I think I figured out where the metallic taste in my mouth has been coming from: the unsweetened iced tea. It’s kind of strong stuff - Kuerig English Breakfast Tea. Think I’ll pick up some lemons. :)

Notes

The prophylactic use of the Naratriptan appears to be doing the trick. I’ve taken one around 8:00 pm the last two nights and have had no headaches. Still waking up several times to pee, but I’m not up for as long as when I was jumping on the treadmill in the middle of the night, and overall I feel like I am getting more rest. Today I slept in to 7:45 am.

House was only grazed by Irene. Still have power and cable, and nothing was broken. Most importantly, the motorcycle is fine! I just have a little yardwork to do later.

Last night my wife and I set up camp with flash lights, candles, and Monopoly in preparation for the power to go out. Put Star Wars on in the background to enjoy the power while we had it, making for an old-school, kids from the 70’s and 80’s evening of escape. Very fun and relaxing, although I don’t remember ever playing Monopoly with such a hottie when I was a kid! We never lost power - just had a few light flickers.

More details later.

Vitals

• BP @ 8:43 am: 124/72, pulse 49
• Weight: 204
• (Height): 6’3”
• Age: 38

Side Effects Experienced Today

• I have felt slightly light-headed for part of the morning; less so than yesterday
• Metallic taste in mouth from last few days seems to be fading

Activities

• Worked out at 9 am

Medications

• Taken according to schedule (see today’s post re updated prescription schedule). I took the am dosages at 8 am.

Meals

• Breakfast: 2 lunchmeat turkey, egg, 2% skim American cheese sandwiches on whole grain English muffins; left-over sweet potato fries; 2 cups coffee; 1 small cranberry juice; glass water
• Lunch: 2 turkey joes (leftovers from dinner); Cheezits and hummus, Kalamata olives; unsweetened iced tea
• Dinner: Turkey chili, leftover turkey joes, salad
• Dessert: strawberries and non-fat whipped cream

Weather

• Hurricane Irene came and went overnight and provided minor excitement and caused no damage or other major inconveniences.

Workouts:

9 am Treadmill run:

• 4 minute warm up at setting 4
• 15 minute run at setting 6
• 6 minute cool down at setting 4

Stats:

• Peak heart rate: 180
• Total run time: 25 minutes
• Calories: 255
• Distance: 2.3 miles

Post work out vitals:

• BP: 121/82, pulse 136
• Temperature: 96 (Clearly wrong. Need a new thermometer.)

Workout Notes:

The run felt good. It was the first run I’ve had in a few days, and the first full workout I’ve had since last Saturday. I think the 4 minute warm up made a big difference on my knees, which do not feel inflamed this morning. I could have run for longer and pushed it to 3 miles, but I decided to go ahead and ease back into it at 2 this morning. I’ll take it to 3 next week.

A few useful conventions:

• Footwear: I stopped wearing socks when I run and my feet feel better now. Running in Asics, probably a half to one size bigger than I should be wearing, but these are comfortable.
• Breathing: I breathe at a pace of two steps, inhale, two steps, exhale. I inhale and exhale through my mouth. Previously, I was forcing inhalations through my nose, and that made things difficult. I kept sucking my nostrils shut. Not good. Breathing much easier now, and it helps me focus on the running. I was also previously playing with different inhalation patterns, such as three quick inhalations then one long exhalation. I picked that up from a high school gym teacher I think. I think that method helps concentration a bit, making me kind of feel like a machine that I am in control of, but I like what I’m doing now more, still controlling the pace, but keeping a normal pattern of inhalations and exhalations.

Mini workout at 3:00:

40 push ups 20 bicycle crunches