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I slept the first four hours last night, waking about 2:15. I listened to the rain, listened to the radio, listened to an audiobook, and about 5:30 I went back to sleep. While I was awake I realized something--I hadn't had "major hots" before going to bed last night, nor was I having the super hots when I was awake. !!! Yes, I've had "warm-ups", but not the horrible have-to-sit-down-and-breathe hot flash. And, today I've only had the "warm-ups". Yes, I've had times when I've been warm, but not the dripping-off-the-brow, moist-in-the-crease-of-my-neck, eeww-the-back-of-my-neck-at-my-hairline-is-wet hot flashes. YIPPEE!!!! Has time indeed passed, and could I really be on the other side of this "phase"??
I rolled over this morning, Daniel was up. The clock showed it was after 9. I dozed a bit longer before getting up myself.
I also realized that I hadn't had dinner last night, and I was ready to eat. I got myself ready for the day then had breakfast. I'm happy to say my sinus pressure is much less than yesterday.
After breakfast I checked emails, looked at some other stuff, watched a little football, then it was time to head to Jackson for my haircut.
Daniel had suggested a dinner date for tonight, but I suggested that he go with me to Jackson and have late lunch/early dinner at The Parlour. He liked that idea.
I got my hair cut, short like I used to wear it. It's the same style, but with the new colicks (cowlicks?) and swirls on my head, it's different. Lauretta the stylist thinks it's better. Dan thinks it looks better, too. I'm happy that it feels "normal".
We went over to The Parlour, a "destination place" ice cream parlor. Yes, we had sandwiches before sundaes. Yum. That was the best date.
We got home and vegged out the rest of the afternoon/evening. I'm going to go shower and get the little hairs off of me before going to bed.
My arm and shoulder and abdomen are the same today, uncomfortable. I've had small "warm-ups", and this evening a couple of small perspirations across my forehead, but nothing like the past 9 or 10 months. Thank you, God.
Tomorrow is household stuff, no plans to go anywhere. Maybe a few groceries.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday 11.14.08
Well. Today was a good day, overall.
I was really tired last night and when I went to bed I went right to sleep, but was awake several times, not sure why, really. I would get up to the BR just because I was awake, but mostly I was uncomfortable, position-wise, when I woke. I don't know...
I got up at 0800 with full sinuses/head pressure. Great. I lingered in the warm shower hoping to clear my head, as well as stretch my left arm cording, which is now sore to about 2 inches above my wrist. The warmth and stretching helped, but doesn't make it go away.
I got myself ready and went to Michigan Center to attend a visitation/funeral for my English friend Teresa's sister. It was good to see her, and I also met some of her family that I've heard so much about. Her sister was diagnosed with brain cancer about 5 months ago, and now she's gone. It reinforces to me to be nice to the people in your world, and hug your loved ones.
After that, I went over to Auto Images in Michigan Center to ask about the remote starter on my van. It works, and I wondered about transferring it to the Sebring. (They had installed this one) She said it would cost a total of $200.00, and a new unit, now 3 versions newer, is $225. So I made an appointment for a new one for the Sebring.
Then I went over to Frank's house. He was fixing his breakfast (he works second shift). We had a nice, brief, visit, and hugs. I also hugged John and Amber, who are finally looking like they are recovering from the motorcycle accident in April. John is walking, with a limp of course, but he's walking. And in therapy. Amber has gone back to work as of 2 weeks ago. Wow. Hug your people.
Then I stopped and visited my neighbor from that neighborhood, who had experienced an infant loss recently. She was wondering if I had heard, and hoping I would just "stop by". I'm glad I "listened to the voices in my head" and pulled in her driveway. We had a nice visit, and I hugged her, too.
I had to be on my way home, so I could have a bite and get to my next appointment. I had looked in my planner several times, and thought I had an eye exam at 3:20. I headed out.
While heading north into Lansing, my phone rings, it's Ike. "Where are you, Kathy, for your 2:30 appointment?" Uh-oh. "I'm on my way to my eye appointment," I say, reaching for my planner. Oh, sheesh. Yes, I'm driving. I have a headset, so at least my hands are free...
I look at the calendar again. Huh?? Why did I think I had an eye appointment?? That's next week Wednesday. "I can be there in just a few minutes, Ike, if you want to work on me for the remainder of the appointment time..." "Ok," she says, "Hang up and drive."
She's in the office area and tells me to go into room 3 today. It's all set (meaning there is a pillowcase on the pillow and a towel opened up on the table for my back to lie on) and I am taking my jacket off when she comes in.
We laugh about my confusion, and she does a quick evaluation. The cording in my abdomen is still there, and when she touches it, I jump with pain. The sensation in that cord felt like hot metal burning. I told her about my arm and how that has extended further, and she decides to spend our limited time working on that.
