A 5k to remember (long, x-post, lots of pics)

I did it!  I completed my first 5k exactly 6 months after my RNY surgery.  It was an adventure for sure.  My Mom drove up to walk it with me.  She actually surprised me by walking in my door on Friday when I wasn't expecting her until Sunday.  We spent the weekend together and had a great time.

Sunday rolled around and we got ready for church.  When we left church we stopped to get a bite to eat.  I had 1/2 of a small chili at Wendy's.  Yumm!  Then we had to run home, change clothes, and grab some chicken that I had left marinating.  I've been craving some grilled chicken something awful, but our grill broke so we were going to cook it at Dad's house for supper.  We stopped to pick up my cousin, Ashley, and then met my Dad and stepmom, Tina.  They were kind enough to watch the kids for us while we did the 5k.

So we finally made it to Fletcher Park around 1:20.  The 'race' was scheduled to start at 2:00.  Let me tell you, it was HOT.  The temp was in the upper 80's and there was not much shade at all.  We had anxiously been eyeing the weather all week in hope's of a cool, cloudy, breezy day.  No such luck.  But there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity I'd been waiting so long for.  Previously, I had been walking about 2.5 miles in  right at an hour, but it was usually in the morning or evening, not in that kind of heat.  So I was nervous.

We checked in and got our shirts.  I was pleasantly surprised with them.  I had been expecting a plain, white t-shirt, but these were a jersey kind of material and were bright blue.  So off I ran to the bathroom to change.  Here we are before it started.

And here is my good friend, Jan.  I hadn't seen her in 2 years and was so happy to spend time with her again!

Here is part of the crowd.  There were over 250 registered walkers and many more who didn't register.

So off we went in the horrid heat!

Nearing the finish line...

My goal was to finish in under an hour and a half.  My actual time was this.  I was pretty darn happy with that.  I felt good- didn't hurt anywhere.  I was just quite tired.

Oh, and I wasn't last!

Here's me and John resting in the shade afterwards.  See how red my face is.  This is where it's about to get really exciting...

The park had supplied snacks for after the 5k, but they weren't very pouch friendly for me so I brought a protein drink.  I never got a chance to drink it though.  When it was time for my Mom to go, I stood up to give her a hug bye.  I told her not to let go of me because I was really dizzy.  I've been having trouble with dizziness for about 4 months now due to my blood pressure lowering.  It's always high in the dr office though so that haven't really been able to figure out what's up.  At one point they were talking about putting me back on my high blood pressure medicine.  I'm glad they didn't.  I sat down but felt increasing nauseous and dizzy to the point that I passed out.

It was so super embarrassing.  There were so many people around watching me.  Somebody from the park took a big bag of ice from some random picnickers and plopped it down on my shoulders.  Brrr!  there was cold ice water running all down my very hot body.  Someone called 911.  By the time the paramedics got there I was feeling a fair bit better.  Still dizzy, but not as nauseous and not like I was going to pass out.  They took my vitals.  My bp was 92/52 (I think that was it.)  I can't imagine how low it must have gotten when I passed out.  So they worked on me a bit and I was feeling increasingly better, so I signed the paper saying I didn't need to go to the hospital.

The lady who had iced me down recommended that I try to get up and walk again before the paramedics left.  So I did.  I made it about 10 steps before I passed out AGAIN!  So obviously I got a fancy ambulance ride to the hospital.  The poor paramedics had to lift this heavy ol body onto the stretcher.  I kept apologizing over and over because I was so stinkin' embarrassed.  They had some trouble starting an IV.  Apparently I was quite dehydrated also.  I had been drinking water like crazy that day and the day before, but the 4 days prior to that I couldn't get as much water as I needed because everything i put in my mouth was causing my stomach to hurt.  If I had  know I was dehydrated, maybe I would have postponed the 5k.  Maybe.  I was pretty determined to do it. 

At the hospital my bp continued to be really low.  I think the lowest I remember was about 76/42.  That's quite a difference from someone who was on medication for high bp 6 months ago.  The nurses had a hard time getting blood from me.  It wouldn't even come out my IV thingie.  So I had the pleasure of getting poked several times. ;-)  After I arrived at the hospital and got the wet clothes off of me I started freezing.  I shivered for at least 2 hours. 

I had lots of visitors, including the manager of the park where the 5k was and his wife, who I found out is the lady that iced me down.  After 6 hours, several bags of liquids, hundreds (seemed that way) of bp readings, bloodwork, and an ekg I was finally discharged.  At 8:30 I finally got some food again.  The dr brought me a hard boiled egg and a couple ounces of cheese.  It was the best think I'd had all day.

Now was that a 5k to remember or what!

what a story!  I am glad you are OK now.  woo hoo on finishing.


Sarah

i'm so sorry you were sick but so very proud of you for the accomplishment!!!  you go girl!!!  its so hard to know how to treat our pouch before we do something like this....i'm still experimenting!

do you still take blood pressure meds?  when i thought mine was getting low i started to keep a log of the blood pressure readings and i'd take my blood pressure several times a day.  i took the log to my PCP and he immediately took me off the meds.  i've not taken the medication in about 6 months and now my normal blood pressure is about 95/58!  go figure! 

i'd definately keep a blood pressure log and take it to the dr if i were you!  hope you feel better!!!

Thank you!

I've been off of my bp meds since surgery.  When I saw the dr about my dizziness and low bp, she told me to keep a log for a week and write down all my blood pressures.  I also wrote down how I was feeling at each one or what I was doing.  All of the readings were either normal or low so I guess that's what convinced them not to put me back on the medicine.  I'm awfully glad they didn't.  Can you imagine how my bp would have bottomed out if I were on meds.

It's amazing yours runs that low and you feel fine.  That's a lot better than the high blood pressure though, isn't it?

You are AWESOME! Congrats on getting out there and living! ((((((hugs))))))

Warmly,
Jackie

Jennifer...

So sorry it turned into a crazy day but good for you on doing the race and finishing it!!  That is an amazing accomplishment and you look great!  I also had a passing out episode post surgery due to low BP but I was at home.  A friend of mine also passed out at the first 5K she ever did so you are not alone!

Hope you are feeling better!

~~~Jennifer

Hi there!  Congrats on finishing your 5K!!  My MIL has bouts of passing out and trouble w/her BP going up down and they found out hers is low potassium and electrolytes.  Did they check for these in your bloodwork?

The doctors had thought that it may be that same thing, but my levels were great.  Everyone has kind of been at a loss to what is causing the low bp's.  I have no idea.  I just plan to keep on keepin' on!