I got to go ride my bike with Karyn today. It was so much fun! It has been my heart's desire and prayer to be able to hike and ride my bike again. Having been sick for almost 2 years, it has taken a lot of hard work and many, many baby steps to get back to being in good enough shape to do what I had taken for granted before. I still have a long way to go, but I am getting there!
After my double mastectomy and removal of 18 lymph nodes on my right side last summer, I could only do 4 crunches when I was given the go ahead to begin slowly exercising. During chemo, there were days that it was all I could do to get to the bathroom, forget about the crunches. Radiation was a rough ride for me and having this radiation necrosis put a further hitch in my get-a-long, but I've been cleared again to exercises and have been steadily working on it. Little by little, taking many baby steps along the way, I am really making progress. I am up to 60 crunches, I am using light hand weights to work my arms. It amazes me how much muscle mass I lost during chemo and being sick for two years. I work on it almost every day though and I am slowly seeing improvement. This process has taught me to rejoice in the little accomplishments of life, it helps me to be patient.
I hope in a couple of weeks that I can go kayaking. As soon as the radiation wound heals completely and there is no longer risk of infection, I plan to be out on the lake paddling. I can hardly wait!
I am still going to hyperbaric treatment. They think I still need around 20 more treatments. We shall see. The healing is really making progress. The wound was originally over 6 cm by 5. 8 cm. Now it is down to 2cm by 1cm!! I am very encouraged. Thank you for all of your prayers, God is answering in amazing ways.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
this time, no news was good news!
Sorry it has been so long since I've posted. I actually got to go on vacation! I went with my friend, Karen, to Tahoe for several days. We had a blast and I was so very encouraged by the endurance I had while hiking around. It was amazing.
I had to wear a lymphedema sleeve and glove the entire time I was up in the altitude, which was a little annoying, but well worth it. I didn't have any problems with swelling. They had me put it on in Auburn and then I took it off when I got back down to Auburn. I felt a little self conscious at first but within a few hours I just forgot about it for the most part.
The sleeve and glove are expensive, over $200. I only have one of each, so for going down to the beach with the dog and when I can kayak (hopefully in a couple of weeks) I bought the kind of sleeve that cyclists wear with their short sleeve shirts when it is cold. I got a tight one, one that feels about as tight as my lymphedema sleeve. I also bought kayak gloves that are tight like the lymphedema glove and put those on when I was going to get wet or dirty. It worked out great for me...if you are a cancer patient, I would check it out with your doctor before trying this idea. I still wore the real deal most of the time, but the two cycling sleeves were about $30 and the kayak gloves about $20, so they were much cheaper and easier to wash.
I was able to hike for a couple of miles, which was both fun and so encouraging. I worked so hard during cancer treatment to try and keep up my strength. My motto has been, "do what I can when I can." So if I could only walk across the house, I'd do that. When I could walk to the end of the porch, I'd do that and be happy that at least I could do something. After that , I got to where I could walk to the mail box, then to the end of the street. Ron and my girls have been walking with me as I have been slowly increasing the distance I could walk. It has apparently really paid off as I was able to hike up in the mountains. As I walked in the beauty of God's amazing creation, I thanked Him for seeing me through those very difficult months of treatment, I was thankful for you for your faithful prayers each step of the way, and I was thankful to be alive to enjoy such beauty again. God is good and I am so thankful.
I had to wear a lymphedema sleeve and glove the entire time I was up in the altitude, which was a little annoying, but well worth it. I didn't have any problems with swelling. They had me put it on in Auburn and then I took it off when I got back down to Auburn. I felt a little self conscious at first but within a few hours I just forgot about it for the most part.
The sleeve and glove are expensive, over $200. I only have one of each, so for going down to the beach with the dog and when I can kayak (hopefully in a couple of weeks) I bought the kind of sleeve that cyclists wear with their short sleeve shirts when it is cold. I got a tight one, one that feels about as tight as my lymphedema sleeve. I also bought kayak gloves that are tight like the lymphedema glove and put those on when I was going to get wet or dirty. It worked out great for me...if you are a cancer patient, I would check it out with your doctor before trying this idea. I still wore the real deal most of the time, but the two cycling sleeves were about $30 and the kayak gloves about $20, so they were much cheaper and easier to wash.
