Grrrrr.....

When getting together with an old friend for the first time in years (many years!), one is always curious about whether you'll actually be able to spot each other.  I had that opportunity the other day and said to her:  "Just look for the guy with crutches".  Her response:  "Great....I''m sure you'll have a good story to tell!"  Ughhh....that's just the beginning of the story because the foot wasn't getting better.

Long story short.....I had surgery on the darn thing.  Whether it was traumatized from my stubborn refusal to let it heal, or if the doctor's earlier work was incomplete doesn't really matter at this point.  I'm down for at least another couple of weeks.  No walking or biking or showers.  I'm even working at home, since the darn thing can't have any pressure, even with crutuches.  Public transit would be a real challenge.

But I'm trying to be optimistic and looking forward to this being the final fix for this setback!  Let it heal and then let me get back to action!  Another friend gave me a nice card the other day.  Here it is with the message from the inside.  I hope it is right!

Not me, but a scene from the Tour de France, 2002

The Agony of DeFeet

The title says it all.  After a fairly tough time with my foot during the MDR, I guess I got my comeuppance.  It just wasn't healing from the bursitis surgery four weeks prior, so I saw the doctor again a week ago and she gave me the news....."You need to stay off of it for 3 weeks".  Doh!  I'm at the peak of my annual cycling fitness after the MDR ride and I have to stay put?  Not even a walk??  Or an erg?  Ughhh.  Well, patience doesn't come easy to me.  But this isn't what I expected!  Looking back, I guess it makes sense.  I probably shouldn't have cycled at all for a couple of weeks after the initial procedure, but I did.  And now I'm paying for it.  No walking.  No riding.  For three weeks.  I can't even take a regular shower, as I need to avoid getting it wet.  Grrrr.  Here are a few things that keep going through my stubborn head.

1.  I'm sure if I asked the doctor if I could go on the ride, she'd have said no.  It's one of the highlights of the riding year, so can you blame me?  ;-)
2.  I had a great May for mileage....about 650 miles!  June will be sh*t.
3.  I don't like to sit still, but better now than before or during the MDR.
4.  I asked the doctor when I would know if it was better.  She said the swelling will decrease, it'll stop hurting and will stop draining.  Another doh!  Maybe I should be in medicine?!  Maybe not.
5.  I'm sure riding didn't help it, but maybe showers actually contributed more to its slow healing than anything else?  I thought after a few days, it would be ok to shower.  But maybe not.  This time, I'm following directions (sponge baths, baby!) and hope that makes the difference.
6.  I've been wearing the boot and using crutches for a week now.  What a pain in the ass.  I hope it pays off.  I've even changed my commute and I'm taking the bus as it's a shorter walk.
7.  While it's also a pain to explain my problem time after time, even people who never talk to me seem to be friendly and inquiring.  And I get a good seat on the bus!
8.  I want to ride, so please get better!  qUiCkLy!