I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Thursday January 15 2009. This is my journey with cancer and other musings as surveyed - initially temporarily hairless - from under my hats.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
no longer exhausted
it's now 11.40pm and i am no longer exhausted. So think it was work which made me tired. The place. Think there is a lesson in there.
exhausted
Totally drained. First I thought it was just a stamina problem but have been pretty tired throughout the day today. Must be the herceptin. It's a common side-effect (I had it last week). I hope it doesn't last. If it persists, that is, if I feel tired tomorrow, will phone the oncology centre and ask if there is anything one can do. Bet not.
Today at gym the bio and I agreed that my left arm is swollen. Wasn't happy about that as can be expected, especially as I have started to lose weight so my arm should also go down. (The preventative pills I am taking, tamoxifen causes one to gain 5% of one's body weight so consistently eating less than normal to try to lose weight.)
Anyway, went from gym to The Lymph Lady2 (my one is on leave, in Kenya climbing mountains), and the swelling of my left arm had come down from last week. She said I will always have to do the lymph massage. Cos it will always be a threat. And that's if I am fortunate enough to not develop lymphedema.
Gonna have some coffee in a polystyrene cup - am at work and being damn naughty writing this instead of working but am too tired to work and is the end of the work day and everyone else has gone home and I am off to the symphony concert - the Mozart Anniversary concert - so guess I cannot be that tired!! Read more about the Mozart festival on in Joburg
Today at gym the bio and I agreed that my left arm is swollen. Wasn't happy about that as can be expected, especially as I have started to lose weight so my arm should also go down. (The preventative pills I am taking, tamoxifen causes one to gain 5% of one's body weight so consistently eating less than normal to try to lose weight.)
Anyway, went from gym to The Lymph Lady2 (my one is on leave, in Kenya climbing mountains), and the swelling of my left arm had come down from last week. She said I will always have to do the lymph massage. Cos it will always be a threat. And that's if I am fortunate enough to not develop lymphedema.
Gonna have some coffee in a polystyrene cup - am at work and being damn naughty writing this instead of working but am too tired to work and is the end of the work day and everyone else has gone home and I am off to the symphony concert - the Mozart Anniversary concert - so guess I cannot be that tired!! Read more about the Mozart festival on in Joburg
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
My poor friend
I spend much of my day worrying about my arm. It's still summer here so I stretch out my arms often, turn them around, and think/worry/agonise: is the left arm swollen? Is it thicker than the right arm? Do I have lymphodema? Will I have to wear a compression sleeve? - I feel sick at the thought.
Well now my friend CJ has had two strokes and cannot talk and is paralysed on the right side where she has no sensation and goodness knows what the left side brain damage - very bad, say the doctors - really means.
And she turned 40 in October. She is a really determined person and is now off to rehab where I am sure what she can better, she will. But I keep thinking - sure she wishes she had just lymphedema or was at high risk of it like I am.
This sure puts lymphedema and a compression sleeve into perspective. Her strokes and their outcome have jolted me. Pray for her and go out there and live your life to the full.
Well now my friend CJ has had two strokes and cannot talk and is paralysed on the right side where she has no sensation and goodness knows what the left side brain damage - very bad, say the doctors - really means.
And she turned 40 in October. She is a really determined person and is now off to rehab where I am sure what she can better, she will. But I keep thinking - sure she wishes she had just lymphedema or was at high risk of it like I am.
This sure puts lymphedema and a compression sleeve into perspective. Her strokes and their outcome have jolted me. Pray for her and go out there and live your life to the full.
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