March 27, 2012

Monday 3/26/12

Today I decided I am not going to weigh myself everyday, I found myself getting a little obsessed about the scale.  So I will still post weight updates - but I will not be weighing daily.  

We have continued to make progress on our house and the To Do list is getting much shorter.  A couple of pictures of our house with the cork floors.  

Living Room 

Kitchen / Dining Room

Office

Saturday 3/24/12

Tonight we went to a basket ball game - Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks.  I am not a huge basketball fan, but tonight’s game went into overtime and the Mavericks beat the Rockets 101 to 99.  On the way to the suite we stopped for a picture.

Picture of me as a Rocket
(fuzzy photo)

Friday 3/23/12

Today’s weight was 151.6 pounds, which is still higher then 150 pounds -- so I am hoping that I will reach the 150 pound mark soon.  

This week was my first week re-incorporating exercise into my schedule.  While it very exhausting it also feels good because it reminds me of the days when I was healthy.  

Wednesday 3/21/12

Today I received an email asking from the program at work I joined - it asked me my current weight.  I entered 150 pounds because I didn’t feel comfortable entering a higher weight then that.  I quickly received a response that said “You have not lost weight - please remember that you need to reduce your calorie intake” - which basically means eat less.  The funny part about that is that I am not at all someone who enjoys food or eating.  I am experiencing things I have never had to contend with before.  It is so different.  I am finding I have to be more aware of the calories I consume and maybe even when I consume them.  Obviously something needs to change. 

This evening included another run at the park.  My knee is scrapped up - but getting a lot better.  Running is quite a work out and it always exhausts me, but it also helps clear my head.  

Tuesday 3/20/12

Today I weighed myself only to find that my current weight is actually 133.4 pounds, which is 3.4 pounds higher then I originally entered for the challenge at work -- what a bummer.  Oh well - I guess the first 3.4 pounds will go without program recognition.  

Monday 3/19/12

Today I joined a challenge at work called Move It and Lose It -- it is sponsored by Dr. Oz.  It is cool - it provides an opportunity to set personal goals and access to resources for nutrition and exercise.  I joined the challenge by entering my current weight of 150 pounds and my goal weight of 140 pounds.  

We went for a 3 mile run after work (my knee hurt the most during the first mile).  It included a bit of walking - it is a long road back to getting healthy.  

Picture after today's run/walk

Sunday 3/18/12

Fell during my first run at the park - 

Today Matt and I went to the park for a run.  We decided to run the trails instead of the normal loop.  There has been a lot of rain lately - and given our recent drought - this meant the trails were a little more beat up then normal.  The run started great, we both felt good and I was excited to be out there.  Sad to say about 1/2 mile into the run I slipped on some debris and fell.  Matt says I actually went flying through the air - I ended up scraping my knee pretty bad, hitting my hip, and hitting both of my forearms.  The great news is that I was wearing my lymphadema sleeve - which helped keep my arm from swelling.  I highly recommend that all people who have had lymph nodes removed exercise with a sleeve on - especially because you never know when something like this will happen.  After I regained my composure - which took a while we made it back to the car -- we went home the good news is that we covered 1 mile total - the bad news is we covered 1 mile total.  

I showered and cleaned up my leg and spent the rest of the day relaxing.  

Self Portrait before the run

Picture after my fall

Yuck -- this fall was pretty gross

Friday 3/16/12

Our house is finally coming together and tonight we had some friends over for dinner and it was a lot of fun.  It feels great to have a house that is close to being back to normal.  

Monday 3/12/12

This afternoon I had another MUGA Scan.  One of Chemotherapy’s side effects is changes in your heart.  This is a super creepy test - they remove your blood, activate it with radiation and re-inject it to your blood stream.  MUGA Scan will show my doctor a 3 D video of my heart at work.  The oncologist will call me if there are any concerns.

Hard to take your own picture when your good arm is the one with the syringe

Better Angle - unfortunately fuzzy photo

Friday 3/9/12

Today I had Chemo - this was my10th treatment of Herceptin.  Good to know I only have 7 more treatments.  At once every 3 weeks that means I will be done some time in August if I stay on time.  I have been in treatment for 14 months now and while that is a short period of time a great deal has happened / changed in my life sense then.  

Chemo again 

Sad face - Matt was being mean to me

Thursday 3/8/12

This afternoon I met a friend for a walk.  

Self Portrait at the park

Wednesday 3/7/12

Today I saw my oncologist and she informed me that in total I should expect to have 17 Herceptin treatments.  She said she will continue to assess my treatment plan - but I should expect 17 treatments.  I was a little disappointed to hear this as I originally thought I would only require 12 treatments.  Overall it isn’t that big of a deal to get a few more treatments then expected - this serves as a good reminder that no matter how many plans you make - you have to remain flexible.  

Self Portrait
(oncologists' office)

Saturday 2/25/12

Matt and I were out today and we encountered the coolest truck ever, “Pizza Ninjas For Hire”.  We stopped for gas and the next thing you know the Pizza Truck pulled in for gas.  

I was so excited to see this ridiculous truck in front of us on the freeway

Another Angle of the Pizza Truck

Ridiculous Pi Pizza Truck

PI Evolved ... Crazy

This is where we stopped for gas
KAY MART  :)

Friday 2/17/12

Today I had another chemo treatment.  The good news is that the time between treatments seems to be passing pretty quickly.  Although I think the medication is catching up to me - I find myself feeling pretty tired between treatments. 

Self Portrait at Chemo

Still at Chemo

On the way home from chemo
(there were about a thousand birds at the light)

Another angle of all the birds
(wild)

Thursday 2/16/12

Today I went in to see my plastic surgeon.  As I mentioned in my last update left breast has been changing / getting smaller.  My plastic surgeon said radiated tissue usually changes 3 months after you complete radiation.  The good news is that I am right on time - I finished radiation mid November.  She also said that tissue usually changes the most in the window of 3 -6 months post radiation completion.  She said it was too soon to know if I will be able to have surgery this year or next year.  We will know more when I return for follow up appointment in a couple of months.  

My doctor expanded my left breast tissue (by adding 60 more CCs of saline to my expander for a total of 630 ccs) this is supposed to loosen my tissue.    What I have found is that it has resulted in a great deal of pain, but I am hoping it subsides. 

Self Portrait at the Doctors Office

Stay tuned for more SuperMonkey Adventures,

Nancy

AKA:  SuperMonkey

“I grow more intense as I age.”

- Florida Scott-Maxwell