Monday, November 30, 2009

Hope everyone enjoyed Sundays weather (25, mile bike ride for me!)Sounds like tomorrow (Tuesday) will be our last nice day...SO GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING! Figure with lymphadema the more my own muscles pump the fluid, the better I'll be......How fortunate I am that I have been able to keep those muscles strong and working well through all of this...OK maybe not quite as strong as before all of this began, but not too shabby.....

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Continuing to learn......more than I ever wanted to know....

I do (unfortunately)have lymphedema in my right forearm and upper arm...its not terrible, but definitely there. I'm totally ticked that I have to deal with this (actually for the rest of my life) but one of my clients remined me that at least I have a "life" to be dealing with it...yes...its all perspective........but still irritated I have to deal with it. Hopefully I will be able to learn from this....hopefully will ultimately be able to help other people with this....after all, I will be getting the PTA license.....

I was just lucky asking one of the PT's who teaches at Mt. St. Joe who has done alot of lymphatic massage who gave me alot of info on it, she's actually going to do the lymph massage on me....this is awsome, I had a hard time even finding anywhere in Cinci, once I found some places, called, couldn't even get call backs or numbers were out of service.......So maybe this is all"in the plan" we shall see....One thing this therapist told me is people who have medicare who end up with this problem are only permitted 6 massage sessions total.....this is crazy...I will learn more......

Sunday, November 22, 2009

More "strange" things....a learning experience.......Over the last couple weeks have noticed that it seems like my pec muscles and upper arm muscles are getting tighter? Doesn't make since considering all treatments are finished. Have been aggressively stretching (surgeon said I could) and am noticing bruising (like theres's possibly scar tissue being stretched) in the chest and underarm area.....will have to ask about this.....Trying to keep any lymphadema at bay, tightness in the R forearm and upper right medial biceps area.....will have to keep a watch on this.......

Friday, November 20, 2009

Got a new "hair dew" today....a big thank you to Terry Jamie Murphys mom) I'm thinking the wig is history......will have the "short cut" for awhile, but the hair is golden blond.....maybe a tint of red in the right light.....no gray...that's good!

For what its worht I'M PISSED at the "council" who made the ridiculous recommendations on mamograms, breast cancer, self exams etc....If I or the other two girls were to follow that advice, all three of us would be DEAD! Hopefully insurance companies will not use this as an excuse to stop covering tests for women.....I'm awfully busy with school, but if this looks like something that is happening I may need to become ""more politically active".......we shall see.....

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Next on the check off list.....Reconstructive surgery will be Dec. 22, (Merry Christmas) have to be there at 6am....gees will have to get up at 4:00 am just to work out before surgery! Sounds like I'll "be down" about a week -2 wks...(I'm thinking no more than 5 days....)we shall see......will be able to get my port out as well so I'll save myself a surgery....

Friday, November 13, 2009

More updates....Looks like I will be able to get surgery scheduled after my final exams Tues.. the 15th and before the end of the year......will have 2-3 "down days" possibly a week where I can't drive this will be determined, and 3 weeks of "taking it easy....moderate workouts......looks like things will work out!

Friday, November 6, 2009

> I just wanted to give everyone an update on things. I finished radiation> treatments on Thursday Oct 22.....right in time to go to my three day lab at> Kent State Astabula. I survived radiation fairly well(actually really well)> only receiving a couple minor burns and being way too busy to think about> getting too tired. Yesterday, Wednesday I saw the Oncologist, THE SCANS> ARE 100% clean! (no cancer anywhere). My white blood cell count is almost> back to normal (9.6, 10-14 is normal) and red blood cells and hemoglobin are> back to normal ! The Physician assistant and physician said said they> never have taken care of anyone who withstood all of the chemo,radiation,> surgery, etc. as I did since I got the maximum of everything.> All that I have left is a surgery (probably in December) and taking some> type of medication (yet to be determined ) for the next five years, plus of> course follow up scans periodically.>> I can now officially say I am a CANCER SURVIVOR....I didn't just survive> it, ERADICATED it! With the prayers, good wishes and help of so many of> you!>> All I can say is thank you once again to everyone I (and the family)> couldn't have done this without the support of all of you! Now that this is> almost over I can now admit, when this all started (after being diagnosed)> I have probably never been so terrified, and so stunned. From that day> until I had the surgery, it was hard to focus, hard to function, and a> whirlwind of "unknowns". (sorry to anyone who didn;t receive full attention> from me back then). Once I had the surgery, however, it was "GAME ON", and> this was one "competition" that I decided my body and mind would WIN! It's> been a long process (it will be a little over a year by the time I have> surgery), and at the start of it all seemed overwhelming, but as with so> many big challenges you just take things one step at a time......and just> keep checking things off the list.>> So again thank you to all of you who have given your support in so many> different ways. If I can be "of assistance" to any of you, please let me> know....also if you or a loved one or friend are faced with an> insurmountable challenge, let me know if I can help you get through it. You> just take things one step at a time, and look at that glass as half full> instead of half empty.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Hoping everyone had a fun Holloween.....Skin has peeled and burns are gone....all is well, should have a great Dr. apt. Wednesday.....