The Next Steps

It all seemed so simple as my future with diverticulitis was explained by my medical team. With the benefit of hindsight perhaps it was, that is unless you are the patient experiencing it. The basics involved needing some time for my insides to continue to self-heal. In the meantime there would be a few tests, appointments with specialist, and follow-up with my primary care doc. All leading up to eventual surgery to remove the bad part of my large intestine. It was also explained that while highly recommended, surgery could also be scheduled as much as a year or so later. if I elected.

Well, all of this was occurring at the most convenient time in my running year, at the end! I had hoped to do another 5K or so before Christmas but I hadn’t selected any race nor was it really that important. So, thinking as only a runner could, I began to map out my schedule based upon my 2020 race calendar! “Let’s get this surgery and related recovery over with ASAP” was my new personal goal!

The Schedule

I was told that any surgery would first require at least 8 weeks of healing time for my current condition. Doing the calendar math, this meant surgery may be able to be scheduled just prior to Thanksgiving. Actually, that sounded pretty good because it would minimize my “out of office” time, have me home before my birthday (Dec 8), and mean that I could likely return to running in mid-January, plenty of time to train for my spring racing season! Then the potential dates narrowed and were drifting off into the future. I still had hopes to get this all completed before Christmas! As all runners hit a bad spot in every race, the key to overcoming these “bumps in the running dark” is to focus and continue to push forward!

Well, of course these types of schedule things are so interdependent upon many other factors and when you’re dealing with medical professionals, you really do need to plan for some schedule slack time. One of the required tests was everybody’s favorite, the good old fashioned colonoscopy. The worse part of this was the scheduling of this test. I needed to be patient. Of course “my” preferred date was already passed by the time I had my office appointment with the specialist to schedule. However, the doctor did have an availability relatively soon so of course that was the date I selected and would simply have to work all other personal and work schedules around this wonderful experience.

Procedures and Protocols

Relaxed as one can be prior to procedure.

Many people dread the colonoscopy experience, actually, while not truly pleasant, it was a bit easier than my last experience 10 years ago. As I was being prepped for the procedure in the surgical prep, I thought I recognized one of my running buddies Jin. I knew Jin was a nurse anesthetist but I thought she worked downtown?

We were both surprised when she turned to see her next patient was me! Wow! I cannot tell you what a huge relief it was to know that Jin would be looking out for me! She is an outstanding runner and an even better nurse anesthetist!

The results of the procedure were good and I was literally given the “all clear” sign by the doc. He did discuss and review my diverticulitis condition, and recommended that my surgery not occur until a number of more weeks that simply translated to late January or even February! This would totally eliminate any chance of competing in any spring race! I sought opinions from other doctors and the consensus was that the surgery still could occur in December. While this part of the news was good, the second half of that equation was highly dependent upon a whole team of medical professionals.

The Surgery

By this time it was late November and I was now cleared to schedule the actual surgery. Much to my surprise there was only ONE DATE available at the location I preferred. Would you believe that date was a Friday the 13th?? Good thing I am not superstitious! Actually, with hindsight all of these dates could not have combined to work out any better. I was able to minimize impact with my work schedule, I would be home for Christmas, and could even take a few more days after New Year’s before I returned to work.

I initially thought the worse part of the surgery prep was the fasting that began the evening prior. My surgery was scheduled for 3 PM so the fasting was even a bit tougher. All a part of what must be done. The worse part was actually the failure of the nurse to place an IV needle in my hand. It felt like she thought the needle needed to penetrate my bone! Mercifully, another nurse came to my aid and skillfully placed the needle in the other hand. Friday the 13th eh?

Of course the rest of the prep involved meeting the entire surgical team. I will always remember the resident surgeon, Dr. PK. He started by looking at my basic numbers and said I appeared to be in good shape! (Apparently they don’t operate on many runners there). My wife then explained that I run marathons and coach other runners. This was when Dr. PK’s eyes lit up as he told me about his attempt to run the Detroit Half Marathon a few months prior. Short version, he did not train sufficiently (not surprising) and walked most of the last 3 miles before making a valiant attempt to run the final 100 yards or so. We understood each other.

Post-Surgery

I was soon rolled into the surgery room and the last thing I remember is that big fancy light over myself. The surgery itself was a technical success but there were a couple of “surprises”. First, just after I dozed to sleep, it was determined that the room was not properly set-up for my specific surgery! It required a total break down and re-setup of all the equipment and “stuff”. Friday the 13th? What this meant was that what should have been a 2-1/2 hour surgery turned into a 3-1/2 hour surgery. Also, the area that needed to be removed was not exactly where this type of condition is typically located in ones large intestine. So, instead of a so called small cut, I had a 10” long cut in my lower and middle abdomen in order to remove a longer, (18 inch) length of intestine than expected. Of course I never knew any of this until afterward. Friday the 13th?

