(I wrote this post over a week ago but didn’t have time to finish it, so here it is, a week late).  I’ve been done with chemo for a week.  I’m not sure how I feel about it.  I am trying to keep myself busy.

I went to the ENT because of the throat pain/ voice cracking I’ve been experiencing.  She put a flexible scope up my nose & snaked it into my throat (very bizarre feeling) and told me that everything looked good. She feels my throat issues may be due to acid reflux (from chemo) and suggested I try Tums before we move onto anything heavier.  I’ve got to pick some up.  She also recommended I avoid tomatoes (and my tomato plants are actually growing well this year).  I haven’t been very good about the tomatoes.

As I noted on a previous post, I started tap dancing again.  I am having problems balancing on one foot however, so some moves are difficult.  I can get those damn “Back spank shuffles” or whatever they are called.  I can do “Wings” without a problem though they are supposedly harder but I don’t have to balance on one foot to do them.

I went to Tae Kwon Do today.  I thought I was going to pass out.  I have to learn to take it easy.  No push-ups.  It’ll be a long time before I can do those again.  My right chest is so tight & it is very uncomfortable to stretch the area.  I won’t stretch too far because I feel if I do, the scar will rip again.  It didn’t heal very well.  It isn’t open but it didn’t heal to the surface of my skin.  There are deep indentations.  I also have difficulty bouncing on my right foot as the ball of my foot and my toes are numb.  Hopefully the neuropathy will go away at some point.  It seems to effect my right hand and right foot.  I notice it in my right hand when I bike ride or when I use my hand too much (typing a post).

I’ve been bike riding with Gillian.  However, since she got a new bike, she is totally smoking me.  Her bicycle is much lighter than mine and has thinner tires.  My bicycle is a mountain bike.  I may have to get a new bike so I can keep up with her!

Christian went sky diving for the first time today (a tandem jump with an instructor).  It was our gift to him for his 18th birthday.  He had the biggest grin on his face when he landed.  I have a feeling he will sky dive again.  He loved it!  I don’t know if I would like it.  Maybe some day I will get up the nerve to try.  Perhaps for my 50th birthday.  I thought I would be nervous for him but I was remarkably calm.

The acupuncturist has been putting a lot of needles in my legs/feet but she said that it is very hard to treat neuropathy.  On Monday, there were over 40 needles in my legs, arms, face, abdomen, and head.  I felt more like “pinhead” than before.

I had more fluid removed from my right breast.  I think it was about 35 cc’s this time.  I’m sure it will fill back up within a week or so.  The area under my armpit is still very tight.  I have a lot of scar tissue in the area.  I can’t stretch my right arm as well as my left because of the tightness.  Dr. W stated that he could try to remove some of the scar tissue under my arm but he isn’t very hopeful that there will be any major improvement.  I’ve had some much surgery to the area.  (A total of 38 lymph nodes were removed between surgery in 1995 & my double mastectomy and sentinel node dissection in 2012).  I’ve got to decide when I will go for my reconstruction surgery. It definitely will not be before vacation.

I saw the Police Surgeon.  I am back to work Limited Capacity effective Saturday, the 27th.  However, we are leaving for North Carolina on Saturday night.  So I will actually return to work Monday August 5th.  I am going to ease my way back.  For the first few weeks I am back, I am only going to work a few days each week.  My brain still isn’t working right and I tire easily, but it will be nice to start getting back to normal.

I’m gonna cut this short because I have to finish getting my things together for our trip to North Carolina.  Upon our return, I will update my blog with our Little Pink Houses of Hope adventure.