On a good note, I had my period again this month. I know TMI for some, but it means that my body is finally healing and getting the monthly injections to stop my cycle paid off. Although the 9 months without one was very nice, this is great news!
As I've been getting farther and farther away from the cancer recovery I've not given myself enough credit to just how strong I really am. It has taken me until May to finally take myself back to high impact for the duration of Jazzercise. Some movements felt odd and I'd immediately switch to low impact because I was worried I was doing something wrong now that I have implants. I finally realized that things may never feel "normal" again but that my body is okay with what I am doing.
To put this theory to the test I decided that I still wanted to run a 5K after all. Many of you know I was training to run the Capital City Commit to Be Fit 5K last year when I received my diagnosis. Last year I was looking for something new, and thought 3.2 miles at 32 years of age would be fun. Well 3.2 miles at 33 years of age is just as fun. Yesterday I ran the 2012 Commit to Be Fit 5K. My official time was 38:52!! My first 2 miles were around 11:15-11:30 but mile 3 came in over 13 minutes. I was definitely tired and a lot of mile 3 was uphill. But I finished! I told myself I'd be happy with any time, as long as I crossed the finish line, but I secretly wanted to finish under 45 minutes. In fact, Brian came down to watch me finish, and he didn't expect me to finish as early as I did. I caught him off guard when I came around the corner, and he didn't have enough time to react and take a very good picture of me about to finish.
I am very busy with the end of the school year, I have 14 out of 23 students graduating this year. And if that isn't enough I am also staying quite busy with the Scentsy business as the company just launched a separate company, Velata, which is Fondue warmers and chocolate. And of course I wouldn't be back to being me if I didn't have 100 things on my plate at once. Brian and I are in the middle of planning our October wedding.
I am so amazed at what I have been through this last year, both the good and the bad. There were definitely moments that I thought, I can't do this. But looking back, I don't really have any regrets. I realize I probably should have taken a little more time off of work for recovery, but those that know me well know I don't do idle very well! I continue to see my oncologist every 3 months, and my surgeon every 6 months, but look forward to the day when they both tell me I don't have to see them as often.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
And a year later..
I don't know how many people still read and follow this. I'm guessing not many since I really haven't had much to report lately. But here's a little update.
In January I was sent for a bone density scan by my oncologist. She wanted to see if I've had bone loss due to the chemo. Seems she went to a conference and they found good news with young cancer patients being on Zometa and a reduction of recurrence in the bones. She couldn't prescribe it without reason, hence the bone scan.
I went in for my 3 month follow up on the 9th. What should have been an easy appointment turned into a hellish day. I took a half day off work and went for a 1pm appointment. Around 2:30 I was getting antsy and talked to the nurse to see what the deal was, she assured me that my doc was with a patient and I was next to be seen. At 3:30 I was standing in the doorway to my exam room ready to flag said nurse down and tell her I was outta there when the doc came flying at me apologizing. So now I am 2.5 hours into being at the James. She tells me there has been some bone loss in my spine due to the chemo and wants to put me on the Zometa. It's an infusion I will need to have every 6 months for 2 years. So I head over to the infusion center where I admit to the nurses I was tired and grumpy and just wanted to go home. Since I had the port removed they needed to draw blood and start an IV for the infusion. Well 3 nurses and 3 pokes later we are finally good to go. One of the nurses took pity on me having skipped lunch (was going to grab something after appointment) and brought me Adriatico's pizza they had in the fridge. I finally escaped the hospital around 5:45. YIKES!! One of the side effects they warned me about was aches and said it might feel like the flu.
Fast forward about 17 hours and I was just starting to feel stiff and sore, so I popped 2 advil and attempt to go watch the St. Patrick's Day parade. After about 30-45 minutes I give up, I'm cold and I wasn't feeling very good. I crawled into bed and within a few hours had chills and the WORST body aches I've ever had. I had pj pants, a long sleeve tshirt, a fleece zip up, a sheet, a blanket and both halves of the down comforter on me and was still cold. Thanks to a gift from back in my college days, Brian heated up my "bed buddy" and I was good to go. I unfortunately had to cancel my Scentsy party that night, but my hostess took it like a champ and after dropping off all the essentials she ran the party herself. As soon as my advil would wear off I'd start in with the chills all over again. 3 Advil every 4 hours, what fun!! By 1 am I also added a sleeping back to the pile of things on top of me. It took many doses of Advil and 3 days before I was finally feeling better. I'm not sure I can do this every 6 months...I know there's a chance this could help but I don't know if the negatives outweight the positives.
On St. Patrick's Day I also celebrated the 1 year anniversary of having found my lump. This coming Saturday I will celebrate the 1 year anniversary of my diagnosis. That day is one I will never forget. I feel like my world was turned upside down. There have definitely been some good moments in the last year, but definitely one I will remember forever!
In January I was sent for a bone density scan by my oncologist. She wanted to see if I've had bone loss due to the chemo. Seems she went to a conference and they found good news with young cancer patients being on Zometa and a reduction of recurrence in the bones. She couldn't prescribe it without reason, hence the bone scan.
I went in for my 3 month follow up on the 9th. What should have been an easy appointment turned into a hellish day. I took a half day off work and went for a 1pm appointment. Around 2:30 I was getting antsy and talked to the nurse to see what the deal was, she assured me that my doc was with a patient and I was next to be seen. At 3:30 I was standing in the doorway to my exam room ready to flag said nurse down and tell her I was outta there when the doc came flying at me apologizing. So now I am 2.5 hours into being at the James. She tells me there has been some bone loss in my spine due to the chemo and wants to put me on the Zometa. It's an infusion I will need to have every 6 months for 2 years. So I head over to the infusion center where I admit to the nurses I was tired and grumpy and just wanted to go home. Since I had the port removed they needed to draw blood and start an IV for the infusion. Well 3 nurses and 3 pokes later we are finally good to go. One of the nurses took pity on me having skipped lunch (was going to grab something after appointment) and brought me Adriatico's pizza they had in the fridge. I finally escaped the hospital around 5:45. YIKES!! One of the side effects they warned me about was aches and said it might feel like the flu.
Fast forward about 17 hours and I was just starting to feel stiff and sore, so I popped 2 advil and attempt to go watch the St. Patrick's Day parade. After about 30-45 minutes I give up, I'm cold and I wasn't feeling very good. I crawled into bed and within a few hours had chills and the WORST body aches I've ever had. I had pj pants, a long sleeve tshirt, a fleece zip up, a sheet, a blanket and both halves of the down comforter on me and was still cold. Thanks to a gift from back in my college days, Brian heated up my "bed buddy" and I was good to go. I unfortunately had to cancel my Scentsy party that night, but my hostess took it like a champ and after dropping off all the essentials she ran the party herself. As soon as my advil would wear off I'd start in with the chills all over again. 3 Advil every 4 hours, what fun!! By 1 am I also added a sleeping back to the pile of things on top of me. It took many doses of Advil and 3 days before I was finally feeling better. I'm not sure I can do this every 6 months...I know there's a chance this could help but I don't know if the negatives outweight the positives.
On St. Patrick's Day I also celebrated the 1 year anniversary of having found my lump. This coming Saturday I will celebrate the 1 year anniversary of my diagnosis. That day is one I will never forget. I feel like my world was turned upside down. There have definitely been some good moments in the last year, but definitely one I will remember forever!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)