I was able to hike for a couple of miles, which was both fun and so encouraging. I worked so hard during cancer treatment to try and keep up my strength. My motto has been, "do what I can when I can." So if I could only walk across the house, I'd do that. When I could walk to the end of the porch, I'd do that and be happy that at least I could do something. After that , I got to where I could walk to the mail box, then to the end of the street. Ron and my girls have been walking with me as I have been slowly increasing the distance I could walk. It has apparently really paid off as I was able to hike up in the mountains. As I walked in the beauty of God's amazing creation, I thanked Him for seeing me through those very difficult months of treatment, I was thankful for you for your faithful prayers each step of the way, and I was thankful to be alive to enjoy such beauty again. God is good and I am so thankful.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Passed my one year mark!
On June 19, 2008, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just over a year later, I am thrilled to be able to say that I am cancer free. I want to thank the Lord for His faithfulness to me through this very difficult journey. His presence has held me and sustained me through some of the darkest and most difficult days of my life. He has been and continues to be faithful. I still have a ways to go with treatment, but it is so encouraging to look back at all that has been completed and accomplished.
I also want to thank each of you! You have been a constant source of prayer and encouragement to me throughout this journey and I am so very, very grateful to you and for you! I could not be where I am today without your help and partnership. You are awesome!!
with a heart overflowing with love and gratitude,
Leslyn
I also want to thank each of you! You have been a constant source of prayer and encouragement to me throughout this journey and I am so very, very grateful to you and for you! I could not be where I am today without your help and partnership. You are awesome!!
with a heart overflowing with love and gratitude,
Leslyn
Finished another week of hyperbaric treatment
Just got home from hyperbaric treatment. Last week, after finding out I had a fever, I went and saw my doctor. He discovered that I still had a sinus infection and put me on another round of antibiotics. That seemed to take care of the infection. Today, I finished up another week in the chamber and I am feeling fine.
Just in case you've been wondering, here are a few little known facts about hyperbaric treatment:
- At 33 feet of pressure or 2 atmospheres, it is really hard to whistle
- After being at 2 atmospheres of pressure for 2.5 hours, you get really, REALLY hungry!
- Joints pop very loudly at 2 atmospheres of pressure.
In case any of that comes up on Jeopardy, you'll be set!
I get to take a few days off from treatment and I am so excited. They are closed over 4th of July weekend. Being in that very small tube day after day gets to me after awhile. It is definitely making a difference though! The wound continues to get smaller and is completely scabbed over, which is pretty amazing. I have had an open wound since the early part of April! The doctors are all encouraged. I asked the wound specialist if he thought I needed to continue with hyperbaric since the scab had formed and he said very clearly that he thought it was necessary. He said more directly than ever before that I had "severe radiation necrosis" and that I needed to keep up hyperbaric treatment until it was completely healed. So that is what I will do!
Thank you for praying for me. I can tell that this week I have had an increase of grace to be in the chamber. I am a far cry from enjoying it, but at least I don't feel so frustrated while I am burning up half a day, 5 days a week. God's grace is enough!
Hope all of you in America have a wonderful 4th of July! God bless our nation!!
Just in case you've been wondering, here are a few little known facts about hyperbaric treatment:
- At 33 feet of pressure or 2 atmospheres, it is really hard to whistle
- After being at 2 atmospheres of pressure for 2.5 hours, you get really, REALLY hungry!
- Joints pop very loudly at 2 atmospheres of pressure.
In case any of that comes up on Jeopardy, you'll be set!
I get to take a few days off from treatment and I am so excited. They are closed over 4th of July weekend. Being in that very small tube day after day gets to me after awhile. It is definitely making a difference though! The wound continues to get smaller and is completely scabbed over, which is pretty amazing. I have had an open wound since the early part of April! The doctors are all encouraged. I asked the wound specialist if he thought I needed to continue with hyperbaric since the scab had formed and he said very clearly that he thought it was necessary. He said more directly than ever before that I had "severe radiation necrosis" and that I needed to keep up hyperbaric treatment until it was completely healed. So that is what I will do!
Thank you for praying for me. I can tell that this week I have had an increase of grace to be in the chamber. I am a far cry from enjoying it, but at least I don't feel so frustrated while I am burning up half a day, 5 days a week. God's grace is enough!
Hope all of you in America have a wonderful 4th of July! God bless our nation!!
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