Hi everyone its been 4 months since my last post and my last run. I have missed the running but also the daily banter and friendship on this forum.

 Shortly after the Grand Rapids Race this spring I had to address a heart issue that my Dr. found during a yearly physical just a week before the race. I felt fine and was not really concerned at that point but I think their attempts to find and fix my problem made it worse. My heart rate was spiking at random for sometimes hours at a time for no known reason. I was told to take it easy while they figured out what was going on. I backed off my running routine and have been through every test known to man. Their first thought was a valve issue but the tests all came back fine. Then my fingers and toes started to go numb and they then thought of circulation issues. Yadda Yadda Yadda, you all get the picture. I have been on numerous meds some of which seem to do more harm than good and as of right now I am down to just some beta blockers and blood thinners. I done all the tests along with angiograms , Thalium stress tests , dopplar tests, all inconclusive.

 So anyway I go to my Dr. on Friday and he asks me whats been bothering me and I say::: MY ^%$&^%*&% shoulder the same thing I been trying to get fixed for 2 years. The rest of me feels fine. Bottom line I left the office with 1 less priscription (still taking the beta blockers) , the OK to start running again and a promise for an MRI of my shoulder in December!

 Tomorrow I am going out for my first run in a while and have picked the trails where I used to live and where I started running almost 20 years ago as a kind of inspiration for a better year. No plans for races or such, just going to enjoy my runs.

 I hope to catch up with all of you and contribute as much as I can.

Larry

Larry, it sounds like a frustrating, and scary, four months.  It's really a bummer that the doctors still can't put their finger on the problem. I hope your return to running goes well.  Whatever happens, keep us posted.

TomS

Thanks everyone,

Most of you guys have been a part of my life for quite a few years now and this is like a reunion for me.

Glad to still be a part of such a great family.

Larry

Glad to see you back, Larry, and I hope you get your issues taken care of.

For what it's worth, I found that a beta blocker can slow you down a bit since it effectively limits your heart rate. It's not dangerous -- just makes you feel a bit more sluggish. In my case, there was really no reason to be taking a beta blocker in the first place, so my doctor switched me to something else that works just as well but without the heart-rate effect.