Archive for the ‘rebif’ Category

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I’m sick, can’t run

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

And no it is not a hangover from the Super Bowl. Even though I did watch my favorite team win, I did it from bed. No beer, but I did manage to eat some junk food and a pizza!

Oddly all of a sudden on Saturday I was just hit out of the blue with nasty flu like symptoms. I think I may have graduated from just symptoms to a full on case of the flu. Good news is I feel better today, but it is certainly still hanging all over me. I have noticed that this year (my first rebif year) that I have gotten sick more times than not. My neurologist insisted that it affects/suppresses a different part of the immune system, but as my GP says it doesn’t truly matter how you are supposed to react to a drug and instead it is the clinical reality that shows the real truth. In other words medicines perform differently on different people. Of course affecting immune systems seems like a pretty major thing to be willy-nilly affecting, so maybe she is right. But I have been exposed to less people (which could also be the problem) this year, I’ve gotten better sleep and had less stress in my life. I still think it is the rebif. Plus why was it recommended by a blogger (ok yeah, what do we know, seriously?) that as a ms person needs to get a flu shot. I have never gotten one in the past, then again I am getting older…

Well, I hope to be back running soon, but maybe not this week. Course I will get itching to go and I will end up running before I am healthy enough. I know I will. We’ll see.

Posted in ms, rebif, running, sick | 2 Comments »

Hard time getting back into the swing of things

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Since being sick basically put me out of commission for a couple of weeks I have been having a terribly hard time getting back into it. I think the biggest challenge has been having to run in the dark in the mornings. I’m not a big fan of that at all. I have a green blinking light that I wear on the back of my hat and an orange reflective running jacket. But it still feels sketchy, plus I worry about uneven sidewalks and all sorts of things not easily seen in the dark. Monday I couldn’t get out of bed, just wanted to lay there. Yesterday I decided at 3:00 to not get up. The rebif had caused a monster fever that plagued me all night. Right after going to bed I had the worst chills. It was incredible, I just could not warm up. Later, my cough came back a bit and every time I would succumb my fever would explode. The fever issue with rebif is odd, sometimes I don’t feel a thing, and others I do. I don’t understand the inconsistency. I’ll have to look for things in my diet that might be causing it.

I am just about ready to commit to the Seattle half-marathon on Nov 30th. I am pretty sure that in five weeks I can get back to where I was cardio-wise. My buddy in Seattle who I would stay with wants to go to a show the night before. I think I could do the half with limited sleep as long as I didn’t drink the might before. I am still torn though. Paul really wants to go to the show (and so do I – Sea and Cake – but a big part says it is foolish to try. But maybe not.

Posted in chi running, fever, ms, rebif | 1 Comment »

Sick as a dog

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

Yuck, I feel like garbage and have for a few days now. I ran On Sunday and Monday and my breathing was really heavy both days, by Monday night I was down for the count. I think it might be a flu since I have flu-like symptoms. Oh wait, that’s right, rebif gives me flu-like symptoms, great… Coughing all night (I need to get some cough suppressant or something), constant runny nose, fever (oh wait, the rebif again), sweats (uh, thanks rebif) and sneezing (a little). I know I am supposed to keep taking the rebif even when I am sick, but it is really tempting to skip it until I am better. I am sure that screws up the way it works, so I’ll keep at it.

On a positive note, I have been trying a different strategy for reducing the pain of my injections. I had been icing the area beforehand. Sometimes this would work fine, sometimes not. I got a call from msLifelines and talked to them about my issue and she recommended using a warm compress instead. I had heard this, but the ice was just easier, so I kept at it. Well, so far I am a convert. The warmth works much better. I heat up a washcloth with hot water and apply it to the area. I do this twice before my alcohol swab, hand washing and injection. Apparently it is the rebif that actually causes the pain, not the shot. The warmth allows it to be dispersed better. Well I’ll be. Lastly I massage the area to aide in dispersion.

I am not sure when I will run again, right now it feels like January. But I am sure I will get through this and feel better soon. Because it is so lung focused I am a bit concerned about running again. I think I’ll start out with some short runs to get back into it (haven’t we heard that before!)

Posted in chi running, flu-like symptoms, injections, ms, rebif, sick, warm compress | No Comments »

Non-run day

Friday, September 5th, 2008

I have to say, as much as I love running and the feeling I get afterwards, you just can’t beat a non-run day sometimes. It was really nice to not have to worry about getting up early. And it is a lot easier to get out of bed when you aren’t confronted with having to lace up your shoes and hit the road. So here I sit today reading the web, drinking tons of coffee and thinking about doing some yard work. Nothing too big, but a little of that is on my horizon.

So yesterday I did my rebif in the late morning after I had forgotten it on Wednesday eve. Boy, there is definitely a reason for me taking this stuff at night. I was in a fog all day, sort of a muddles feeling (if that means anything). The ibuprofen took care of most of it, but I still felt sluggish and sort of out of it all day.

