11/04/08

Ok, folks, today is the big day – no not Election Day- well, ok, it is election day but I’m talking about the first day of my low iodine diet. I had oatmeal with strawberries and walnuts and a little sugar. Not bad, but ask me about it on day 13! More later, including election day results -Go Barack!

I weighed myself after breakfast – 122! I was not amused. After my surgeries I was finally able to lose most of the extra weight I’d been carrying around for several months.  For months I could only fit into one pair of jeans – stretch, of course. So when I got back down to 112  after my surgeries, I was quite happy. I could change my jeans!

Anyway, after I stopped taking the Cytomel a few weeks ago the weight was right back on again or maybe it was all that Halloween candy I snuck out of the bag (no wonder we didn’t have enough to hand out) or it might have been the eating out 3 out of 4 nights in a row last week including that trip to Longhorn for the Chocolate Stampede dessert – that thing should be outlawed!

. . . back to my diet. I made the spaghetti sauce from the thyca website. It was excellent! I wish I could say the same for the whole wheat pasta … think wet cardboard.

GOOD NEWS – Barack Obama will be our next president. At least, I pray that is good news.

11/05/08

Breakast – OJ, banana, egg white scrambled eggs. Not bad especially with a little ketchup on the eggs.

Lunch – leftover whole wheat pasta and sauce… sauce was excellent.

Dinner – planned to make chicken but it had been in the freezer so long I had to toss it. Ended up having more scrambled eggs/ketchup, pineapple, cuke/tomato salad and some peanuts to snack on…I can feel this getting a little old already.

Eric and I went to CCD where we listened to a woman speak about her ministry working with men in prison. It was pretty amazing and comforting to know that there is still good in the world, although the media would have us believe otherwise.

I got home and had a $100 order waiting for me in my email. Life is good.

11/12/08

Yesterday I got my initial dose of radiation. It was pretty much a non-event. After sitting in three different waiting  rooms I was given a pill and sent home. Tomorrow I will go in for my first body scan. I know where I’m going this time so maybe I can eliminate a waiting room or two.

For the next ten days I can’t get any closer than three feet to anyone, have to eat and sleep alone, cook my own food (not that anyone would want to eat what I’m eating) – solitary confinement.

My friends from BNI sent me an edible “flower” arrangement – that really made my day. I had just gotten home from the hospital and was ready to start feeling sorry for myself when the doorbell rang. It was really pretty and very tasty. I totally appreciated the gesture!

I’ve got four more days on the diet, that shouldn’t be so bad.  The thing that bugs me now is I’m supposed to be drinking a ton of water to flush the radioactive iodine out of my system, which is really not a big deal except at night. I hate having to get up to pee. I’m always awake for hours afterward and last night was no exception.

By the way, did I mention that I’m not losing any weight? I’ve stopped getting on the scale I’m so disgusted. Anyway, I can tell by the way my stomach looks that the number is not going to be good, so why bother.

11/15/08

Well, folks, it was bound to happen sooner or later. It’s 4:42 p.m. and I’m still in my PJs. Yes, I’ve spent the entire day in bed. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. with vertigo, a condition I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Ok, well, maybe a few people. Anyway, no one should expect to deal with cancer, even an “easy” one and not feel sick at some point. Note to readers: Never, I repeat, never tell somebody with cancer they have the “easy cancer”. That is the worst oxymoron I have ever heard.

I got my large dose of radiation yesterday and felt fine until the middle of the night and then the whole vertigo thing hit. Eric brought me a banana this morning and then made scrambled eggs for lunch otherwise I might have starved to death. He is the sweetest boy anyone could ask for.

Alright, I think I’m going to try getting up for a while. I have to go to the bathroom anyway. I’ve had about four times my usual water for the day…

11/18/08

Spent the day in my PJs again. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. again (I feel a song coming on )  and couldn’t get back to sleep. Just as I was finally dropping off again everyone else got up and woke me. I felt bad all day. Tried to rest but couldn’t get back to sleep. Had a headache and felt slightly nauseous all day even though I did take some medicine.

I started on Synthroid yesterday.  I’m off my low iodine diet, too. Thank the sweet Lord!! The kicker is the radiation has affected my taste buds, so all the food I was looking forward to tastes like shit! Well, actually just bland as hell. Hope that ends soon.

11/21/08

Well, I finally go in for my 2nd body scan today – I hope it goes well. My part is kind of easy – lie on a table for an hour and do nothing. I do that well- hahaha! I just hope the vertigo thing doesn’t kick in.

I had a little scare the other night. I woke up with my heart beating like crazy. I could hear it pounding in my ears! I didn’t know what it was at first until I was fully awake. Anyway, I knew this was on of the “serious” symptoms of the Synthroid, so I was a little scared. I just wanted to make it ’til morning without having a heart attack. I was so hot, too, not feverish, but hot-flash hot! (If it’s not one thing, it’s another!) Anyway, called the doctor in the morning and of course it was “Oh don’t worry about it”. Easy for them to say.  They’re always so understanding of your concerns. But, seriously, I was glad I  called so I could stop worrying about it.

I noticed today that I am getting some improvements in my energy level and my legs don’t hurt so much. Now, if I could just get my taste buds working…

11/13/2009

Well, folks, as you can see, I survived that ordeal. The hardest part was being isolated for ten days. That and the diet…and the vertigo…and losing my sense of taste (finally got it back in time for Christmas) …and … well,  it could have been so much worse. As I’ve said before, I am so very blessed to have lived through all this. I am doing my best to continue to make the most of each day and take nothing for granted!

As always, I’d love to hear from you. I leave you with a song from one of my all-time favorite groups,  ♫ Steely Dan.

