Good Morning, World!

The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak, became a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.  ~Thomas Carlyle

Bosun and Dory on the RV dash -- right next to my work station -- always ready with unconditional love and kisses......

It’s a beautiful Monday here in Merritt Island (Florida) – sunny, breezy, and 70 degrees, although I’m sure it will be warming up considerably.  We might even take the kayaks out today, which will be a first since my mastectomy 7½ weeks ago.  I’ve come a long way since then and feel that I have regained most of the strength and range of motion in my left arm (where the lymph nodes were removed).  There is still a lot of numbness, and I guess there will be some residual numbness for quite awhile……maybe forever.  But that’s not going to stop me from using a kayak paddle!  I did get a compression sleeve, which the lymphedema therapist said I should always wear when working out, exercising, kayaking, etc. – to help prevent swelling in the left arm. 

Had a fun weekend with 2 other couples/good friends joining us here at the campground.  One couple came for a week, which was really nice, and the other couple came for a long weekend.  It was so nice having them here – such a nice diversion for me.  It was Don’s birthday, so we all chipped in and got 3 dozen steamed crabs (big ones!) Friday night and sat around the picnic table picking crabs.  It was great fun!

The only drawback to the weekend was the “hard hit” I took from the Neulasta injection (that I had on Monday, 4/11).  One of the nurses told me that I would probably experience the side effects within 1-3 days of the injection, which I guess is why I felt so terrible last Monday and Tuesday.  Another nurse told me that the Neulasta has a “peak period” of 7-10 days.  I didn’t really know what she meant……until 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning!  WOW!  Did it ever peak!!  I had the most excruciating lower back pain I’ve ever felt – to the point of tears.  It was unbelievable.  I took 2 Tylenol Extra Strength Rapid Release gel caps, and Kenny gave me a back rub with some special cream, which didn’t seem to help much, but then he got up and made me a hot pack – so sweet at 3:00 a.m.!!  I didn’t even want to wake him up, but I guess he heard me tossing and turning, moaning and groaning……and crying…..   (I consider myself to have a pretty high pain tolerance, too, but the pain was something else).  The hot pack and the Tylenol helped, and I was actually able to get back to sleep for a few more hours.  It was pretty painful all day yesterday but, as long as I took Tylenol every 4 hours, it was bearable.  The nurse had also told me that the bone/joint pain that I “might” experience would be most prevalent at sites of previous bone injuries – and the pain is caused by the bone marrow regenerating itself.  Who wudda thought bone marrow regeneration could cause so much pain??!  Anyway, I figured I would feel the pain in my right ankle – site of a trimalleolar fracture in 1997.  However, I didn’t feel a thing there – maybe because of the plate and all the screws?  Instead, it decided to zero in on the low back – site of a compression fracture in 1974. 

Anyway, enough of that.  I don’t want to bore you with all these details.  I feel great today, and THAT is what matters!  No low back pain at all, and it’s a beautiful day!  Time to get out and enjoy it!  Hope it’s a nice day wherever all of you are, too!