On a related note, I have noticed that many medicines these days have “flu-like” symptoms associated with them. I wonder why that is? I also wonder if the symptoms are similar across meds. Maybe the pharmaceuticals are preparing the world for their new “flu-like” symptom med. Hmmm.

Posted in flu-like symptoms, ms, rebif | No Comments »

Third day in a row again

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

Today I did another round of third run in a row. I decided to sort of cut it short by a couple miles, as that was what my body was saying to me. Perhaps my body was wanting its rebif which I had forgotten to take last night (first time I have missed it since starting) but I seriously doubt that. So my revised rebif schedule was late this morning and I think I will do the next injection either Saturday or I may just stay on schedule and do it Friday night, we’ll see.

So the run today went very well despite me cutting a couple of miles off of it. I didn’t keep a very fast pace, but I am ok with that. The morning was cool, but warmer than the last couple of days. The other day I even needed to start out with the traditional Portland layered approach for the start (I think that was my half-marathon run.) Fall isn’t here yet! I tried another little add-on that I am going to start doing. Reed has been building a new bridge across the canyon from their new dorms (that they destroyed a beautiful community garden bu building atop it, grrr. Then again it is their land) to the main campus. So I crossed the canyon on the old bridge so I could recross on the new one. They did a really nice job with it curving it around old growth trees. I saw one of the constructions workers by the entrance to the bridge and told him so. So Even with that add-on I still managed to cut miles off my run.

Posted in ms, rebif, running | No Comments »

And down the side of the canyon I went…

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

I had a great run today with one exception. As I was heading down the path on the North Canyon, I came upon a turn that was obscured by foliage. As I continued down the narrow path, the sun blinded my vision into a white blur. As I neared the turn, all of a sudden their was another runner coming right at me. It was a guy I have seen several times and said hello to. I quickly tried to side-step out of the way, but with the narrow path and eight miles of running blurring my senses, I found myself stepping into air and rolling down the canyon wall (sounds a lot scarier than it is!) My friend turned in terror and came down the canyon face to pull me up. I took his hand and made it back upright. I told him I was fine, we smiled and headed off in our seperate directions. I look forward to seeing him again on teh trail so I can push him off!

Today I listened to sports radio as I ran and they talked about the folks who have been booted out of the Olympics for doping. It got me thinking about rebif and how I usually feel more energized on my runs the day after I inject. Would it be considered doping? I guess I don’t have anything to worry about, as my general slowness make sup for any benefit I would attain. But I wonder about an ms Olympic athlete?

Posted in chi running, ms, rebif | No Comments »

Injection bruise

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

I am taking rebif for my ms. So far so good, I am just into my second month of full doses. The injections kind of freaked me out at first, as I am sure they do most folks. However I found them to not me too bad. I usually ice the area I am going to inject into beforehand and that seems to make it much less bothersome. I use the very ice paks they shipped the rebif to me with, at least part of that packaging is getting reused.

So I have had very few site reactions with the injections. I use the auto injector to take my shots and I find it to be very easy to use. About two weeks ago I had my first site reaction. I got this hard lump that hurt a little. It lasted for about two hours, then went away. I asked my sister about it who is a nurse and she said it can be the result of many things. I could have not prepared my injection area as well as I should have, possibly picking something up from my hands. My angle of injection may have been off. She also said that needles sometimes get spurs in them that pull on the skin upon removal or injection. So all things to keep in mind (not much to do about the spurs I suppose.)

It is recommended that you rotate your injection area around so as to do as little damage to the areas I suppose. Their are eight spots, actually four pairs: back of the arms, above the buttocks on the back legs, stomach and front of the legs in pairs of left and right sides. I keep a little injection journal to keep track of where I am. So as a runner, my legs are somewhat muscular and have less fat to inject the rebif into (fortunately for me (or not!) even though I run I have enough fat in the other areas to where it is no problem.) But the fronts on my thighs seem to be a real problem. I now have really nasty bruises on both legs and enough pain in my left thigh that I earlier thought it was an abductor injury. So I think I am going to have to skip that area. My sister does not think this is a big deal, if one area gives you trouble, then skip it. I think I might call mslifelines and ask them about it, see if they have alternative areas for injection or if I don’t need to worry about it.

No run today, the polution from last nights fireworks (as well as the lack of sleep) kept me in bed this morning. Tomorrow I’ll finish off the week with another 30+ week, three in a row now (or then).

