I can't believe I havn't blogged since November, but no news is good news!! Not much has been happening other than I reached an important milestone on December 16...one year of survival. I truly feel blessed and am extremely grateful. I have to admit, though, that I constantly wait for the other shoe to fall, and I can't forget my oncologist's statement that I may not live until 60. As of today, that's five years. I don't dwell on it by any means, but the seed has been planted...
Since my surgery, I've had a really sore stomach (it hurts to inhale deeply) and sometimes it gets hard as a rock. I've watched my diet closely (only tan food and no raw vegetables, Dr. Pepper or sweets) and it seems to make no difference...the pain is still there. Needless to say, I'm gradually adding back into my diet some of the things I have really missed. I also noticed a bump on the right side of my navel (where I've had a pain since surgery and which every doctor I told quickly blew off). Last month my family doctor told me to take GasX for my stomach issues, but DID diagnose a hernia near my navel. It's really small right now, so no surgery in my immediate future, but eventually it will have to be dealt with. It doesn't hurt...just looks gross.
Meanwhile, the pain became so excruciating that I called my oncologist's office to schedule an appointment and (this has NEVER happened to me before) the person I spoke with would not schedule me!!! I'm already scheduled for the end of March, but I cannot wait that long. I explained to the nice lady the issues I was having and she relayed the info to the nurse. When the nurse called me back, her first question was whether I was taking pain pills. No...I have to be able to drive and work!!! So that was the solution...prescribe pain pills for me and schedule a CT scan to see what's going on. At least I AM scheduled for a CT scan and hopefully it will give the doctor an idea of why I'm in so much pain. Fortunately, they were able to schedule it for this Monday and we're out of school, so I don't have to worry about a sub and lesson plans.
Other than my stomach problems, everything else is going well. I had an absolute melt-down Thursday night, which I really needed to release the stress which had been building for a while. I'm supposed to avoid stress and try really hard to do so, but it comes with the territory when one is a teacher...it would certainly help if parents would take ownership of their students and their educations rather than expecting teachers to do it all. We are certainly thankful for the parents who do!!! :)
So that's my news for awhile. I am 55 today, so will "enjoy" seeing my age on speed limit signs for the next year, and oh yeah...I'm eligible for SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNTS at some places!!! Can't say I'm very excited about that "perk" just yet...
