March 3

Something that makes me happy?  My new physical therapist, Sherry!
 I can hardly believe that it is March already and I have only been on Daily Strength once in 2016.  What’s been taking my time and energy since my last journal entry has been:

1.    Another week of puppy sitting Ronan. I enjoy it so much, but during one of our walks I slipped on ice and twisted my knee and ankle.  Luckily, Ronan stayed beside me and allowed me to haul myself back to my feet by leaning on him.

2.    I have made some progress going through my Dad’s stuff. It’s not like he had much of value, but there is a lot of it and I am too sentimental. It is hard to let it go.  In a few days it will be one year since he passed away.

3.    What time I have spent on the computer has mostly been researching as much as I can about CFS/ME, superior vena cava syndrome and lymphedema.  Going through all that medical jargon drains my cognition as well as my energy.  I found Dr. Mayhill’s website (as suggested by Sunshineydays) to be especially intriguing with a plethora of information.  I can spend hours on that site. I also have read or am reading Love and Fatigue in America by Roger King,  Plague: One Scientist's Intrepid Search for the Truth about Human Retroviruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Autism, and Other Diseases by Kent Heckenlively and Judy Mikovits,  and Killer Care: How Medical Error Became America's Third Largest Cause of Death, and What Can Be Done About It by James B. Lieber. I highly recommend the first two. I haven’t yet read far enough into the last book to form an opinion. (I’m becoming quite proficient with my Kindle)

4.    Don and I drove to Tulsa OK for my 6-month cancer check-up - No evidence of recurrence - yipee!!

5.    Finally made an appointment with my PCP who found a local (about 65 miles away) massage/physical therapist to help with lymphedema.

So, Monday I had my initial evaluation with the massage/physical therapist. She is attentive, thorough, and I am impressed.  A previous physical therapist and most doctors have told me I need to keep increasing my physical activity day by day because I am obese and deconditioned.  They’ve told me not to worry about getting tired or short of breath – after all, that is the purpose of physical exercise.  Conversely, Sherry says those symptoms are my body’s way of letting me know it has reached its limit.  She said I should respond to those symptoms and rest to avoid eventual organ damage. Also, when she finished her evaluation, she told me to disregard the label of “obese”.  (Is it becoming clear why I like her?) She feels much of my body mass is fluid caused by a combination of lymphedema from cancer treatment and venous insufficiency from the blood clot. She recommends treatment with compression garments, massage, and pool therapy.
Today I had my first experience in the therapy pool. I was apprehensive.  Before starting, Sherry took my blood pressure and the diastolic read 106.  The pool was lovely and warm. I spent 5 minutes just walking around in neck-deep water.  Sherry said the pressure of the water helps push the lymph fluid through the body.  Still in deep water, I did other movements like arm swinging and leg lifts.  Thirty minutes later I felt myself getting tired…just TIRED, NOT exhausted or short of breath. It was amazing!  I had forgotten what tired feels like to a normal person.  Usually, I can be comfortable sitting or moving very slowly for up to 20 minutes, but then I am totally wiped out and gasping for air.  After 45 minutes in the pool, I felt kind of a “healthy” tired feeling…it was almost exhilarating!  My diastolic blood pressure when I exited the pool was 86 – twenty points down.  Wow!  The rest of my day at home was uneventful.  I didn’t feel any more exhausted than usual, but no more energetic either.  However, I did experience a general feeling of well-being…endorphins perhaps?
Love to you all!