I totally meant to update immediately after my appointment on Friday, but the Schober's were in town and you know how it is when they're here - we stay busy nonstop! Anyway, the appointment with Dr. Howe went really well - he's not concerned that my pain is related to cancer at all. We talked about the side effects I've been having fromTamoxifen (all normal) and reviewed the blood work we took right before my appointment (hemoglobin levels are on the rise = very good). He didn't want to rush into an MRI and asked that I wait it out until the 24th before scheduling an appointment. After yesterday's chiropractor appointment, I'm not sure I'll be able to wait that long though. It feels like my muscles are in a super squeeze and are throbbing - basically a constant charley horse. I'm going to wait until Thursday and if things aren't improving, I'll try to get in.
I'm anxious for this pain to go away so I can get back to my gym routine - I'm going nuts not doing anything! I'll keep you updated!
Showing posts with label The Schober's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Schober's. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Sneak Peek
I know it's terrible to wish for the future (always be living in the present yada yada yada) but with the freezing winter we're having, the idea of being half-way through February right now is just magical. Spring is on its way and I cannot wait to open the windows in our house and get outside (which reminds me, I should spend some time researching flowers to plant out front). I saw a little sunshine this weekend and it instantly put me in a good mood - more please!
I haven't mentioned it here yet, but I've been working hard at getting an online portfolio/website up to showcase my stationery designs. This weekend I gathered up all of the proofs I've kept terribly disorganized and had a little photo shoot with them. I'm almost through with the stack and once I'm finished doing a little cleanup on the photos, I'll post them online to my new site (I'm keeping the URL secret until I can get them up; for now there's just a boring placeholder image). It's a lot of fun to see how my style has evolved over the last six years - I've worked with a wide range of people and I love to see my skills meshed with their personalities. Stay tuned, my goal is to have the site live by the end of the month!
Everything is still going great on the veggie-front; I'm happy to say that this first week without meat was successful! The Schober's are coming to town this weekend so I've been collecting recipes to try with them. Our typical biscuits and gravy breakfast will be replaced with crock pot apple cinnamon oatmeal - I'll start it before going to bed Thursday night and then we'll wake up to the delicious sweet aroma of baked apples on Friday morning (I'll post the recipe once I've done an official taste test)!
Happy Monday!
I haven't mentioned it here yet, but I've been working hard at getting an online portfolio/website up to showcase my stationery designs. This weekend I gathered up all of the proofs I've kept terribly disorganized and had a little photo shoot with them. I'm almost through with the stack and once I'm finished doing a little cleanup on the photos, I'll post them online to my new site (I'm keeping the URL secret until I can get them up; for now there's just a boring placeholder image). It's a lot of fun to see how my style has evolved over the last six years - I've worked with a wide range of people and I love to see my skills meshed with their personalities. Stay tuned, my goal is to have the site live by the end of the month!
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| A peek at my new cards - the site may carry a similar theme :) |
Happy Monday!
Monday, July 15, 2013
Expansions
What a great weekend! We were busy, but not as much as a typical weekend when the Schober's are in town. They're such a great source of support and love; Todd was his usual sassy self and Barbie was a doting mother-in-law with an eagle eye for me the entire time. Love them!
Although I thought we played it pretty easy, I'm exhausted today. I slept late and woke up hot and crabby, that is until we had breakfast in a nice air-conditioned restaurant nearby. And get this: I drove today! For the first time in 20 days I drove a car! I didn't make it very far, just to a gas station a few blocks away, but it's a start! It was still just a little too painful to pull the steering wheel and I'm hesitant and slow which isn't good when driving in the hussle-bustle of the city. I think I'll give it another couple days before trying again. It'd be amazing to have the freedom of driving again; it's awful having to rely on others for rides. I feel like such an inconvenience sometimes!
This afternoon we met with Dr. Heinrich who (thankfully) drained out another couple large-syringes of fluid that had collected under my skin. It's so gross; I'm so relieved that it's gone. It's jiggly and uncomfortable and I hate having it! Jason and I didn't think this would happen too, but she wanted to expand me today as well! After we got rid of the nasty fluid, she asked me to lay back on the table. She took out her magnet and found the ports into my tissue expanders, then marked the spot on each side with a blue X.
