Woops! I took a picture last week and then plum forgot to post it. So, this week there are two. Can you see the difference?
Week 18 and Week 19
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Author Archives: coffeeclash
Update
After my thyroid was removed, it was sent to a pathologist for a complete examination to determine the extent of the cancer growth. On Monday, I went to see the otolaryngologist (ENT) to find out the final diagnosis regarding the severity of the cancer and what the next step would be.
Well… it appears that we caught it at the earliest of possible stages (T1b) — the tumor was 1.2 cm and all the cancerous tissue was contained within the tumor itself.
This means, aside from taking the synthetic thyroid hormone medicine, I do not need to undergo any further treatment.
However, as much as I’d like to pronounce my journey/adventure at an end, it isn’t. I still must work to figure out the right dose of medication to get my body to its natural state. Currently, I believe I might be running a bit hypo (low). I find that I’m exhausted, my feet are cold a lot of the time, and I’m slightly constipated. I have to wait a few weeks to get my blood work done, to find out where I’m at, and to find out what, if any, changes need to be done.
All in all, though, it’s a fantastic outcome. Just think, in a little over a two months, I went from having cancer to being cancer free. Yeah!! modern medicine!! and the Canadian health system!!
Week 17
Again, my progress this week was impeded by a small amount of blood getting onto the fabric and needing to be washed out before I could continue. With the blood gone, I can get back to work on it. Hi ho! Hi ho!
Week 16
Surprise! Not only did I do a lot of stitching this week, I managed to post the photo on Sunday!
Don Quixote-ing
I have started working on one of this year’s goals — reading Don Quixote. It’s quite amusing; I might even go so far as to say the satirical novel is downright hilarious. However, I do find that 300 pages in there is an extraordinary lack of character growth and development: Sancho Panza is just starting to realize that Don Quixote is not quite right in the head. The book’s over 800 pages long, which makes me wonder how much more I can take of their mis-adventures before my attention starts to wane. Maybe if I take a break between the first and second half of the novel, I’ll be able to maintain my admiration for Cervantes’s wit.
In the interim, I maybe I should be getting myself a few bath bombs to use while I’m reading the book in the bath. I already picked up some flair and have the following song on repeat on my iPod for back ground music as I forge ahead in my Don Quixote-ing!
Week 15
I had a few too many things on my mind last week to do anything with my little project. I’m getting back on top of things and, therefore, present the photo for week 15… late…as usual.
Post Op Update
On Tuesday, I had a complete thyroidectomy. I was unable to eat or drink anything from midnight the night before. So, I made a point of having dinner at Black & Blue, a fancy steakhouse downtown. It was a nice meal, an expensive meal. The dessert was a bit disappointing as the coconut pie was overwhelmed by a lemon cream. I mentioned my disappointment and it was struck from our bill. That impressed me.
But, back to the surgery.
I was unable to have a cup of coffee in morning. Quite frankly, that was really the worst part of the whole thing. It was kind of quick once I got into the perioperative care unit. The anesthestist, nurse, and surgeon were fantastic. Not long after I finished saying “It’s the beginning of a great adventure,” I was waking up in recovery.
Once I was brought up to the ward, I was kept company by Joe Mousetrap and a brief visit from Marathon Joe. However, when I started to gag on my banana, they made a quick exit. I just needed to slow down a bit and I managed to eat my dinner…slowly. I listened to music and read for a little bit and then went to sleep. Sleep in the hospital is kind of hard to get. I had two 3 1/2 hour blocks of sleep without nurses waking me for blood pressure or blood work. I shouldn’t complain about the interruptions, however; they resulted in me being discharged right after breakfast.
Thank God for that, because …
As I was eating breakfast the worst thing happened to me. I was using the anti-bacterial foam to get the jam stickiness off my hands and I accidentally got some in the coffee. My coffee. The first cup of coffee I’d had since noon on Monday. And there was no more to be had until I got home.
All in all, I was home in less than 24 hours. I’m tired, but feeling good and buoyed by the love and caring that my family and friends have showered upon me over the past month.
13 Weeks
Woops! I took this picture on Sunday as per usual. However, I plum forgot to post it.
One side of the hair is finished. Yeah!!
Walken
I did the Sun Run today. A 10k walk that started at 9:00 on a Sunday. Yep. I thought I lost my mind when my alarm went off this morning. However, I signed up for it and was determined to follow through.
It was a bit cool at the start, but I warmed up enough to walk comfortably without having to take my coat off. My iPod kept me company with music I like to listen to while walking: LCD Soundsystem and (my current obsession) Wilco. My energy was flagging at about the 5k mark, but once I got over the Burrard Street bridge, I felt good again. At the 7k mark my feet started to hurt. But, I kept going and I came close to meeting my goal of walking the Sun Run in 1:45. My time was 1:49.
Now, however, I need to get serious about the problem I’ve been having with my feet lately. For the most part I’ve been ignoring that my plantars fasciitis is coming back. With the thyroid cancer, it seems like just one more damn thing to deal with. I don’t want to have to go buy another pair of shoes right now (what? did I just write that sentence? who’d have thunk that would ever happen?) as I am watching my money right now. I don’t want to be spending too much money in case I end up having to take more time off work than anticipated. Still, my feet are important and I have to take care of them.
