Sodium Diet

On Thursday the doctor told me my sodium and chloride levels were well below normal, and I needed to eat mroe sodium.  His suggestion was to eat a burger and try to get more sodium in my diet and I would feel better.  Well, I ate the burger and some fries, but only felt a little bit better.  And as much as I loved eating the burger I cannot sustain a diet that requires me to eat a burger every day.   So I turned to salt pills, a lot fewer calories.

Now neither my cardiologist or my internist told me how much sodium I should take, they just told me I needed to up my sodium intake.  What I didn't know was by how much.  The daily recommended amount of sodium is approximately 1500 to 2400 mg of sodium a day.  I probably was only getting 1000 mg a day most days.  Which means I was low, and now that I am below low  in sodium and have a condition that requires me to have more sodium I probably need to increase my sodium more than I realized.

Of course at the onset of starting the increase of sodium I did not have all this information.  If I had then I would have probably taken much more than I did initially.  So, figuring out exactly how much sodium I needed to take, was a slow process.  Friday was the first day I started taking salt pills, but did not start taking them until in the afternoon.  I took a pill every hour, and began to feel better about 9 pm, by that time I had taken about 7 pills (each pill is 452 mg of sodium).  On Saturday I started my day off a little bit better, but it was not until 2 pm and intaking 5000 mg of sodium that I actually felt like I could function and had some strength.  Sunday I kept my intake steady and by noon was feeling better.  By the end of Sunday I had taken 5000 mg of sodium.  Today I have had 8 pills and 2 v8 (330mg sodium), and two snack size bags of pretzels.  Again almost 5000 mg of sodium.  It appears I need 4000 mg - 5000 mg of sodium.

I am actually amazed at the amount of salt I have to take to feel normal and like I can ride my bike again.  I guess if that is what it takes then that is what it takes.  Tomorrow will be my first time on the bike in a couple of weeks, and actually I have not been strong on the bike for quite some time.  I am looking forward to it, but I am guessing I may have to take more sodium because I will be sweating it all out.  Which means back to the drawing board.  I probably will do what I do for a race which is one bottle of Carbo Rocket before the race and one after.  Hopefully that is all I will need.  I wonder if I can convince Brad to make a diet Carbo Rocket.

On another bright side of things.  With all this salt intake, my water intake has increased.  I am now drinking about 1 gallon and 1 quart of water a day.  Nothing like staying well hydrated.

Compression Socks, Tights and other stuff

So with the offical diagnosis of Vasovegal Syncopy I need to buy compression tights, socks and tops.  At first glance there was nothing out there I would consider buying.  Everything the doctor showed me looked like a girdle your grandmother would wear, and not very functional.  But after a quick email to KC I was pointed in the right direction.

Using some of the information KC gave me I started my research looking at compression tights, socks and so forth, and what I found was a lot of non-information.  I actually need compression at a certain level, however not every company gives out this information.  In fact, very few companies give this information out.  Ugh what is a girl supposed to do.

What I did was research and research as many reviews as possible, but some of the reviews are tainted as they received the merchandise for free.  Also, most of the reviewers do not have a condition that requires the need of the compression apparel.  Most of the reviewers are using it for recovery and enhanced performance.  I have been reading all day trying to find the right info.  As I said some of it was helpful, some of it not, but I did find one blog that was very helpful http://kcwoodhead.blogspot.com/2009/03/compression-sock-update.html   You see, Kathleen also has a condition that requires her to take salt tablets and wear compression apparel.  Thanks to Kathleen I was able to narrow down my search.  And how big is the search?  Well here are just a few companies that sell compression apparel:  Skins - Zoot - SLS3 - Zensah - 2xu - Sugoi - Cep - Opedix just to name a few.  And what is the next step?

The next step is to take a somewhat educated purchase and order some compression apprael.  However those who provided information are the ones who will receive my purchase first, and also a public review.  The bad thing is this purchase is not cheap, and I need everyday apparel as well as cycling apparel.  I guess I will start with one and hopefully it will be the right choice.  I will let you know.

Tilting Table

Well the continuing saga of trying to figure out the cause of my low blood pressure has been 90% solved.  And how you may ask.  It was actually quite simple  of a test, it a "table tilt test".  Now hearing this term you think they put you on a table and tilt you all over the place, but that is not the case.  It is actually a very simple test.

The test begins like this you lay down on a table with heart monitor, blood pressure and other devices hooked up to you.  You lay on the table for 30 minutes, and then the table is tilted up to an almost upright position.  From here you stand for 30-45 minutes, if you do not produce the symptoms they are looking for the table is moved back down, and then you are administered a medication that produces an adrenaline affect.  You are then moved back to the upright position and spend another 30-45 minutes to see if you produce symptoms. Oh, and you are strapped to the table so you do not fall off the table, but not so tight you cannot move around.

And what are the symptoms, well, it is passing out.  Well, luckily or not luckily, I produced symptoms within less than 10 minutes.  I also produced more than fainting, which scared my husband and the nurse to death.  After I passed out apparently I had a seizure, and then my heart stopped.  Now I don't tell you this to worry that my heart stopped, this is something that can occur.  The reason I am telling you is because of what happened when all this occured.  You see, I don't remember anything after passing out.  I knew I was going out, and that was it.  After that I went to the best place ever, I was Mountain Biking, and it was the best ride ever!  I don't remember the whole scenario of the ride, but I was having so much fun, that when the nurse and others, woke me up I had no idea where I was.  I was very confused, because I actually thought I had been on my bike.  They told me where I was, and then I started to come back to reality.

