Tuesday 29 April 2014

Another insight into the strange world of the Mud Bag Runner

So, when I started this blog my goal has always been to be honest. To share with Ostomist and non Ostomost alike my slant on Ostomy challenges.

This can vary from practical matters (what an Ostomy actually is) to some more personal aspects.

When I decided to do this it often means sharing a few stories or incidents that are a little embarrising. Well you guessed it, this is one of those times.

My job often requires me to travel. On this occasion I had to travel the fairly short distance to our HQ at Reigate for a 9 a.m. meeting. This meant facing possibly the worse stretch of the M25 at the moment. The road works at junction 5!

True to form I reached J5 and traffic ground to a halt. We proceeded to clutch dip for the next 20 minutes or so : (

Now to fully understand the next part I should probably need to give you some additional information about my ileostomy. (To cover the basics check out my previous blog 'what the hell is a stoma')

Many people still think that you have some control over your stomas output. Well I am sorry to burst your bubble..but you dont.

As I often do I'll do my best to explain. I have a far reduced bowel capacity as about 12ft are in a jar somewhere in Liverpool ; )  The law of physics only allows a finite amount to exist withinn this space. Once this is full if you try to add anymore there is only one place it to go...OUT!
This is the basic concept of my digestive system and another Ostomist challenge.

Can see where I am going with this? ; )

I had eaten breakfast before I left and had reached 'capacity'.

Another thing you should be aware of is my bag also has a capacity and as we have no control over this can fill rather quickly. Potentially my stoma bag can fill to capacity within 5 mins!!! And I wear a medium sized bag!

Today was one of those days. I was now slap bang in the middle of the roadworks. Middle lane and no hard shoulder. ..DAMN!

Now perhaps 6 or so years ago I would've started to panic at this stage. When the bag is at capacity 'blow outs' become a risk as the pressure builds.(FYI these are as bad as they sound)

Ostomists also spell check as Optomists (thanks Microsoft) For every problem there is always a solution. Even if the solution is do nothing and deal with the consequencies.

A quick scan around the car and I was able to calmly defuse the situation, cleanly, quickly, discretely and with as much dignity as I could.

So in some ways having a stoma bag actually helped in this situation. Imagine if I didnt have a bag.I really wouldve been in trouble then! ; )

And thats why I share this story, everyone faces daily challenges. Sometimes they can be worse than others often feel like the end of the world. Whatever happens happens, it is often completely out of our control.

So next time you have one of these 'challenges' be an Ostomist....I mean Optomist ; )

(thanks again Microsoft)

Monday 28 April 2014

Beating Bowel Cancer Patient day 2014

Saturday 26th April, Beating Bowel Cancers 2014 Patient day.

I've been looking forward to this yet anxious about it at the same time.
Its an opportunity to meet some fellow bowel cancer fighters and survivors. Everyone (as always) was so welcoming.

As you may of already seen from a previous post I also had the honor of one of my 2013 OCR pictures being chosen for the cover of the patient day magazine and programme. Was a bit weird wandering around or sitting in the seminars looking over and seeing my ugly mug on the cover ; )


During my professional career I have attend a number of exhibitions and seminars. This as expected followed a similar format. A couple of main seminars and some more focused side seminars/groups. Everything was professional organised. The only real difference for me that these weren't talks on business economics, new product launches or the 'new' direction of the business. This was way more intimate. The topics (obviously) much more personal.

I attended the opening speech from Mark Flannagan CE of Beating Bowel Cancer. Again the sincerity and obvious drive to make a difference was overwhelming! 

The next seminar was from Dr Mark Saunders on 'Personalized medicine: why do some treatments work and others don't?' 
Not much more to say really as the seminar title covered it well. 

The one thing that soon became apparent was the sheer volume of medication available to 'treat' cancer and the fact that as of yet we could not be 100% as to if the prescribed medication would work for patient 'A' but wouldn't for patient 'B'. It is almost like your consultants need to make a 'best guess' on which (rather expensive) medicine would work. I must admit I was shocked by some of these statistics. 

As the seminar finished and I reflected on what Id heard an overwhelming wave of relief came over me. Relief that I had been so fortunate that my battle with cancer required none of these medications and their inherent side effects. 
Then as I heard people talking and asking questions about their medicines this relief turned to guilt. Guilt that I had been so fortunate and apart from total removal of my large bowel my 'experience' had been fairly simple. I felt a little awkward, strange right?

