On the DL list

[Penny4]

Sorry to hear that Bike Writer. I sympathize with you... I was out of commission for almost 3 months this year due to medical problems. WHile everyone else was out enjoying the mild winter, I was trying to work up the energy to go to the grocery store. Hang in there and rest up...hope you are back on the bike in no time!

[Roadtrip]

Wishing you the best!!!! Hope your back out on the road/trail soon.

Shannon

[breeze]

Sending speedy recovery vibes to both of you.

[Bike Writer]

owlice, so sorry to hear about you too I truly sympathize!

Thanks for the well wishes from everyone. I haven't been on the TE site for a little while but have been bogged down with work and getting healthy again. This is a campaign year for me and I'll be busy with that most of the summer but expect to do a significant amount of campaigning via bicycle once I'm able to get back on.

In the mean time I am enjoying vicarious riding thanks to all of you!

Miles of happy smiles to you all.

[Jiffer]

BIG HUGS TO BOTH OF YOU!!!

If anyone can relate, it's me. I've been "mostly" off my bike for over a year due to health. The most I could do was 30 minutes of easy riding and even that seemed to worsen my symptoms after a few of them, so I'd back off and eventually try again and back off and try again. I finally found a doctor who is actually helping me and as of about two weeks ago I am FINALLY riding more consistently and slowly amping up my time on the bike and speed.

I cherish my new found health (though I still have a ways to go), and time on my bike. I SO know how it feels. I wrote a blog post once entitled, "When Will I Get My Party Hat Back?" I talked about riding down a street near my house to go do my little five mile loop at a slow pace. And as I approached the red light and got into the left lane, I heard the roar of cyclists coming down the road behind me. I knew it was the Saturday club ride, which I had done numerous times. They were nearing the end of their ride. They had their "party hats" on as they joyfully whipped around the corner to the right and sped away. I thought about all the times I had been with that group . . . back when I, too, had a party hat . . . and pushed myself hard on that section, hoping to get my fastest time yet. And yet that day, I sat at the signal, with no party hat, waiting to turn the opposite direction and lollygag for five miles.

I feel for you both and send many well wishes for a speedy recovery. I just know you'll get your party hat back soon!

[Bike Writer]

Thanks Jiffer, what happened if you don't mind talking about it?

[Jiffer]

I don't mind at all. I posted briefly about it in "I'm Back! (I think)".

I was first diagnosed with adrenal fatigue in March 2012, but had apparently had it for some time. I had my first adrenal "crash" in August 2011 when my period came, but thought it was anemia. I was on a 30-ish mile group ride, rode the first half pretty well, but then "bonked" after about 15 miles or so and limped home. I had a lot of fatigue and got dizzy easily when I stood and got a black out sensation (but never actually fainted). A cycling coach believed it was anemia, as did my nurse sister. I took about a month off of riding, took iron and ate iron rich foods. Then I started to feel better . . . mostly.

I did a century after that, which only worsened my adrenals, only I didn't know it. Then I rode off and on for a while, nothing too long and no hard training. In January I got serious about training again and could ride 20-30 mile rides pretty strong, but once I hit around 40, I started to have issues. I'd bonk and could hardly get home. In February I had a tough time on the Palm Springs "metric" (after mile 40) and in March opted to do the Solvang Half instead of full century. I actually road that 50 really strong (passed people all day long . . . hee hee!). And then my period came a week later and, once again, I found myself limping home from a club ride after about 10 miles in. The strong fatigue and dizziness were back and I just couldn't ride a bike worth beans.

I went to a doctor this time, who confirmed it was not anemia, but I didn't have a lot of faith that he could diagnose me. He was all over the place with all the things it could be. I learned about adrenal fatigue from a friend, and went to a nutritionist who agreed I had it. (Basically my adrenal gland was shot and was not secreting enough adrenal hormone.) I saw her for ten months, took her supplements and "tried" to stay on the diet she recommended. (It was hard to stay on when I wasn't seeing results.) I'd ride 30 minute rides at an easy pace, but eventually it seemed that even those would make my symptoms worse.

In February of this year when my symptoms worsened even more I switched to a naturopathic doctor. That's when everything changed. She confirmed adrenal fatigue, but also diagnosed me with subclinical hypothyroidism, candida (a yeast overgrowth) and . . . apparently ALL my hormones are low.

I have since learned that all four of those things are commonly related.

For the past 5 1/2 weeks I've been on a candida diet, which avoids any foods that feed the yeast. No sugar or foods that turn to sugar. Low grains (for sure no white flour or wheat), no dairy and pretty much no processed foods of any kind. I basically have to make every thing I eat and usually from scratch, because everything has something in it that I can't have. Sugar is in everything. Citric acid is in things like tomato sauce, marinara, enchilada sauce, etc. I'm not aware of any store bought salad dressings I can have. I could go on, but I'm already telling you way more detail than you probably expected (that's just my way!).

My doctor believes if I can get rid of the yeast, it will help balance all my other hormones, including thyroid and adrenals. I was skeptical at how soon I'd see improvement, but at 3 1/2 weeks into the diet (and a million supplements), I actually started to experience less fatigue. My blackout sensation is still there, but less intense and less often. I can ride my bike and not feel like it's worsening my symptoms.

YAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have post nasal drip, which my doctor says is fungal and should be cured with my diet and supplements. I haven't noticed any change in that yet, but since I have had the post nasal drip for at least 15 years, that means I've had candida for 15 years and the longer you've had it, the longer it takes to get rid of the little buggers. So I'll probably be on this diet for some time before I'm completely well, and even then I'll probably always have to be careful.

I've been blogging about my health journey, cycling, recipes, etc. at jennifersuchey.com if you're curious. I have a post on what candida is, symptoms, etc.

So that's my story.