Post-surgery was not exactly fun either, the pain was intense and my mind was playing games on me. I was quickly medicated and shortly thereafter moved to my room. I don’t think I did much of anything else that late Friday the 13th evening except greet my nurses and sleep.

The Hospital Stay

The next day being Saturday, I off course was wishing I could be with my running buds doing a long run at Kensington Metro Park, but the best I could do was force myself out of the hospital bed, attempt to stand straight, and with the help of a walker and my wife, slowly, ever so slowly, walk down the hall of the hospital wing. I am willing to bet my 50 foot long walk was more strenuous than the many miles my running buds were doing that day!

So, it continued for the next several days, each day getting a bit better. My surgeon Dr. Jacobs, came by everyday and explained how good I was doing (really? I pity those who don’t do so well). He also was very good at explaining what and how everything happened. Dr. PK was still a hoot and always made me smile, not an easy thing to do! He had the absolute best bedside manners of any doctor ever!

I was also extremely blessed by the tremendous team of the nurses and their technical assistants assigned to me. I can’t remember all of their names but of those I do, Ann, Mary, and especially Susan (more on Susan in a bit), were tremendous and made my stay as pleasant as possible under the circumstances. Kudos to the nurses and support staff on 4-A of Providence!

I had not eaten solid food for 5 days. My diet came through that same needle placed in my hand prior to surgery. I remember watching TV ads for food and fancy meals and it almost made me sick! Who could ever like eating a fancy piece of steak I thought. I was allowed to move to a liquid diet at first. I could not even finish my first meal of soup, jello, and a Popsicle (I did finish the whole Popsicle). My first sign of returning to health was when I fantasized about that juicy steak I saw on TV the other day! It took a few more days until I was allowed “real” food. Given a choice of limited options I elected to have a chicken breast sandwich for lunch one day. Well, only because I was so hungry for real food did I finish it.

The medical team was very concerned about what went in me and how it came out of me too! When asked about my chicken sandwich lunch I must have made a nasty face because I saw their shocked reaction immediately! I recovered quickly by claiming my sandwich was a medical success but left a lot to be desired on the culinary side of things. They all smiled and understood immediately!

How delectable does this grilled chicken sandwich with broth look!

Check Out Time

Nurse Susan was on duty when it came time to check out. For the past few days I was able to trade the typical hospital gown for a pair of pajama bottoms and a running shirt. So she had asked if I was a runner, and of course we had a nice conversation about running. She admitted she had always wanted to try to run but never had any success. She said she admired a group of runners she would see evenings running near her home in Northville along Six Mile Rd. I said that was us! The 501 group! Next came an invitation to try us out and I think I relieved her fears of how to start running. I also directed her to my website of course. Then she asked of course if I was an architect, yes. She said her dad had also been an architect! There was a very brief moment of silence that can only be explained by old architects who learn of someone raised by an architect and having an instant understanding of their upbringing.

I will also always remember one of my last conversations with Susan, given that it was only a few days away from Christmas and the holiday week, I asked if they could be expecting a reduced occupancy rate in their wing for the next week or two. I was shocked by her answer! She said you would be surprised by the number of adult children who “check in” their elderly parents a just before Christmas and then arrange to be released just after the New Year!! Sad.

Finally after 7 days, I was released the evening of December 19th. At about the same time the members of my office and their guest were enjoying their annual Christmas party dinner and movie, I was managing to walk, ever so slowly, from my hospital room to the main entry and meet my wife for the long awaited ride home. It was great to be back home and reconnect with our ailing Allie Dog too!

Christmas Holidays

Our beloved Allie Dog on guard under the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, she peacefully passed away a few days after Christmas.

Christmas day and the entire holiday week was as great as ever, except for the fact that I was not allowed to lift anything at all and it was very uncomfortable to sleep. It was nice to be able to delegate certain “usual” chores at this time of the year!

When released from the hospital Dr. PK explained the extent of cuts made in my abdominal muscles and that it would take 8 full weeks for them to fully heal. During my follow-up appointment with Dr. Jacobs after being released from the hospital, he restated Dr. PK’s opinion and said let’s just say you can’t return to running until Valentine’s Day. So with that, I cemented my training plans for my spring races! My goals for spring and early summer have been scaled back from what I might normally attempt, but at least they are realistic!

All is well as I return to my training knowing that I must behave like a brand new runner and start slow and easy, that will be the key to any success I might have racing this spring!

The Why

Thank you for enduring this lengthy story. I tell it in part to help inform runners who might experience the same condition as I did and to also know that I as a coach, have experienced the many challenges and fears new runners experience. I feel blessed that I have been given this experience so I can be better equipped to help others with their running challenges.

Thanks again and continue to “Run Happy”.

Coach Lee

PS: Check back soon to learn what it is like to return to running again! In the meantime, I welcome your feedback at therunningarchitect@gmail.com