# 36 SO, HOW AM I FEELING?

IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL SINCE MY FIRST SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED IN JUNE 2015.

Currently, I am getting stronger every day. I am sleeping a lot less so fatigue is not much of an issue anymore. My blood tests show improvement.  

My vitals have been good at all my visits - BP steady at 100/60, fasting blood glucose 91. My last mammogram was normal.

I still have some issues with diarrhea, nausea and vomiting on occasion since my gall bladder removal. Doctor Carmen said I will learn in time what not to eat. So far I discovered I cannot eat processed tomato products and citrus fruits.

I am eating better (no high cholesterol food) and less per sitting because I fill up quick since the gall bladder removal. I miss bacon! I weighed 197 while going through chemo. I now weigh 155. Yahoo! My goal is my high school weight of 135!

Funny story to tell: Since I am losing so much weight my clothes are too big. I was walking from one room to the other at Tubbys  and my pants fell down to my ankles. Luckily I had tights on underneath!

My hair is growing back. Should be long enough to spike soon! Still penciling my eyebrows on though.

 

Since I lost my hair from treatments I made a boat load of my THC's by TAM (Thinking Hiker Caps by TrailAngelMary - crochet hats with brims) to keep me warm over the winter I also made matching cowls for each hat. I am now working on hats with cowls to sell at Trail Days. I have changed the pattern I found on line 2 years ago to make it better. Every hat has wire in the brim so it can be shaped and cord lock on yarn at base of hat so it can be loosened or tightened. 

How difficult has it been? Challenging at times but a good positive attitude can make all the difference. And thank all of you for all the prayers. I believe in the power of prayer. 

SO, how am I feeling?  Better every day!!

"Cancer is very invasive and destructive to your body. After you have finished your treatment, then, your body wants to go to war with yourself trying to reconstruct all the damage caused by radiation. It's a very long process.
Please, in honor of someone who died, or is fighting cancer, or even had cancer, say a prayer."

To all those who are fighting... I am with you always

# 35 3 MONTH VISIT WITH WOMEN'S CANCER DOCTOR

HAVE YOU HAD A RECENT PAP SMEAR? IT'S TIME!

OCTOBER 26, 2014 DR WILLIS, PAP SMEAR

 Colposcopy performed on Feb 4, 2017.

 Dr Willis said "NOTHING SCARY THERE"

# 34 LEG UPDATE, CARDIOLOGIST

11/14/16 I visited my cardiologist office. Doppler was done on both legs. 
In the follow-up with Dr Dave' on 12/2/16 he said there is 100% blockage in my right leg and 85% in my left leg. He said it got worse because of the radiation.   No wonder I lost my balance a lot and couldn't walk a block without calf muscle pain!

Procedure was scheduled for right leg for 12/19/16.  

My daughter Tina with me

Procedure was scheduled for left leg for 2/1/17. So, to date 3 procedures have been done on my legs. This procedure included removing blood clots. I developed a hematoma in recovery which they took care of but they had to keep me overnight. In other words I leaked! (A hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels.)  Big lump at site of incision and LARGE area of black and blue too! Here's the contraption they put on to press the hematoma down.

THE RESULT - I CAN WALK AGAIN! PAIN IN CALF MUSCLES GONE!

Next up - stress test. 

Thank you to the staff. Here are pictures of some of the staff.