Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Haircut



Today, I had my first post chemo haircut.  My hair was needing a little shape so I headed in to see Lori for a cut.  I still haven't decided how much "growing" I will do but am happy to now have a semi-hairstyle.  It will be perfect for the warmer weather.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Flush Number 2

Last week, I had my second port flush.  Deja Vue  "Today is my first official port flush. My cancer center schedules them every 8 weeks. Hopefully, that means the next port flush will in warmer weather."  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  A winter storm was headed our way so I actually went in a day early for my port flush because the forecast was calling for snow, sleet and ice. 

The port flush isn't a bad experience at all.  The actual procedure is quick and painless.  My only complaint is both times I've developed jaw pain following the flush.  This time I also noticed a slight bruise on my neck. Not a big deal at all and not too surprising as I'm still bruising quite easily.  Blood work and my follow-up oncologist appointment will be coming in mid April and I'm once again hoping for warmer weather.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

The Road to Recovery

My apologies for being absent from the blog for so long.  It doesn't seem possible that it has been 7 weeks since I posted; maybe, that is because I've been stuck on the road to recovery.

Post-treatment recovery is like a long car ride to normal. “Am I there yet?” keeps running through my brain. Plus, will I recognize it when I arrive. Improvement is like a rest stop where I can once again ask “Is this the new normal?”

In the last month, I’ve had major improvement with the hot flashes. Instead of many a day, I am now going days without hot flashes. Does this mean the chemo-induced menopause is coming to an end? I certainly hope so. It is so nice to sleep through the night and not wake up in a puddle of sweat.

My energy level is still not where I want it to be. A dog walk leaves me exhausted and weak. I’m still falling asleep most nights well before 9pm and 8 hours of sleep just doesn't feel like enough.  I’m hopeful this isn’t the new normal. I want more energy.  I want to be back out running and just a little closer to my old self.

This week, I returned to volunteering for the Probate Court.  Maybe by returning to normal activities, I can trick my body into feeling normal.  You know, fake it until you can make it :-)

The worst part about the road to recovery is the speed bumps.  Life before a diagnosis of cancer has the same speed bumps.  Maybe it is a sore throat or pain in one spot or the other.  Before cancer, you just ride over the bump, no big deal.  After cancer, these bumps leave you wondering, is it more than just a sore throat? Is that pain something more than just pain? 

For now, I will celebrate each good day and focus on the glimmers of good in each bad day.  Most importantly, I will keep my eyes on the road to recovery and hopefully soon I will spot the express lanes.