One would think it’s about time I stop the posts – after all I am cancer free at the moment. What else do I have to say. Well, I just changed direction that’s all. I am on the road to recovery and if anyone thinks that’s piece of cake, think again. I have had a busy week – I have visited plastic surgeon, oncologist and radiation oncologist. Good news – noe everyone thinks I do not need radiation. What can I say? I can only happily agree with that. Not so good news – my blood count came surprisingly low – hemoglobin 7.8. Few things about this number. First it is about 40% less than my normal. Second, I immediately fell tired even though it was like that since surgery (I am guessing) and I was not that tired) – here is the power of numbers on one hand and the power of conviction on the other (I felt really great before I knew). Thirdly, for the 100th time I am thinking how fortunate I am to have medical care I deem necessary at my fingertips whereas there are many others who do not. Logically speaking what would one think of doing with low red blood count? Find out if any component to build new cells is lacking, that’s what. However, my oncologist did not have it in his plans. So being non-argumentative as I am I simply drove 3 minutes to my office and had the girls draw the blood again (I will live through another poke) and check things myself the way I see fit. If the counts are low due to blood loss during surgery I will need iron.
What does it all have to do with the picture you might ask. I feel great when I wake up in the morning. However as the day progresses I get supremely bloated and my stomach gets distended to the point of pain. And i feel exactly like the piglet from Winnie the Pooh. (The picture is from a wonderful Winnie the Pooh cartoon from Soviet times, all of us grew up with it). I feel like a piglet who could fly with the balloon, or in my case I could fly without one. It is extremely uncomfortable and was so bothersome last night that I wound up doing office work at 3:30 in the morning. Hey, I could not sleep anyway.
Other than bloating, feet swelling, rapid heart rate (last two are probably related to low blood counts) I am enjoying rolling mounds of my underinflated new breasts. If only I did not feel like a barrel held together by an iron ring. Sensations of the band constricting my chest is unrelenting. First there were drains that felt like chains or shackles if you will, now there is this band that creates multitude of different feelings – barrel, boa constrictor, etc. Oh, and I am forgetting lovely leg cramps. So, overall I guess the road to recovery is bumpy, long and challenging at times. 9 more immunotherapy sessions. Or 4.5 if I am lucky and my insurance considers my plea for that. Am I whining? Yes I am. I think compared to my usual very upbeat rederick it does not happen that often so I am giving myself and excuse to vent.
On a bright side, my brain is ready to travel. I did book the Chicago trip. I wanted to have another smaller trip but now I am thinking that I still can’t pull my suitcase from the shelf. I also feel it would be sometime when I can do brisket walk over the hills, so all I need to do is figure out a trip that does not require bags or much walking.
I did my first shopping trip yesterday. There is a constant reminder – don’t pack the bag to the brim. It also feels that I am doing everything in slow motion. I am very careful with the cart. I also drive slower and avoid bumps since I think even my bone marrow feels every single bump on the road.
It was nice to share my good news of really getting to the easier part of treatment with all those who care and are involved one way or another.
I am thinking of what to do with the blog – the original idea was integrative support, was it not? I will probably designate more time to the aspect of support in the future.
In the meantime – another night is coming. Will I be able to stretch my first sleep to 3 hours? Time will show…
One last note: – I am trying Robert’s formula, more probiotics, and digestive enzymes (pharmaceutical grade) to see if I can fight the bloating. Another part of the plan is not eating tomorrow and seeing if that works.