Hi all,
It's been 60 days since my last post. Each time I sit down to write something else comes up. Playing with the dogs, spending time with Eric, spending time with family, etc.
I will now promise to write at least once a month.
As things are slowing WAY down I'm not sure more than that is necessary.
So to catch things up;
I got my first haircut a few weeks ago!
I had destroyed my hair over the past 10 years or so.
The back is coming in really thick and the top is coming in as well just not quite as good.
I have lovely 'wings' on the side that stick out of my hat which I have no idea what to do with them.
The color and texture seems to be the same as before. It was possible that it would be different, but sadly, it's not.
I am still getting herceptin treatments every third week until July.
For the most part these aren't bad.
I don't enjoy being stabbed in the chest (where my port is) each time or the time it takes out of my day to do it, but it's not terrible.
There are a few side effects but nothing that gets too much in the way of life.
I have surgery next week, Wednesday April 29th.
They will take the expanders out and put in the silicone implants.
I'm REALLY hoping that I'll be able to sleep on my stomach again after this surgery.
My 'pillow fort' is kinda of working to help me sleep, but it's annoying. I'm sure Eric is quite annoyed with it too. I've had it 'up' for almost a year now. This is proof he's more patient than me! I'm sure it's annoying to sleep next to.
This is an outpatient surgery that should take about 2 hours.
I will take 10 or so days off from work.
I'll be on lifting restrictions again too. :(
They will do some lipo to 'fill in' the areas around the implants to make things look as natural as possible.
Apparently our fat has a fair amount of healing properties as well. I've been having a decent bit of pain on my right side, upper rib cage area. The plastic surgeon said he'll put a little more fat there and it'll help heal things. He said it'll do it's magic then kinda dissipate.
I was hoping to get my port out during this surgery but the chemo nurses said no, my veins aren't good enough.
Speaking of the pain. I have started physical therapy.
I haven't been enjoying this but it has been helping.
I lost more range of motion that I had realized.
I recently started taking boxing/kickboxing classes. It was during these I realized that I didn't quite have the range of motion I used to.
PT is good and also some form of torture at the same time!
"Is this where it hurts?"
"Yes"
*therapist pushes harder!*
I got talked into a "survivor-ship" program at the cancer center. This was a waste of time and energy!
First of all, it's in the middle of the day so I had to take a whole day off work.
I went and they started by taking my vitals and then asking me about my meds. The catch though, the lady who was doing this didn't have the authority to add or remove meds from the list, so that was a waste.
Then I met a physical therapist. He did help me realize I was missing some range of motion things, so that part wasn't terrible.
Next I met with a PA, she went over the short and long term side effects of all the meds I've been on. All of these things my oncologist went over.
Recently I saw the claim on my insurance. I have yet to find out if I'll owe $ for part of this visit.
Next I got a short chair massage. This was nice, but I'm getting massages through Hope Lives so it was unnecessary.
Lastly, I talked with a social worker. I have been seeing her every or every other week, so I didn't need this program to see her. It's nice to be able to have someone to talk to that isn't overwhelmed with the talking about things. I know I have plenty of people around me that'll listen but sometimes they need a break too.
It's also time for another decision.
A new study came out in December from Europe.
They have concluded that there is a 5% less chance of the cancer coming back if they put me back into menopause for 5 years.
5% 5% 5%, I'm getting really sick of hearing this. Everything is 5%.
I don't think I'm going to go down this route though.
Had I been diagnosed a year prior it wouldn't even be an option since the study was still in progress.
I was also in temporary menopause during chemo, it's miserable.
5 years sounds like it's not that long, but sit down and really thing about it. It's longer than it seems.
I bought my house 6 years ago. A LOT has happened and changed in that time. 5 years isn't something to sneeze at.
I discussed with my primary physician quality of life vs quantity.
He supports my decision in not doing the menopause route.
I will followup with my oncologist in May. I have to make the final decision by mid-June.
Thank you all for your continued support.
If anyone is bored I wouldn't mind the company the days following surgery!