As I wandered back into the exhibition hall I then began to realize that I was so fortunate with my experience because of early diagnosis. My 'guilt' then turned into a refreshed determination to raise awareness of symptoms and do what little I could to help. 

Next was a seminar was on advances in Bowel surgery. Ill be honest wasn't sure about this one kinda just followed the crowd. However, im glad I did. I learned about something very personal. My scars. 

The talk focused on laproscopic surgery (key hole) I was aware I was fortunate to have my operation performed this was. It resulted in minimal scaring and a much quicker recovery, but, as the talk progressed I realized how lucky. 

My operation was in 2008. During his talk Mr Arulampalam discussed how he was an early adopter of key hole surgery. He then presented some statistics (these may not be 100% as they are from memory) It seemed that back in 2008 only 5% of surgeries were performed laproscopicly. With recent campaigns increasing this percentage in 2013.

Once again I began to realize just how lucky I had been. It was like the planets had aligned and all criteria for this "less intrusive" surgery had been present.  In medical terms my procedure had been in its infancy.

The talk then moved onto advances in key hole surgery including robots, and an interesting video of a remotely performed key hole surgery. Truly groundbreaking!! 

My first patient day and a sharp reminder of the battle that others still have. I often take allot of my story for granted. I say I was lucky, but without these groundbreaking procedures and diagnosis all the luck in the world may not of been enough.

 Don't get me wrong it has been tough. Often more than you would realize ; ) But seeing how my procedure was cutting edge, how early diagnosis allowed for swift actions. I am truely grateful to my surgeon and her team. It was all such a whirlwind I had never considered how things 'could of been' Scary thoughts ill try not to dwell on. ;)

Overall patient day has reinforced my focus on trying to raise symptom awareness early diagnosis saves lives. It saved mine!





Tuesday 22 April 2014

Medication...the solution and cause of many a challenge

So, whilst the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. This blog has recieved some serious exposure being shared with my fellow OCR runners to some of the ostomy community. It's been shared on facebook retweeted and Ive even started my very own guest blog (post soon to come)

During this time of excitement it has also been one of the toughest 6 weeks of the last 7 years. As mentioned in a previous post after my recent sigmoscopy revealed an inflamation of UC in my remaining rectal stump I was perscribed a strong dose of steroids. And man were they strong!

This was my first experience of steroids and dont believe everything that you hear. Not all steroids increase your strength and cause you to increase muscle mass. Infact these were quite the opposite. I experienced a range of side effects from weakness to dizziness to a rather nasty few days of facial numbness! (Gotta admit this one did freak me out a little!)

These steroids seriously effected my training. For most of the course I wasn't able to finish my usual circuit. I became exhausted and struggled to make 50% of a regime I was comfortably completing a few days earlier.

This was also partially due to my overall fatigue. I was sleeping well. Not quite insomnia but they definatley effected my sleep. Plus for one week I had the most vivid nightmares! I mean waking up in a cold sweat nightmares!

During this time I was also awaiting for my biopsy results. Good news they came back all clear and Im now finnaly off the medication. Im slowly starting to feel like myself again. Now this is the head scew. Whilst the side effects really did hit me for six, they did there job! They increased my bodies natural defences and the flare up subsided.

Isnt that just the way life is. Every you kust start to get ontop of everything it trys to knock you back down.

I guess the real sign of a warrior, a fighter is the strength to keep picking yourself back up again ; )


btw: think this will be my next tattoo ; )

Tuesday 15 April 2014

Part of the battle is awareness.

So here it is. Probably the most important blog post ill ever upload.

Please take some time to read and share. Early diagnosis really dows save lives.

Being aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer is the most important part of protecting yourself from the disease.

Its worth noting that many of these symptoms can be explained by other ailments that arent always cancer.  Either way if your not sure and have any of these symptoms its always best to consult your GP. ; )

Higher risk symptoms:

• Bleeding from the bottom (rectal bleeding) or blood in your poo without any obvious reason, such as local soreness, piles (haemorrhoids), tears (anal fissures).

• Any change in bowel habit that lasts for three weeks or more, especially if you are going to the toilet more often or experiencing unexplained looser poo. Symptoms may also include unexpected constipation, and a feeling of fullness or incomplete emptying from your back passage (rectum) after you have used the toilet.

