AshPS- Working My Way Back

[AshPS]

Well, how to begin.

 

Up until one week ago today I knew my goals for this challenge. I was excited at my progress to date and looking forward to what more I would accomplish.

 

A friend of mine told me that, 'Life is what happens while your busy making plans'

 

Seriously, no truer words have been spoken.

 

Warning: If your of the squeamish kind you might want to skip the next part. (sorry)

 

One week before this challenge started, I got up and put in a fantastic workout and was getting in my fluids and meals and feeling thrilled at what seemed a very productive day. Then everything changed drastically.

Within a little while of one of my meals I felt off. Kind of yucky. Then suddenly I felt a pressure and stabbing pain located in my left hip area. I thought it was merely a gas bubble trapped and tried to ignore it. Within a few more hours I found myself on my hands and knees in tears at the amount of pain tearing up my abdomen and centered in that left hip.

And it was when I placed my hand to my hip and found a large lump that I knew something more serious was wrong and headed to the emergency room.

Within hours I was headed into surgery for a severe incarcerated hernia. Simply put, my abdomen muscle in my lower hip/ groin area had opened a hole and my lower intestine had pushed through and become pinched off, cutting off circulation and forcing them to remove a section and put it back together. They also used mesh to reinforce the muscle area that had weakened.

I spent 5 days in the hospital only allowed ice and morphine.

 

I never knew what a hernia was before- I do now.

 

Bad news, my plans for this challenge are no longer possible.

 

Good news, I'm not giving up.

 

So, I have a 4-6 week recovery period before I can even hope to get close to what I was doing. And I am kind of grasping in the dark as to what direction I take with this. But, I will find that path and make as much progress forward as possible.

With my friend/ mentor Donar helping me, and my accountability partner Vilkacis, and the support of all my friends here supporting me I won't let this be the end of my recomp. Just a new beginning.

 

So, my driving motivation is to return to my recomp and get back to where I was before this setback. My life goal being to complete that recomp.

 

As for the three main goals for this challenge, as of right now they are:

 

1. Macros: First and foremost, as nutrition is key as Donar has told me. These will be redone according to my new activity level. And I will have to ease into them as I am having to get my body to accept food again after the surgery and no eating for 5 days.

2. Fluids: A goal to meet 128 oz minimum per day. Again I will have to spend this first week easing back into this. My plan is by week 2-6 to be getting this in daily.

3. To reinstitute some kind of physical activity. This will be something I have to figure out as I go since no heavy lifting is not allowed for 4-6 weeks. I do plan on putting in a walk every morning to gradually strengthen the muscle in that area back up. I am hoping to add some kind of partial body weight exercises in by weeks 2-6.

 

For now this is where I am and what I am aiming for. I will update things as the weeks go by and I find what I am capable of week by week.

I am also not going to incorporate a weekly grade so much as an overall grade since things are somewhat vague.

 

If anyone who reads this has ever been through this and wants to offer advice it is welcome.

 

My best wishes to all on their new challenges!

 

[Waldgeist]

Oh, wow, glad that you're okay (comparatively speaking)!

 

Good news, I'm not giving up.

 

That's an amazing attitude! And there is no shame to do a recovery challenge instead of what you've planned, just the opposite. And since nutrition is the most important part of all this, I'm sure you will still take a few steps down you path of success!

[AshPS]

Oh, wow, glad that you're okay (comparatively speaking)!

 

 

That's an amazing attitude! And there is no shame to do a recovery challenge instead of what you've planned, just the opposite. And since nutrition is the most important part of all this, I'm sure you will still take a few steps down you path of success!

 

Thank you bunches Waldgeist!

It is certainly my hope to make some kind forward progress by the time this is done!

[SunSeeker]

OMG that sounds horrible. Take care of yourself and don't push yourself physically. You have a lot of supporters here at NF and they are all behind you. Take care to eat well and enough as your body heals.

[Swampling]

Gah. That sounds awful!

I'm glad that you're back home and... um... as well as can be, under the circumstances! Take your time, and take good care of your awesome self.  :love_heart:  

[wildross]

Wow.  Slow and steady will get you back.

[alienjenn]

Subbed... only thing I can say is listen when they tell you about activity levels... my mom has had nearly 30 hernia operations because she is too stubborn and alerts rushed back into things and tears the repair we warn her every time but she refuses to listen please feel better soon ash!

(sent by the phone. .. all mistakes are the phones fault)

[brader24]

Sub'd...I've had hernia surgeries a few times before, but nothing this severe.  Definitely take your time and build up slowly.  It will be worth it.  You're strong, you can do it.  You'll be back at it before you know it.

