Today’s Medical Monday is brought to you by a special (non-published) edition of FML Friday, the profits made from the EpiPen® Auto-Injector, and viewers like you.
Epinephrine is a natural hormone produced in the adrenal medulla, along with it’s sister hormone, norepinephrine. Both of these hormones fall under the category of catecholamines. Catecholamines are synthesized starting with tyrosine, taken up by the chromaffin cells in the medulla, and then converted into epi & norepi. It looks like this:
Epinephrine (think “adrenaline”) brings about many of the same responses as stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, however with typically longer lasting effects. You may have felt these effects at various time throughout your life: when proposing to your soon to be wife, when hearing from your wife that you’ve successfully planted a belly bean, when you’re toeing the start line at that A race, when your crossing the finish line at said A race and thinking how the hell did I do that?!
Epinephrine is also a powerful drug used in the treatment of severe allergic reactions. The hormone causes vasoconstriction, bronchial dilation, an increase in blood pressure, and a reduction in tissue swelling. The most common allergies treated with epinephrine are insect stings, foods, and medications.
Tips for avoiding the self-inflicted stabbing of EpiPen® Auto-Injector or any unnecessary trips to the ER:
- Always. Always. Always. Have an EpiPen with you.
- If you are allergic to a food, know what it is in every possible shape and form, and everything that may contain that ingredient.
- I always say assume best intentions, but that doesn’t equate to assume intelligence. If you tell your waiter that you’re allergic to, oh… lets say sesame seeds for example. Don’t assume that although you stated you were allergic to sesame seeds and cannot have any sesame products, that they will understand sesame dressing is a sesame product. After all, a seed is a seed. Dressing… that’s like liqud, right?
The end.
Of Medical Monday that is. 
So that tells you a little bit about the story of my last week. The rest as filled with 250 notecards of spanish medical terminology, wasting too much time checking Bonktown for a deal that I missed anyways, healing a hip flexor, and hours upon hours of exercise physiology. Speaking of exercise physiology… I also spent probably too much time ranting about the Iowa football rhabdomyASS case plastering ESPN and saying poor football players were pushed too hard. Tell the whole story. Please.
But alas mis amigos (how do you say “alas” in spanish…. anyone?), I’m still here, and I’m still alive. But because I’ve been so neglectful lately, I definitely feel the guilt eating away, and feel the need to make it up to whoever else is still out there for sticking around. Hence the 2nd part of today’s title… GIVEAWAY time!
Thanks to the gracious folks over at CSN, you have the opportunity to get whatever the heck you want.* My only forewarning is that if you’ve never been on CSN’s site, I’d start planning. Now. It took me like 5 days to finally decide on that pull-up bar (review here) because their inventory is so. flipping. big!
*Please note that CSN will only be funding $35 worth whatever the heck you want. The rest you are responsible for.
WAYS TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
As always, make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. If you leave me a beautiful comment saying:
1. I want the 12lb medicine ball in purple.
2. I would like more posts with different swim workouts.
3. I found you through the RW forums.
4. I tweeted.
5. ESPN is blind. Those boys are on roids.
well, yes, I appreciate your effort and tanacity. But those 5 entries are all one comment and when I plug in these names into excel, it’s going to be one entry. Capish?
EASY PEASY 5 WAYS TO WIN!
- Go to CSN’s site, find something you’d want (Steve… still tryna work on those pull-ups?
). Tell me what it is/why you want it! - Tell me an idea/specific topic you’d like to see here on Dr.TriRunner. It can fall under any day in the schedule: (Medical Mondays, Tried It Tuesdays, Work Out Wednesdays, etc.) or just be whatever the heck you want. (This one doesn’t have a $35 limit. )
- Tell me how you first found your way over to Dr.TriRunner, or if you’ve been here a real long time, how you got to RunRoamRecycle. If it was by searching “doctors notes for free” or one of my other ridiculous search terms. Um… you’re disqualified.
- Tweet about the giveaway! And this should be a no question entry (if you have a twitter account) because there is now a SHARE THIS and TWEET THIS link at the bottom of each post! Just make sure you include the tag @SperlyTriRunner.. the link is already in there!
