This and that...

Mike and I went to the electrophysiologist yesterday to find out what options he has regarding is A Fib condition. We liked the doc; he was conservative yet realistic. The doc determined that Mike is in A Fib most of the time! I was so glad I went so I could understand the best options of treatment. I was relieved to understand that this is a manageable condition. I hope, as Mike hopes, whatever treatment will get him back to feeling more himself.



The doctor said he can continue to run moderately until the treatment is in place. Indeed, he's leaving as I write to run an easy 5 miler before going to Camano to do an open house. Hopefully he'll get some results.



This morning I am looking forward to picking up Magda from the airport. She's coming home from Thailand. It's such a long trip so I know she'll just want to flop into bed to sleep it off. She rather amazes me though because she seems to bounce back fairly quickly. It took me 2 weeks to finally adjust when I made the trip.



I've been spending as much time as possible with Pj. They are leaving Feb 21st. I still can't quite grasp the fact that I won't be able to drive to Bellevue to see him. I am steadfast in my determination to make the effort to seeing him in LA even though I don't much like to get out of my training routine. There's going to be a going away party for him next week. His buddies are going to miss him and he them. I wonder what will be in store for him in LA...In Pj's words: "I try and look at the positive". He is wise for one so young....



I have court duty next week so my training will have to be done very early or later in the day. It's going to be a challenge, but I can handle it. After all, it's as if I have a job like so many other triathletes.



Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday and it looks like we'll be watching with our friends John and Eileen at Michael's house (John's son who lives in Shoreline). I'm anxious to try out a recipe called White Bean Chicken Chili. It's healthy and lo cal, and John can eat it (had to give up beef once diagnosed with cancer). Actually it's a good idea for all of us to eat it!

My next triathlon project is to find a tri bike. I have been wanting to get one for a year now. It's not easy for me because I don't understand all the components and factors in picking out a bike. It's important that it fits me properly so I am looking around the shops waiting for different brands to come in so I can try them. Fortunately, my coach has been giving me some tips. It's an expensive proposition: a modest tri bike costs $ 3,000 and with the upgrade of a power tap (a device that measures power output) will run in the $ 4,500 range. Mike is looking at new shoes and clips to put on his road bike (at last). So, I am hoping he will get more involved when I have to ride 75-100 miles in training this summer! It'll be good for him...with this heart thing, riding a bike is more sensible and he's anxious to 'keep up' with his 'triathlete wife' as he said to the doctor. We are good for each other for sure...pushing each other to keep on moving!

I suppose I should mention the mile earthquake we felt yesterday at 4:45 am. It was something like a magnitude of 4.6. We both woke up thinking that an animal ran across the bottom of the bed, shaking it! Then Mike said "Must be an earthquake." and we then promptly fell asleep!



That's all for the week. As you can tell, not much happening here as opposed to what Kim and Gary and kids are experiencing. I was up all night 'worried' for them; hoping that life isn't too hard over there and that they are happy with their decision. When I told Mike he said "They are strong enough." I had to agree, although I'm not sure it will stop the worrying!

Mike's progress

Mike is happy that his doctor has been so proactive. He is still wearing the heart monitor device and today found out that he is going into fibrillation about 3 times a day. He's not even aware of it. Apparently, it's usually when he's under exertion. So this Friday he will take the next step and consult with a electrocardiologist (can that be right?)i.e. a doctor the specializes in the electric workings of the heart. Mike talked to Tom today and found out he has the exact same problem! Tom is controlling the episodes by taking medication. Mike is hoping that after taking care of the issue, he'll be able to run as he once did. He has been running slower this last year. We'll soon find out if this is the cause!

Mystery solved in Mike's own Words

As most of you know by now, Mike has had some health issues to address the last couple of weeks. At first, I was down right scared, especially while having his heart being monitored he got a call to go immediately to the emergency room! Apparently, there were some significant readings that caused alarm. Mike was feeling just fine! As a result of these readings, he spent almost two full days at Steven's Hospital having every test available done on his heart. Following are the findings in his own words:

Here's the update on my running. For over 2 years I have been telling my primary care doctor and my cardiologist about my symptoms and that something wasn't right. They never really addressed my concerns. Told me I had the symptoms of dehydration. As you know, over the last year I cut back on racing because of my uncertainty about how I would feel under race conditions.

I was due to see my cardiologist again since it had been over a year, so I decided to get a second opinion. Well as luck would have it, during the EKG I was in arterial fibrillation. This doesn't always show up in an EKG, so it was lucky for me, and the new cardiologist said it made him look like a genius.

This week they ran extensive tests, even an angiogram (cardiac cauterization) and my heart and arteries are fine with no blockage. Mine is more of an electrical system problem which is very manageable. I am wearing a monitor that gives readings 24 hours a day to provide the data to decide how my condition will be treated.

This is a big relief to finally identify the problem. I have had it for so long that I wasn't even aware when I was in fibrillation. I used to wonder why the heart monitors at the gym weren't giving good readings. Anyway, in the next week or so I will let you know what treatment option I will have. Right know I am feeling very optimistic about improved running ahead.

Getting used to changes

We are going about our usual routine Me: swim/bike/run. Mike: run/ski/run and taking care of me :-) The only evidence we have that things are very different is Kim and Gary's van parked in front of our house...how many calls did we get so far, you ask? You guessed it: ZERO! Obviously Mike has it listed too high in Craig's List. It seems people want a steal in this market.

It seems like just yesterday, or was it ages ago, that Kim, Gary and the kids left for Jos. It's a little surreal because I imagine them living up in Camano, but then every once inawhile we get an e-mail from Kim reminding us that they are so far away experiencing a life we can only imagine.

As for my daughters:

Aziza has officially moved to New York. I was quite angry and upset with her up and leaving Pj here in Washington. He still needs his mom! I've since gotten used to the idea (well it's still emotional for me, but I am working on acceptance) and it helped tremendously when she came back to deal with her tenants last week. We had a good talk, and I can say that I now can support her decision. She's doing very well, loves New York and has a good shot at furthering her career in comedy and writing. Still, the decision comes with a cost but I am comforted knowing she talks to Pj several times a day and obviously loves him with all her heart.

The Diaz Trio, as they refer to themselves (that's Eric, Lauren, and Pj) are moving to LA the end of February. My oh my, that one took me for a loop! Yet another huge adjustment. So, at least he'll be on the West Coast with the bonus of having Tahani there as well. Lauren got accepted to design school, a course that takes 2 years. Eric said they were ready for a change. Eric assurred me that transitioning his line of work (shipping) won't be difficult.

Tahani is loving LA. She just moved into a two bedroom apartment (YES!!) . I can't wait to see it. After something like 3 years, she got her stuff out of storage. At last, she's found a home. I constantly sneak a peak at her Facebook page and am happy to see that she has some nice looking friends and is doing well. She said she's set up her jewelry bench and is looking for work while making a name for herself in the music business. I have no doubt she'll succeed. She's got an easy friendly personnality and talent in creating electronic music.

Magda said she has no plans to move, thank goodness! I need at least one daughter to hug now and then! She'll be returning from a two month stay in Thailand and will start up at her job as a massuse at Salish Lodge. She went on several diving trips in Thailand, visited her friends still living there, and hiked and explored areas that she hadn't had a chance to do while living there. I'm still waiting for the day that she finds her one and only and leaves to live on an island somewhere! I'm hoping to get her to come and do some long open water swims with me when the weather allows..no matter how hard I train, she just creams me in the water!