Let me tell you reality has not been so great.  The test made me very sick and weak the first day, so much so I could only get up for bathroom breaks.  The next day I was supposed to be better, but was not.  Of course being the stubborn person I am I decided I could get through it.  This was very stupid as I almost passed out on the way to work.  Needless to say I returned home and stayed in bed for the rest of the day.  Which brings me to today.

Today I was still weak and dizzy, not as bad as day one or two, but still unable to drive a car safely.  So we went to see the doctor, and found out my body was now much lower in sodium and chloride which is why I was not recovering from the test.  So the doctor told me what I needed to do which is increase my salt intake.  He actually suggested I go to Apollo Burger and eat a burger and fries!  I did, and it was nice to have the doctor excuse to eat a burger and fries.

As for the table tilt test.  For now the diagnosis is Vasovegal Syncopy, which is why I pass out and have low blood pressure.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_episode; http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/754/main.html;
http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/arrhythmias/a/Syncope3_2.htm
What is the cure?  There are medications I can take, but first we take the more natural route.I must drink a lot of water, increase my salt inake, and wear a body compression suit.  They key is to drink a lot of water, but not too much to deplete my salt, and then I must eat a lot of salt to up my blood pressure and in order to prevent it from leaving my body I must wear a compressions suit.  If all goes well then my blood pressure will go up and I will quit trying to pass out.

The Dilemma

I have been riding my bike now for 2 years, and have come across a horrible problem.  The new bike of the year problem.  You see, when I first started riding I did not know if I would be riding for very long, or let alone like it, so we bought the most economic bike that would meet my needs--the Trek 3700 (bought mid-September, 2007).

This bike was the perfect bike to learn to ride on.  I would ride up the road and ride the Provo Trail many times, but it did not take long for me to want to ride on dirt.  So I then took the bike to Lambert Park, and that is where I began my first rides.  I loved riding the dirt and despite many falls, and mishaps I kept riding trying to get better.  It did not take long before I felt like I wanted to upgrade to a bike that was meant for the dirt. 

Not knowing much about bikes I put my trust in the local bike shop and was directed to a 2007 Trek WSD Fuel Ex (bought November, 2007).  This was the perfect bike for me.  It was a full suspension bike, that made riding all of the trails at Lambert Park that much easier.  I loved it and riding the trails became that much more fun, and I started to get better.

After only riding a bike for a couple of months I came to the next step in my riding and decided I wanted to ride.  This seemed like the natural course for me to go and I did.  In December of 2007 I joined one the of teams in the area, and spent 2008 racing and riding on my Fuel.  I loved this bike, there were no complaints.  But then my husband had to go and ruin it.  He had to go and buy me a Superfly.

Now of course I am not complaining one bit about this purchase, I love my Superfly.  Let me reiterate I absolutely love my Superfly.  However it has tainted me against my Fuel and 26 inch wheels.  I enjoy riding my fuel, but it is not the same and I much more love riding my Superfly.  So now my world is complete and I have the ultimate bike and would not think twice about riding anything different.....or would I.

Here is the dilemma...

The new ultimate of bikes, the Superfly 100.  I have known about this bike for quite some time, but was not worried.  I love my bike and do not need or want anything else.  But then I saw the bike at the store, and then I sat on the bike at the store, and then I rode the bike at the store.  The bike has a great full suspension, but is also very stiff.  I could have a light full suspension bike, with 29 inch wheels, but also a bike I could race.  I could have the best of both worlds, full suspension and almost hard tail.

So what do I do?  Do I sell my Fuel and Superfly and get this fabulous new bike, or do I keep what I have and ride the fuel occasionally?  This is the dilemma, or so it was until yesterday.

Merry Christmas!  Thanks honey!  I can't wait to ride my new bike!  My husband spoils me.  He tried to keep it a secret, but needed some details to order the bike.  By the way does anyone want to buy my Trek Fuel?

I Won!

I have been sick off and on now for a little over a month, so I haven't had much mountain bike riding to write about.  But fun things still happen.

Yesterday we had our Christmas party at work.  It was a fun lunch with a lot of prizes/gifts to draw for.  There were digital keychains, digital frames, poinsettas, gps systems and three more expensive gifts.  A Wii, Xbox 360 and a 26 inch flat, lcd hd tv. 

The lunch started with good food, and visiting with friends at work, and then it was time to draw for the prizes/gifts.  One by one the gifts were given away.  Eventually someone won the Xbox 360, then a little while later someone won the Wii, and then finally the last prize was up--the tv.

I watched gift after gift go, and when the tv came up, I knew it was up, either I won the tv, or went home with nothing but a full stomach.  I sat and held the ticket tightly cupped in the palms of both hands, and waited for the number to be called.  It was called, and I looked at my number and then asked what the number was again.  Yes!  It was my number!!!

Our family could definitely use a tv downstairs.  Right now we have a little 21 inch tv, and although it is nice it will be great to have something a bit better.  And although I do not believe in having  a tv in the bedroom, it will be nice to have one I can put in our bedrooms when someone is sick.
Haven't taken it out of the box yet, I need to buy a mounting system.