When we're done, we reschedule next week, because a meeting that I participate in got moved and it conflicted with therapy. I thanked her and got on my way, stopping at the pharmacy on the way home to pick up a refill.
Back home, Daniel and I sat together and held each other for a bit. My headache is not much better, and he doesn't feel good either, complaining about back pain. We visit a bit, and he decides to take a nap.
I got on the computer and caught up with email, and wrote here. It's 6:30 now, dark, drizzly, rainy. I've taken tylenol, motrin, and sudafed, and the headache has eased but not gone yet. Hopefully I'll feel better after a night's rest.
Tomorrow is haircut day. I've tried to let it grow, and it's to the point where it doesn't look good after a while on the job. And I don't have time to mess with a hairdo. I need 14 hour hair...so tomorrow it will be shortened up again.
That's it. Thank you for reading. ((((((HUGS))))))
I was really tired last night and when I went to bed I went right to sleep, but was awake several times, not sure why, really. I would get up to the BR just because I was awake, but mostly I was uncomfortable, position-wise, when I woke. I don't know...
I got up at 0800 with full sinuses/head pressure. Great. I lingered in the warm shower hoping to clear my head, as well as stretch my left arm cording, which is now sore to about 2 inches above my wrist. The warmth and stretching helped, but doesn't make it go away.
I got myself ready and went to Michigan Center to attend a visitation/funeral for my English friend Teresa's sister. It was good to see her, and I also met some of her family that I've heard so much about. Her sister was diagnosed with brain cancer about 5 months ago, and now she's gone. It reinforces to me to be nice to the people in your world, and hug your loved ones.
After that, I went over to Auto Images in Michigan Center to ask about the remote starter on my van. It works, and I wondered about transferring it to the Sebring. (They had installed this one) She said it would cost a total of $200.00, and a new unit, now 3 versions newer, is $225. So I made an appointment for a new one for the Sebring.
Then I went over to Frank's house. He was fixing his breakfast (he works second shift). We had a nice, brief, visit, and hugs. I also hugged John and Amber, who are finally looking like they are recovering from the motorcycle accident in April. John is walking, with a limp of course, but he's walking. And in therapy. Amber has gone back to work as of 2 weeks ago. Wow. Hug your people.
Then I stopped and visited my neighbor from that neighborhood, who had experienced an infant loss recently. She was wondering if I had heard, and hoping I would just "stop by". I'm glad I "listened to the voices in my head" and pulled in her driveway. We had a nice visit, and I hugged her, too.
I had to be on my way home, so I could have a bite and get to my next appointment. I had looked in my planner several times, and thought I had an eye exam at 3:20. I headed out.
While heading north into Lansing, my phone rings, it's Ike. "Where are you, Kathy, for your 2:30 appointment?" Uh-oh. "I'm on my way to my eye appointment," I say, reaching for my planner. Oh, sheesh. Yes, I'm driving. I have a headset, so at least my hands are free...
I look at the calendar again. Huh?? Why did I think I had an eye appointment?? That's next week Wednesday. "I can be there in just a few minutes, Ike, if you want to work on me for the remainder of the appointment time..." "Ok," she says, "Hang up and drive."
She's in the office area and tells me to go into room 3 today. It's all set (meaning there is a pillowcase on the pillow and a towel opened up on the table for my back to lie on) and I am taking my jacket off when she comes in.
We laugh about my confusion, and she does a quick evaluation. The cording in my abdomen is still there, and when she touches it, I jump with pain. The sensation in that cord felt like hot metal burning. I told her about my arm and how that has extended further, and she decides to spend our limited time working on that.
When we're done, we reschedule next week, because a meeting that I participate in got moved and it conflicted with therapy. I thanked her and got on my way, stopping at the pharmacy on the way home to pick up a refill.
Back home, Daniel and I sat together and held each other for a bit. My headache is not much better, and he doesn't feel good either, complaining about back pain. We visit a bit, and he decides to take a nap.
I got on the computer and caught up with email, and wrote here. It's 6:30 now, dark, drizzly, rainy. I've taken tylenol, motrin, and sudafed, and the headache has eased but not gone yet. Hopefully I'll feel better after a night's rest.
Tomorrow is haircut day. I've tried to let it grow, and it's to the point where it doesn't look good after a while on the job. And I don't have time to mess with a hairdo. I need 14 hour hair...so tomorrow it will be shortened up again.
That's it. Thank you for reading. ((((((HUGS))))))
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday 11.13.2008
I worked today. Got up and got there, and it wasn't but a few minutes after clocking in that I knew I was going to have busy day. I had an orientee, but she went off to "classroom" time at 8:30, and didn't come back to me until 5 pm. And she was so overwhelmed--her word--that she just wanted to do some brainless tasks.