• Any constant, unexplained pain anywhere in the abdomen, especially if it is severe. It may also be linked to going to the toilet, or it might come and go like cramps or colic.

• An unexpected lump in your abdomen, especially if it is on your right hand side.

• Unexpected weight loss perhaps due to lost appetite, or feeling bloated or sick.

• Unexplained tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness (symptoms of anaemia).

What is bowel cancer?

Most bowel cancers start as innocent growths – called polyps – on the wall of the bowel. Polyps are like smallspots or cherries on stalks and most do not produce symptoms. Polyps are more common as we get older and most polyps are not pre-cancerous. One type of polyp called an adenoma can, however, become cancerous (malignant). If left undetected, the cancer cells will multiply to form a tumour in the bowel, causing pain, bleeding and other symptoms. If untreated, the tumour can grow into the wall of the bowel or back passage.


Within this group of adenoma-related bowel cancers, there are one or two rare types of disease which do not seem to behave in quite the same way as these slow growing polyps. These uncommon types of bowel cancers develop and spread much more quickly, and seem to affect much younger people.

 


A polyp Iarge bowel


A tumor in the large bowel



Im published!! Well kinda ; )

Timing is everything....

A few months ago I mentioned in a post that I had been given the opportunity to write a guest blog for Securicare (my Ostomy product supplier)

Our hope was my 'unique' outlook on life would help others with or soon to have a stoma.  I dont like using this term but Securicare assure me my story should also be inspirational to those having a tough time adjusting to their new life as an Ostomist.

In this newsletter I was asked to write an intro plus a review of one of the products I use.
I hope to ostomists its useful and to non ostomists a small insight into ostomy products.
I know its a bit if a stretch to say I'm 'published' but this is going to hit (I believe) 10,000 subscribers.   Either way Im super excited!!

My blog should hopefully reach a larger audience.  Great for my awareness goals!!

Take a look, browse the website learn something new ; )

Monday 14 April 2014

What is our bowel?

So...where to start. I guess the best way is to start breaking down what bowel cancer is. Break it down into bitesize pieces.

The large bowel is a long tube of muscular tissue, about 120cm (4 feet) long that sits in the lower part of the abdomen. It runs in a loop from the appendix on the lower right hand side in your pelvis (near your hip bone) up and across the abdomen at the waist line and then down into the pelvis again on the left hand side, before it curves backward towards the back passage (rectum) and anus.

The large bowel mainly acts as a storage area and collects the liquid waste food from the upper part of your digestive system (stomach and small bowel). It
gradually reabsorbs the water, turning
this waste material into formed poo (faeces) as it moves further along the
bowel towards the rectum.

At some time in our lives most of us will
experience problems with our bowels and the process of getting rid of these waste
materials. Tummy upsets and bleeding
from the bottom are both very common
symptoms associated with many minor
problems that are easily treated, or settle down again on their own.

Bowel Cancer Awareness

So when I started this blog my hope was my story, my journey my battle and ultimately my ramblings would help. Help someone that may be starting their own journey, their own battle.

April is Bowel Cancer awareness month and it seems appropriate to post some blogs about what bowel cancer actually is. Cancer is a word thrown around in the media and our daily lives far too often. I fear we have become desensitised its actually meaning.

As I have often said Cancer does not equal the end. But that doesnt mean we dont owe it respect, the attention it deserves. Awareness of symptoms and early diagnosis does saves lives.

In this next few posts Im hoping to share some more 'clinical' details about what bowel cancer symptons are.

I hope you find them useful.

Tuesday 8 April 2014

Blackout vs. Trenches

Its been a really hectic few weeks. Work seems to of entered silly season where even if its quiet I'm still busy! Coupled with training, events and general life finding time to blog has been challenging. So sorry this post is so late!

So here we go....... 2 OCR reviews, both very enjoyable although different events. Where to start. My aim in this blog us a brief review of both races and why I love OCR's how they are fun and challenging in different ways ; )

March 18th: Nuclear Blackout
1st of all I confess I'm a Nuker. Nuclear races are my home OCR, they were my first OCR and where my addiction began. I have competed in all of their 2013 races. Each better than the last.

In 2014 Nuclear races claimed to of upped their game.
Had they? In one word
YES!! In fact HELL YES!!
The event staging area contained a DJ, Fire Eaters and one buzzing atmosphere!
We set of to be confronted by the usual OCR obstacles. Trenches, mud usual Essex Mud. But Nuclear Races made good on their promise.