Posted in chi running, injection site reactions, ms, rebif | No Comments »

Volcano run

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

This morning I left the house for my run at 7:15. It was already getting warm, so it was a good thing I got the early start. Since I got the early start and I was by myself (I never connected with my running partner) I decided to do my favorite run, Mt. Tabor. I usually do this by myself cause it is long. I also love it up there and the peacefulness of the solitude is wonderful. Mt Tabor is an inactive volcano, apparently the only volcano within the city limits of a major city, and is just over 2 miles from my house. Once I am at the park, I have a five mile trail I run, that winds around the caldera of the volcano (now capped with a basketball court), up the mountain to a 3/4 mile circle around the top, then down the back and around one of the several reservoirs on the mountain. I love it there, it is also very shady and cool on the trails which makes fr a great run any time of year (even during the wet seasons, the trails stay much pretty mud-free. The hardest part of the run is not the hill climbing (of which there is a lot) but the last 2+ miles home. Coming off the mountain it always seems extra hot and I haven’t found a good shady route back. But it is totally worth it.

I ran over 34 miles this week, which was more than I really should have. This week I probably should have only done 30 (according to limiting increases rules) so I figure I’ll shoot fpr that next week. Plus my watch seems to give me more miles than I actually run (I think my Tabor clocked at 8.5 last year on my Ipod, this time 9.3). But I can handle having the extra miles especially if I am not really running them!

BTW I took my rebif last night and seemed to only have a few shadow spells; one at the start and several during the last mile. I also didn’t take any ibuprofen before I ran. My leg muscles did feel a little achey while running and that was probably some light flu-like symptoms, or it could very well be the result of the amount of running I have been doing. I also read a post about joint pain and rebif. I am trying to spot it, but also be highly aware that I am exercising. My right knee has been occasionally achey while running, I am doing some pain-free Chi-running visualization where all my pounding joints have cotton in them absorbing the beating.

Posted in chi running, ms, rebif | No Comments »

Seizure free 8.6 mile run

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

This morning I struggled to get up. My alarm even had to wake me, usually I have been getting up before the 6 AM bell tolls, but no summer sunrise could do it this morning. I had to rely on FOX radio telling me the war is going great to do it (I have my radio on FOX cause Blazer games get broadcasted though it is way past time to change that this year.)

I had taken my rebif last night, no reactions and relatively pain free. I awoke with some flu-like symptoms and headed for the medicine cabinet for some ibuprofen. My mom planted the seed that I shouldn’t take it without eating something. Even though I have never done this in the past, I am sure her advice is not only true, but would cause me to have troubles the first time I went against it. So I grabbed my coffee, a raspberry emergen-C and a cliff bar (for the ibuprofen and some energy).

My abductor on my right thigh wasn’t bothering me at all. I don’t know if it was the rest and ice I have been giving it over the last 6 days or if it was indeed a reaction to a rebif injection. Perhaps I stuck myself in a muscle instead of fat. Either way I will take the thigh feeling better.

I wasn’t sure how far I would go, I thought I would see how my leg was doing. Turned out to be pain free for the entire run, so I decided I would do the full 8.6. Hopefully the ibuprofen wasn’t making me falsely confident and pain free. I did notice so issue with my hamstrings on my left leg (the other side) as well as some slight pain around the left kneecap. When I started out I decided to focus on my footstrike. I follow Chi Running by Dan Dreyer for most of my running form. Well as often happens I get into a run and start thinking about other things, so I loose my focus. Many of the ideas behind Chi Running become second nature the more you follow them, but occasionally I have found a need to re-focus in order to reestablish good habits. This need often raises its hand after injury to get me back into proper stride. So, back to the knee. As soon as I felt the problem I refocused on my Chi footstrike and the pain went away. Many time good running form can be totally over-rated and you should instead do what comes naturally rather than try to force yourself into a new pattern. Chi running and Danny’s concepts fit really well into my running, so I have adopted most of them. I also employ a leg style that incorporates a short leg lift in order to conserve energy as well as a forward lean for free speed. I can’t remember where I read about that, but it worked for me.

So my run was seizure free for the entire thing. It was also really cool out this morning, so that may have had something to do with things. Whatever, it was a great run. I hope to be able to get out tomorrow morning, but I know I need to be back early as Ruthann is taking one of our budgies to the vet. Poor guy hasn’t been feeling well.

Posted in abductor, chi running, ms, rebif, running | No Comments »

Abductor injury

Monday, June 16th, 2008

I haven’t been running since Wednesday as I have a new (for me) running injury, at least I think it is a running injury. I appear to have pulled my abductor muscle on my right side. The abductor is the large muscle on the inside of your thigh. I say “appear” as this is the same area I had just done my injection in which hurt to do, so maybe I got it in the muscle? I have been resting it since last week and not running. I have also iced it a little. It feels a lot better, but if it is injection related, then maybe that is healing. Either way I think I will try running tomorrow. I should do a short run but I bet I will try to push it. We’ll see.

I had a real site reaction on Friday where the injection site swelled up and hurt for about an hour. It wasn’t that big of a deal. It seems a bit odd to me that so much attention is given to site reactions. I guess it is because it is weird and unexpected and might scare someone. The reality of it (at least for me) is that it wasn’t a big deal.

Posted in abductor, injury, rebif, running | No Comments »

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