While she was gone, I was the only person in my job role, and the unit was 2 beds less than full. I was very busy, finally having a break at 12:15 to eat. (Mind you, breakfast was at 0500...) I went off the unit to eat, and did so quickly so that I could get back to my worklist.
I did pretty good, overall. Much better than yesterday. I don't know what the difference was, but I'm glad it was a better day cognitively. (Is that a word?) I did get really sleepy about 3:30 and would have sat quietly if I had had the opportunity. Instead, I just kept running up and down the hall.
It was finally time to clock out and head home. An uneventful drive, thank you God. Dan and I caught up on our day, and I wrote here. I'm off to bed soon.
I found that I was guarding my left shoulder--not using it as much as I should. So I tried to use it consciously, extending my arm. So of course that aggravated my comfort level. After a while I took the tylenol/motrin which helped the discomfort.
Tomorrow I have a funeral in Jackson in the morning, then a routine eye exam in the afternoon.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
While she was gone, I was the only person in my job role, and the unit was 2 beds less than full. I was very busy, finally having a break at 12:15 to eat. (Mind you, breakfast was at 0500...) I went off the unit to eat, and did so quickly so that I could get back to my worklist.
I did pretty good, overall. Much better than yesterday. I don't know what the difference was, but I'm glad it was a better day cognitively. (Is that a word?) I did get really sleepy about 3:30 and would have sat quietly if I had had the opportunity. Instead, I just kept running up and down the hall.
It was finally time to clock out and head home. An uneventful drive, thank you God. Dan and I caught up on our day, and I wrote here. I'm off to bed soon.
I found that I was guarding my left shoulder--not using it as much as I should. So I tried to use it consciously, extending my arm. So of course that aggravated my comfort level. After a while I took the tylenol/motrin which helped the discomfort.
Tomorrow I have a funeral in Jackson in the morning, then a routine eye exam in the afternoon.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday 11.12.2008
Well, the radio was on for a couple of minutes before I realized why it was on. Darn it, I have to get up. And it was another couple of minutes before the conscious thought resurfaced and turned into action.
I got ready for the day and headed out. Dark and drizzly, about 38 degrees. Right here in our complex, just around the corner, were sets of eyes. Deer. 2 of them, raised their heads and watched me drive by. Great--I took that as my caution that they're active and to be on the lookout. I was, though I didn't see any others on my way.
We had a fairly good day with great co-workers. I was surprised that I kind of "lost it" this afternoon--difficulty concentrating, staying on task, losing focus, etc. I especially had a hard time with the computer charting. Looking back, I had eaten within a couple of hours, and wasn't really overwhelmed with my assignment or anything. It's weird not being able to function, or working so hard to function. I hope I'm able to move through whatever this is.
I went outdoors for about 20 minutes for a walk, and also to cool off. The hots seemed to be "long-lasting" today. And there were other times that I was freezing cold--so cold my spine hurts. I'm trying to not complain about my thermostat being broke. I'm thankful for the medical treatments we have today, that I'm living in the United States, able to receive the treatments, and that I'm cancer-free and alive. Woo-hoo!!
I did have a wonderful visit from one of my friends/readers today, Kay. We met while mom was in the nursing home, she was a caregiver. She's now in school again and will be a most excellent nurse, given the knowledge and compassion she has. She stepped in and helped me with mom's care while I was undergoing chemo and it's side effects. Prayers and angels to her and her parents for her dad's new diagnosis of pancreatic/liver cancer.
I got home in the dark and drizzle without event, thank you God. Daniel was happy to see me, and I him. We chatted a bit, I wrote here, and we're off to bed soon. Tomorrow is another work day for me.
My arm is still sore, my breasts are still sore, and I'm tired.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
I got ready for the day and headed out. Dark and drizzly, about 38 degrees. Right here in our complex, just around the corner, were sets of eyes. Deer. 2 of them, raised their heads and watched me drive by. Great--I took that as my caution that they're active and to be on the lookout. I was, though I didn't see any others on my way.
We had a fairly good day with great co-workers. I was surprised that I kind of "lost it" this afternoon--difficulty concentrating, staying on task, losing focus, etc. I especially had a hard time with the computer charting. Looking back, I had eaten within a couple of hours, and wasn't really overwhelmed with my assignment or anything. It's weird not being able to function, or working so hard to function. I hope I'm able to move through whatever this is.
I went outdoors for about 20 minutes for a walk, and also to cool off. The hots seemed to be "long-lasting" today. And there were other times that I was freezing cold--so cold my spine hurts. I'm trying to not complain about my thermostat being broke. I'm thankful for the medical treatments we have today, that I'm living in the United States, able to receive the treatments, and that I'm cancer-free and alive. Woo-hoo!!
