Good for you FOX network. On Fringe I just saw a midget's head explode on free network TV. Wow.
2010-09-30
2010-09-28
The Purpose
Hello I'm Thomas Mahinulani Novikoff
I was born on Friday March 13th 1981.
On May 16th 2009 I was diagnosed with a Extrahepatic Biliary Stricture. That's about the best explanation I can give you up to this point. Here's a picture of it.
The Y-shaped black part in the upper middle is my extremely dilated bile duct.
On May 10th I noticed I was turning yellow, there were other symptoms that just seemed to a function of my diet and dehydration. But the turning yellow thing was the deal breaker, and on the 15th I was lugging my butt into a hospital emergency room to get someone to figure this out. The next day after a urine test, 5 blood tests, an ultrasound, and a CT scan I was having a tube shoved down my throat getting my plumbing unclogged with an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The end result was the picture below.
The tube is the only thing keeping me alive. Otherwise the bile backs up (and bile is toxic stuff), and systematically poisons/destroys the liver. Over time cirrhosis ensues, the liver begins to fail, and that's all she wrote... Thank goodness for modern medicine. Since then I've had the tube replaced 3 times due to occlusion. This results in cholangitis, which for me causes a splitting headache, a fever, chills, and more bile back up.
I've basically been able to resume a normal life...basically. I've been on antibiotics for over 4 months to prevent the cholangitis (the liver is your waste management center so it deposits all the bacteria to get it out, and if it can't go out the conventional way, it's stuck). I take a bile acid called Ursodiol with every meal to help with digestion, liver function, and stent clogging prevention (doesn't do the latter all that well). Otherwise I can still do this...
On November 5th, 2009 I had a pancreaticoduodenectomy for what turned out to be Stage III Cholangiocarcinoma, I resumed riding the trainer less than 2 weeks later, because I hate walking. Though I no longer have a fully functioning normal digestive system I went back to work less than a month after the surgery, and resumed riding about the same time.
2010 has been 6 months of Chemotherapy (Gemcitibine-Cisplatin cocktail 2 times every three weeks) then Radiation all of August at Stanford to save me the driving hassle. Now I'm done with that crap. I did it all by myself (except the actual IV and IMRT manipulation), driving to all but maybe 3 out of 40 treatments (my Aunty Charlotte wanted to go a few times). I rode 100-200 miles a week, and raced 15 times this year during my treatments...though I plain sucked.... just wanted to pretend everything was status quo. I also never missed a single day of work due to the treatments. Fatigue? That's an excuse. Nausea? Sure...but I just sucked it up. Anemia? Annoying but manageable...except when trying to race Professional Cyclists. I never made excuses, never asked for handouts, never wanted to be treated differently, and never let it get to me.
Thankfully...to be continued
I was born on Friday March 13th 1981.
On May 16th 2009 I was diagnosed with a Extrahepatic Biliary Stricture. That's about the best explanation I can give you up to this point. Here's a picture of it.
The Y-shaped black part in the upper middle is my extremely dilated bile duct.
On May 10th I noticed I was turning yellow, there were other symptoms that just seemed to a function of my diet and dehydration. But the turning yellow thing was the deal breaker, and on the 15th I was lugging my butt into a hospital emergency room to get someone to figure this out. The next day after a urine test, 5 blood tests, an ultrasound, and a CT scan I was having a tube shoved down my throat getting my plumbing unclogged with an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The end result was the picture below.
The tube is the only thing keeping me alive. Otherwise the bile backs up (and bile is toxic stuff), and systematically poisons/destroys the liver. Over time cirrhosis ensues, the liver begins to fail, and that's all she wrote... Thank goodness for modern medicine. Since then I've had the tube replaced 3 times due to occlusion. This results in cholangitis, which for me causes a splitting headache, a fever, chills, and more bile back up.
I've basically been able to resume a normal life...basically. I've been on antibiotics for over 4 months to prevent the cholangitis (the liver is your waste management center so it deposits all the bacteria to get it out, and if it can't go out the conventional way, it's stuck). I take a bile acid called Ursodiol with every meal to help with digestion, liver function, and stent clogging prevention (doesn't do the latter all that well). Otherwise I can still do this...
On November 5th, 2009 I had a pancreaticoduodenectomy for what turned out to be Stage III Cholangiocarcinoma, I resumed riding the trainer less than 2 weeks later, because I hate walking. Though I no longer have a fully functioning normal digestive system I went back to work less than a month after the surgery, and resumed riding about the same time.
