Sunday 6 January 2013

Happy New Year!



Well well well. 2013. How did you creep on us? And then go so fast…the first week of the New Year is almost over. Life after the crazy holidays is back to normal and routines are starting back up.
I haven’t blogged in a while and it’s mostly because I haven’t had much of anything interesting to say! I was busy working and getting ready for the holidays and hubby and I were trying to finish up something pretty special that eventually we will be able to share with you!

So since my last fill, the I talked about my pain has got a little better, but I still feel pretty useless with these expanders. I want them out – now. I had tried back in late November, early December to continue working out at the gym and lifting weights. This was all fine and dandy until one morning in my shower after a workout I looked down and realized I had bruised and ruptured a bunch of mini capillaries on my right side. It is right along the scar and looked a lot like older ladies legs when they get thin skinned and veiny. I was really worried I had done some harm but after talking to my doctor I felt a little better. Because of the radiation my skin is super unhealthy and doesn’t stretch well etc. So it must have been at its limit and when I lifted weights my pec/lat muscle on the front probably puffed up a bit and caused it to tear a little bit. So I have been told not to lift weights (seriously – if it wasn’t for the extra weight I am still trying to get off I would be pretty happy being told not to work out hard ;)) and take it easy until surgery. Well I am sick of taking it easy and sick of watching out for these stupid things. I can’t do up certain jackets and sweaters because of the ridiculous size (the actual size I want is not nearly as big), I worry about over exerting the area because I might damage it. And god forbids I fell on them – can you imagine!? I would either bounce super hard or pop one – probably would be hilarious and not so much fun at the same time.  So when is surgery you ask? I HAVE NO IDEA. I am getting anxious with how long it is taking them to book this one. After my initial surgery they jumped on board and scheduled the next right away – I cancelled it because of multiple reasons and now they haven’t rescheduled. I have called her nurse assistant lady (multiple times) and politely asked if it has been booked yet. Last time she said something about booking emergencies right now bla bla bla. Well this is an emergency! Not really but come on! I can’t wear anything with horizontal stripes (makes the lopsidedness very noticeable), can’t do anything at the gym and can’t feel comfortable! Work would like to know because my shifts would have to be covered and I want time before the summer for the new ones to heal.  And I feel like everything I book right now is tentative because it was supposed to be in January. So who knows? I will give her another week to get over the holidays and call again. I get they have emergencies but they also have to do regular surgeries to! I have never looked forward to a surgery so much before…

So remember that black cloud we were talking about…the whole family not getting cancer business? Well my 17 year old half-brother on my Dad’s side (Will) was originally diagnosed with testicular cancer December 2011 (or close to there anyways). He had surgery and then every 6 months CT scans for check-ups. Well his last check-up in early December didn’t come back with good news. The cancer had made its way into a lymph node in the stomach area and needed chemotherapy. So he has since started and will continue for the next 7 weeks or so. The good news is even when it the cancer has moved around it is still a 90% cure rate! 

Moving on from all that cancer stuff though (have to get it out of the way)…hubby and I had a great Christmas! His grandparents came in from B.C. and we haven’t seen them since our wedding. It was wonderful to have them in town to share the holidays with.  We also hung out a bit with my family although just immediate. Unfortunately my Nana (great grandma) needed to have a hip replacement over the holidays in Edmonton and because of the nasty cold weather we had here we couldn’t make it to visit her. But all is well now and she is back home and feeling great!

I am excited that I have no treatment this year. I am still on my Tamoxifen and have my reconstruction surgery to do but I have no radiation or chemo or any of that crap I dealt with the last two years. This year (again after surgery) is for me. It’s time to start having fun again and enjoy the remaining years of my 20s. They are passing me by so quick and I spent enough of them for crappy things. One last thing about the Tamoxifen – about a week ago I started my second year! 1 down…4 more to go. Went pretty quickly and 4 years doesn’t seem that long now!

Anywho...hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2013 and gets everything they want out of it!