Her assistant (didn't catch her name), on my right, and Dr. Heinrich, on my left injected me at the same time. First, 25 cc's. Then, when I said I wasn't really feeling a change, they added another 25 cc's. It was CRAZY watching my "breasts" get bigger right before my eyes. It was like puberty in fast-forward. Sitting up I felt an enormous amount of pressure in my chest, and since getting home, have felt sort of a stabbing pain right down the center of me that pulses each time I expand my chest to breathe. I'm on as much medication as I'm able to take and I'd say my pain level is at a 7. It hurts bad. Almost as bad as those first few days after surgery. I think I need to hold off next time and only do 25 cc's :(
Although I thought we played it pretty easy, I'm exhausted today. I slept late and woke up hot and crabby, that is until we had breakfast in a nice air-conditioned restaurant nearby. And get this: I drove today! For the first time in 20 days I drove a car! I didn't make it very far, just to a gas station a few blocks away, but it's a start! It was still just a little too painful to pull the steering wheel and I'm hesitant and slow which isn't good when driving in the hussle-bustle of the city. I think I'll give it another couple days before trying again. It'd be amazing to have the freedom of driving again; it's awful having to rely on others for rides. I feel like such an inconvenience sometimes!
This afternoon we met with Dr. Heinrich who (thankfully) drained out another couple large-syringes of fluid that had collected under my skin. It's so gross; I'm so relieved that it's gone. It's jiggly and uncomfortable and I hate having it! Jason and I didn't think this would happen too, but she wanted to expand me today as well! After we got rid of the nasty fluid, she asked me to lay back on the table. She took out her magnet and found the ports into my tissue expanders, then marked the spot on each side with a blue X.
Her assistant (didn't catch her name), on my right, and Dr. Heinrich, on my left injected me at the same time. First, 25 cc's. Then, when I said I wasn't really feeling a change, they added another 25 cc's. It was CRAZY watching my "breasts" get bigger right before my eyes. It was like puberty in fast-forward. Sitting up I felt an enormous amount of pressure in my chest, and since getting home, have felt sort of a stabbing pain right down the center of me that pulses each time I expand my chest to breathe. I'm on as much medication as I'm able to take and I'd say my pain level is at a 7. It hurts bad. Almost as bad as those first few days after surgery. I think I need to hold off next time and only do 25 cc's :(
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Keeping up with the Schober's
I've been a busy girl! I'll get through the yucky part first. Because I was still producing so much fluid after the drains came out, I had to have the excess pocket (what looked like a nasty fat roll/side boob) drained, which at the time didn't hurt much, but about an hour after killed! That was Thursday, and I've noticed that it's been filling up again, which means another possible drain at my appointment on Monday. Dumb.
Yesterday I met with a physical therapist who showed me exercises I can do at home 2-4 times/day to regain the range in motion I've lost since the surgery. I did it once first thing this morning (before taking any of my pain meds) and wow, it hurt. Bad. Showering after was not fun and took WAY longer than it needed to. Once the drugs kicked in I felt much better and went shopping with my two sisters for some new dresses (the tube top swim suit cover-ups need to go) and after painful try-ons, came out with a few scores!
When I got home I did the PT exercises again and did much better; not so much pain, a little further in the stretches. It feels so good to be doing SOME sort of exercise again; I know I'm burning maybe 15-20 calories while doing the stretches, but anything is better than nothing at this point.
I'm awaiting the arrival of Jason's parents - Todd and Barb - at the moment. They're the best in-laws a gal could've hoped for (and I'm not just saying that for brownie points either). I'm so excited to see them, but at the same time a little nervous. When they're here, we like to show them the town and check out local events. Usually our outings involve way too much eating and drinking (something I've not done while on all these pain meds) and are go go go non-stop. I hope I can keep up with them!
Yesterday I met with a physical therapist who showed me exercises I can do at home 2-4 times/day to regain the range in motion I've lost since the surgery. I did it once first thing this morning (before taking any of my pain meds) and wow, it hurt. Bad. Showering after was not fun and took WAY longer than it needed to. Once the drugs kicked in I felt much better and went shopping with my two sisters for some new dresses (the tube top swim suit cover-ups need to go) and after painful try-ons, came out with a few scores!
When I got home I did the PT exercises again and did much better; not so much pain, a little further in the stretches. It feels so good to be doing SOME sort of exercise again; I know I'm burning maybe 15-20 calories while doing the stretches, but anything is better than nothing at this point.
I'm awaiting the arrival of Jason's parents - Todd and Barb - at the moment. They're the best in-laws a gal could've hoped for (and I'm not just saying that for brownie points either). I'm so excited to see them, but at the same time a little nervous. When they're here, we like to show them the town and check out local events. Usually our outings involve way too much eating and drinking (something I've not done while on all these pain meds) and are go go go non-stop. I hope I can keep up with them!
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| Todd & Barbie <3 |
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