I did have a wonderful visit from one of my friends/readers today, Kay. We met while mom was in the nursing home, she was a caregiver. She's now in school again and will be a most excellent nurse, given the knowledge and compassion she has. She stepped in and helped me with mom's care while I was undergoing chemo and it's side effects. Prayers and angels to her and her parents for her dad's new diagnosis of pancreatic/liver cancer.
I got home in the dark and drizzle without event, thank you God. Daniel was happy to see me, and I him. We chatted a bit, I wrote here, and we're off to bed soon. Tomorrow is another work day for me.
My arm is still sore, my breasts are still sore, and I'm tired.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday 11.11.2008 Veteran's Day
First of all, thanks to military people, past, present, active, retired, home, away, those who returned, and those who didn't. And to their families and friends who support them. My own family consists of several veterans. I'm not going to try to list them, because I know I'd miss a few. You know who you are. I am humbled by your experience.
I seemed to wake frequently during the night, even though I returned to sleep fairly soon. I got up about 8 and got in the shower. I let the warmer water run over me, and extended my left arm over my head into the spray. I did the stretches that Ike has encouraged me to do, which did loosen the cording in the arm somewhat.
My breasts are sore, as anticipated, of course the left more than the right. The left one feels "lumpy" to me, too. It's probably fluid that I hope will find it's way out to wherever it belongs.
After breakfast I got ready for my appointment with Ike, and got on my way. She called me in within 10 minutes or so.
She asked about the mammogram and I told her it went as well as it could. She started evaluating my arms and torso, checking the cording in the abdomen and axilla and down the arm. When she was checking the breast, she noticed the lumps right away and seemed concerned. There was a lump on the top next to the incisional scar, and on the bottom she said it felt like cording. That strand ran now from the bottom half of the breast , down over the ribs, and joined the previous presentation of the cord. Great.
I told her I had done some warm-up therapy while in the shower, and she seemed pleased with that. She started on the cording in the abdomen, a little on the breast, then the armpit/arm, then the remaining 20 minutes or so moving the fluid pockets out of the breast tissue. Oh, yeah, it's tender. I had taken the tylenol/motrin with breakfast so it was on board.
I left there, dropped of materials at the library, and came home. I visited with Daniel some, but I wasn't feeling too good. I had a snack, then made a wonderful soup for us. We ate, I laid down for about 20 minutes, and when I got up I got ready to go out for a walk. Daniel asked where I was going--I told him and invited him to go with me. Ok, he said. So we did.
We didn't go very far, or fast, but at least he got outdoors.
The rest of the evening I checked the computer and wrote here. Daniel has drifted off to bed. I've kept tylenol/motrin on board, but the left breast especially is sore like a bruise(s).
I work Wednesday and Thursday, then see Ike again Friday.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
I seemed to wake frequently during the night, even though I returned to sleep fairly soon. I got up about 8 and got in the shower. I let the warmer water run over me, and extended my left arm over my head into the spray. I did the stretches that Ike has encouraged me to do, which did loosen the cording in the arm somewhat.
My breasts are sore, as anticipated, of course the left more than the right. The left one feels "lumpy" to me, too. It's probably fluid that I hope will find it's way out to wherever it belongs.
After breakfast I got ready for my appointment with Ike, and got on my way. She called me in within 10 minutes or so.
She asked about the mammogram and I told her it went as well as it could. She started evaluating my arms and torso, checking the cording in the abdomen and axilla and down the arm. When she was checking the breast, she noticed the lumps right away and seemed concerned. There was a lump on the top next to the incisional scar, and on the bottom she said it felt like cording. That strand ran now from the bottom half of the breast , down over the ribs, and joined the previous presentation of the cord. Great.
I told her I had done some warm-up therapy while in the shower, and she seemed pleased with that. She started on the cording in the abdomen, a little on the breast, then the armpit/arm, then the remaining 20 minutes or so moving the fluid pockets out of the breast tissue. Oh, yeah, it's tender. I had taken the tylenol/motrin with breakfast so it was on board.
I left there, dropped of materials at the library, and came home. I visited with Daniel some, but I wasn't feeling too good. I had a snack, then made a wonderful soup for us. We ate, I laid down for about 20 minutes, and when I got up I got ready to go out for a walk. Daniel asked where I was going--I told him and invited him to go with me. Ok, he said. So we did.
We didn't go very far, or fast, but at least he got outdoors.
The rest of the evening I checked the computer and wrote here. Daniel has drifted off to bed. I've kept tylenol/motrin on board, but the left breast especially is sore like a bruise(s).
I work Wednesday and Thursday, then see Ike again Friday.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
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