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7/12/16 ~ to our Family & Friends
Well, it was an extremely thorough checkup today, and a very informative one at that. And I didn't even have to get undressed, although he asked me to lift my muumuu so he could see the colostomy and other surgical scars that I've accumulated over the years. The three of us (doc, Ellis & I) had quite a good discussion throughout the appointment.
You'd think when you're cured of one thing, it's over with. But apparently every medication, infection, condition of your past adds up to what you consist of today. (That may also include heredity conditions.)
So, insofar as my foot/feet goes, most of the pain is down to a pesky discomfort zone, so I'm healing okay. He recommended a couple of foot exercises, which I've been doing during the course of the day and sometimes at night before sleep, after sleep, or night wake up periods....he wants me to flex my feet and toes, and I'd also added an ankle exercise as well. He was glad to know that. Still, there's a ways to go as the skin feels tight. I'll be walking a bit more every day now as well. I find that I still tire easily when doing much walking. "Much" meaning over 15 minutes.
He had gone way back in my medical history, amazed that I'd gone though so many serious things. That goes back to Dec 1989 with my first surgery. "This medicine may have caused this and affected that." After my splenectomy, he found there is an immunization I should have been getting every 5 years, but haven't. Ellis will remember the names of the medications, as I admitted it was too technical for me to recall....so this doctor sent a page of his overall findings, and recommendations for two injections and I'm not sure what else, to both my Cancer Oncologist and the Hematology Oncologist.
He checked the circulation in my legs, expecting problems, but found it was normal. He checked my heart and asked if I've had heart problems (not at all), and said there was a slight drip on one side but he wouldn't think it would be any problem for at least 10 years down the road....right now we are taking care of immediate, more serious problems. He listened to my lungs and found them to be extremely clear. Guess I'm doing something right.
Before we departed he recommended what to look for and how to care for myself, especially since I'm going through chemotherapy. He was glad to know that I was already on top of most of it. I felt glad to know that.
(We wish all doctors were as caring and thorough and info-sharing has he is.)
So I'll be doing my foot exercises, keeping my legs properly elevated, trying to work in some body-strengthening exercises from PT as well. Hope the feet swelling stops before long. I don't like my current compression stockings as they hurt my feet (badly sized?) and don't stay up, so I have some others on order that should be effective AND more comfortable.
The leg massager that Ellis bought will be back in use again, as the pain is subsiding, and the angry color has started to fade as well.
It's gonna be okay!
Thursday, 7/14, I will begin Round 3 of the chemo regimen.
7/12/16 ~ to our Family & Friends
Well, it was an extremely thorough checkup today, and a very informative one at that. And I didn't even have to get undressed, although he asked me to lift my muumuu so he could see the colostomy and other surgical scars that I've accumulated over the years. The three of us (doc, Ellis & I) had quite a good discussion throughout the appointment.
You'd think when you're cured of one thing, it's over with. But apparently every medication, infection, condition of your past adds up to what you consist of today. (That may also include heredity conditions.)
So, insofar as my foot/feet goes, most of the pain is down to a pesky discomfort zone, so I'm healing okay. He recommended a couple of foot exercises, which I've been doing during the course of the day and sometimes at night before sleep, after sleep, or night wake up periods....he wants me to flex my feet and toes, and I'd also added an ankle exercise as well. He was glad to know that. Still, there's a ways to go as the skin feels tight. I'll be walking a bit more every day now as well. I find that I still tire easily when doing much walking. "Much" meaning over 15 minutes.
He had gone way back in my medical history, amazed that I'd gone though so many serious things. That goes back to Dec 1989 with my first surgery. "This medicine may have caused this and affected that." After my splenectomy, he found there is an immunization I should have been getting every 5 years, but haven't. Ellis will remember the names of the medications, as I admitted it was too technical for me to recall....so this doctor sent a page of his overall findings, and recommendations for two injections and I'm not sure what else, to both my Cancer Oncologist and the Hematology Oncologist.
He checked the circulation in my legs, expecting problems, but found it was normal. He checked my heart and asked if I've had heart problems (not at all), and said there was a slight drip on one side but he wouldn't think it would be any problem for at least 10 years down the road....right now we are taking care of immediate, more serious problems. He listened to my lungs and found them to be extremely clear. Guess I'm doing something right.
Before we departed he recommended what to look for and how to care for myself, especially since I'm going through chemotherapy. He was glad to know that I was already on top of most of it. I felt glad to know that.
(We wish all doctors were as caring and thorough and info-sharing has he is.)
So I'll be doing my foot exercises, keeping my legs properly elevated, trying to work in some body-strengthening exercises from PT as well. Hope the feet swelling stops before long. I don't like my current compression stockings as they hurt my feet (badly sized?) and don't stay up, so I have some others on order that should be effective AND more comfortable.
The leg massager that Ellis bought will be back in use again, as the pain is subsiding, and the angry color has started to fade as well.
It's gonna be okay!
Thursday, 7/14, I will begin Round 3 of the chemo regimen.
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