Ok, so here goes…
In the last few races (and, much of my training) I have been getting extreme GI issues, where I get Nausea, pain behind the breastbone, and a very hard time swallowing my food. Such is the case, that I bowed out of Eagleman after the bike because I was throwing up everything and couldn’t take any calories in (plus I was cramping from the inability to do so). The doctor thought I had an ulcer, but he was wrong and it turns out it is a small Hiatal Hernia (which I found out after IM NYC), and he said they only do surgery if it is bigger. I couldn’t eat a damn thing during the run, hence I got heat exhaustion and well the rest is history. Which sucks because I was on par for a 9:45 or so, and perhaps a Hawaii slot. My main question is does anyone out there have the same issue that causes them to not eat? If so, are there any tricks to eating? Pills taken beforehand? Anything?
Thanks,
Chris
I fix hiatal hernias on clients all the time. As far as tricks for eating, I always take large amounts of salt with breakfast before an IM, because I can’t stomach salt tabs during a race. I also drink several Equate calorie drinks for extra calories before.
Hiatal technique:
- Put some massage oil or lotion on your abdomen
- Take a deep belly breath (force your belly out)
- Press in with your thumbs just below your sternum (toward your spine)
- Drag your thumbs down towards your belly button as you exhale slowly
- Repeat down either side of rib cage
- It should be slightly uncomfortable even painful while you are doing this
If you don’t feel like you are doing it right, try and find a massage therapist in your area that can do it for you. It’s more effective when you dont have to do it yourself anyway.
I was diagnosed with GERD and Hiatal Hernia (kind of related…).
Nexium once a day works for me. Also, it is a lot better when my diet is clean!