- The Iowa football deal – what do you think based off what you’ve heard? What do you think based off your gut instinct? Really, any commentary on that. I’d love to hear it.
There you go! The contest will be open for ONE full week – until Monday Feb. 7th – and then I will draw the winner the following day. I’m back off to my new favorite study spot in my ‘hood… free coffee refils all day, free wi-fi, comfy seating (and plenty of it!), and decent food. 
Happy Monday!
I learned the hard way to ask about everything I order. I’m allergic to mangos and a lot of tropical salsas/chutney have mango. I’ve been known to tell the waiter “if you’re wrong you’re gonna have to call me an ambulance, so ask the chef” usually that works.
alas = ¡ay!and i think i’d want a swiffer. yes i dream big
that stamina doorway trainer you reviewed would be at the top of my list, b/c i want to be able to do a pullup
Shannon´s last [type] ..Baked Black Bean Dip
i’d love to see more spinning stuff
Karyn´s last [type] ..Previously on MM…January 2011
oh wow, i think i came across run roam recycle via some boston connection! didn’t realize you were one in the same
i may have come across dr. tri runner through frayed laces or maggs? all you fast people inspire 
Shannon´s last [type] ..Baked Black Bean Dip
i think i found you through…runnersworld? and then i got to actually meet you…speaking of i might be in MN in the fall. i’ll hit you up
Karyn´s last [type] ..Previously on MM…January 2011
iowa football? i’d have to go google that and get back to you……
okay just googled and my first thought was eyeroll because i just read a headlight that talked about blood tests and my first thought was drugs. but i think that there needs to be a balance on any coaching staff so that this stuff doesn’t happen (aka breakdown)
Karyn´s last [type] ..Previously on MM…January 2011
due to my own issues with my hips, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about alignment and running form, have any thoughts on that?
Shannon´s last [type] ..Baked Black Bean Dip
CSN has a crazy ton of stuff. I’d probably get an instant read thermometer. I’m sure they’ve got to have that.
Also, I don’t know much about the Iowa situation, but my brother got rhabdo a couple years ago and it was a huge deal. He almost had to medically withdraw from school for a semester because no doc could figure out what was wrong with him, and then when he did get diagnosed it was during a middle of the night ER visit because his head hurt so bad he couldn’t breathe and thought he was going to die. And then he spent a week in the hospital on IV fluids so he didn’t go into kidney failure. So yeah- I guess the idea that people are saying that these guys getting rhabdo is just them being wimps kind of ticks me off because it’s very serious.
Chelsea´s last [type] ..Restaurantville- USA
If I win, I would buy a new gym bag! I say “new” but I really mean “a” gym bag, since I don’t have one.
I would like to see more information about common running injuries, and injury prevention.
I’ve been following since you had RunRoamRecycle. I am from Wisconsin, and I *believe* I googled a specific race in Minnesota that I wanted to run. Search results came up with the race website, and with your blog, amongst other sites. Now, if only I could remember what race it was…
I’m a science geek and love this stuff! awesome! And I want to get a juicer from CSN. I’ve been eyeing one for months!
LC
lindsay´s last [type] ..technologically challenged
1. I would get this blanket:
http://www.csnstores.com/Daniadown-65825TH-DWD1489.html. It’s warm.
2. I’d like to see a post on the varieties of jumprope work outs.
3. I stumbled onto your blog during a random google search.
5. I think there’s likely some foul play there somewhere.
Hey girl!! I’m sure you’re busy busy, so I understand your absence!
1. A couple Yoga DVDs.
Just so you know, it’s my birthday on Feb. 20th, so this would be a great present
2. I like friday confessionals just so I can get stuff off my chest!
3. I believe it was meals & moves that posted a pic of you flexing and I clicked on your link and loved that you were from Minnesota! So I kept reading!
And I truly enjoy it!