2010 has been 6 months of Chemotherapy (Gemcitibine-Cisplatin cocktail 2 times every three weeks) then Radiation all of August at Stanford to save me the driving hassle. Now I'm done with that crap. I did it all by myself (except the actual IV and IMRT manipulation), driving to all but maybe 3 out of 40 treatments (my Aunty Charlotte wanted to go a few times). I rode 100-200 miles a week, and raced 15 times this year during my treatments...though I plain sucked.... just wanted to pretend everything was status quo. I also never missed a single day of work due to the treatments. Fatigue? That's an excuse. Nausea? Sure...but I just sucked it up. Anemia? Annoying but manageable...except when trying to race Professional Cyclists. I never made excuses, never asked for handouts, never wanted to be treated differently, and never let it get to me.
Thankfully...to be continued
2010-09-27
153.5 WTH?
How do I weigh 153.5 pounds now and I'm dehydrated? I know I ate a lot this weekend but I also rode for 6 hours in the heat. I don't want to sound like a chick making weight excuses but am I retaining water? I definitely don't look 6 pounds heavier. Honestly I am expecting to overload the toilet soon, hasn't happened yet.
STUXNET!
STUXNET!
2010-09-25
I Saw a Rattlesnake Spontaneously Combust Today
Summer decided to show up finally this weekend, and I wanted to roll out early. SO much for that, damn Dark Chocolate Covered Pomegranate Seeds...Trader Joe's (shakes fist). My breakfast gastric overload also caused quite the discomfort riding, not only did I want to throw up, my breathing felt stunted.
My ride can be found here. http://www.strava.com/rides/190779# and here it is on google earth
My plan was to go up Mt Umunhum to the top at a steady pace, just not steady SLOW. I died a thousand deaths on Hicks, especially on the steepest exposed parts as the heat was getting worse. I felt like turning around just a mile into the climb, but I pressed on. Started to feel a little better on Mt Umunhum, especially in the shade, but I would like to have gone 1-2 kph faster. By the top it was just brutally hot for me (mid 90's). The top is at over 3200 feet elevation and has quite the views. 5 miles @10.2% 10kph avg 48 min 260 watt average, lame. I did feel like throwing up the whole time... Had I opted for a flatter ride I would have missed this.
Legs felt okay so I hammered on for another hour and a half to have about 4500 feet of total climbing.
I was looking forward to the $3.25 Cherry Pretzel Whole Bar after the ride, but by the time I got back the throw up desire had faded. Now I just had a desire to chug a gallon of cold water. The bar was not so great either. I'm going to stop wasting my money on those things.
Oh and gotta like the new blogger setup, now my pictures are larger, just they don't fit the layout super nice...don't care.
My ride can be found here. http://www.strava.com/rides/190779# and here it is on google earth
My plan was to go up Mt Umunhum to the top at a steady pace, just not steady SLOW. I died a thousand deaths on Hicks, especially on the steepest exposed parts as the heat was getting worse. I felt like turning around just a mile into the climb, but I pressed on. Started to feel a little better on Mt Umunhum, especially in the shade, but I would like to have gone 1-2 kph faster. By the top it was just brutally hot for me (mid 90's). The top is at over 3200 feet elevation and has quite the views. 5 miles @10.2% 10kph avg 48 min 260 watt average, lame. I did feel like throwing up the whole time... Had I opted for a flatter ride I would have missed this.
Legs felt okay so I hammered on for another hour and a half to have about 4500 feet of total climbing.
I was looking forward to the $3.25 Cherry Pretzel Whole Bar after the ride, but by the time I got back the throw up desire had faded. Now I just had a desire to chug a gallon of cold water. The bar was not so great either. I'm going to stop wasting my money on those things.
Oh and gotta like the new blogger setup, now my pictures are larger, just they don't fit the layout super nice...don't care.
