Oh no, not again!

[JonathanP]

Those of you who read Damien's weekly parkrun post may recall me mentioning some aches and twinges in my lower abdomen over the last few weeks. This started during a 10k run and though it hasn't stopped me running 5ks since then, it has sometimes been a bit uncomfortable. I thought I might have strained a stomach muscle and tried a break from running, but that didn't seem to help.

Anyway about a week ago I noticed a slight swelling just below and to the right of my navel. My daughter is a doctor and offered to take a look. After a quick prod, she said I think this could be a small hernia. So I managed to see the GP earlier this week - she agreed with that tentative diagnosis and has referred me to the local hospital for further investigation.

As you can imagine I was not happy, having had a hernia in my groin about two years ago, which was extremely uncomfortable and stopped me running for most of a year while I was waiting for and recovering from surgery! However the GP also said that it was possible that the hospital might feel that surgery wasn't necessary at present and that I could continue running, as long as it didn't get any worse. I mentioned that I had a place in the Great South Run in October and her comment was ‘hopefully you'll be OK for that’!

So my current plan is to continue running 2-3 times a week at a steady pace, gradually extending one of those back up to 10k, and see how it goes until I'm seen at the hospital. Ah well, these things are sent to try us!🫤

[Oldgirlruns 10 Miles]

Oh JP, not again! I’m so sorry to hear this and really hope you can be sorted out quickly; at least you can run - but as ever, you know we’re going to tell you to be careful out there!

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Thanks OGR - I'll try to restrain myself!

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Oh no JonathanP , I am so sorry to hear that, but I am glad that you have got it checked out as it has been lurking in the background for a few weeks now,

Thank goodness you’ve got the go ahead for gentle runs for a while until it is fully investigated. We’re keeping everything crossed for you. I do hope that it will be all done and dusted by the GSR in October.

I am sure the puddles will be waiting for you at parkrun tomorrow.

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy - you can always rely on those puddles!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

I’m not going to like your post JonathanP because it’s not fair. I hope what the doctors say is right, that surgery isn’t required and you can continue gentle runs, and run in the GSR. 🤞🤞🤞 Keep smiling and keep trotting.

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks Cheeky - yes, it's a pain but could have been a lot worse.

[Tessie66 Half Marathon]

Fingers 🤞 everything goes well 🙏 and at least you can carry on running 🏃‍♀️

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Tessie66]

Thanks Tessie - hope your plantar fascitiis is improving?

[Tessie66 Half Marathon in reply to JonathanP]

Thank you it is very slowly 🐌 I'm just dying to get out but don't tell anyone I walked/ran parkrun last week shush

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Tessie66]

🤞 for continued progress

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Oh nooo, that feels so unfair, at least for now you can continue too run, hoping it stays the same

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks Sue, yes every cloud has a silver lining

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

That is just plain unfair JP. One of the big delays in getting your hernia fixed was waiting for hospital appointments. Hopefully that will not be a factor this time. I think your plan is perfect;🤞🤞🤞this just goes away….you have had your share !! 👊

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks BC, it does feel like a double whammy. As to the outcome - time will tell!

[RiceAndPeas Marathon]

How utterly frustrating, I hope things work out and you get to run the GSR. At least you can still keep plugging away and building your fitness.

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to RiceAndPeas]

Thanks RiceAndPeas

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Oh no Jonathan, I’m sad to read this. Hope it gets fixed very quickly 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼. I’m aiming for the GSR myself so we have something in common!

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Mudita11]

Thanks Mudita - yes we'll have to keep 2 pairs of fingers crossed!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

That’s such a shame JonathanP - I do hope you can continue with your running and that your GSR can happen as planned 8n October!🙂🤞🏃🏽

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandraj39

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Oh no! I do hope you can keep going and can make the GSR with no further issues. Do take care though, and think of the long term

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda - I will do my best to be careful!

[Coddfish 10 Miles]

sorry to hear that JP and glad to see you managed parkrun today

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Coddfish]

Thanks Coddfish

[TailChaser Marathon]

So sorry JP, that is rubbish news. Fingers crossed it doesn’t stop your training and you’re able to keep going this time 🤞🤞🤞

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to TailChaser]

Thanks TC - gently does it I think....

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Sorry to hear that JonathanP 😭, hope it get checked out quickly and all is OK 🤞x

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Aliboo

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Such a pain Jonathan, but the doctor’s belief that you should be ok for the GSR sounds promising 🤞

Great news that you can still run though.

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP - possibly she was being optimistic, so I'm not getting my hopes raised too much, just in case!

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Very sorry to read this. Aw... boo! I do hope that the return to 'ordinary' running is many times speedier than for your previous hernia.

By the way, the head set that you sent me a link to, is working well, thank you 😊 Currently only run/walking though because of knee trouble.

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thanks over61- yes, that would be nice! Glad to hear you're still 'lost in music' - hope the knee improves soon🤞