Thanksgiving

I am so happy that I feel so much better this year! I missed Thanksgiving dinner with my family last year because I didn't feel well. 

I am thankful for my family and friends who were with me thru the chemo and radiation and surgeries of the past year.

I don't do Black Friday ever since I got hit by a cart one crazy morning in Walmart. Today I did go for a little afternoon shopping and scored!! I got a kayak for $99.99! They were sold out but let me pre-pay for one in the next shipment. I have wanted a kayak for at least 10 years. I think it will be great for my arms with the lymphedema and problems with range of motion. I'm excited! Now I just have to wait for the lake to thaw...

Fatigue

I went to a new primary care doctor on Nov. 18. I liked her a lot! I explained my fatigue and the fact that I feel crappy most days. She asked if I'm anxious or depressed. She said most women can't get through all of this without some type of medication. I told her that I'm anxious. She increased the dose of my Effexor to 75mg to see if that helps with the anxiety and to see if it helps me sleep better at night. I was hoping that my blood work would show that something was "off" but it came back normal. 

She asked me if I exercise. I just kind of looked at her for a moment thinking "Are you kidding? I don't even want to get out of bed in the morning!" I did go on two really long hikes this past week and that felt really great!

I read something last night about adrenal fatigue. I wonder if that is what is going on with me. I will have to do some more research into it. 

I'm thinking about going vegetarian for a while to see if that helps. I'm definitely going to get out my juicer and make a tasty (not!) green leafy drink.

Funny thing about hot flashes...

So, I know to expect a hot flash with my morning coffee and as soon as I get into bed at night. I usually have one in the evening around 9:30 or 10. I can't seem to figure out what triggers them other than caffeine. A few weekends ago I had a two-day class to attend and I was worried about being anxious and having sweat dripping down my forehead. During the day there were several times that the presenter lowered the lights for a video. That is when I had a hot flash--every time the lights went down! I'm still trying to figure that one out! This past week I went on a night hike for several hours and the temperature dropped down to 19 degrees. Do you think I had even one hot flash? Nope. My personal furnace failed me. I had to laugh at that!

Tattoo video

http://www.upworthy.com/you-might-see-tattoos-in-a-new-light-after-you-see-them-on-this-woman?g=3&c=upw1

Medical records

I was excited to receive a thick envelope in the mail last week. Copies of my recent medical records. Interesting reading...

Apparently my last CT scan showed a "healing fracture" of my left sixth rib. I had no idea. That explains the intense pain I had back in June but it's crazy to think I fractured a rib by picking up a 15 pound dog! I suspected that pain was from the radiation treatments but I didn't realize that the radiation can weaken the ribs enough that a cough can cause a fracture. Oh boy, more fun to look forward to! ;-)

I enjoyed reading the details about my surgical procedures.

I did not enjoy reading the radiation oncologist's  notes that stated that I was a "young woman" at one appointment and a "middle aged woman" at another. How quickly we age...