On with it already!

So . . .as I sat in my hotel room directly across from the Mayo Clinic, I was less than upbeat. I had ended up in this place due to a variety of circumstances. Many were due to my own neglect, others simply bizarre and unexplainable. Either way, it was day 3 of my trip and I reflected on the news I had just been given. My cholesterol was way out of whack, my chest scans had revealed a mass right over my heart, my weight was too high (according to BMI-body mass index charts obese - although as I post photos shortly most would not have placed me in that category) and the strange allergic reactions I had been suffering from for the past 3-years were still undiagnosed.

Primarily, I continued to focus on the reason I went to Mayo. For 3-years I had spent nearly everyday with pains, hives all over my body (I'll eventually post pictures of that as well) and the beginning process of anaphylactic shock following the hives each day. The "attacks" occurred generally at night (many assumptions about how night time played into all this), leaving me struggling through each attack until the mass amounts of Benadryl would kick into action. Imagine the next morning trying to get out of the coma-like feeling (from the Benadryl primarily). This routine had gotten way too old.

Many months prior to being scheduled at the Mayo Clinic I had become my own advocate. I read books on the subject of Urticaria (a type of hives), scoured the Internet for some new discovery, someone else who was going through this as well, I couldn't be alone could I? Family and friends tried to help, I took an assortment of vitamins, anything I could try was better then remaining passive. . .

When it was time to leave Mayo (upon my request, I'm certain they would have been able to identify other areas of interest if they had more time), I was given just a few prescriptions for Allegra, Singular, Zantac and one other - a cocktail as it was described. The goal, control the outbreaks (notice I did not say "fix" the outbreaks). Although looking back, I (and my regular doctor) certainly believe that the mass in my chest (the Thymus gland-feel free to Google for more information) were directly related to the allergic reactions I had been experiencing, it was clear I had other problems to deal with . . .

I had an 11 hour drive ahead of me to return home (oh yeah, if you ever have to go to the Mayo Clinic from a great distance - fly!), boy was that ample time to reflect. I drove straight through, replaying all that had happened at my visit, the painful exams, the disheartening news, and the lack of answers. I had to do something, and I had to do it soon.

I decided I would start cycling . . .

So, why a Blog . . .We're all normal, right?

I have struggled with the decision to express my views and personal experiences for some time. If you're reading this, it should be obvious what my decision ultimately became. I have a story to tell. A story that I believe may help some, offend others, provide me with an outlet to express my views and perhaps vent a little bit along the way. Everything you read within my blog is true, it happened to me . . .

The year was 2003, I was living with my wife of 8-years in a lovely coastal town in northern Florida. We were expecting or first child and I was working independently after recently leaving a financial services company in Chicago. Before we get too far along, this is a story about a "normal" guy.

Now, when I say "normal", let's not mistake that for healthy. You see this is a story about bizarre medical issues, health, lifestyle and the final event that pushed me to take control of my own life and well being. I like many, had a misconception of "normal". The "normal" which or society imposes upon us. The normal that says fast food, fad diets, bariatrics, wonder drugs and diet pills are OK.

Don't get me wrong, I had never considered myself outside of normal. Even when I was at my peak weight of 246 pounds, super sizing my way to and from work, I didn't see any problem with my behavior. When I smoked 3 packs a day and washed away my stress with a variety of normal remedies, I never viewed myself in a truly negative light.

A bit more about me to help with the flow . . . I am currently 33 years old, Caucasian, 5 feet 11 inches tall, work in sales, am still married (almost 12-years now), just had a second child, reside in the Midwest and look a bit differently then during my "normal" life.

Back to the story . . . shortly following the birth of my first child in February of 2003, I began to have strange, unidentifiable medical "issues". It all began with severe chest pain, followed by shortness of breath, rapidly becoming covered in hives and followed by a lovely drop in blood pressure as I began to go into anaphylactic shock! This extremely unusual condition has never been accurately diagnosed to date. Not even during the most extensive workup at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota did I find any conclusion or accurate cause for these ailments. 3 long years later, my suffering continued. Day in day out, I would fight this "allergic" reaction while trying to maintain a semi-normal existence. Let me tell you, working while taking 150-300 mg of Benadryl each day is no easy chore.

What happened at the grand Mayo Clinic . . . well, I certainly had the most extensive workup of my life. aside from the normal discomfort of being poked and prodded in every orifice, within a four day period I was informed that I had a Thymoma ( translation - growth in my chest right over my heart), cholesterol reading of 286 (with my triglycerides in excess of 1,000), the likelihood of hardening arteries and a long list of prescriptions to take home with me. Without going into great detail (more will come on specific in future posts), I went home feeling less then positive.

It was mere weeks after that I decided to take things into my own hands. Today, I have dropped close to 70 pounds, the Thymoma found in my chest has decreased in size (in fact, almost gone), my cholesterol is a stunning 140 ish (with my Triglycerides having dropped to 82). How is all that possible? I'm happy to tell you, read on . . . . .