[llsoszynski@gmail.com]

Ugh that's terrible! I'm glad you're okay and glad you found it in time. Keep on trukkin though you'll get back up there

[CourtnieMarie]

so sorry to hear about your health scare! but i am glad you're okay and taking the best possible outlook on the road to recovery. want to sub in to see how you get on and hopefully "catch" some of your macro fever! haha

[Stronkey Kong]

Owwwwwwwwch! That sucks.

 

I had my appendix out a year and a half ago. Nowhere near as bad as yours (i.e. I didn't get to spend 5 days on morphine). I remember I couldn't lift anything over 10 lbs. for an entire 6 weeks just from the one little slit where they had to cut through my abdominal muscles. That sucked. And the first week was awful. But walking around a lot and getting fluids was really helpful in getting recovered.

 

Recovery is a hell of a challenge. Get well soon! But do it right of course. We know you can.

[iatetheyeti]

It's good to have you back in one piece and to know things are moving forwards. Can't say I know anyone who had a hernia scare like that, though my mother did have her appendix rupture and went through a similar experience to the one you described. It wasn't the smoothest recovery, but then you've got planning on your side, you know how you want to do this. And you will

 

Hope you're feeling better soon, best of luck with everything!

[Donar]

Got your back Darlin'.

Just use the time you need to acclimate to the 'new normal.'

 

We can manipulate the macros (and especially the foods) as we go.

 

Question:

 

Is it food quantity that is the limitation? Or are there food types that are the limitation? (Or both?)

 

If it is food quantity....we can try focusing on caloric dense foods...peanut butter, protein powders, weight gainers, milk, etc....

If it is food types....I need to be aware of limitations of any kind put in place by the docs.

 

A scoop of weight gainer in 8oz of 2% milk can have a really nice macro punch. *nodding

[Yellowjacket]

BOOOO HERNIA!

 

Definitely stay focused on the diet / walking, it will help a lot!  Build back slooowly and I'm sure you'll be back up to your usual tricks in a few weeks!

[Stronkey Kong]

Keep at it:

 

[alienjenn]

I love what my kids say...

 

 

do never give up bro I believe at you!!!

[AshPS]

 Wow, you guys are really awesome! Thank you for all of the support!

 

I think this is the most comments I have had to respond to at once before, lol. But since I am momentarily having to be parked it gives me something to do!   

 

 

OMG that sounds horrible. Take care of yourself and don't push yourself physically. You have a lot of supporters here at NF and they are all behind you. Take care to eat well and enough as your body heals.

 

Thank you Melyssa! And glad to have you stop in!

Yeah, I know the eating will currently be a biggie.

 

 

Gah. That sounds awful!

I'm glad that you're back home and... um... as well as can be, under the circumstances! Take your time, and take good care of your awesome self. 

 

Love you swampling!

I'm very frustrated because I am very impatient. Lessons, always learning lessons.

 

 

Wow.  Slow and steady will get you back.

 

Thank you for coming by wildross!  You are right, I will repeat what I said to swampling, lessons, I am not good at slow. My mind wants more than my body can give. That is my biggest battle right now.

 

 

Subbed... only thing I can say is listen when they tell you about activity levels... my mom has had nearly 30 hernia operations because she is too stubborn and alerts rushed back into things and tears the repair we warn her every time but she refuses to listen please feel better soon ash!

(sent by the phone. .. all mistakes are the phones fault)

 

Believe me when I say that I MOST DEFINITELY DO NOT want that to happen again. So I will be careful.

love ya jenn! Thank you!

 

 

 

Sub'd...I've had hernia surgeries a few times before, but nothing this severe.  Definitely take your time and build up slowly.  It will be worth it.  You're strong, you can do it.  You'll be back at it before you know it.

 

Thank you brader! You're an awesome friend!

[AshPS]

Ugh that's terrible! I'm glad you're okay and glad you found it in time. Keep on trukkin though you'll get back up there

 

Thank you for stopping in lainisos! And thank you for the encouragement! Will do just that!

 

 

 

so sorry to hear about your health scare! but i am glad you're okay and taking the best possible outlook on the road to recovery. want to sub in to see how you get on and hopefully "catch" some of your macro fever! haha

 

Thank you CourtnieMarie!  Yep, them macros are important! lol

 

 

 

Owwwwwwwwch! That sucks.

 

I had my appendix out a year and a half ago. Nowhere near as bad as yours (i.e. I didn't get to spend 5 days on morphine). I remember I couldn't lift anything over 10 lbs. for an entire 6 weeks just from the one little slit where they had to cut through my abdominal muscles. That sucked. And the first week was awful. But walking around a lot and getting fluids was really helpful in getting recovered.

 

Recovery is a hell of a challenge. Get well soon! But do it right of course. We know you can.

 

Thank you Darwin! Yeah, 10 lbs is the limit they gave me to. That is going to be difficult, my 2 yr old weighs more than 10 blasted lbs!

