Russian article on Irina (not good news)

[Piel]

Irina has been more consistent, but where do you get "superhuman", LOL? She has always had big jumps and back flexibility. I think the only thing super anything here are the supersized scores the judges are giving her...the only thing you can blame that one is poor judging and maybe a little hanky panky by the Russian Fed. I tell you in all honesty that her being wiped out and unable to compete one week and back in top form a week or two later is par for the course of this disease as I have experienced it. Of course I have a 3A, Sasha's flexibility, and Michelles everything else..........NOT!

 

[R.D.]

I wouldn't say "superhuman"- more like "superskater"...or maybe "supergiftedskater" or whatever. well, she's basically cleaned house in every competition she's entered (except GPF, of course). I'd say that's worth a mention of "superskater". JMO, of course...and no one is unbeatable, it seems...even Irina seems vulnerable now that she's made some mistakes. But she's still the heavy favorite to win.

 

[Piel]

ITA RD, but not "superhuman" as in "not possible for a human without pharmaceutical help" as was suggested by JanJam's post.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

ITA RD, but not "superhuman" as in "not possible for a human without pharmaceutical help" as was suggested by JanJam's post.

 

[mzheng]

ITA RD, but not "superhuman" as in "not possible for a human without pharmaceutical help" as was suggested by JanJam's post.

Yeah, look around, femal or male, how many **long time** top skaters are able to take the 'whole load' schedules for TWO seasons?......I have no doubt she was diagonised as the said desease, but how well/worse the pharmaceutical/medicine made her in her case is another issue.

ETA. **long time**

 

[bronxgirl]

OK now, does everyone rememer that the steroid Irina has to take, prednisone, is NOT an anabolic steroid like the concern is in other sports

 

[wvgal57]

Yeah, look around, femal or male, how many top skaters are able to take the 'whole load' schedules for TWO seasons?......I have no doubt she was diagonised as the said desease, but how well/worse the pharmaceutical/medicine made her in her case is another issue.

Irina's past two seasons are simply consistent with how she has always competed. She's always chosen to skate heavy schedules, rarely missing any events. She has participated in every GP series since it's inception, most years opting to skate 3 qualifying events before the final. The word "light" is not in her vocabulary. The only season she ever "let up" was in '04, the season she was diagnosed with Churg Strauss.

The '03 season saw her only miss Worlds and that was because her mom was clinging to life herself.

 

[kyla2]

Irina

I have to agree that irina has always skated heavy schedules. Listen, anyone else diagnosed with this disease would have circled the wagons to hang onto whatever health they had left. I know I would have. I have a ton of respect for Irina and what she has been able to do under these circumstances. I admire her very much and wish her well.

 

[dancindiva03]

OK now, does everyone rememer that the steroid Irina has to take, prednisone, is NOT an anabolic steroid like the concern is in other sports

Thank you. People are so quick to jump on the "steroid" aspect without any knowledge about the different types of steroids. Prednisone is NOT a performance-enhancing drug.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Thank you. People are so quick to jump on the "steroid" aspect without any knowledge about the different types of steroids. Prednisone is NOT a performance-enhancing drug.

I think Bronzgirl made that clear when she used the term non-anabolic

Anabolic steroids is what made Arnold what he is today.

Joe

 

[dancindiva03]

I think Bronzgirl made that clear when she used the term non-anabolic

Anabolic steroids is what made Arnold what he is today.

Joe

And I was AGREEING with her, so what's your problem?

 

[MidnightNess]

I have a weird question cause my memory is shot after 3 hour sleep Is Irina on any medication other than prednisone? That one seems to get the most mention but is it possible she's on more than one med and we don't know about it? Considering the seriousness of her illness, I'd be surprised if she was on just one.

The reason I ask is sometimes combining meds together have some really weird reactions, for some, it can mess people up, for others, they can all of sudden have lots of energy, etc. etc.

 

[Piel]

I have a weird question cause my memory is shot after 3 hour sleep Is Irina on any medication other than prednisone? That one seems to get the most mention but is it possible she's on more than one med and we don't know about it? Considering the seriousness of her illness, I'd be surprised if she was on just one.

The reason I ask is sometimes combining meds together have some really weird reactions, for some, it can mess people up, for others, they can all of sudden have lots of energy, etc. etc.

Dapsone - a sulfa antiinfective is also used for Hanson's Disease (leprosy) and Kaposi's Sarcoma. The only way is would effect performance is that is can depress the red bloodcells which would make it more difficult to skate (less RBC = less oxygen carrying hemoglobin).