When I started this blog, my idea was to title my posts after song titles. I’ve gotten away from that for a while, but I want to get back to it today. In fact, today’s post is specifically about the song Page 43 sung by David Crosby & Graham Nash. When I first heard it in high school, it blew me away with its simplicity of sound and message.  It talks about making the most of your life before it’s too late … kind of a recurring theme with me lately. I came across the song again recently and thought I’d share it with you. Have a listen!

Page 43

words by David Crosby

Graham Nash and David Crosby, circa 1972.

Look around again
It’s the same old circle
You see, it’s got to be
It says right here on page 43
That you should grab a hold of it
Else you’ll find
It’s passed you by

Rainbows all a round
Can you find the silver and gold?
It’ll make you old
The river can be hot or cold
And you should dive right into it
Else you’ll find
It’s passed you by

Pass it ’round one more time
I think I’ll have a swallow of wine
Life is fine
Even with the ups and downs
And you should have a sip of it
Else you’ll find
It’s passed you by

What about you? Have you had a song make a lasting impression on you? I’d love to hear about yours.

When I was forty, I was told that I had breast cancer. That day—that moment—changed my life forever. I had all these thoughts of how long I have, what about this, and what about that. I remember I stayed in those thoughts for a while before I was able to think about something other than cancer.

It took me a while but eventually I realized that this was actually a strengthening experience for me.

And now I want to help others who face the challenges of breast cancer and other illnesses. That’s why I founded Wings of Angels—to provide support and comfort to individuals dealing with recovery treatments. Using my own experience, I’ve personally handpicked items that provide comfort and encouragement when the recovering patient needs them most, and I’ve assembled them in a variety of gift baskets and care packages. For example, the Recovery Care Package contains helpful items to relieve the discomfort due to breast cancer surgery. We also provide other packages to comfort and lift the human spirit. You and your family, friends, or co-workers can provide just the right gift to show a loved one you care. Each gift basket and care package is filled with items carefully selected by me, knowing what will soothe and comfort the healing patient.

I invite you to browse the selection of care packages and breast cancer gift baskets.

Live your life for today. It is your gift. Cherish it.

Few words will knock you on your ass faster than those.  Just 2 days after my 52nd birthday, I got this belated “present”.  I’d already had surgery to remove the right half of my thyroid and after 2 weeks of anxious waiting, I got the call.  Now, I would have the other half removed the next day and then radiation treatment.  Talk about scary.  It was time to start praying.

Well, thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable cancers out there.  But, word to the wise, please don’t ever tell someone with thyroid cancer that they’ve got the “easy cancer”.  Easy and cancer should never, ever be spoken in the same sentence.

My kids - my 3 biggest blessings!

After the fear wore off, I thanked God for giving me this wake up call.  I had been wasting my life away – waiting for something good to happen, instead of making something happen or seeing the good that was already there.

I am now doing my best to live life to the fullest, to take care of this body that God gave me and to give thanks for all the beauty in my life.

My new 3 words – I am blessed. . .take it away, Martina! ♫

A few thyroid cancer resources:

Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association

Light of Life Foundation

American Thyroid Association

Procrastination is such a precious time waster.  So, without wasting any more of your precious time, I will leave you with a few tips for fighting the urge to procrastinate.

#1. Eat the frog first.  Mark Twain once said “If you eat a frog first thing in the morning, the rest of your day will be wonderful”.   This is the premise of Brian Tracy’s book, Eat That Frog!, 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time. The idea is that if you take on your least desirable project first thing and get it over with, you’ll have the rest of the day to accomplish things you might actually enjoy!

#2. If you have a big project looming and you’ve been putting it off because you don’t know where to begin, start by breaking it done into smaller, manageable tasks. Begin by focusing on just one smaller task at a time. Before you know it, that big task will be complete.

#3. Prepare a Six Most Important Things list.  At the end of each work day, prepare a list of the six things you’d like to accomplish the next day, starting with your most important item first.  Charles Schwab once received this advice from efficiency expert, Ivy Lee, and said it was the most profitable lesson he had ever learned!

#4. Develop an affirmation for yourself that you say first thing in the morning, last thing at night and as often as you can in between.  Something like – “I feel good about using my time wisely. I am capable of organizing and completing my tasks in a timely fashion.”

#5. Reward yourself for making progress.  Don’t wait until you’ve finished the big task, celebrate the little victories along the way.  Maybe a five minute music break, a walk outside to smell the roses, a quick phone call to a friend.  Just make sure you don’t get yourself off track from the great start you have to completing your projects.

Good luck and remember, there’s no time like the present!

The book also included a poem which I remember posting on my college bulletin board to remind me to make the most of each day.  I remember reading it aloud in an intro English course and knew the TA was going to give me crap for mentioning God.  I considered censoring that from my delivery, but decided against it.  I was right, the TA did not appreciate my comments, but it was a little victory for me holding fast to my beliefs. I love this poem, it has taken on new meaning in recent months (a subject for another post) and I hope it may hold some meaning for you.

This is a New Day

God has given me this day to do as I will.

I can waste it or use it for good.

What I do today is very important

Because I am trading a day in my life for it.

When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever

Leaving behind something I’ve traded for it.

I want it to be gain, not loss . . .

Good, not evil . . .

Success, not failure . . .

In order that I should never forget

The price I paid for it.

Today’s Tip: Take a minute, a full 60 seconds, and sit quietly. Close your eyes and think about all you have to be thankful for. If you are totally honest, it will take you more than 60 seconds, but it will be time well spent. If you try this, I’d love to hear from you.

Listen: Brand New Day