track fan

Life would be so much easier without work.

Hope you get to feeling better! Hopefully more antibiotics will do the trick. It seems that a lot of people get sick right at the end of a training cycle, right before a big race, or am I just crazy?

You might be crazy ;-), but it is true that a lot of people get sick either just before or just after a marathon. The training wreaks havoc on your immune system. I have been SO careful though, that is what is so frustrating ... oh well, I still have time to get better!!

I hope you are feeling ok? Good pregnancy so far?

All good so far! I'm finally not exhausted (before I would just collapse right after dinner). I've just got a stupid cold. Not as bad as yours sounds, but lingering...

I am glad you are doing well. My cold isn't "that" bad - just worrisome so close to the marathon. I sort of have been "fighting" it since the 1/2 marathon (first week of December). Around Christmas I thought I had an ear infection and it turns out it was a sinus infection the whole time. Apparently 10 days of antibiotics was not enough - I was feeling better and then POW about 2 days after the day of antibiotics it got worse. I just have to not get too freaked out ;-)

You'll be good, I know it. Especially since you are being proactive and getting back into the doctor!

Ughhh just read your update. That absolutely stinks. I don't know what else to say. We were just talking about you last night, saying how your training had been so consistent and pretty much perfect - that it would take something crazy to happen for you NOT to run a PR in Houston. Stupid viruses.

Hope for the best and that you can kick it, and it doesn't go to your lungs. There is still time.

So sorry Bonnie! I can feel your pain - literally! However, I don't have a marathon 11 days out. So, that makes my pain a little less. Have you ever tried CPTG oils to help out with a virus? They should probably have them at a health store near you - if they really don't do anything it couldn't hurt, right? If you tell me your main symptoms I can look up what would be best (which kinds) and you could maybe at least try. Better than nothing, right? I like the smell of the pure oils and I diffuse them in my home, but don't really use them medicinally. I'm a little skeptic about all that kind of stuff, but like I said - nothing lost?

I hope you get feeling better soon!!! I hate it when life interferes with our running. C'mon, give us a break, will ya?

RAD, I am willing to try everything at this point. Main symptoms: congestion, runny nose, cough (from post-nasal drip so far) ... probably DX: viral sinusitis.

THANK YOU!!

okay, for sinusitis they recommend: eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint (all primary recommendations) then melaleuca, white fir and ginger. All of them can be used either topically (1-2 drops along the sides of the nose or forehead -often clears out sinuses immediately) or aromatically (diffuse into the air, inhale directly from bottle, apply oil to hands, tissue or cotton wick and inhale. Or place 1-2 drops in a bowl of hot water, and inhale vapors).

That is right from the book I got with my oils. If you go to a store to get them just make sure they are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG). It simply means they aren't diluted or combined with other products - basically not worth your $. I wish you were closer - I would let you borrow mine! Of those recommended I would say peppermint will do a great job for immediately clearing you out. When I get stuffy I put a drop on my hands, rub them together then cup them over my mouth and nose and inhale - holy smokes. amazing! Eucalyptus I am also familiar with, but have only used it diffused (LOVE the smell!). No experience with rosemary, I don't have it.

Under congestion it recommends the same oils as sinusitis. But, it has a sub category of catarrh (http://www.nytimes.com/1865/03/03/news/chronic-catarrh-its-symptoms-causes-effects-few-practical-remarks-dr-lighthill.html) you can read about one doctors take on CHRONIC Catarrh there if you don't know what it is (like me :)). For that they recommend cypress or helichrysum, with eucalyptus, frankincense, myrrh and rosemary as secondary helps.

So, all that craziness said, it looks like if I were to recommend one or two oils for you to purchase (they aren't always cheap) it would be eucalyptus and peppermint. I think you will come to love peppermint (we are more accustom to that smell!) and the eucalyptus should be helpful with whichever symptom/problem there is. So, that is my two cents from reading the book :)

Like I said, take it as you'd like! I'm not sold on holistic healing, but I think it must help...somehow :) Otherwise, how else would it have stuck around so long? Good luck with it and if you have any other questions my book can answer let me know! I don't know anything, it's all the book!

11 days is still a lot of time...there aren't many sicknesses that last much longer than a couple weeks (and you've had it for a while). Take lots of Vit C, zinc, get as much sleep as you can, stay positive, and make sure to eat enough. Plenty of time...you sure you can't get out of your business trip??

Thank you RAD ... I like both peppermint and eucalyptus, I will let you know how it goes.

Oh Andrea, don't I wish. I have a grant review and I thought I *had* gotten out of it, but then they sent me a box of grants, by that time it is way too late to back out. The good news is that so far, the first 4 I have reviewed have not been good, so I haven't had to write too much detail in terms of the review. I wish I weren't so busy right now, I would be in bed.

i'm so sorry, bonnie. i'm not sure there is anything else i can add that you haven't heard already (i'm spewing with cliches, as you know). i really, really hope that you can kick this virus and feel healthy and strong for the marathon. as andrea said, there is still time. just rest as much as you can and keep your thoughts positive. i just sent you am email containing a giant virtual hug and peppermint tea. take care.