 

Yeah they had to cut through mine to do the intestinal repair. The incision is about 3 inches in from my hip bone and between 3-4 inches long.  HURTS LIKE HELL!!    Can feel a burning running along the low ab and groin area.

 

 

 

It's good to have you back in one piece and to know things are moving forwards. Can't say I know anyone who had a hernia scare like that, though my mother did have her appendix rupture and went through a similar experience to the one you described. It wasn't the smoothest recovery, but then you've got planning on your side, you know how you want to do this. And you will

 

Hope you're feeling better soon, best of luck with everything!

 

 

Yay! Yeti is here! Thank you sweetie!

[AshPS]

Got your back Darlin'.

Just use the time you need to acclimate to the 'new normal.'

 

We can manipulate the macros (and especially the foods) as we go.

 

Question:

 

Is it food quantity that is the limitation? Or are there food types that are the limitation? (Or both?)

 

If it is food quantity....we can try focusing on caloric dense foods...peanut butter, protein powders, weight gainers, milk, etc....

If it is food types....I need to be aware of limitations of any kind put in place by the docs.

 

A scoop of weight gainer in 8oz of 2% milk can have a really nice macro punch. *nodding

 

Aww Donar thank you. You are an incredible friend. Your help is MUCH appreciated.

 

Limitations:  They told me I can eat whatever I can tolerate. They just don't want me getting sick and risking tearing anything this first week. It's more a limit on quantity. Doc's suggestion was very small amounts as frequently as I felt I could manage it.

Milk makes me really sick to my stomach for some reason. But that might be better next week.

 

So far eating at all means spending a half hour mentally keeping it down. My appetite is really suffering. I have not felt hungry in the last 7 days. 

 

I am going to try a protein shake today with just water and see how it goes.

[AshPS]

BOOOO HERNIA!

 

Definitely stay focused on the diet / walking, it will help a lot!  Build back slooowly and I'm sure you'll be back up to your usual tricks in a few weeks!

 

Lol, those boos are so funny yellowjacket!

Thank you and I sincerely hope so! Glad you're here!

 

 

 

Keep at it:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM6MNw7i6Ng&noredirect=1

 

Man Darwin, as weird as this sounds I really needed that today! Loved it!

 

 

I love what my kids say...

 

 

do never give up bro I believe at you!!!

 

  That is awesome jenn! lol Thank you!

[Donar]

Aww Donar thank you. You are an incredible friend. Your help is MUCH appreciated.

 

Limitations:  They told me I can eat whatever I can tolerate. They just don't want me getting sick and risking tearing anything this first week. It's more a limit on quantity. Doc's suggestion was very small amounts as frequently as I felt I could manage it.

Milk makes me really sick to my stomach for some reason. But that might be better next week.

 

So far eating at all means spending a half hour mentally keeping it down. My appetite is really suffering. I have not felt hungry in the last 7 days. 

 

I am going to try a protein shake today with just water and see how it goes.

 

Stay away from the milk then....every human being is tolerant/intolerant to lactose in different ways....

If you can keep down the protein powder well enough....it really might be worth looking into a weight gainer.

 

And maybe try a teaspoon of peanut butter at some point to test tolerance.....if you are up for it.

 

Just trying to think of a way to get caloric dense foods in you.

[alienjenn]

  That is awesome jenn! lol Thank you!

 

 

 

[AshPS]

Stay away from the milk then....every human being is tolerant/intolerant to lactose in different ways....

If you can keep down the protein powder well enough....it really might be worth looking into a weight gainer.

 

And maybe try a teaspoon of peanut butter at some point to test tolerance.....if you are up for it.

 

Just trying to think of a way to get caloric dense foods in you.

 

I actually have Muscle Milk powder and a weight gainer on hand. ( nodding)

 

And I am very fond of PB so I will definitely try some. 

 

Thank you!

[Yellowjacket]

Lol, those boos are so funny yellowjacket!

Thank you and I sincerely hope so! Glad you're here!

The trick is to not get greedy.  Just bear in mind that 90% of being in shape is diet so as long as you keep your nutrition locked in (and eat a little less to compensate for the lack of intense training) you should be able to preserve your progress and even move forward a bit before you can start motoring like crazy again.

Once you get the green light from the doc, you can start off slowly with machines and such again.  In lieu of heavy weights, you can try intensity techniques sparingly such as super high reps, 1 1/4s, pre fatigue, drop sets, etc.  All these techniques will help you achieve muscle fatigue without stressing your core with super heavy lifts right out of the gate.  Just work back up really slowly and carefully and your recovery time will probably be as short as possible with this approach!

[forkboy]

Your attitude and approach is amazing as always.  So glad to have you back.  I second all the comments about easing back into it.  Definitely going slow wins this race.  Welcome back!