Morning update.

Well this morning I am pleased to say the sciatic pain is still non-existent and other than some tenderness in the area from the shots which Kevin said is normal, I feel fine. Last night was the first night in almost 14 years that I had been able to sleep on my back without suffering intense pain trying to then turn on my side. And I can assure you I was extremely hesitant to roll over but to my surprise "no pain". So just to celebrate the momentous occasion at 0135 am I rolled over again and again with a smile from ear to ear.

My hip/groin pain (Enthesopathy) is only slightly there and I think that's because I had my first dose of Fosamax and I have been resting too. So thing's are looking positive. I also did my first set of exercises given to me by Kevin this morning and I will do a boat load of stretches as well as I feel super tight.

So I am happy to report I feel improvement. How is everyone?

Quit fussin' woman.

So I woke up this morning bleary eyed and quite apprehensive after a completely restless night. Did my usual routine with the kiddies had a shower and got my hubby to put on those Emla patches where the doctor had marked with permanent marker 2 days ago. I really need to learn to settle down the brain, the closer the time came the more my mind went into overdrive and the more somersaults my stomach did. Truly not a good pattern to get into, this could induce chest pain, arrhythmias. What a drama queen I am. The waiting is what gets me. But if my last SI injections were anything to go by I was in for a doozie.

So anyway, I toddled off to the specialist with my husband as my support network and personal hand holder (squeezer) and waited for the inevitable. Kevin invited me in and could instantly see the look of sheer panic and he was quick to reassure me. He had mentioned previously that no-one has complained afterwards and after having had the injections, I can see why. The guy is a legend. He has been blessed with an awesome ability to give injections with needles about 5cm in length and not have it hurt one bit.
I can't even begin to tell you how good I feel. Within about 10 minutes my sciatic pain settled and the dull ache in my lower back was all but gone. I know this is the effect of the anaesthetic injected in with the steroids so I will have to wait till it takes full effect in the next 3 days. But so far so good. Kevin gave me one exercise to do 3 times daily till I see Lisa. And on Monday the fun begins. BRING IT ON. I am looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead as this will make me stronger.

I am a woman
on a mission

"Gabrielle Cilmi"

Show me some love.

I'm nervous. Tomorrow is D-day. I am getting those injections into my SI joints and although I have total faith that this is going to work, I am still "scared outta my pants". If you have seen the size of those needles than you will know the depth of my fear. Lucky thing though, the doctor gave me a prescription for some Emla patches. These are topical anaesthetic patches which take about an hour to work and once active, stay that way for about 2 hours. This should essentially numb the area whilst the needles go in but I will still feel the solution until the anaesthetic inside the solution kicks in.

So after the injections I pretty much have to rest till I see physio on Monday and as a result of my limited activity over the next couple of days I squeezed in another swim session last night and a nice easy indoor trainer ride today. My swim session went as follows:

• 500m Fr/s warm up
• 10 x 50 Fr/s kick with flippers and board
• 4 x 300m Fr/s catch up with pull bouy
  
• 200m Br/s cool down

Then today's trainer was 12km's in 30mins with 4 x 2min sessions in the aero position. I still only have the flat bar roadie so I improvised and put a cushion in the centre of the bar and leaned forward onto it. It did the trick.

Wish me luck guys for tomorrow. This is STEP 1 in Barb's transformation in becoming a force to be reckoned with - or so I like to think.

Things I would like to own.

These are some of the things I would love to invest in. Can you see a familiar theme throughout them all?

Could it have always been that simple.

I do believe I have just spent the last 14yrs of my life in a complete fog. Going from doctors to specialists and back again being treated for a condition which they had no idea from where it originated from. I have endured scans, medications - some with horrendous side effects, injections and mental anguish in the hope that whatever the specialists were doing was going to help. But guess what it never did and it would come in waves.

So fast forward 14yrs and I have a new physio and new specialist and I have come to find out that I needn't have gone through any of that if they had of soley focused on my core and stabilisers. Basically the inflammation in my Sacroiliiac joints came about (from what he believes) is the laxing of my muscles, joints and ligaments during my twins pregnancy, due to the effects of oestrogen on the things I have just mentioned. And because the SI spaces are not smooth but rather jagged they have grinded on themselves and caused the inflammation. And as the inflammation continued and progressed the less space and more rubbing/friction happened and we had a revolving door effect. So as the pain progressed one always compensates and holds themselves differently, things tighten up, other things give way and you end up with muscles that are not supporting your skeletal structure whatsoever.

Also my abdominal muscles were severely stretched obviously due to a twin pregnancy and to this day when I do a crunch or situp I have a ridge that travels directly from around belly button to top of stomach which shows they have not meshed. Now as a result of all of this the following things have happened to my lower body:

• inadequate core strength
• inadequate stabilisers
• extremely tight muscles in back and legs
• continued irritation of SIJ's
• resulting injuries
• inflammation of ligaments
• the list goes on........

SO, with all of this to play with he strongly believes that he can help me and for this I am greatful and am going into the next couple of months with extreme excitement, anticipation and nerves.

This coming Thursday I am booked in for Cortisone injections into my SI spaces. The aim is to reduce the inflammation and pain and get focused (really focused) on improving my core and stabilisers. I know I have been doing all my stuff at home but when things hurt you don't give it your all. So thats where the injections come into play.

I am then booked into physio on the following Monday and he will have a letter for me to give to Lisa with everything that he wants me to do. If after 2 weeks the pain returns he wants me to come back and see him and it may be another round of injections followed by continuation of physio. He made a really good analogy in regards to the injections and inflammation. He said its kind of like trying to put out a bushfire, you cant just use the hose once and turn your back and walk away. The embers could re-ignite and you have your bushfire happening all over again. He see's the injections and inflammation in much the same light. As the inflammation settles and I become pain free I am able to work my back, core and stabilisers more and they are then better able to support me and my back. Make's sense.

So, I also mentioned the groin pain and he tested me for muscle pulls, or hip problems and it is pretty much neither. I have Enthesopathy in the right lateral side of my symphisis pubis. He was testing all my muscles and ligaments and then he touched that part of my bone and I almost touched the roof. "Easily fixed" he said, I have to take one tablet a week of this medication for 4 weeks and it will reduce the inflammation. Pretty much a drug they use for osteoporosis. Mum is not on this anymore so I cant even scab some off her....lol

So all in all, even though it all sounds doom and gloom in terms of needles, I can see a light. A bright light and for that I am eternally optimistic. I can't keep going the way I am or I will never see my dreams come to fruition.

So I am going to "DNS" [did not start- my version...lol] , can't DNF myself cause I haven't even started the next 2 runs. And yep, that includes my Half Marathon. Small price to pay I think for my health and ability to complete the bigger picture.

Nothing is impossible
to a willing heart.

"John Heywood"

New Purchase

Damn I love my new goggles. They are appropriately named the "Missile" by Vorgee. Sleek, silver, hydrodynamic and actually pretty good on the old purse. Ever since I was young and competing I had always gone for the smaller type goggles - never really had much choice back then. With the multitude of goggles on the market nowadays I have always been a bit tempted to go for the newer designs - clear lens, wider fit, larger lens for better peripheral vision but I guess you have to stick with what you know. I think it would be good if you could product test before actually buying as these newer designs - if actually better, are more expensive and it would be such a waste of money.

Anyway, my new goggles may make me look like one mean machine when I have them on but it's a totally different story when I take them off, I have this whole "Dory" thing happening. My eyes from the intense suction are kinda bulging a bit but I would prefer that then having water leak in and irritate me. And even though they have reflective tint on the outside they are surprisingly clear to look through. Minimal tint on the inside means I could use these for the open water swims and not have to swap for a totally transparent lens. I like hiding behind my goggles and giving the illusion I know what I am doing ( and so my competitors cannot see the fear).

So with another 2.1km swim session under my cossie I am feeling good today. My stroke feels really strong and at this rate with all my swimming I should have shoulders like Arnold Schwarzenneger.

• 1000m Fr/s warm up
• 10 x 50m Fr/s kick with flippers and board on 45 secs
• 5 x 100m Fr/s - 1:16, 1:18, 1:22, 1:19, 1:23
• 300m Br/s cool down

Tomorrow is my appointment with the Sports Medicine Doc. I am compiling a list of questions to ask and hopefully he can answer them all.

How was everyone's weekend?

Stay focused.

Last night after acting like a sooky la-la for the last 2 days I finally slapped myself upside the head and decided enough is enough. I am constantly telling people to "keep moving forward, it's how you overcome the obstacles that matter, stay strong, you will overcome this" and I have not been listening to those words that come so freely out of my mouth. I need to start listening and obeying what I preach. Yesterday was a day where I could feel myself slipping back into that negative frame of mind, the one I had when I was truly in the thick of things with my illness (bilateral sacroiliitis). And if I got to thinking about things really honestly, this was only going to serve to catapult me back down that same road. And there's not a chance in hell that I will let that happen again.

So I woke up this morning, put my cossie on, rubbed down my legs with liniment, got in my car and drove my "slightly sore arse and legs" to the pool. I am not going to be that whingy, whiney person you all want to run away from. This blog was started to help document my journey to reaching my first Triathlon and beyond, not to be used as a place where I just blurbbed out negativity. So, I hereby promise to stay upbeat and stay focused.

When I got to the pool I felt so at home. I dive in and it's like I was meant to spend the rest of my life in water. It is just so easy, I love it. I don't have to think, analyse or force anything. I will aim to make sure everything else feels easy like this, including my mind set. My session in the pool today was all about taking it easy. No speed work today just doing distance type stuff.

• 400m Freestyle Warm up
• 600m Fr/s kick with board & flippers
• 500m easy Br/s
• 500m Fr/s with pull bouy
• 300m Fr/s catch up.

I was reading an article today about tips for a fast open water swim. I hope this helps for all of you who read my blog and who are in the prime of your "on season". Goodluck with all your races this weekend.