Reading interupt pin as Standard IO

[intellec7]

I am trying to generate code that reads the pulswidth of a signal. I am avoiding use of Interupt pins 1 and 2 for later use. As my code is set up, I am trying to read the pulsewidth on pin 3. (BTW this is the Vex controller, I don't think it should make a difference though)
The code:

#define accel_x		rc_dig_int3

.......
  else if (INTCONbits.RBIF && INTCONbits.RBIE)  /* Ints 3-6 (RB4, RB5, RB6, or RB7) changed. */
  {
    int_byte = PORTB;          /* You must read or write to PORTB */
	if(accel_x){
		WriteTimer1( 0x00 );
		T1CONbits.TMR1ON = 1; // turn it on
	}
	else if (!accel_x){
			T1CONbits.TMR1ON = 0; // turn it off
			accel_xTilt= ReadTimer1();
			WriteTimer1( 0x00 );
		}
	

    INTCONbits.RBIF = 0;     /*     and clear the interrupt flag         */
  }

I had a suspicion that maybe I am reading the pin incorrectly, so I set up:

void Process_Data_From_Local_IO(void){
if(accel_x){printf("ON\n");}
else if (!accel_x){printf("OFF\n");}
}

It works, but it seems that there is a lag. Forexample I hooked up a normal switch to the pin. On the terminal I get
0n
0n
....
I then press the switch
0n
0n
0n
....................... (Ons for about another second)
Off
Off

It is the same for the 0ff to On transition.
I thought maybe for some reason my ISR was consuming to much time, explaining the delay, and so I took all of my code out an left the default:

...
 else if (INTCONbits.RBIF && INTCONbits.RBIE)  /* Ints 3-6 (RB4, RB5, RB6, or RB7) changed. */
  {
    int_byte = PORTB;          /* You must read or write to PORTB */
    INTCONbits.RBIF = 0;     /*     and clear the interrupt flag         */
  }                                        /*     to clear the interrupt condition.  */

Thanks for anyhelp.