My blog needs a new theme

Hey all, been awhile since I actually blogged, and I got to thinking that my blog needs a new theme. Triathlon is the reason I started it, but now this year there isn't much to write about. So, I am going to think about a new look & feel. Taking it down is an option, but I do enjoy keeping this blog, especially when I am racing a lot. Its a good chronicle of my life. So much has happened in my life since I started keeping this blog two years ago: I became a dad, I finished my postdoc and started a company, our family moved to Pennsylvania, and now getting thyroid cancer. So, anyway, I am now accepting suggestions for my changing up my blog a bit.

What else is up? I had my second doctors appointment of the week today with my neck surgeon. He's a great guy, and I have enjoyed being his patient. But it seems we have hit the end of the road, as my thyroid cancer treatment regimen no longer involves surgeries (hooray!). My other appointment was with my endocrinologist, who will manage my radioactive iodine therapy and my hormone levels in the interim. Speaking of which, since its been 3 weeks since I got my first surgery, and a week since my second, I am starting to feel the effects of being hypothryroid. Every day this week I being to tire like crazy about 2PM, and by the end of the work day I am wasted. I am sleeping later too, and cant even begin to think about working out. The idea is that my body will be starved of thyroid hormone, which causes my TSH levels to rise, in turn casuing any thryoid cells in my body (cancerous or otherwise) to crave iodine, thus making the radiation much more effective. So, it sucks in the short term, but knowing its good for me helps. Another 2 weeks, then I get hit with the radiation, then 3 days later I can begin synthroid and should start feeling better.

I also wanted to send a shout out to one of my readers. He has been a friend for several years, and did his first traithlon last weekend. Earlier this spring he was going to do one, but bailed out while sitting in his car all packed up for the race, on race morning. My encouragement and teasing (okay, mostly teasing) made him come back and try again. He finished strong and even though he said it kicked his butt he is ready to try another. He emailed me a nice letter and dedicated his race to me, since I can't race for awhile. It meant a lot, so thanks.