Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

Salllllsa....

Just found some peppers planted that the old guy left me. Blooming now. Giving away the cukes. Yellow squash...meh. But fresh. Yum.

Lunch anyone?

This being filed under the heading well-being. Mine, to be specific. Wish we were all together having lunch then going for a nice, aerobic but non sweatywalk.

Gorgeous lunch. Gorgeous beefheart. All you guys. Geez.

Anyway, here in east-coast-better-get-an-idea-soon-for-supper land, I've found a Mark Bittman recipe for pizza with a polenta crust. Suits me because it means turning on the oven for as little time as possible--a flaw with the tart theory. Then kale salad, I think.

Two teenagers playing Minecraft in the next room. Heading out for mozzarella. All is well.

Whitney - I missed that you finished RT on Friday - Congratulations!!!! I'm SO happy for you! How's your skin doing?

Katy -

A) Of COURSE you will keep your greenhouse. Why wouldn't you???

Can I place an order for the lunch platter? Do you deliver?

(Actually, I think we're doing lemon-zest ravioli from T. Joe's for dinner, which is also nice and light and summery but your dish would go nicely with it...)

3 mile beach walk. Sorry, no food post I can think of!

After all that tomato lovin' I decided today's exercise should be gardening. Yesterday the smoke was so thick it was frightening but today it's lifted so I headed outside and tackled some weeds and blackberries along the back property line and weeded and restated those 'maters. Dinner was poached eggs, tomatoes and toast. Never found myself at the grocery store this weekend so dinner choices were limited. That polenta crust pizza sounds amazing!

Sloth, My sister and her husband were driving back to Corvallis from Seattle and she sent me a picture of the smoke from the car window. Should have been able to see the mountains, but could not. So sad, all these fires.

I sure would like some fresh tomatoes! I did force myself to walk a mile and a half this evening after an anxiety filled weekend about these tumor marker tests.

Walked 2.8 mi today...and yes picked up two kinds of tomatoes at the store today! Will have them for dinner tomorrow.

PB

Kbeee, You are amazing and inspirational!

Lynn, PB, Kbee, all,of you! Kudos!

I took an official day of rest today.

Back to yoga and walking tomorrow. I think the yoga and maybe some Topricin I had for my back (and heard some ladies were using it for neuropathy pain) has helped my pain situation.

Today was the second full day I went without pain meds in many many months. I thought this day would never come. My pain levels (still doing some NSAIDs because there is arthritis pain, but I'm talking about ridiculous pain I was STILL having at the surgery site after 8 months) are down to the 2-3 level now, without opioids. I have been very, very concerned about this long term use, and had misgivings every time, EVERY SINGLE TIME one went in my mouth. I never sensed craving, never jonesed, never experienced any remote sense of well-being. Only pain relief. And never pain free in 8 months. I know most people recover much faster. I have questioned myself honestly. It's been a lonely, frustrating experience. And I'm not certain I'm out of the woods yet.

I have spoken at length about this to my MO, who agreed I didn't deserve to be in this much pain, and he and his staff have supported me. Chemo aggravated the pain, and I believe the port aggravated the nerves also. So maybe, just maybe, I am finally crawling out of this hell hole.

The friendship and camaraderie I've experienced from all of you has carried me though this. My friends and family only understood up to a point, and I know they got sick of hearing about it.

So thank you, sistas. You ALL are the best

Jen- I'm doing the math. If you wound up more than 14 miles away, you did a 28 mi round trip?

Oh....!!! And you cheated and walked over 9 miles of it.

I think I'm going to faint.

You are a BAD.ASS.

Katy...you are one strong woman!!! So happy for you that your pain is getting better. Coming off pain medication can be so very difficult.

PB

No tomato porn here but my DH made the most delish meal tonight! He recently returned from Baffin Island and brought back some arctic char. He baked it with soy sauce, maple syrup, and ginger and topped it with green onions and sliced almonds. It was served over a bed of rice. So good! AND I didn't have to cook it!

I haven't exercised in two days. I wish I could write that in smaller type. I'm not very proud of myself. Does standing in line at Walmart for an hour count? Normally I don't shop there but my youngest DD was invited to a birthday party. I put off getting anything until the last minute so to Walmart I went. Ugh!

Wow, Littleblue! That is quite the workout! Good for you! I love finding trails where you just want to keep going and going because you want to see what comes next.

Katy, that is great news about the pain meds. I know you have really struggled with the pain and I am so happy for you! I hope it continues to get better and better.

Happy for you Katy! Has anyone ever heard about taking a Tumeric supplement? It is supposed to be good for a lot of things, especially imflamation?