PTSD

  It’s 10:36 Pm on September 8th.  Usually, I’m out like a light by now.  The 4:45 AM alarm clock has a lot to do with that.  Tonight, however, I’m wired.  It’s another Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) night for me.  It’s a long story, but I have the time.  It’s been raining since about 6 PM and when I put Leo (our six month old Lab) to bed, I thought I was good to go.

  At about 10 PM, he let out a good bark.  I was nearly asleep already.  Mirapex (for RLS) will do that to you.  I know that bark by now.  It’s the “I’m in my crate but I really need to go out, NOW!” bark.  So, I got up and took him out in the rain to do his business.  He did, but only half of it.  Hopefully he’ll make it to the morning.  So, I got back upstairs and into bed and my wife says “I heard some computer noise down stairs while you were out with the dog.” 

  So, I get back up and go check.  Turns out it was here iPhone alerting her of an appointment tomorrow.  So, I go back to bed.  Only this time, I’m awake.  And, my PTSD has kicked in.  See we were robbed.  It was Christmas Eve of 2000.  Needless to say, it ruined Christmas.  That was a different house, but I still have the memories.

  Ever since then, if I’m startled awake for any reason I’m usually up for a while.  So, I figured I’d type and try to get tired.  Wish me luck.

  I’m back to running again.  I’m running 3-4 times per week and just working to build up my endurance again.  At this point I can run for about 30 minutes.  I could run longer if I could keep my heart rate down.  I think that will happen as I get into better shape.

  I’m also working on strength and stretching to improve my running.  I’m using a book by Dr. Michael Yessis, Explosive Running.  It has a good set of stretches, strength exercises for running, and a section on plyometrics.  I’ve been doing some of the exercises for about 3 weeks.  I just added the stretching and am now working on adding more of the exercises.  My legs are sore, but feel good.  My lungs are the part killing my running right now.  That will get better.

  The weird thing is that I’m no longer covered in salt when I finish exercising.  It’s very weird in fact.  I’m blaming my last research study.  I’d be very interested in having a sweat chloride test done to see how the numbers have changed.

  Ok, I’m tired now.  I’m going to try to go to sleep.  Wish me luck.