Follow Ups

Wow! 

In a couple of days, I will be having my 6 weeks check up following Radiation

 and 3 month check up following Chemo.  

In a way it is hard to believe it has been that long.  In other ways ...  I am feeling better and stronger.  I get frustrated at times, but it is because I unrealistically feel it should be faster.  Some of the side effects of the treatments are slower to leave such as the weakness, achy feeling in my fingers and sometimes obvious numbness in my toes, the nails returning to normal, etc.  However, there are fewer times of noticing the numbness although every once in awhile my toes will have a shooting pain-like a light electric shock; I am doing more and the tiredness is less and naps bring back energy' the fingernails are getting close to being all back to normal; the 2 toenails are beginning to show signs of growing out normally; and my hair is growing and getting thicker and has dark among some gray.  

I am working at trying to be patient and to build "line upon line, precept upon precept" in regaining my strength and stamina, returning to a more active lifestyle, and discovering what my retirement is about.  I know I have "things to do" that are and will be productive and meaningful to me and others.  I am just not sure what that picture looks like yet.  I treated myself to a Jawbone UP 24 for Christmas to help with the strength and stamina.  Benjamin and Suzanna helped me get it up and running, so to speak, yesterday.  The rest is "here a little, there a little".  

As I look back at 2014, it has been a good year.  There have been some very hard challenges and times that were difficult both physically and emotionally, but there have been some really good and touching things as well.  One of the strongest things is the verification and the evidence of my Heavenly Father's love and protective, supportive hand in my daily life.  Another was the outpouring of love and support of my family and friends.  I am so grateful for each of you.  

I am excited for 2015.  I feel it will be a year of with changes and progress.  

Recovering from Radiation and Beginning to Feel Better

Here it is December 3rd, already!  Thanksgiving is over and Christmas and New Years is on the horizon.  It is wonderful to not be going to radiation treatments every day.  The last few weeks of radiation, my skin was very sore in places.  However, it is doing well now. The places that were burned the worst peeled, but that went pretty well and quickly.  Better than I thought it might.  My doctor has said that my skin would be pretty well healed by Thanksgiving and it was.  Tuesday I gave my self the last blood thinner shot.  Yeah!  That had lasted 6 months.  I went for a check-up with the lymphedema clinic yesterday.  I began wearing the compression sleeve last week, but forgot a couple of days.  However, the measurements of my arm were good.  I will go back in 6 months for a check-up.  I believe that the greatest blessings from going there are the knowledge and information that I received and gained.  I learned about it, what to watch for, and how to take care of my arm which is now a weaker part of my body.  I am grateful.
I am feeling better and stronger than I was.  However, I have to be constantly vigilant to not over do and then not feel as well.  I was told at the beginning that it would take 6 months to get  back to normal.  I am having some challenges with vision which seems to be worse when I am not feeling well.  I had a complete eye exam week before last and found my eyes are healthy and doing well.  I am grateful.  At the end of the month I have a 6 week check-up with the radiologist and a 3 month check-up with the oncologist.
I am trying to take things slowly and finding joy in accomplishing more on my own.
Thank you again for your prayers, cards, calls, visits, kind gestures and gifts.  I love and appreciate you very much.