2010-09-19
4400
If the Garmin calculator was correct I may have jumped the shark today. I rode Henleyville, but the incessant accelerations from the hardmen of NorCal broke my legs quick. The 5th attack in a 3 minute stretch 10 miles into the race was too much. Just couldn't hold wheels. In fact I did at least 5 900+ watt accelerations the first 10 miles of the race. Ugh. Then the car with my wheels in it passed by and so I was stuck until the race was over so.... I put my head down and get in one wicked workout. I swore I almost clawed back to the pack before the end of the first lap, but it wasn't to be. So I proceeded to do a 40 mile solo time trial, and actually was keeping the pace steady the whole way. Finally before the end of the third lap the 3's come by and with no follow car or motorcycle I sit on at the back for a little while behind this shmuck who was tailgunning the whole time. 2 guys were riding away from the 3's pack, as those 'tards dicked around flailing away at each other. At one point I got gapped and they got about 30 seconds up the road, but I amazingly was able to hammer my way back up to them as they continued to ride idiotically. Honestly the non-Chico guys could have easily worked together to drag the two leaders back, they had 30 miles to do it..but no. The NorCal team guy in red was the biggest douche, just sitting at the back doing squat. He was more worried about me then the race when I was sitting at the back just trying to get back, he was lucky I wasn't a three because I would have chewed his ass out for his lameness. Around the last lap feed zone I let them go and got back into TT mode. Eventually I rode with a guy from Washington who missed his start by 15 minutes... no apathy for that. But he was okay, except for the fact he didn't seem to care he was wearing 2011 SWorks shoes. Damn, I could use those, but I've got to penny pinch for a while. When I got off my bike my quads were destroyed, and apparently so were my calorie reserves. If my Garmin was correct(really doubt it) I expended FOUR THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED calories in 3 hours and 20 minutes. 1321 CALORIES AN HOUR. I'm guessing that it was closer to half those numbers because had I really burned 4.4K KCal I would have bonked like no tomorrow. Either way I really needed that Whole Bar after, ouch, and still DFL, but I FINISHED! Suck it NorCal cat 3 douchebag.
2010-09-12
August 20th to ????
So August 20th was my last radiation + chemo (xeloda 3000 mg/day on IMRT treatment days). A good 3 weeks ago. Maybe trying to compete on the pro-1-2 level right now is unrealistic. I mean Mr. Armstrong took a whole year to come back from his last treatment. So why am I lining up to a hillclimb today...I'm crazy? Probably. I tried to hold my own but 11 minutes after the winner crossed the line I did. I peeled off the pace (which wasn't that fast) 7:30 minutes after the start with my heart rate at 160 bpm. I tried my best but could only manage to break 50 minutes, which is pretty lame (7 minutes slower than last year). I rode all the way to the top to check out the view. Sorry no pictures...was trying to keep the weight to a minimum. I'm skipping Mt Tam on Saturday to focus on not getting dropped at Henleyville with my HED Jet 9's. They sure make me look fast.
2010-09-11
Done With Facebook
Today is the last day I'm posting anything on Facebook. I'll keep my account so people can contact me but otherwise I'm done. My account is dominated by 10 people and I'm sure people are sick of my posts. Hell the interesting thing I've had to post about my Cholangiocarcinoma has gone completely unmentioned on facebook, because I don't want to be a downer to all those on facebook who lead such simple drama filled lives. Cancer makes anyone's hangovers seem so trivial.... So I have to change my account settings and vet everything on the account.
I'll still be easy to find here on this "blog" and on Strava.com where I will post every ride I do for the next year. Strava has added a new level of motivation for me. I am very motivated to try to overcome the blasted cancer treatments which reduced me to the physical ability of a cat 3 woman. Now with Strava I can measure my efforts against the pool of other strava addicts and try to best their times. I only expect this can work for another year before it's gets big and abuse with motorpacing, motorcycles, and Lamborghini's becomes rampant. As for my "comeback" I'm on a slow upward trajectory (not fast enough for me), but still have a little ways to go before the power is near what I need. Case in point.
20 min threshold 3/10/09 - 340 watts - 4.85 W/kg
20 min threshold 9/10/10 - 275 watts - 4.23 W/kg (lost 5 kg of weight)
20 min threshold needed - 315 watts to = 4.85 W/kg
If I can get to 330 watts for 20 min (a 20% increase) I'll be rolling with the big boys in NorCal. I still have about 8%-10% more hemotocrit to recover to reach 43% (my norm). It may take a few months so I have that to look forward to. In the meantime I'll work with what I have, with a little extra motivation. Or maybe I should dangle this picture in front of me while I ride as motivation.
