Journal

It has  been almost two months since I have posted here.   I finished the radiation and was ready to roll.  I have been to Washington DC to visit my daughter and then off to Windsor Ontario to see my extended family.   I am feeling so much better now...  but the fatigue is still there.  I went to see the oncologist last week and he said this was is the range of normal for where I am at.  He says it can take a year or longer to get rid of the fatigue.  I think the cognitive problems are better... or maybe I am just learning to live with them.  I have quit making excuses for myself and just carry on .. business as usual.  Sometimes when I am really struggling I might mention that I am still coping with "Chemo-Fog".   My hair is really coming in now, with the exception of my eyebrows.  Those darn eyebrows have been my "bug-a-boo"!  I am looking into having permanent makeup applied.   I am going to wait until spring just in case they decide to come back.   I do get the odd hair, it is either wiry and needs to plucked or weak and falls out when I wash my face.  A small price to pay for the cure.

I know I have mentioned this before but I will say it again,  I really appreciated all you gals out there when I was home/bed bound.  It was a lifesaver to email and journal with you.   I am glad I found "Daily Strength"

Take care

Blessings

Dodi

Here I am writing from the beautiful Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. http://www.deerhurstresort.com/  My husband is here on a professional conference and I tagged along.  They always have a vigorous and fun spousal program, this year I opted out.  I am spending the time here on my own schedule and interest.   The timing is perfect!  The autumn colours are beautiful and the resort is extravagant.  I am loving that the prescribed treatments are finished.....seems like a long time since I could go and do something without thinking about "what comes next" in the treatment plan.

I still have reminders of the ordeal, numbness in my feet and hands, irritated bowels, restlessness at night and the whole image thing.  My hair is long enough now that it could be contrued as a very short hairdo.  Certainly not a style I would wear, but I can get by with folks now zeroing in on my health.  I read that with anything tramatic, like cancer, that there is an opportunity to grow.  For me, right now, I am taking the time to appreciate each new day.

I just finished number 8 of 25 radiation treatments.  

I am having symptoms that I did not anticipate having until later into the treatment plan.   I spoke to the nurse today and she said that it is generally true for these symptoms to come later but there are others who are more sensitive to the radiation.   She gave me some diet tips for the diarreah and told me about a cream I can use for the dry, itching vaginal area.  The nausea she tells me is likely from errant radiation touching my digestive system.   As for the fatigue, there is not a lot I can do.  I might change my appointments for later in the afternoon as the fatigue really hits after the treatment and I rest/sleep all day, then I am restless at night.  I have been having radiation at 7:30am.  She set up an appointment for me to see the doctor tomorrow (my normal appointment was cancelled yesterday) and I will take some of these issues to him.  All in all,  the symptoms are tolerable and maybe some of them can be managed.