Hi Sage, l really enjoy what you and Sandi do on YouTube. Don't know how you stay so positive but both of you always provide inspiration when I need some.
Hey Sage, thank you for the response. Glad to hear it was just precautionary and nothing serious. I tried to edit my OP once you posted the update comment on Instagram but couldn't figure it out.
Regarding the routine tests, it's a great idea for people to get blood work done yearly. Just going to your PCP for your wellness visit and getting a CBC and lipid panel can help catch loads of issues before they get serious. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," I think the quote is.
Link? Not saying you are wrong but I've never read this before. I know not everyone agrees with Sage (and I haven't always either) but he at least has the courage to come here and talk to us.
I'll address this.
Yes, I have paid to have some routine blood tests done in the past 20 years. I would not call them "needless though." Like many athletes (in college and at the pro level as well as athlete's we've coached) it is a well known science that monitoring things like your iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and other basic vitamin/nutrient levels can be a great thing to dial in your training/rest/recovery as well as dietary needs. Over the years I've usually gotten a CBC as well as these basic blood value tests. It's also good when you live and train and high altitude and can see adaptations with blood cell count. I'm actually sponsored now by "Athlete Blood Test" so I get some comped. It is really not uncommon for runners to check their blood a few times a year when training and racing really hard.
Running is hard on the body (especially the 120-150miles a week I used to do). There have been times my iron has started to get "on the low side" and as a vegan of course I monitor things like vitamin B12 (and I take a vitamin supplement for that). I've run with lots of guys (who ate lots of red meat in their weekly diet) that would start "having a bad season" and then they'd get a blood check and their iron (usually ferritin measure) would be on the low side. They'd take some iron supplementation and then they'd start running better again because their ferritin wouldn't be in the 20s. You wouldn't know that without a blood test.
I'll admit to being maybe a bit of a "hypochondriac" as well, but I'll tell you this: I'd rather be on the "safe side" and "get things checked out" now then let them fester and stay undiscovered. After my pulmonary embolism experience (not going to the ER in the first week because I was "being tough" with the pain and worried about the cost) this is especially true. This past week they were searching for chronic/residual clots deep in my lungs as well as high pulmonary artery pressure. This was also due to a more recent "indeterminant V/Q scan" and my continued breathing issues. Trust me, it's usually better to try to get some quantitive data and good imaging done to prevent serious health complications from getting worst and worst. I made the call to take the hit financially and with the radiation risk/exposure to get these tests done because the consequences of not knowing (if I had high PA or chronic clots) were a much higher risk to my life expectancy with much more dire consequences.
Yes on all points, PE/DVT (and a few others) are on the list of things you should be a hypochondriac about. Sometimes deadly if not detected, easily detected and def treatable. Im right 1 out of 15-20 times I get a scan for sus DVT. But 1 out of 20 when the risk can be fatal and the test completely harmless (ultrasound) is worth it. PE after elective joint replacement is a preventable cause of mortality. Always keep it on the differential diagnosis I was taught and you can save lives. 120+ MPW is indeed a medical condition ( a good one), you are right to monitor your health closely.
Hope you are feeling better Sage, and that this was the closing chapter of your health problem. I must admit that its heart wrenching to read about the insurance/finance part of this. Hope that turns out ok as well, I get having the pride to not ask for a go-fund me, but I don't think its fair having trade your economic well being for your physical well being.
There are a lot of good trail runners enjoying life in a different country with less of those problems at least, consider jumping ship ;)
Hope you are feeling better Sage, and that this was the closing chapter of your health problem. I must admit that its heart wrenching to read about the insurance/finance part of this. Hope that turns out ok as well, I get having the pride to not ask for a go-fund me, but I don't think its fair having trade your economic well being for your physical well being.
There are a lot of good trail runners enjoying life in a different country with less of those problems at least, consider jumping ship ;)
Dont even go broke paying a hosp bill. Never. That is one you want to put off as long as possible. They are often wrong, inflated and very negotiable.
Hope you are feeling better Sage, and that this was the closing chapter of your health problem. I must admit that its heart wrenching to read about the insurance/finance part of this. Hope that turns out ok as well, I get having the pride to not ask for a go-fund me, but I don't think its fair having trade your economic well being for your physical well being.
There are a lot of good trail runners enjoying life in a different country with less of those problems at least, consider jumping ship ;)
Dont even go broke paying a hosp bill. Never. That is one you want to put off as long as possible. They are often wrong, inflated and very negotiable.
When my first daughter was born the bill was like $5,000. I called to make a correction on my account and before I even got a chance to explain the situation, the hospital offered me 18 months no-interest to pay off the charge.
Be careful about pushing things off too long, however, because if it ends up getting sent to collections then that's a whole different PITA.
Vaccinated and vegan. I can't think of a poorer health profile. Dude needs serious help: a new, healthy meat-based diet and a spike protein detox.
The vaccine has caused uncountable deaths.
Actually quite countable, but everyone was very tired from counting DNA fragments as covid deaths for years, so they are giving their counting muscles a break :D
His silence on this issue is beyond ridiculous. He'll spew ignorant nonsense about veganism, PEDs, or other BS, but won't dare come out and speak out against a vaccine that ended his running career and well could've killed him. So much for #science(TM).
"Proud to say I was lucky enough to get a COVID19 vaccine today! I think people should be proud to announce this kind of thing on social media..its like a celebration ! #Science ! Hope you all are staying healthy out there"