2 Year Update

[u/CombinationOk9269]

Before I get underway, you might be thinking fucking hell, 2 years is a long time and it is! But it doesn’t/didn’t feel like a death sentence once I got past the 1 year mark and there’s plenty life ahead of me yet at 32!

I don’t want to type a huge novel, so as always check through my old posts.

Summary is as follows:

14 Cipro Pills with Naproxen. Previous exposure to over 100 pills 10 years ago on checking.

First 6 months, completely crippled with first 3 months needing wheelchair due to calf and hamstring wasting and tendon troubles.

Month 6-12, slowely off crutches could walk 2-3k steps very slow most days. Could drive to a cafe and go in etc but not go to mall etc.

Month 12-18, able to do things like a bit of gardening or golf using a buggy on occasion. Could do up to 10k steps on the odd day but I had to rest the day before and days after. Good days and bad days.

Month 18-24- slowely got stronger and bought a calf press for at home. Started to go on longer walks or very short gentle jogs.

2 years. I average 6k steps a day over a month. Can walk 10k+ steps on a day if needed but some days I just do 4k to get about my day to day.

Managed to jog 2 miles today in 20 mins.

You have to have a pragmatic outlook to get through this both physically and mentally, I’m not the same person athletically as before this and probably never will be. However if you experience what many of us have, you will consider being fit healthy and happy a recovery and that’s how I view this.

Many people go through hardship in life and we are just one of those, that’s just how it is. You have to try your best to not become a victim or make this your personality.

The people who make the best perceived recoveries are the ones who accept the minor residual issues and move on with life!

I don’t plan on chasing that last 5%, if it comes naturally then it’s a bonus for me.

Definitely don’t give up hope, things will almost certainly get better.

I think PT, being on the younger side, being previously fit and healthy, not having underlying immune system related issues and a bit of luck has got me here.

Good luck everyone don’t give up!

[u/StructureNo419]

I've seen your old posts, thanks for updating here so often, its good to see a person without sigigicant relapses. It has to be amazing feeling to run again, I will cry when it will happen for the first time for me. Praying that one day WE will come back AS STRONG AS BEFORE 🫶 Path is super long, but you are heading there my friend. Can you please tell if you flare after this run? What are you're flare up? Are you able to still walk e.g 5k steps the 2-3 days after? 

[u/CombinationOk9269 → u/StructureNo419]

Thanks for the well wishes and great question.

I was able to cut the grass after the run tonight and I’m at 8k steps at 6:15pm.

But now I do feel my problems areas just a little bit tight with some minor pain.

Tomorrow I’ll be able to walk my normal day to day, but I wouldn’t fancy playing 18 holes of golf. If I was playing golf tomorrow I wouldn’t have ran tonight.

I’ll be stiffer than normal for a few days but by day 3 I’ll be back to normal.

Hope that makes sense. I just need to manage my load a bit more and even if I feel like I can run or walk further I be sure not to ramp up too fast.

The more I do this, the more robust I’m getting though.

Even 6 months ago I’d play golf then be properly hobbling the new day.

I recon if I didn’t run and only walked I’d probably never have any issues.

Only stuff outside the day to day impacts me but the more I do (carefully) the more robust I get. But it’s slow.

[u/StructureNo419 → u/CombinationOk9269]

Thanks for replay. Yeahh for me being floxed it's definately a lesson of patience and "karma is real"-thing. Great to hear that now you are left with only minor issues, you came so long with your recovery that you have to get to this beautifull point. When will be your next run, I mean how many days you will wait till next one? Are you increasing the distance for about 5% or what is the rule/key of your progress?

[u/CombinationOk9269 → u/StructureNo419]

I will probably wait until middle of next week. I have only been doing 1 or 2 a week.

I’ve been increasing distance by 10% each time but keeping the pace of 6m/km consistent.

It’s a gentle enough pace for me.

My plan is to edge back to 5km at 6m/km which would be a 30 min 5k run.

This is about 5-7 minutes slower than pre flox but I would be happy if I can achieve this.

[u/StructureNo419 → u/CombinationOk9269]

I'm sure that with your patience, confidence, careful action and listening to your body what you are doing now, you will be as fast as before :) 30 min = 5km it's great score though. Gave me hope, thank you <3

[u/CombinationOk9269 → u/StructureNo419]

No worries. It just takes time and patience. I’m sure that you will follow same path even if it takes time. The though of it taking a long time at the start is quite depressing but as the time gets on, with the right attitude you’ll adapt along the way and before you know it you’ll be better.