Greetings. Long, long time lurker. Very, very rare poster.
47 year old male. I've been doing triathlons for twenty years - some years more than others. Front of middle of the pack to front of back of the pack depending on conditioning. This year's A race is Timberman, which I've raced many times before - first time in 2002. Still a great race, but back in those early days (pre-WTC) it was awesome. One year there were around fifty of us sitting around for awards - I had gotten a clydesdale award - and got into a great conversation with a super nice (and extremely fit) guy. Peter Reid.
Let fitness slide a bit over the past couple years and race performance showed it. Overhauled nutrition this year, dropped a fair amount of weight (230 to 200 - 6'4) and was feeling pretty good. Did a very local 70.3 (Mascomaman in N.H.) 10 days ago and was 50 minutes faster than last year (which is not a totally fair comparison because last year was a disaster). However, I felt I was clearly working with very much improved fitness heading into Timberman.
Took a light spin on the trainer the day after Mascomaman and felt like I was going to recover well. Swam Monday, but felt under the weather. Wasn't too concerned - figured it was this summer cold that is going around and worst case scenario might have to miss a couple days training - no big deal with Timberman still well over two weeks away. On Tuesday, felt really run down. Had a fever with no other symptoms which was weird. Felt a little better after a ride. Things got worse over the week - pushed through a run and a swim but was just going through the motions.
Friday morning a perfectly shaped bullseye rash shows up on my left thigh. Friday afternoon things go in a complete downward spiral healthwise. A little quick internet research indicates I've got a pretty legitimate cause for concern.
So I'm able to get in to see a Doctor Friday evening and he says there is no question its Lyme disease. Started a twenty one day cycle of doxycycline (antibiotic) that night. This weekend I continued to get worse, feeling far, far sicker than I ever have in my life. However, I feel I started turning the corner last night and hopefully the antibiotics are starting to do their job.
So that's my tale of woe. Timberman is in 13 days. If I still feel under the weather, there is no way I'm going to push myself to do it - I like triathlon but not enough to suffer beyond the suffering caused by the event itself. However, I am assuming (hoping) I'm going to feel better and maybe well enough to consider toeing the line. So I am curious:
1. Has anyone raced after getting Lyme? How soon after and how did it go?
2. Does anyone have any experience with racing in the middle of a cycle of antibiotics?
Any feedback on these questions or your general experience with Lyme disease would be appreciated. It is amazing how you can work so hard to get/keep in shape and be healthy and free of illness only to be flattened by a tick no bigger than a pinhead. I had no idea I had even been bitten.
Thanks!
47 year old male. I've been doing triathlons for twenty years - some years more than others. Front of middle of the pack to front of back of the pack depending on conditioning. This year's A race is Timberman, which I've raced many times before - first time in 2002. Still a great race, but back in those early days (pre-WTC) it was awesome. One year there were around fifty of us sitting around for awards - I had gotten a clydesdale award - and got into a great conversation with a super nice (and extremely fit) guy. Peter Reid.
Let fitness slide a bit over the past couple years and race performance showed it. Overhauled nutrition this year, dropped a fair amount of weight (230 to 200 - 6'4) and was feeling pretty good. Did a very local 70.3 (Mascomaman in N.H.) 10 days ago and was 50 minutes faster than last year (which is not a totally fair comparison because last year was a disaster). However, I felt I was clearly working with very much improved fitness heading into Timberman.
Took a light spin on the trainer the day after Mascomaman and felt like I was going to recover well. Swam Monday, but felt under the weather. Wasn't too concerned - figured it was this summer cold that is going around and worst case scenario might have to miss a couple days training - no big deal with Timberman still well over two weeks away. On Tuesday, felt really run down. Had a fever with no other symptoms which was weird. Felt a little better after a ride. Things got worse over the week - pushed through a run and a swim but was just going through the motions.
Friday morning a perfectly shaped bullseye rash shows up on my left thigh. Friday afternoon things go in a complete downward spiral healthwise. A little quick internet research indicates I've got a pretty legitimate cause for concern.
So I'm able to get in to see a Doctor Friday evening and he says there is no question its Lyme disease. Started a twenty one day cycle of doxycycline (antibiotic) that night. This weekend I continued to get worse, feeling far, far sicker than I ever have in my life. However, I feel I started turning the corner last night and hopefully the antibiotics are starting to do their job.
So that's my tale of woe. Timberman is in 13 days. If I still feel under the weather, there is no way I'm going to push myself to do it - I like triathlon but not enough to suffer beyond the suffering caused by the event itself. However, I am assuming (hoping) I'm going to feel better and maybe well enough to consider toeing the line. So I am curious:
1. Has anyone raced after getting Lyme? How soon after and how did it go?
2. Does anyone have any experience with racing in the middle of a cycle of antibiotics?
Any feedback on these questions or your general experience with Lyme disease would be appreciated. It is amazing how you can work so hard to get/keep in shape and be healthy and free of illness only to be flattened by a tick no bigger than a pinhead. I had no idea I had even been bitten.
Thanks!