5. I don’t have twitter (gasp!!!!)…I totally think those Iowa guys were on somethin. If it wasn’t roids, it was definitely something they were probably injecting in themselves. It’s actually very sad. Is Iowa that scared of Nebraska joining the Big 10?!?!
haha But I bet ESPN is gettin something for covering Iowa’s butts. What a joke!
one of the twins has dairy / peanut allergy so we have always had the Epi-pen close by. Now that I think of it we have not carried it with us wherever we go? unless my wife does. She is slowly growing out of the dairy….she is now able to go to friends b-day parties and have cake or pizza or whatever they are doing…which she is PSYCHED about!
D
DRog´s last [type] ..StPaul Winter Carnival 116mi Race Report
I’ll play
1. http://www.csnstores.com/Ruff-Wear-4035-615-RFF1094.html The Ruff Wear Roamer Dog Leash in Red Currant, so Duke can run with me a little more easily
Elaine´s last [type] ..…and the schedule grows
2. Work out Wednesday: Your favorite bike workout.
Elaine´s last [type] ..…and the schedule grows
3. I found this blog via another blog, but I can’t remember which one…
Elaine´s last [type] ..…and the schedule grows
4. I tweeted (ratherbeswimmin)
Elaine´s last [type] ..…and the schedule grows
5. Something is fishy with those Iowa boys. I think it’s a serious condition, but I doubt the onset was from what the coaches claim.
Elaine´s last [type] ..…and the schedule grows
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rather Be Swimming, Erika Sperl-Imhoff. Erika Sperl-Imhoff said: Medical Monday: Epinepherine + GIVEAWAY!: http://t.co/ILNmh6e [...]
I found you through runners world and love you to death even though I’ve never met ya. You def. inspire me. If I win the giveaway I’ll use it to get things I need for the marathon I’m training for in March. Something I’d like to see you talk about is maybe a typical days schedule (school, exercise, food, etc) cause I’m obsessed I guess!
hmm topic: how about a fueling friday, where you talk about what fueled you through your workout that day? It could be food, a recipe, passion, ambition, etc!
I have been CRAZY needing a full length mirror for OVER THREE YEARS NOW! I can only see my face in the bathroom mirror everyday! so that is what I would get at CSN
RoseRunner´s last [type] ..Day 4- My Views on Religion
I am almost positive I found you from a link by another blogger. that is how I find all blogs that I read — I never do a search
RoseRunner´s last [type] ..Day 4- My Views on Religion
Mannnn, those Iowa guys…. VERY interesting stuff. Although, being an Iowa State alumn, I hope they all get booted off the team
(so, did you about die last week? Eppi pen??)
Adam´s last [type] ..Funny Foto Friday- TV Dinner Slurry
I would LOVe a new gym bag
Adam´s last [type] ..Funny Foto Friday- TV Dinner Slurry
I have NO idea where I found you. I’ve been following for over a year I think! I can’t be responsible for things that happened that long ago
Adam´s last [type] ..Funny Foto Friday- TV Dinner Slurry
Okay- CSN has awesome stuff- I’d love to put money towards more canisters for storing dried ingredients in the kitchen! Super practical, I know, but I KNOW we would use them!
I would love to hear a post about your mom and her love for running! You mention her on here and mention how she ran tons of marathons, just curious how she got started!
Holly´s last [type] ..Silas in the Limelight
I “Know” you from the RW forums, gee that was my freshman year of college SO long ago!
Holly´s last [type] ..Silas in the Limelight
I’d get a firm pillow. My current ones are old and flat and I’ve been meaning to buy a new one.
I found you on slowtwitch.
For a moment when I went to your page I thought your giveaway was an epi-pen. I couldn’t figure out what sort of give-away that was. Then I actually read the page and understood that the give-away and epi-pen were 2 separate things. Duh!
I’d love to get a Cuisinart blender so I can make nice smoothies at home!
I found you through a Google search for fitness blogs!
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/FakeGradSchool/status/34790891088510977
I want that pull-ups bar that you got so I can work on my wimpy arm muscles.
I’d like to see a school organization/study post. I’m back in grad school and I’d love to see how you stay organized and study.
I started reading when it was RunRoamRecycle. I can’t remember how I found my way here though.
I’d love the cloudb twilight seaturtle night light – perfect for my niece’s new nursery!
tweeted! http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/36173325763874816
found my way through here by seeing a few tweets about your contest!