Over the next 2 hours we were confronted by more mud and chilled water (nuclear races love their water) but mixed into the course were monumental obstacles. A huge 1/4 pipe (that left some memorable bruising) and an obstacle announced only days before Blackout hang tough!)








And to top it off we were treated to a run through a genuine WWII nuclear bunker. Whose final stair climb finished off my legs!


I managed to complete 2 laps in the dark, cold and (a common issue for me at blackout) cramp!
I crossed the finish line destroyed and shell shocked!   A nice touch to this cold night race is we were not only given the customary 'bling' but a nuclear mug of hot tea!


*me and my mud bro Simon



Usually after these events I have a good few weeks to recover. Often the following week doesn't even involve any training. Not this time. A few gym sessions to keep limber and 7 days later I was off to Redhill and Back 2 The Trenches!


March 23rd Back 2 The Trenches:  Over The Top
(read my ramblings below or check out the highlights from my first person go pro!)



This was my second trenches event. The first event was great fun. This event was even more enjoyable as I had convinced some of my OCR virgin friends to join me. The atmosphere at these events is great. The comradeship of fellow runners is exceptional. But running with friends make these events so much more!

We set off and true to my last race Trenches made exceptional use of the countryside. Within the first few hundred yards we had hopped over some tyres and hay bales then came THE HILLS!

If Nuclear like their water, Trenches LOVE their hills (and the odd muddy trench crawl) The course looped twisted and elevated through a hilly forest.




Once the hills had finished you off, the drop in temp and hailstones (yes,  hailstones!) DEFINITELY DID!
Tyre and sand bag carries and more and more hills followed. ; )
Seriously I cant explain how steep some of the hills were, often we were reduced to sliding on our arse as the slopes become slippery!

The km trickled away then we reached something id never seen or heard of before. A strawberry field. Corridors that seemed to go on forever! 11mins of running up and down that seemed to go on for MILES!! (Check out the vid above)


I've never been to an OCR that didn't have a river crossing of some sort. Trenches left this obstacle to the last km.  And DAMN it was a chilly river swim!  Alan (my co runner) even ignored the signs and dived right int! (think he regretted that!) and careful negotiation of an electric fence topped off the 10km course before we crossed the line. 



As I said this was Alan's first OCR and as you can see in his face at the finish line below, this will not be his last!  Back 2 The Trenches was a special event as it was his first 'Mudding' ;)







Summary:
Id made it through both events. Ill be honest thought I might of bitten off more than I could chew this time ; )
As you can tell both events were very different.  Nuclear and its monumental obstacles and Trenches with their hills, hills and more hills!

So which was the best?

Neither!

That's what I love about OCR. They were both adrenaline filled, muscle aching, challenging courses.

Every OCR I've competed in has felt different. Even races at the same event organizers.
Id highly recommend both events. They each test you in their own way. Each is well organised and as I'm starting to realize vitally are SAFE. Both are well marshaled so should you hit any issues help isn't too far away.

I will be competing in all of the remaining Back 2 Trenches and Nuclear events.  If you want to try an OCR and the choice is overwhelming, you will not go wrong with either these races.

I guess after the last race you could call me a Nuclear Trencher ; )  SEE YOU AT THE START LINE!










Sunday 6 April 2014

Why did I started this journey??

I often think about why I started this journey, why raise awareness, why continue to push myself physically and mentally?

I have a few simple reasons why. 
To help others, to show people that Cancer, having an Ostomy doesnt mean the end.

But mostly for the 2 reasons below.....

Saturday 5 April 2014

Medication the solution to and cause of many of lifes problems

So, whilst the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. This blog has recieved some serious exposure being shared with my fellow OCR runners to some of the ostomy community. It's been shared on facebook retweeted and Ive even started my very own guest blog (post soon to come)

During this time of excitement it has also been one of the toughest 6 weeks of the last 7 years. As mentioned in a previous post after my recent sigmoscopy revealed an inflamation of UC in my remaining rectal stump I was perscribed a strong dose of steroids. And man were they strong!

This was my first experience of steroids and dont believe everything that you hear. Not all steroids increase your strength and cause you to increase muscle mass. Infact these were quite the opposite. I experienced a range of side effects from weakness to dizziness to a rather nasty few days of facial numbness! (Gotta admit this one did freak me out a little!)

