Post Treatment Tour September 7 - 14

If I'd been less prudent I could have been in Iowa now pedalling towards the East Coast. I completed rectal cancer treatment June 18 with a surgery to reverse an ileostomy. After several anxious months I feel strong and confident enough to contemplate life on a bike. I had no way of knowing this until a couple of weeks ago. Until August 5, I was in the bathroom 20 times a day or more. I had to run to the toilet at least once a day. I had accidents a couple of times a week. I was miserable. I thought I'd never be able to do a bike tour again. All it took was one Imodium a day and an increase in soluble fiber starting August 5th to get my life back. I still go ten times a day, but the urgency and accidents are gone for now.
(In the hospital after ileostomy reversal surgery)

After my magic change of fortune, I decided I could handle a short trip. I'm heading up to the San Juans. I've always wanted to tour up there but it was never my first choice because they are already familiar to me. I've even bike camped in Orcas and ridden up Mt. Constitution, but I've never just ambled around them on a bike. 

The mileage after a long 80 mile first day will be lower than what I normally do on a bike tour. You'd think that would make me feel relaxed, but I realized I have a hard time just chilling. Arriving early at a camp site can be hard. I get bored or lonely or both. I have decided this trip will explore those feelings. They are tied up with feeling oddly down after treatment and not just because of the LARS symptoms. I realize how fragile our lives are. Having time to have that knock around in my head outside of my routine seems valuable. 

I hope this blog reaches at least a couple other people and that they find it useful. The trip starts tomorrow. 




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