Health and Hiking

“Has a physical condition / ailment ever kept you off the trail? Does a chronic condition and its' associated risk make you think twice about entering the "outback"?

Just learned of a girl who had scaled several MAJOR mountains since a heart transplant. Really couragous stuff.”

“Does a hangover count?”

“I missed a trip once cause I had the Flu.
Once I ended a trip early cause I got a mean sore throat (later it turned to Strep Throat).”

“Two serious cancers have kept me off the trail for years, it takes a long time for things to get back to semi normal as far as hiking goes. I think the most amazing thing about this girl's achievement is the fact that she did this while taking immunosuppresent drugs. Solid organ transplant patients must take them for life to avoid organ rejection. The most common drug of choice is cyclosporine. This drug has many serious side effects some are pains in the joints, high blood pressure, fluid retention, vision changes, stomach distress, tremors, weakened immune function, reduced kidney function, bone loss, and many others. You must be monitored closely with blood tests when on this drug. I was on this drug for about a year at 250 milligrams and at that level could only walk a few miles, but with really bad pain in my legs. At 600 mg, I had trouble walking down a flight of stairs without severe pain and I had every side effect the drug can cause. My hands used to shake like I had Parkinsons disease. I gained 20 pounds of water weight too. I can only assume this girl is on a very low dose of cyclosporine or is not having many side effects from it which is lucky for her, but she better be careful with falls because with the bone loss it causes a fracture is highly probable. I broke my arm last spring in a simple fall and found out the hard way. It pretty amazing to me that she can do what she does and she's very fortunate.”

“wow, rich.

I have found that people who have gone through major ordeals and/or illness often learn a new appreciation for life. I think it is that energy that truly makes you want to live it up.

That kind of energy can empower us all to get out there. :)”

“That's true. It's a terrible feeling wanting to do things you've always done and suddenly not be capable of doing them anymore or wondering if you've even live to do them again. I enjoy everything now more than ever. You start looking at everything differently than others do.”

“That woman's story is inspiring. Rich's has been has well. I've come back from my surgeries pretty quickly. When I take a blood test and get anxious about the results (as happened yesterday), I've thought about rich and people like him - it gives me a boost.”

“I've been through toxic shock syndrome, this broken leg, and the clot thing. I'll be back on the trail in the spring. It took several years to get back on the trail after the toxic shock. I will not let that happen again.

In the words of a 70-something man I ran into in the Daks many years ago, I may get there when everybody else is leaving, but then I'll have the place to myself.

It might slow us down, but we can't let it stop us.”

“Pedxing, thanks for the kind words and I hope things are going well for you.”

“Gee, I wonder how Nowslimmer's doing. This really makes me think of him. Nothing's ever gonna stop that man.”

“Being stong is what it takes for me.But I have never had something keep me from backpacking...knock on wood!

Man Richb you have gone through alot!Be stong dude!

8)”

“I've been thinking of Nowslimmer too. Wish we could get some sort of report on him”

“Ya whats has been going on with him?

8|”

“richb reminds me of Lance Armstrong and what he has overcome to become the world's top cyclist.

I've had the pleasure of hiking with Rich and I am awed at what he has overcome (and still going through). He's not just out there hiking, he's out there kicking our butts. Very inspirational. Rich, you're the Lance Armstrong of TT.”

“To top it all of, RichB is a heckuva nice guy. I look foward to hiking with you again, Rich!”

“Thanks, You guys are great and I really enjoyed my hikes with you all. I'm hoping to join you on some more trips now that the colder weather is on the way.”

“Geobeet, how did you get toxic shock syndrome? what were symptoms and how long did it take to recover?

(And now for the nasty humor we are so well known for here, did ya leave the tampon in too long?? moooooohahaha)”

“That is sick!

8o”

“LMAO @ lizs.
Mother Goose says if I go to Sipsey next weekend, it could have dire consequences for my health. She wants to go to Big Spring Jam with some of our friends...I told her to have a nice time. She told me...awwww, never mind!”

“JAM!?!??!???”

“Aw come on FG! Who wants to go to the BSJ anyway? Just a lot of people having a good time listening to great music and getting drunk...

Oh. Well, I guess everyone but me.

Come on anyway, FG!”

“i wanna jam!”

“Oh, I'm going to Sipsey, I just don't know where I'll live when I get home. The only act at BSJ I want to see this year is Willie Nelson, and I'm not staying home just for that.
What about the carpool thing?”

“Sent ya an email...I plan on leaving about 10:00AM. I can pick you up if you like. It doesn't take more than about an hour or so to get to the Sipsey.”

“Sipsey is the first place I took Mother Goose backpacking. We did a loop on 200-224-204-209. There were so many trees across 224 that we practically had to bushwhack the whole way. Mother Goose was not a happy camper. I don't think I'll ever be able to get her back there, LOL.”

“lol, yah it can get interesting...she gonna make TC2?”

“We're gonna try...”

“Sounds good...I'm trying to get some people I met on the AT last year to come too...oughta be an interesting crowd, lol...oh and I'm about 80% sure the wife is coming too....”