping for dorm room stuff.

Dr. Song Na has requested a follow-up visit in the coming weeks. This guy really seems to want to get to the bottom of things and he respects my intelligence by talking with me, listening and explaining his opinions and diagnosis. He has even called me on the phone to ask questions and describe procedures.

Liquid Diet

The previous two days diet has been low-fiber, while today's diet was strictly clear liquids featuring a gallon of Colyte. The other day I was trying to remember what this product's name was and instead of "Colyte" I said "Loctite" - uh, not quite right. Colyte is part of the pre-colonoscopy procedures, it cleanses the bowel.

Scheduled for 10:30 AM tomorrow is the appointment at Gwinnett Day Surgery for a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy. Let's hope everything comes out OK.

Medical Score Card:

List of recent procedures:

Abdominal CT Scan w/contrast (revealed 1 large & 5 small lesions in liver)
Ultrasound Abdominal (revealed liver abnormalities)
Upper GI (revealed hiatal hernia)
Abdominal Bone Scan (revealed recent broken rib on left side)
Blood Tests - full panel
X-rays (too many! - revealed dislocated left shoulder & L2 abnormality)
Stress Test
Sonogram of Heart
EKG
Sinus CT Scan

List of recent doctors:

Dr. Tanner - Gastroenterology Specialist (ordered colonoscopy & endoscopy)
Dr. Song Na - GP (ordered Blood test, Ultrasound, and Triphasic CT scan)
Dr. Liotta - GP (ordered the Upper GI and recommended Dr. Tanner)
Dr. Videlefsy - Cardiologist (ordered EKG & stress test)
Dr. Damarco - Pulmonary Specialist
Dr. Deutsch - GP (ordered chest x-rays and Sinus CT scan)
Dr. Elliot - Chiropractor (ordered x-rays, Bone Scan & recommended Dr. Na)

Big Step

Django can climb the stairs really well now, however he doesn't like to go down them. Putting the new digital camera in movie mode, I decided to photogragh the pup jumping the step up onto the front porch - he must have known the camera was running because he took a big leap but didn't quite make it.

Below is a good photo that Rachel took of Django, he has now taken over Samantha's bed, also a photo I took of a bug that came in from the rain - inside a flower.

 

Health & Lack of Fitness: Okay, I met yet another doctor this afternoon. Dr Tanner, who ordered a colonoscopy and some other blood test. He thinks the stuff going on in the liver is probably inconsequential and there is probably something else, or several things, that are the real cause of malaise.

CT Scan Report

Basically the report from the CT describes 1 large and 5 smaller liver lesions that are likely hemangiomas. That means they are probably benign tumors but they recommended a follow up study in six months (sooner if pain increases) to see if they are growing.

Gosh, you would think with all the coffee I drink that my liver would be pretty healthy. At least according to some studies; Google: coffee liver

They also noted the hiatus hernia which was revealed at the recent barium swallow, and a L2 vertebral body hemangioma which my chiropractor had also noted earlier.

More details are listed in the "Continue reading..." link below.

06/01/2004 11:36 am

CT ABDOMEN W/ & W/O CONTRAST

INDICATION: Liver abnormality seen on ultrasound.

Axial images from the dome diaphram with IV contrast. The upper abdomen was imaged without IV contrast, as well as in the arterial portal venous 4 mintues delay and 8 minutes delay enhancement.

FINDING:

1. Lower thorax unremarkable.

2. There is a large caudate lobe lesion with Waldenstrom's type border. It measured approximately 4.7 x 3.3 cm. It appeared to have peripheral nodular enhancement in the portal venous phase with gradual filling and in the delayed phase of contrast enhancement.

In the right most portion of the lateral segment of the left lobe there is a 1.5 cm lesion. It has a somewhat nodular enhancement of the portal venous space also. If there is isoattenuation to the rest of the liver on the delayed phase of the contrast enhancement. A second lesionit left most portin of the lateral segment of the left lobe measures approximately 7 x 5 mm. There is a third lesion t the superior most aspect of the lateral segment of the left lobe of the liver just below the diaphragm, which is somewhat difficult to visualize, but appeared to have a small nodular enhancement. This lesion measured approximately 8-9 mm.

Two lesions at the medial segment of the left lobe; one anteriorly measuring approximately 3-4 mm, and another one at the gallbladder fossa. They may have slight nodular enhancement of the portal venous phase. They are also difficult to visualize on the delayed imaging.

A hiatus hernia is noted.

Spleen, adrenals, kidneys, pancreas and biliary system are unremarkable.

No evidence of small or large bowel abnormality.

No significant lymphadenopathy.

No abnormal masses or fluid collection.

PELVIC FIDINGS: No bowel abnormality noted.

Urinary bladder, seminal vesicle and prostrate is significant for a slightly prominent prostrate.

No significant lymphadenopathy in the pelvis.

Incidental note of L2 vertebral body hemangioma.

IMPRESSIONS:

1. Multiple liver lesions as described above. There is a large lesion at the caudate lobe, 3 lesions in the lateral segment of the left lobe, two lesions in the medial segment of the left lobe, and another one at the superior posterior right lobe. Given the ultrasonographic appearance as well as the enhancement pattern, they are likely hemangiomas. Typically, hemangioma would have a a slightly more dense enhancement in the arterial phase, whereas in this patient it did not definitely show that enhancement pattern. The timing of the scanning in relation to the contrast bolus might have been slightly early, therfore the lesions were better seen on the portal venous phase. A follow-up study in six months is recommended to determine stability.

2. Hiatus hernia

3. Otherwise no abdominal or pelvic abnormality noted.

Django Arrives

Puppy: Sunday evening a new little puppy came to live with us. He is about 5 weeks old, his mother is a cocker spaniel and the father comes from a nice neighborhood. I met this dog when he was 2 weeks old and he was my favorite of the liter. Originally, I had thought Coltrane would be a good name, but after I spent more time with him I realized he was more of a Django. He is very good-natured and has that bubbly cocker spaniel attitude. Our other dog, Samantha, is in complete shock, I think it's part infatuation (it's a boy) and part terror (it's a baby), but she's adjusting.