I’m going to try to write this post really fast, before my eyes close and my forehead hits the keyboard — I’m on Benadryl, you see, and I’m very sleepy. My recovery has hit a little snag; less than 5% of patients taking the medication I’m taking develop a rash, and it appears that I’m one of the lucky ones. It’s not a bad rash, though — just a few red bumps and no itchiness. But my doctor took me off the medication, and once my rash heals, we’ll try another kind.
But most of my news is good: I have been feeling much better lately, so much better that I’ve been riding regularly, say 4 or 5 times a week. I don’t ride hard — I ride just how I feel like riding, so I’m not training, really, but I am keeping myself in decent shape for when I am ready to train again. It’s been interesting to watch my average heart rate decrease over the course of the last few weeks, and my average speed increase (not that it’s all that fast though). I’m not back to my normal numbers, but I’m getting closer.
It’s fun to let my body decide how hard it will work; when I first got on the bike, it didn’t want to work hard at all, but as I’ve gotten better, I find myself pushing more. It’s odd, really, the way my body can take over and guide my ride, deciding how I’ll work or not work, and I really don’t feel it’s a conscious decision at all.
Okay, nap time …
Of Books and Bicycles 
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I am happy you are cycling again!
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Sorry to hear about the reaction. I hope you have better luck with the next medication. Good for you for listening to your body. I tend to dissociate and it’s only when I stop and quiet down do I realize how terrible I feel (which is why I dissociate!). Sometimes I’m so good at it that I forget I’m sick, at least until I try to do something, and then my body very kindly gives me a reality check… 😉
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Sorry to hear about the medication reaction. When my husband was first diagnosed with MS the first medicine they put him on caused havoc with his liver. The percentage of people it does that to is small. But with new medication he has been doing great. It was a surprise for us to learn that prescribing medication is not a science. Hope your rash heals soon and the new medication works great. And it is wonderful to hear you are cycling again!
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Glad to hear you are back on the bike again—and riding more than me. I better get with it.
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Sorry to hear about the medication. I have to take a couple of meds, too, and it has been a pain sometimes getting the right formula. Sometimes the side effects are unbearable! It’s weird how a drug can fix one thing, but mess up three other things that didn’t have a problem in the first place! I’m sure they’ll find one that works for you. Glad to hear, though, you are cycling again. That must make you feel much better!!
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Thank you Hepzibah! 🙂 Sylvia, sometimes we have no choice but to listen to our bodies, and that’s not always a bad thing — I can be bad at doing what I need to and am so reluctant to call a doctor — I understand what you mean by dissociation! Stefanie, I’m glad your husband has found medication that works! I’m sure I’ll be there soon. BettyBetty — thank you! Danielle, finding the right medication is such a pain! And particularly when it takes a long time and requires lots of visits to the doctors. Ugh. But the cycling does make me feel better! 🙂
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I’m glad you’re back on your bike. Just getting out helps me in all sorts of ways; I hope it feels good for you, too.
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Hope the new meds are more successful, but delighted to hear that you are able to ride again! That is certainly encouraging.
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Oh that’s great that you’ve been riding again! And really hope the next meds work better for you.
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Bardiac — one of the reasons I’m riding right now is that I always feel better on the days I ride than on the days I don’t. It’s such a great way to pick up my mood.
Jenclair — thank you; I’m sure I’ll be all set with the meds soon. (I hope!)
Iliana — thank you!
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Sorry to read about the reaction to Benadryl, Dorothy. On the plus side, it must feel good to be biking again. Take care. I am sure that years of biking and the resulting physical fitness will stand you in good stead during the recovery.
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Thank you Polaris — it’s so great so be biking again, and I’m doing much better now.
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