I’ve been out on this planet for a few weeks now, and it’s humorous how shortly I can revert my pondering and actions to these of pre-cancer me. Positive, I do really feel fragile virtually on a regular basis, which tells me my full lack of ache meds isn’t essentially the way in which I need to go. Once I do take meds, that’s when the phantasm is sort of full. That’s after I don’t really feel my neck and backbone nonetheless adjusting to the titanium plate and extra collapsed vertebrae…not less than I believe that’s what I’m feeling? I gained’t meet with the neck surgeon once more for one more month. I’ve questions for the surgeon: can I do yoga? can I put a pack on? I’m guessing from the way in which issues are feeling that no. No, not but.
However sure, the farther away I get from my most cancers nest (that’s my adjustable mattress and trusty cart full of all of the drugs and books and diversions that I’ve been counting on these previous 5 months), the extra regular I really feel. Family and friends inform me I look nice. I’m up and about and happening raft journeys and flying, however then I get drained strolling up a hill and get dizzy after I arise too quick. The phantasm is skinny.
I do know I’m on the right track although!
5 days of rafting on the John Day River was blissful. It was a lot colder that I anticipated, so I used to be virtually all the time lined up. Immersing myself within the watery knowledge of Oregon’s longest undammed river was very soothing, regardless that I used to be fairly restricted in my break day the raft.
I returned from the river journey fairly sore and fearful that I had overdone it. The cot and thick paco pad I slept on helped me really feel higher through the journey, however I used to be nonetheless fairly uncovered to actions and actions that I hadn’t skilled in months.
After which I’ve needed to rearrange quite a lot of issues so I may spend a while with household. Time that has been overdue for a lot of causes. I’m not going into a lot of the household dynamics now, however for sure, I’m not the one one who has been going by a tough time this yr.
Right this moment the rain is raining, the yard is bursting with the change of seasons, and I’m packing for one more journey, this time a getaway with simply Kirk. We didn’t get to rejoice our anniversary this February as a result of, properly, most cancers, and the 4 months he took off of labor to assist me out have been additionally work. We’ve each been by the ringer this yr, and it’s time to loosen up and rejoice a bit of bit.
Oh yeah, the celebrating. I do really feel like I’ve been celebrating since my final appointment the place I acquired the excellent news that my most cancers is retreating. I even had a small piece of cake this previous week…I’ve been avoiding sugar just like the plague for many of the yr because it’s an exquisite meals for these mutanous most cancers cells to feast on, however I simply wished a bit of style. I do need to rein issues in after trip (with an exception for my birthday celebration after all!) and development again in direction of extra of a vegan than vegetarian weight loss plan once more and extra in direction of complete meals than simple to seize snacks, however I’m additionally not beating myself up for the little treats I’ve had and can have for the subsequent few weeks. I’m nonetheless in celebration mode!
So I’ll test in once more in June. I’ve a complete slew of docs appointments arising then: palliative care, previous oncologist, new oncologist, naturopath oncologist, radiation oncologist, lab work, MRI, backbone surgeon, acupuncture, bodily remedy, and a gynocological appointment (I’m STILL going by perimenopause by all this…hey scorching flashes! They’ve been fixed the previous few months).
Earlier than I log off in the present day, I’ve a query for you. Some ideas about trails have been percolating in my thoughts…issues I need to search for and deal with within the close to future….and perhaps a few of you may assist. Does the US have any hut-to-hut or camino-type hikes? I ordered a hut-to-hut guide for the States, however half the choices are ski traverses, and many of the others are nonetheless carry-your-own-gear sort of journeys. If I can’t carry a pack for some time, the place are my baggage switch companies? And if I can’t discover a lot of these hikes, I ought to in all probability get busy placing some collectively. I guess among the items are there, and it simply would possibly take a motivated hiker to place them collectively. 🙂
Relating to my birthday celebration on June 7 in Corvallis…please let me know if you wish to come…we might be determining meals and drinks quickly and want a headcount. Cheers!
