First 'Proper' Bike Ride

So yesterday I FINALLY went on my first 'proper' bike ride by cycling about 45/50 miles from where I live in central London, following the Thames path into Windsor. (Was very nice, a bit through Richmond park where this photo was taken, all mainly by the river, not much road, past Hampton Court Palace and entering Windsor though Great Windsor Park). Many thanks to Chris who came with me and successfully navigated us there without really getting lost!

With only 8 weeks to go I was quite relieved to do it and not fall into a heap crying or anything else. Other than being stupidly tired I survived pretty much unscathed. My legs don't ache but my bum hurts every time I sit down from sitting on the seat for 6 hours straight! A gel seat and padded shorts I've learnt are essential items.

So now is the time where people will really start to see me in pain, in a desperate panic because its getting so close and always rushing off to the gym so if you haven't sponsored me, please sponsor me to help make this all feel worthwhile! Only £500 left to reach my target of £3,000! :-)

Cheers guys

Parachute Jumps Raise £405!

A HUGE thank you to Antoinette and Mamta who both did sponsored parachute jumps to help me raise another fantastic £405 for my sponsored bike ride. I appreciate it SO much and I am so glad you enjoyed it.

Here is one photo of Antoinettes day, for more see the link before. Hopefully we will get Mamtas here soon!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/j.a.bush/AntoinetteSParachuteJump

Thanks Jan!

I'm really proud to say that my fab sister Janine has completed the Great South Run in a great time of 88 minutes in the pouring rain and raised a magnificent amount of £545! Not all of this will go towards my sponsorship as some costs have been incurred by the charity so we will wait and see exactly how much but either way, it is a much welcome contribution.

Thanks Jan and I will put on some photos when I have them!

July Fitness First Update

Hi guys,

Click on the link below to see how I got on in July. This is really good as it compares it all to June but please remember how this is only a selection of machines and therefore only a small amount of what I do. That will be the reason why it looks like I have not been going as much as I did in July but if you have a look, my weights etc. have all increased which is a great sign of improvement!

http://www.fitlinxx.com/pr.asp?l=719E216D-92F2-4568-A2C9-D8D8B5DA9445&locale=en-GB

Osteoporosis In The Spine

Hi guys,

Here's an update from my end - I received the results of a bone mass density test that I recently had and it shows that my bone mass density is low in my spine (though my hip is ok).

Basically it works off a standard deviation from a norm... -1 or above is normal bone mass density, -1 to -2.5 shows osteopenia and anything less than -2.5 shows osteoperosis.
My hip was -.08 and so is in the normal range but unfortunately my spine was -3.2 and hence shows oseoporosis.

I have been trying to do some research on the internet as I wait for a specialists appointment to come through the post and it seems to be quite rare in younger women and there doesn't seem to be a lot around. I think and am hoping it can be reversed, at least to a certain extent by specific exercises (weight bearing exercises I have seen suggested...apparently cycling is good for the bone density which is good news!) and watching my diet. My personal trainer Laura has been absolutely fantastic. It was quite a shock when I was first told but she has been great, taking the situation under control, being very positive and advising me on certain things.


So how did this happen?
Although nothing is certain it seems to be the affect of the depo-provera injection that I have been on since I was 16years old. Although this is a contraceptive, it had a dual purpose as it stopped my periods and controlled my hormones. This in turn helped to control my seizures (often seizures are linked to hormones)...my neurologist even advised me to stay on it and wrote a letter explaining that I needed it when I left the country for a few months! Hence it is related to the contolling of my epilepsy. I will obviously have to come off this now which may affect my seizures, but hopefully as I am on anticonvulsants it will all be fine!

Weird timing but just a couple of weeks ago I saw that Epilepsy Action are currently undergoing research into osteoporosis and anticonvulsants! It is another example of how Epilepsy Action are a great source of information and support with relevant research. Also another example of how just because your seizures are controlled, doesn't mean you are fine with your epilepsy!

Also makes me even more determined to do this bike ride as you never know what may happen next...now is the time for me to take advantage! :-)

If anyone has any information on what I have described or if you are more interested in details from me then just give me an email or make a comment.


Thanks guys!! :-)

Poem

Hi guys,

Thought I would share this with you:

Helen Cooper, a working mother with three teenage children, was first diagnosed with complex partial epilepsy when she was 14. Her epilepsy was controlled for twenty years from her late 20s until her late 40s. That changed two years ago when she had a massive sequence of seizures and her epilepsy continues to play a major part in her life. She wrote this poem while she was trying to come to terms with having frequent seizures again.

Monty Python's playing to an empty living room,
but I've fallen to the kitchen floor
cold and crying and confused and Mum's hysterical
and Dads shushing her
and next we're in a blue-walled office
with a doctor in a white coat and a nurse in a hat
and my Mum's dressed to seduce in red and cream.
They talk learning difficulties:
I don't ask why, though I'm in the grammer A stream.
But at uni I'm free and forget about epilepsy

I'm working in a pink high rise in Sutton
and suddenly
I'm in the medical room
attended by a tiny Malay nurse,
and John drives me home.
And I fit and I fit
on aeroplanes, into my inky Imperial
on the tube, and in Notting Hill's
carnival crush.

Today I'm a Jobcentre worker
and everything's fine (twenty years fit free)
when a massive fit paralyses me
for twelve scary hours.

The duty neurologist says "one-off"
but increases my Tegretol-
"just-in-case".
And I'm on the floor of the Jobcentre
and they're keeping the public out
and they dial 999
but the ambulance man won't move me
and my consciousness is gone, all wonky
and two hours I lie on the floor
while the benefits don't get paid.

And I fit and I fit
and I yell at my creator
why do I have to be controlled?
My epilepsy's part of me!
During my post-partial
complex meanderings
my body's locked tight
but my soul's healing
and my psyche's understanding-
exactly what, though,
my unaltered consciousness can't explain

Thanks To Everyone Who Supported The Party In Stoke!

Hello,

Just a quick update on the party in Stoke. We had a great response and coverage in the newspapers and the event raised £56. Although this was a little disappointing, I had a great evening with supportive frineds and it has taken me to the £850 mark!

Thanks to everyone who did come and show their support, I really appreciate it.

:-)


Photos to follow.