Date:     Sun, 13 Apr 1997 Subject:   De-fizzed cola & racing Lesley Leonessa wrote: runners used to drinking de-fizzed cola before races. Hey, that sounds like a neat (and cheaper) alternative to Gatorade! ObWalkN: Failed to do even a mile yesterday but will try it again today. It's the stupidest possible thing that's preventing me from getting badly needed exercise ... the irritation around my incision is coming from none other than the new hair growing back on my chest!!!! It's been almost 3 weeks since they shaved me and the sensation is more annoying than the soreness from either my broken sternum or my overstretched chest and shoulder muscles!!! Who would have guessed it? Peter.

Beginning on the 13th, for the next two weeks I pursued an aggressive program of daily walks. The measurable distance began at the start of Vikki's 300m long driveway which met Pond Road. Turning right on Pond Road aimed straight toward Route 142 and the Connecticut River. There were various landmarks and intersections along the way marking 0.5 miles (Recreation Center), 1.1 miles (Centeniel Road), 1.6 miles (the stone railroad overpass) and crossing Rt. 142 to get to the Vernon PO made it 1.7 miles. The following entries of the engagement book I normally kept for logging miles of my daily runs are composed of the out-and-back routes based on these landmarks.

In a post to DRS the day after I proudly registered the first of my recovery walks:
I did it, I did it! Yesterday, with Vikki at my side to politely
listen as I whined, I walked over a mile and a half - on trails yet!
What a godsend this woman has been!!! Recovery has never looked so good.

Log Book Entries: April 13th - 19th

13 / Sunday Pond Road, Vernon VT Walked 1.7 miles (including trails) with Vikki 14 / Monday Pond Road, Vernon VT Walked 2.2 miles 15 / Tuesday Pond Road, Vernon VT Walked 2.2 miles 16 / Wednesday Pond Road (to Post Office and back), Vernon VT Walked 3.4 miles       (3 weeks since OHS) 17 / Thursday Pond Road, Vernon VT Walked 1.0 miles 18 / Friday Pond Road, Vernon VT Walked 1.0 miles 19 / Saturday Pond Road, Vernon VT Walked 2.2 miles

Date:     Sun, 13 Apr 1997 Subject:   RE: De-fizzed cola & racing Leslie, Hope your recovery is going well. Would any topical analgesic cream help w/ the pain of hair growing back near the incision? Would shaving the new-grown hair buy you a few more weeks of incision recovery before the hair tried to re-grow back?? What about wrapping an ace bandage around your chest (or putting on a close fitting, tight garment on), so the movement of your shirt wouldn't rub against the stubble?? I'm thinking that anything tight against your chest that wouldn't move and rub the stubble might act as a barrier between your chest and your outer shirt. How about going to the opposite extreme and wearing a shirt so large, it doesn't rub agains your chest?? This was funny as well as informative! Let me guess ... you work as member a top secret think tank for a giant drug company! Did I get it? Was I close? Actually the incision itself is barely sore at all and it's healed up very nicely by now. The hair is growing back so slowly - much slower than a beard and so stiff that it's like having poison ivy that's been scratched raw. I can deal quite well with the rest. But this chest hair problem is making me CRANKY! Thanks for asking. And thanks a bunch for the suggestions! Peter. Date:     Sun, 13 Apr 1997 Subject:   Ouch Hi Peter, My suggestion about the hair that is growing out near the incision is to take some tweezers and deal with it one by one. Yes, it hurts a bit, but it's better than ingrown hairs later on... cheers, Vida.

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Updated January 24th, 1998