Just Me LMJ

Well I had my post-op appointment and my pictures taken.  Not much has changed…my new right breast has hard areas and appears to be getting smaller.  I was told I could start wearing a bra as long as it has no underwire.  So I took Jaylyn and Sarah and off bra shopping we went.  Of course, they had fun just browsing the store.  For me, the experience wasn’t quite as fun.  I had a hard time determining what size of bra I needed.  After endless try-ons, I finally settled on a bra.  Still not totally sold on it but haven’t got the courage up yet to go back.

Last week I finally had my tooth removed by the oral surgeon.  I was so happy to finally have that taken care of.  I have been dinking around with that tooth since March (when I was told it wasn’t a dental issue).  Last Thursday and Friday, Jeff and I moved Jaylyn to college.  Hey, I kept it together, I only teared up a little as we were leaving.  We loaded up Jeff’s truck and her car and headed off.   Jaylyn will be living with 3 other softball girls in a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment.  We stopped by the place a few weeks ago and the place really needed a painting.  The people who run it said the apartments wouldn’t be painted this year.  So Jeff being the great dad he is went down and painted the apartment and CLEANED it.  The apartment looked pretty good and move in went pretty quick.  Jaylyn seems to be doing good and as I said, I kept it together.  Now comes the time we find out if she listened to us all these years.

Today I went back to work.  It was good seeing everyone but oh my, it is going to take a few days to get back my working head back on.  It seems like so much has gone on that I feel very behind and my brain just isn’t working.  I think I am doing pretty well and even starting walking on a treadmill.  I’m trying to get my energy level back up.  I can’t do anything more than walk for a few more weeks and I have a 15 pound weight restriction.  I see my cancer doctor on Friday.  He should be taking me off Tamoxifen and onto something else.

At some point, well by the end of the year, I will have to follow up on my thyroid and my little head tumor, but for now, I just don’t want to think about it.

I’ll post again after my appointment on Friday.  As usual, I give you my thanks for all your support and encouragement.

Love, Lori

Yes that is right….one year ago today was when I received the news that I had breast cancer.  WOW…so much has happened this past year.  I feel like I am a changed person.  I am so thankful for all the support I and my family received.  There were times when I just didn’t think I could make it through that day (especially during chemo) and then there would be a pick me up from one of my angels.  It was so nice to have all of your support.

I know I will never be the same, the nagging that life can change in a moment, has encouraged me to embrace the small things in life.  I love my job and the people and company I work for but I love my life away from work more.  Stress I believe plays a part on a person’s health.  My plan is to find a good healthy balance between work and home.  My hubby and I have decided to sell our house and move to something smaller.  Now that our children are pretty much out of the house, we can move.  I’m not sure when we will be selling it but soon we hope.

Well I am now 6 weeks post op.  I return to the doctor next week.  They are going to take pictures (no face in the pictures).  My incisions are healing nicely but still look a little red and angry.  I am beginning to move easier.  I still am fidgety…if I sit too long in one position my stomach area lets me know so I need to stand up.  Clothes are still an obstacle for me.  Anything around the waist area is uncomfortable.  Not sure how I am going to work the clothes thing when I return to work.

Other than my right boob having a hard area, the boobs look okay.  They look like two little mounds on my chest.  They don’t look like my old boobs.  Even though they look different than I expected, I am glad for my two little mounds.  I wish my right boob didn’t have that hard area, but I can’t do anything about that.  I have just started doing my arm exercises (the ones I did after my masectomy) and still need to work on getting my right arm up over my head.  I still am pretty cautious about moving my arms.

The doctor told me it would be at least 3 months before I could do any strenous activity but that I could walk.  So this past week I have been walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes.  Now I’m not walking very fast but thought it would be a good idea to start building up my stamina.

I’ll post again after my doctors’ appointment.  Thank you for everything.  I’m hoping the next year is a lot less eventful than this past year.

Love you,  Lori