The weekly miles have been piling on and weekend long runs are now 15 miles but I have hit a little snag. Over the last month or two my fitness level (which should be really getting good about now) has not been improving but rather deteriorating. I have been a little fatigued (which is somewhat normal for marathon training) and my perceived effort during my runs has seemed really high based on the pace I was running. In addition my heart rate (which I monitor closely) during my runs has been slowly rising over the last month or two and I have been very winded after running up stairs. I thought that most of this was just training fatigue or related to the fact that every one in the house has been sick for the last 6 weeks. That was until I had "soaking night sweats" 3 nights in a row which is a normal symptom of Hodgkin's Disease.
My oncologist performed a blood test and determined that I am about 2.5 grams (I think that what he said) low on Hemoglobin. I was a little stressed out and I'm not sure I heard everything exactly right. Anyway the symptoms of being low by 2.5 grams (or whatever) of Hemoglobin is like being a pint or so low of blood hence the shortness of breath and high heart rate during exercise.
So to make a long story short it is time to start up the Chemo and put this disease back into remission. My marathon efforts are off for now (Doctor's orders) but after treatment I will likely do a fall marathon for the LLS instead of the Bayshore this spring. My treatments will start on Tuesday March 22nd and will go for up to 6 months but will likely be 4 months. I will have an 8 hour drip of Rituximab on Tuesday and a 1 hour drip of Treanda on Wednesday followed by a dose of Neulasta on Friday. MMM.... Sounds delicious! I will be on this schedule once a month and the chemo will be administered in Holland. Based on the drugs and my overall health I should do pretty well.
This is not a "knock down the symptoms" type of treatment but rather a "put it into remission treatment". Since the Cancer is not curable it will come back but it may be 1,3,10 or 20 years until it reoccurs.
This won't be fun but Joa and I are ready to fight and get this behind us. I have been prepared for this day for along time so I am well prepared for what is ahead. I guess I'm going to learn how to slow down a little and listen to what God is trying to tell me.
On a side note I am flattered by the donations that have come in to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on my behalf for committing to run the Bayshore Marathon. Although I will not be running Bayshore the LLS will be moving me to a fall marathon after my treatments are complete. I will continue to be fundraising throughout the summer. I love endurance events and I can't wait to start training again, and I only stopped yesterday! It's going to be a long 4 months although I am excited to play lots of soccer with the kids instead of logging miles.
We are so thank fun for all of the donations, support and most importantly the prayers.
Tim, Joa and Family
Tim and Joa: We were so disappointed to hear about this setback. We'll keep up with things on the blog,--give us detailed prayer requests whenever you can. For now we'll pray that your side effects are minimal, that you have a wonderful time of rest and bonding with Joa and the kids while training is on hold, that this "distraction" doesn't come back again for MORE than 20 years, and that you both feel God's close presence every step of the way. Isaiah 49:16; Deut. 31:8 Don and Jan
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