Cytoxin - chemotherapy used in cancer patients side effects Infection, bone marrow suppression, infertility.

Imuran - another immonosupressant
]
Methotrexate - an antimetabolite

All of the side effects give just the OPPOSITE effect of performance enhansors.In fact they make you feel lousy with lots of nasty side effects.

 

[kyla2]

Wait A Minute

We have no earthly idea what else Irina is on and we shouldn't speculate that she is on any of the above mentioned drugs. Let's just be glad she is doing as well as she is.

 

[R.D.]

I see it this way:

1) she's ill
2) she has to take medication for it
3) as far as we know, she's not taking any banned substances
4) she's hotter than ever out there on the ice (I mean, she's nearly unstoppable- don't take this the wrong way)
5) she's the favorite for Turin whether one likes it or not.

 

[Excidra2001]

Irina has publicly mentioned her illness but I have never heard/read her mention the drugs she uses for her illness. If that doesn't ring a bell for some people, I don't know what will. Please don't speculate about the drugs Irina is taking for her illness, when you speculate it leads to rumors and thats not fair to her. Fact is we don't know what she is really taking for her illness, let's just leave it at that.

BTW, whether she is two-faced or not, she is one darn good skater and I wish her nothing but the best at the upcoming games.

 

[Piel]

kyla2 and Excidra, I was just listing the main drugs that are used for vasculitis no one said that Irina was taking them. People need to READ THE ENTIRE POST and stop jumping down posters throats for no reason. I am just trying to educate folks about this disease.

 

[R.D.]

People need to... stop jumping down posters throats for no reason.

DIII...TTO.

 

[Rgirl]

Have there been any updates on Irina's health for us dillusional, naive fans who, while guillable, are truly concerned about her?

Piel & Rgirl... see, my efforts to be more like you two are paying off... I resisted the temptation to call two fellow posters not so nice... aren't you proud?

edited for profanity... i hate when MM erases my posts & cannot be banned prior to Feb. 23rd...

Why Kwanford Wife, I'm all ferklempt! I had no idea you were trying to be more like Piel and me. Wanting to be more like Piel I understand; I've been trying to be more like Piel from the first post of hers I read! But more like me? God (or whatever higher power you believe in or nothing if you're an aetheist) forbid! The last thing this or any forum needs is another person writing obnoxiously long posts, is still a Howard Stern fan at age 50 (almost 50), watches "South Park" reruns instead of "My Fair Lady," and annoys the bejeezus out of only Higher Power knows how many normal GSers.

I am touched, Kwanford Wife, and confused as all get out since I can't imagine why anybody would want to be more like any part of me. But if that's the way you feel, I can't be like Mathman and erase your posts that are more like mine and threaten to ban you by the day before my 50th birthday. (Hint, hint--all expensive gifts and cold hard cash are both encouraged and accepted. Just PM me for directions on how to wire me $$$.) :birthday:

Well, whatever floats your boat. I'll still like you even if you do become more like me. Of course the being more like Piel part gets my automatic support..

But I beg of you, on my knees! Please, never, ever write a post as long as mine. Please, please, please! DON'T GIVE IN TO WRITING LONG POSTS! :boohoo:

Just don't forget my :birthday: and all those expensive presents, especially cash. :agree:

Rgirl

 

[Rgirl]

We occasionally can be "off edge" at times. It happens to all of us...we all seem to "lose it" at some point or another. But some people can tolerate more than others. That's just the way conversation is, both on the internet and in person. At least that's my experience. JMO....

...I honestly don't know why I'm posting this, but here goes. Note that I'm not choosing to condemn a particular side or poster or group of posters here. These are just my observations after witnessing, participating in, and being pushed into in many of these "brawls".

The only reason I'm not quoting all of your post #105, page 7 is to save space. But I hope everyone both reads and considers it. IMO, this is the best post on the way interactions on GS threads deteriorate into "brawls," as well as they do on most general forums, probably. I realize I'm "cheerleading" but in this case I felt it was justified.

Even if you "honestly don't know" why you posted #105, I'm glad you did and, speaking only for myself of course, I can certainly relate to what you said big time. I should print it and tape it someplace where I can see it when I post. I'm seriously, I think your post speaks as much truth as Stan is doing regarding the "psychic" John Edward on the "South Park" rerun that's on TV as I'm writing this. Keep those observations coming, RD. :agree:

Rgirl

P.S. The "South Park" episode on Scientology kicks major booty. Try to catch it on the Wednesday "SP" reruns. No offense to any Scientologists on GS, freedom of religion and no offensive political cartoons and all that good stuff.