I'll still be easy to find here on this "blog" and on Strava.com where I will post every ride I do for the next year. Strava has added a new level of motivation for me. I am very motivated to try to overcome the blasted cancer treatments which reduced me to the physical ability of a cat 3 woman. Now with Strava I can measure my efforts against the pool of other strava addicts and try to best their times. I only expect this can work for another year before it's gets big and abuse with motorpacing, motorcycles, and Lamborghini's becomes rampant. As for my "comeback" I'm on a slow upward trajectory (not fast enough for me), but still have a little ways to go before the power is near what I need. Case in point.
20 min threshold 3/10/09 - 340 watts - 4.85 W/kg
20 min threshold 9/10/10 - 275 watts - 4.23 W/kg (lost 5 kg of weight)
20 min threshold needed - 315 watts to = 4.85 W/kg
If I can get to 330 watts for 20 min (a 20% increase) I'll be rolling with the big boys in NorCal. I still have about 8%-10% more hemotocrit to recover to reach 43% (my norm). It may take a few months so I have that to look forward to. In the meantime I'll work with what I have, with a little extra motivation. Or maybe I should dangle this picture in front of me while I ride as motivation.
Fumbling It Away
What a strange morning. Rode early to catch the Hawaii-Army game, who plays football at noon? Atleast I didn't have to watch at 6am like those in Hawaii. Hawaii dominated the first 3 series. 21-0, then the bottom fell out, Army started blitzing, the special teams started making mistakes, and the next thing you know it's 28-21 Army WT Hell? Hawaii got an emphatic touchdown to tie it. Then as time was running out Army was poised to take a game winning FG, then bam, some dude named Ulu causes a fumble and with 24 seconds left Hawaii gets the ball. Smartly they don't take a knee, and heave it down the field, and 14 seconds (football time, which is 10 minutes in reality) later Hawaii is kicking the game winning FG! Hawaii 31 Army 28. I'll take it. Hawaii needs to pick up the blitz better, and tighten up on defense, but I digress.
Then I'm watching delayed Vuelta footage, as I have avoided spoilers by not visiting spoiler filled sites. And BAM Igor Anton goes down and is out of the Vuelta, WT Hell? Craziness.
Then I'm watching delayed Vuelta footage, as I have avoided spoilers by not visiting spoiler filled sites. And BAM Igor Anton goes down and is out of the Vuelta, WT Hell? Craziness.
2010-09-08
Douche bags = Entourage
Tried watching 30 minutes of Entourage, unlike the Jersey Shore which is a train wreck thus you can't turn away, Entourage is just awful. Not only is it boring, the jokes lame, and the characters unlikable on all levels, it's just manufactured douche baggerey, unlike the Jersey Shore. Pauly D, Ronnie, and "The Situation" are genuine douche bags and dumpster fires... If anyone can relate to the bastards portrayed on Entourage show you really need to reevaluate your life, and if you want to be one of them you might just be a dick or an ass or both. To each there own I guess, shouldn't spend all blog post ripping people's poor taste.
To me the only good shows left on TV are Fringe, The Simpsons, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and maybe House (it's getting redundant and predictable now).
Speaking of the Jersey Shore, Snooki, you know the little gremlin girl. She was arrested for being obnoxious, not hard to believe. Well she said "I'm too pretty to be in jail. I'm a good person. I'm not a criminal and I will never go back there."
I find all four of the statements she made to be probably erroneous. I mean look at her.
To me the only good shows left on TV are Fringe, The Simpsons, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and maybe House (it's getting redundant and predictable now).
Speaking of the Jersey Shore, Snooki, you know the little gremlin girl. She was arrested for being obnoxious, not hard to believe. Well she said "I'm too pretty to be in jail. I'm a good person. I'm not a criminal and I will never go back there."
I find all four of the statements she made to be probably erroneous. I mean look at her.
Today I tried to hammer up Montebello, tried..."there is no try." I guess I did...Yoda...but not very fast. I only set the 14th fastest Strava time up Montebello, a sad 34:41. I did get blocked by a U-turning truck of stoners a kilo up, but that couldn't have cost me more than 10 seconds. I was 6 minutes faster last year, and was over 40 watts better as well. Now I'm averaging 275 watts, sure I lost some pounds but c'mon. I think the chemo atrophy may take a while to recover from completely, or I just need to climb more..or find EPO? Okay doping sucks, but so does a hematocrit less than 35%.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)