Maria's Running Blog

Thanks everyone for the comments and thinking about me - Bonnie, Brent, Bill, Kate! Another update: things are getting better very slowly, and sometimes they are getting worse. I went to work this week for the first time, and I managed two days. Tuesday I was fine, but on Wednesday I developed a bad anxiety attack on the tube (mainly, racing heart and frightened feelings). It took me 2-3 hours to recover from it after I made it to work. Yesterday and today, I've been having chest pains, especially when I'm walking. And I haven't had chest pains like this when I actually had clots in my lungs! It's frustrating, but docs are telling me it's going to take months to get back to normal. I had miltiple PEs in both lungs, and there has been damage, so maybe the pains I feel now are actually my lungs repairing.

I had a bunch of tests done last week, and all my blood tests were good this time. My oxygen saturation is at 98-99% which is very good. It was reassuring to hear all that, because I haven't been feeling all that great. I talked to PE specialist, and he said it's pretty normal to feel like this, and anxiety is common after PE, but he did not recommend to medicate it. He said it will only create a dependency on the drug. But he doesn't think I'm having any new clots, because all the test results are good. Also, he said I might be feeling worse than average person since I was very fit before my PE, and so a large chunk of my fitness has been taken away, therefore I'm noticing it more than someone who has not been so fit. He said that  in time, I will be able to run again, and I should regain my lung function fully. He will run some breathing tests in a few more months to assess my lung function.

So, there is nothing to do but wait. Last weekend, I felt great, and so I thought I can go to work. But today, I really am not sure, maybe I pushed it too much. I want to go to my daughter's swim meet tomorrow (it's a big county championship), so I hope I'll be okay in the taxi on the way there. Then it's mostly sitting waiting for her to swim. I keep telling myself there is nothing new wrong with me, and if I feel short of breath, it's mostly from my nerves and anxiety. Still, I wish I didn't feel like this.

My first run post-PE! I saw my pulmonologist yesterday, and he cleared me to start running, as long as I start from 1 mile and build up gradually. I have been feeling remarkably better last 2 weeks, almost back to normal, so I was ready to give it a go. I was a little afraid I was going to get short of breath, but I just figured I will go only a mile and I can always stop if I don't feel good.

I wore Garmin so Icould see my heart rate. I ran very easy, definitely could have gone faster, but didn't want to push it at all. Felt a little discomfort at the top of my lungs, but nothing bad. My breathing was fine and I felt okay, but my heart rate was through the roof - 170!! And I was going a little faster than 10 min/mi pace. Wow, I didn't expect it to be that high. My normal heart rate on easy runs is 140-145. The combination of de-training and PE certainly kicked my butt.

I'm not too worried though. The doctor told me I can get my fitness back and most likely I will not suffer any permanent damage in my lungs. It will just take time. He scheduled spirometry and blood gases tests for August, so that means they don't assume you're back 100% until full 6 months after PE. The tests supposedly will show whether I got my full lung capacity back or not. In any case, I hope to build up the distance first and speed second. I am jsut happy to be able to run again :).

Total time: 11:46 (9:48 pace).

Decided to go a little longer today. Garmin was late picking up the signal, and HRM was out of sorts as well, showing range from 85 to 140. So bad day in technology department today!

I turned around after 9:30 thinking it must be about a mile, and finished in 19:20.  Tried to map the distance on gmap-pedometer,com, but couldn't pinpoint the location I turned around exactly. It was in the middle of London Business School building, but there are no intersections there. Got approximately 1.9 miles - close enough. My adductors are very sore after my first 12 min. run - haha, that's how little I need these days! But at least it wasn't crazy windy like yesterday. Still cold though - 4C, wind chill 0C. Where is the spring??

Total time: 19:20 (10:10 pace) - approximate.

Maybe it was a bit much, but I went 3 miles today. My lungs hurt whenever I sped up (usually due to slight downhill), so I had to back off the pace even more, as if I wasn't going as a turtle already. I made it, but I don't think I will increase the distance anymore until some weeks later. My heart took half an hour to get back to normal after I finished and I'm still a little short of breath. I didn't wear HRM because I wouldn't be able to see my HR in the dark anyway. I think I got a little carried away, so happy that I can run again.

The weather is still cold - there was even wet snow yesterday! I coudln't believe it, it's so rare to get snow in London, let alone at the end of March. Today I ran wearing wind breaker and gloves. But the forecast has steady warming this week, and 1 April is supposed to be 16C (~65F). Of course, it's 1 April, so not putting too much faith into this forecast.

Total time: 28:53 (9:37 pace).

It took me couple of days to recover from my last run, as I definitely overdid it, both in terms of pace and distance. Didn't feel great last 2 days (some chest pain). So today I made sure to go super slow and shorter. Felt okay, but I now strongly suspect my HRM is garbage - it was showing 186 at one point, and 111 at another. All the while I ran even pace, although I instinctively slowed down even more after seeing that 186. I think I'll just leave it at home from now on, and run by feel. I don't want to get scared seeing heart rate in 180s or even higher. I certainly don't need the additional stress. The weather got a little warmer, but today there is crazy wind, so back to the windbreaker I went!

Total time: 21:08 (10:34 pace).

Finally, the spring is here! Beautiful weather today, warm, dry and no wind. I left my HRM at home, and just enjoyed the run. Went a little further than the other day, felt okay, no chest pain. Pace was faster than before, probably due to no HRM to scare me :).

Total time: 21:42 (9:26 pace).

 My daughter surprised me yesterday by doing this work in her art class:

www.flickr.com/photos/m_imas