These steroids seriously effected my training. For most of the course I wasn't able to finish my usual circuit. I became exhausted and struggled to make 50% of a regime I was comfortably completing a few days earlier.

This was also partially due to my overall fatigue. I was sleeping well. Not quite insomnia but they definatley effected my sleep. Plus for one week I had the most vivid nightmares! I mean waking up in a cold sweat nightmares!

During this time I was also awaiting for my biopsy results. Good news they came back all clear and Im now finnaly off the medication. Im slowly starting to feel like myself again. Now this is the head scew. Whilst the side effects really did hit me for six, they did there job! They increased my bodies natural defences and the flare up subsided.

Isnt that just the way life is. Every you kust start to get ontop of everything it trys to knock you back down.

I guess the real sign of a warrior, a fighter is the strength to keep picking yourself back up again ; )

btw: Think this will have to be my next tattoo 
; )

Friday 4 April 2014

Thank You!

Its just gone midnight and im home alone. Im not tired tonight. Think its the last ofnthebside effevts of the steroids. Ill really be glad when I finish this course. As anyone in training will tell you Im thinking about the weekends gym or running sessions. I know to all you non runners its sad isnt it. Ro mybfellow runners. You know what I mean.;)

Its been the end of a good day. I manage to meet with the Trenches team. What a great bunch of genuune people. I havebeen so fortunate over the last few months to meet new people and make new friends.

Beating Bowel Cancer used a photo of me today for their #LIFTINGTHELID April awareness campaign. I spent most of the afternoon brimming with pride. Id lie if I said it wasnt my ego, but, hopefully it would lead people here, to the website or even start to investigate what an OCR is. That and any piblicity for awareness is worth it.

whilst refelcting on the day I decided to check the blog stats. Blogspot is great. Not only is ait a easy blogging tool but yhe statistjvs that you are able to review is awesome. How many views, what blog even where in the world theviews were. Nuce ro know Im being read as far as Singapore!!

Anyway, as I check im stunned, speechless. For those of you that know me not avregular thing. Ive usually always gotsome svarcastic or cocky response ;) This is because today alone I have had nearly 100 page views! Ive not trackedbut this is definately one of the highest hit days I can recall. Also the posts have been varied from recent to some of my first.

Once again humbled that my rambling, the words that fall out of my head would even entertain 100 people to take a look. So this post is simply to say THANKS. Thanks to everyone thats logged on, supported me, gave bowel cancer symptoms a second thought.

Right, well im off before I get too mushy and start tontear up..lol

see you in the mud soon.
#MUDBAGRUNNER

Tuesday 1 April 2014

What does not kill me makes us stronger

The last 2 weeks have been manic! Yes running 2 OCR races in 7 days did push me mentally and physicall, but the last 2 wees have been challeneging for other reasons too. In the weeks before these events I have been taking a new course of steroids (Since my follow up Sigmoscopy) to keep my remaining UC under control. I have had some interesting side effects.

Numbness on the right hand side of my face, general fatigue and some pretty impressive nightmares are my favourites. This has had a knock on effect to my training as my early morning gym sessions have often been only @ 80% fatigue really got me. After Blackout I wasn't even sure if Id make it around the hilly Trenches 10km. (pleased to say I did!)

One thing I have realised since I decide to train is that physical fatigue is often an acceptable side effect. If your training 5 days a week (and I mean training properly, not sitting on the bench checking your facebook)then your body is going to have a few aches and pains. That's why rest days are so important.

Personnaly the physical fatigue is often drowned out by the mental buzz that training running and getting muddy gives me. I'm sure there is a medical term for the endorphins that are released shortly after exercise, whatever, its addictive. However, couple this with mental fatigue and things start to take on a slightly different picture (well for me at least) This last month has been one of the toughest physically and mentally that I have had to face for a LONG TIME!
This brought me spiralling down.

Good news is my results came back and all is clear! I'm steadily reducing the dosage of steroids and the side effects have all but dissapeared. All a big weight off my mind ; )
WHAT DOESNT KILL ME MAKES ME STRONGER. My tattoo has never made more sense ; )

Im working on my reviews of Blackout and Trenches. 2 AWESOME events! Hoping to have the video soon so watch this space!