Since most of us aren't teenagers any more, I'm pretty sure a large masters population is having to overcome all kinds of health issues on order to getin shape, and go as far as competing.
I was starting to get pretty competetive 4-5 years ago and setting a lot of PB's, when in my mid to late 30's I got slammed with a lot of health issues, couple of which (ick) caused a lot of rapid heart rate even at rest, and made me very exercise intolerant. Some of this is getting under control, other things I just have to live with, and accept I can't push as hard as I used to :(
I have a genetic blood disorder, thallasemia, which manifests itself in my case an untreatable chronic anemia, fast thyroid causing heartbeat irregularities (and other things), and one of arthritic conditions, scleroderma. In last couple years I'm just starting to figure out how to handle my newly dysfunctional body, and still keep active. It's been a very disheartening struggle, since at 40, I'm supposedly too young to be falling apart. Eh!
I'd like to hear from people who are having to manage their health issues, so they can keep swimming, and even competing... I'm hoping this can be motivating to a *few* people.
Oh, I hear ya! I get Raynauds too.... ugh....
My stupid body is allergic to itself.
I'm still going through a lot of doctors shrugging their shoulders. Recently, an internist put me on beta blockers, that's helping with heart rate issues, and I want to get back to exercising. Right now, they monitor various aspects of my bloodwork every 3 months. Thyroid, inflammation, anemias, I forget off the top of my head what else, Lot of details. RA factor (Rheumatoid arthritis) factor came out negative, and they kicked me back from rheumatology, it's not their thing. Now they're talking about going to endocrinologist, for the next round of what nots.
Unfortunately, our stories are not unique; they're the norm for those with autoimmune disorders. They are often extremely difficult to diagnose, and, since they mostly affect women, male doctors will imply it's "all in your head", even if they don't come right out and say it. I've had my fill of a*%hole doctors who treated me that way!:bitching: My blown out lumbar disc was "all in my head" until my dad (who was a doctor before he died) yanked me out of San Diego and got me to an orthopaedic surgeon in Long Beach. He got me right in for an MRI and I was on the table for emergency surgery the next day! If I had waited much longer, the nerve damage in my leg and foot would have been permanent.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome was "all in my head", too, until I did my own research, got myself to the right doctor (my dad had died by then) who conducted the right tests, and had me in for emergency surgery, as well. Again, permanent damage would have been the result had I not had the surgery sooner, rather than later.
My the time the heat intolerance issue came up, I had had enough of being told it was "all in my head". Fortunately, the group of doctors I went to never implied that at all. That was the good news... But, the bad news was they never really figured out what was wrong. :confused:
Sorry you're going through your auto immune crap, Connie!
Good luck! :cheerleader:
Oh, I hear ya! I get Raynauds too.... ugh....
My stupid body is allergic to itself.
I'm still going through a lot of doctors shrugging their shoulders. Recently, an internist put me on beta blockers, that's helping with heart rate issues, and I want to get back to exercising. Right now, they monitor various aspects of my bloodwork every 3 months. Thyroid, inflammation, anemias, I forget off the top of my head what else, Lot of details. RA factor (Rheumatoid arthritis) factor came out negative, and they kicked me back from rheumatology, it's not their thing. Now they're talking about going to endocrinologist, for the next round of what nots.
Unfortunately, our stories are not unique; they're the norm for those with autoimmune disorders. They are often extremely difficult to diagnose, and, since they mostly affect women, male doctors will imply it's "all in your head", even if they don't come right out and say it. I've had my fill of a*%hole doctors who treated me that way!:bitching: My blown out lumbar disc was "all in my head" until my dad (who was a doctor before he died) yanked me out of San Diego and got me to an orthopaedic surgeon in Long Beach. He got me right in for an MRI and I was on the table for emergency surgery the next day! If I had waited much longer, the nerve damage in my leg and foot would have been permanent.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome was "all in my head", too, until I did my own research, got myself to the right doctor (my dad had died by then) who conducted the right tests, and had me in for emergency surgery, as well. Again, permanent damage would have been the result had I not had the surgery sooner, rather than later.
My the time the heat intolerance issue came up, I had had enough of being told it was "all in my head". Fortunately, the group of doctors I went to never implied that at all. That was the good news... But, the bad news was they never really figured out what was wrong. :confused:
Sorry you're going through your auto immune crap, Connie!
Good luck! :cheerleader:
