Friday, January 31, 2020

There Goes My Dream of Singing in a Rock Band...and other Runfessions over Coffee

What a start to 2020. I've got so many runfessions this month! Thank goodness Marcia hosts monthly runfessions. Do you runfess? It really feels good to clear the soles of my monthly running (and sometimes not running) transgressions. There's no penance and this month, we're runfessing over coffee with Coco and Deborah.

It's pretty much pain-free!

But first things, first, how do you like your coffee? I'm still sipping Colectivo Co-Optiva with GLG collagen and half and half. It's the perfect way to start the day!

Singing on the treadmill helps pass the time!

If we were having coffee, I'd runfess.. I've been experiencing some hoarseness for the past couple of months. In fact, it has really affected my ability to hit those high notes while I'm singing on the run! Last week I went to see the ENT, a guy I've worked with for many years. After inserting his laryngoscope up my nose (Hey Now!), he found that I have a nodule on my vocal cord. It's not cancerous. He told me that I've 'abused' my vocal cords, adding that I have a 'boisterous' personality and I need to learn how to modulate my voice. "You're loud," he said. I left with a prescription for speech/voice therapy and a follow-up appointment to determine if I need surgery.


If we were having coffee, I'd runfess.. after all that agony over switching rheumatologists, I'm back to my original one. I received a call last week that my new rheumatologist is moving out of state. She wanted me to follow up with one of her partners. The woman who called to tell me this was very nice but couldn't tell me anything about the replacement doctor. I found this all so distressing--after all, I researched rheumatologists and chose this one and now I have to see whoever? I mean, it's not like exchanging a pair of shoes, right?


If we were having coffee, I'd runfess.. another health concern. It's actually more of an annoyance than a concern. Kind of an 'are you kidding me?' situation. A few weeks ago, after working on some really heavy squats, I felt a little moisture in my pants. Thinking it was just sweat, after a trip to the ladies' room, I realized that it was not sweat. After sharing my distress with Sammy Jo, she told me it happens to everyone who's lifting heavy. So maybe it's not just a menopausal thing?


If we were having coffee, I'd runfess.. even though we are having a relatively warm winter this year, it has been very gray. In fact, as you read this, we are on day 10 of no sun. As a color, I don't mind gray so much but it's much better mixed with bright colors. Like sunshine. In an effort to brighten up my runs, I purchased the most obnoxious running shoes that Brooks offers ( in my beloved Adrenaline model). Fun, happy, colorful, these are the perfect shoes to help me get through the doldrums of winter.



If we were having coffee, I'd runfess.. that I have proof Google is always listening. The day after announcing my intentions to run that trail race in the Everglades, the first story to appear in my mobile Google app was a story about 80 pythons being caught in the annual Everglades python hunt.


If we were having coffee, I'd runfess.. another run-in with the police. I swear, do I have a guilty look about me? I was driving home from running in the preserve, sweating, sipping on my water bottle, when I pulled up to a red light. A police car was next to me and I glanced over at it. The next thing I knew, I looked in the rearview mirror and yep, he was behind me. What the what? I set the cruise control to the speed limit while he followed me almost all the way home. Don't you have some crimes to solve?


If we were having coffee, I'd runfess.. while browsing Amazon for book selections for the running book club selections, I noticed an interesting phenomenon. After scanning the selections for a couple of minutes, the prices dropped on two of the books I was considering. Coincidence? I think not...and I added both of them to my virtual to-read pile in my Kindle app.



Speaking of books... I couldn't let our coffee date go without sharing the books I read last month.
  • I finished Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid reads like a beach book but at its heart is a commentary on race and privilege. See if you don't find yourself squirming at some points in the story. Really good read.
  • Night Tiger by Yangzee Choo was another Reese's Book Club pick that I struggled with. I'm starting to wonder about Reese's taste in books! It starts out slow and the narrative alternates between two characters--a technique that always throws me off. I kept putting it aside to read other books. I stuck with it because I wanted to see how it ended. Glad I did.
  • I'm finishing up After the End by Clare Mackintosh and wanted to include it in this post. This is the story of parents having to make a tough decision about their terminally ill child. Sad and poignant, it's very touching. It's also very timely for me as I have a little patient in my practice who has been diagnosed with a devastating condition. Anyways, I'm glad I picked this one up.
This was a really long post--but it was 2 posts in one, right? What would you runfess to me over coffee? Are you experiencing the winter blues, I mean grays? What do you do to get yourself through the doldrums of winter? Maybe I should say it out loud so Google can tell me what to do, right?! Does Google listen to you? Have you experienced exercise-related incontinence? Apparently, it's a thing...and not just for us 'older' athletes. Thank goodness. Doing my kegels as we speak...

I'm linking up with Marcia for Runfessions and with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date.




36 comments :

  1. A boisterous personality! HAHAHA! That's actually a nice compliment!From your blog, I would have called you a "bubbly" personality.
    I am convinced our phones are listening to us! We once talked about the EB5 US-Visa and then I kept on getting ads from lawyers. I never googled anything about it, it was only a conversation with friends and the phone was lying on the table. So spooky!
    Oh, and I runfess I've had wet pants as well during squats...

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    1. Initially, he called me bubbly! LOL. Then boisterous..

      Thank your for sharing the squatfession. In situations like that, I'm always glad to know it isn't just me!

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  2. Boisterous to the point of vocal cord nodules?? How much Nickel Back are you singing? :P
    In my experience incontinence is hormonal, like so much in life when you hit a certain age. It comes and goes....pardon the pun.

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  3. OMG on the ENT saying you are LOUD! I had the opposite issue with my thyroid — one of my symptoms was being hoarse and I had to explain that I don’t talk much at work — I mostly type. :-) When my GP changed careers, I got a letter that just said she was moving on — no offer to be seen by anyone else in the practice, but since they were mostly geriatric-focused maybe thata’s why. Thanks for the book recs!

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    1. My mom had that experience when her doctor retired--just good luck!

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  4. It is very gray up here, although occasionally we get sun & then it's even colder -- at some point there'll be a post about that!). I always struggle with it. Every single damn year. I miss TX in the Winter (but not Summer!).

    My condolences on your rheumotologist. That really sucks. And the nodule -- even if non cancerous, that must be scary! I guess I'm glad I'm a soft spoken person.

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    1. I've always been told that I'm loud. Who knew that it would turn into vocal cord issues?

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  5. oh you made me laugh today! I guess you won't be a back up singer for a band after all! Hope that throat thing is not too painful. Kind of reminds me of Demi Moore? Those shoes are bright and fun for winter for sure. Thanks for catching up today!

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  6. That sucks about the rheumatologist moving :( It would have been nice if they could have offered some information about the new person they were recommending.

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    1. Health care is becoming so impersonal! And I work as a health care provider.

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  7. I Must Apologize For My Ignorance - I was unaware of the Coffee Talk and how popular these posts are - Your last Coffee Talk, in my best humorous way, I made mention of you telling me to STFU because I had the jitters from the java - Not So Funny Now - Anyway, maybe there is a really good reason why the rheumotogist issue is in motion - Time Will Tell Hopefully - Yes, Google is so watching and happens to all of us - Mountain Kakis is on ALL of my pages - And The Police, Makes Ya Wonder Doesn't It

    Have Yourself A Wonderfully Delightful Weekend & Sing On Like Nobodies Watching,
    Cheers

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    1. It's a good thing these posts aren't wine talk because imagine the things I'd share!

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  8. OMG those sneakers are awesome! Taling about bringing a little Spring to this crazy Winter weather :)

    Okay so the ENT saying that you are loud made me laugh. I can't believe that was his diagnosis.

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    1. Ha! I know him well--he's my favorite doc. But I'm not going to speech therapy.

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  9. Your first story made me laugh and cringe. I had my first colonoscopy a couple of years ago. As soon as I woke up from the procedure I noticed my throat was extremely sore. (Hello? Did somebody get turned around?) I couldn't talk at all for 2 weeks and the hoarseness lasted for another 2 months until I saw my ENT. The scope up the nose is kinda freaky! Long story not so short, while I was having my colonoscopy I had some post nasal drip and someone suctioned by mouth/throat. They were obviously a little enthusiastic because 2 months later the ENT could still see the damage. Unfortunately, he also discovered I have mild acid reflux (I think he called it silent reflux because it's not something I noticed and it was probably happening in my sleep.) The acid was keeping my throat from healing completely. 6 weeks on Nexium finally cleared it up and I got back to singing.

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    1. I asked about reflux and he said nope. I'm glad you were better after Nexium! But boo to the overzealous suctioner!

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  10. A trail race in the Everglades? Sounds awesome! I am soooo jealous. We just returned from visiting my sister in Florida. While we were there, we did a trial race on a trail beside a lake. At the beginning of the trail, there was a sign warning about alligators, but we didn't see any during the race. Whew!

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  11. That stinks about your doctor. I like some of mine really well (and all of them well enough) so I'd also struggle if I had to find a new specialist.

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    1. I'm upset that I spent all that time and energy finding a new one and boom, she's gone. Oh, but here's your replacement...

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  12. I am pretty sure Alexa is always listening. Before Halloween Rob and I were talking about finding Grayson a dinosaur costume. Next thing I know I open facebook and there is an ad for one. Weird right?
    Thats so frustrating that your doctor is leaving! My PCP left about a year and a half ago and I just haven't felt like dealing with finding someone new or trying someone random at her office.

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    1. Even after I wrote this post, I've had more 'coincidental' Google suggestions!

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  13. While we haven't had much sunshine recently, it's been so bright outside with all the snow reflecting the "white" sky. I know the sun is up there, just barely concealed....if only it could poke through and dry up all the dampness in the air. None the less, I'm just thankful for two solid weeks of outdoor running.

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    1. I don't mind the milder temperatures at all, even if it means less sunshine.

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  14. I'm so sorry about your rheumatologist. You don't need any other stressors in regards to your health :( That being said, I am laughing a little at the "You're loud." comment. I hope the nodule doesn't give you too much trouble.

    Those are the exact shoes I want to treat myself to when I can run again. I hope they are still available because they are so cute.

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    1. I laugh about the 'too loud' comment as well. I love this ENT.

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  15. I love those shoes, they scream HAWAII to me. But don't you scream now...save your vocal chords, you boisterous woman! ;)

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    1. Seriously, the not being able to sing thing has got me all in a tizzy!

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  16. Clare Macintosh gives me all the feels. I've read all of her other books but decided to skip After the End because emotionally I didn't want to go there but now I'm thinking I should try it. It's tough to find someone that you're always in sync with for book recs. Hope the nodule heals up quick, and thank goodness that you can speak your mind here without straining your cords b/c we need to hear from you;-)

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    1. I'm so much more quieter now because my high range is completely gone. I sound like a man.

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  17. I guess you could say that those shoes match your personality then. ;-)
    Our phones are most definitely listening. I haven't decided if it's a good or bad thing yet.
    I'm listening to Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, it was a book of the month in People magazine. It's a little boring but I'm going to see it through, hoping it will get better.

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    1. I follow a couple of book bloggers and they were lukewarm on Dear Edward. You'll have to give me your final review.

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  18. I chuckled at the ENT's comment. Hope the nodule doesn't give you too much trouble.

    I need those shoes in my life - it's been so gray!

    And, what is it with you and the police ;)

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  19. Oh no! I hope the speech/voice therapy helps!! I can't believe the ENT just told you you were loud/boisterous!! :[!

    I think that's definitely common! One of my friends in residency was/is doing a study on whether it affects athletes who do a lot of high-impact/heavy training more so than the average person (so far, it seems to..), but kegels are supposed to help at least kindasorta with it!

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