29 Thursday Oct 2009
Posted in cancer, diet & nutrition, fitness, food & drink, health & happiness, hospitals
You may remember that I had to go to the hospital last week because the hernia I’d been told about after my last CT scan had become infected and was hurting A LOT. After a week of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories it felt better but actually looked worse. The part that had been red and sore looked like a water blister and so, rather than poke it with a pin myself (it was sooo tempting) I decided it would be best to head back to the hospital…
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25 Sunday Oct 2009
My list of the top things people should not say to cancer patients (some pinched from elsewhere ‘cos I can totally relate!) ~ what next
The other day Colon Club member what next wrote a post called “the stupid things that people say” and included a very good list of stupid comments and witty responses. And I enjoyed it so much that I’m stealing it. 🙂
I find I do get annoyed with the constant platitudes. So sue me. I’ve lost quite a few “friends” this past year and a half because they felt uneasy about my way of coping and especially about my not needing or wanting what they felt like giving me. I know that some of you will say that people mean well and are often just at a loss as to what to say. But frankly, the best thing to say in this sort of situation is … “oh dear, I don’t know what to say!” To which the person with cancer can simply reply… “That’s okay, you don’t have to say anything”. Or in my case, “That’s okay, you don’t have to say anything, just send money”. 😉
You can read what next’s list below…
18 Sunday Oct 2009
Posted in cancer, health & happiness, home
I’m finally getting the hang of it!
At least one day a week…
My sleeping has been so f*cked up lately that I’m worried about my ability to heal and get better because of it. No matter what, I end up lying awake in the wee hours and, even if I lie down for awhile in the afternoon, I often don’t fall asleep for my siesta. BUT … lately I have been learning the art of the morning lie in, which I think helps me a lot. During the week I have to get up early (about 6.45) to get to my yoga & pilates classes, and on Saturdays there are always morning errands and shopping to do. But Sundays are perfect lie in days, especially now that I have got over the feeling that I am “wasting the morning” by staying in bed. Besides, then I have less Sunday to have to get through…
Of course, I might get to sleep more easily without the pillow hog.
What do you think?
12 Monday Oct 2009
Posted in cancer, change, chemo, diet & nutrition, fitness, friends, health & happiness, hope, hospitals
It was just over a year ago that I was told my cancer had become inoperable, that they could give me chemo to slow down the inevitable, and that without treatment I had maybe a year to live. I later found out that this idiot oncologist hadn’t even read my biopsy results, she had just assumed (as the surgeons had done) that the “buckshot” mess found on my peritoneum during my second operation was cancer –Â it turned out to be old scar tissue. Anyhow, this is one of the many reasons she is now my ex-oncologist.
Since then I have had another recurrence, have gone through chemo again (April-July) and am now living on a “wait & watch” basis, with scans being done every three months…
02 Friday Oct 2009
Posted in cancer, change, diet & nutrition, fitness, health & happiness
At least this is something I can do!
I’ve mentioned my problem with focusing here before, and it’s not actually getting any better. I don’t know if it’s chemo brain or a result of the anaesthetic from having three ops in seven months, or all of it, but it’s quite scary how I can no longer focus on things like before. I start off the day with the best of intentions but end up finding almost nothing on my List done. It’s like the day totally slips away from me when I try to keep myself focused on a project that requires, well, focusing.
What I am able to do are things that are kind of “automatic”. Like going to the gym every day, Monday-Friday. I don’t need to think, just get up and into my gym clothes and head out the door. After that I follow the routine of yoga class and The Bike. I’ve even been pleased that on mornings after a bad sleep I’ve still made myself get up and go, because I know that this is at least the one thing I can do. And yesterday after the mammogram I was quite proud of myself for going to the later pilates class and also doing The Bike, so I wouldn’t have to miss a day. The only gym days I missed in September were due to hospital appointments … and one hangover (I blame Sara & Steve).
To accentuate the positive, I’ll be sticking with these healthy things I am able to do and just keep trying with the other stuff. I’ll have a few English classes starting next week, which will provide a bit more structure to my day. And I’m also going to start low-carbing seriously. Got a 30-day plan to follow, so again, won’t have to think, just do.
I love having a plan. 🙂
casa azahar 