Arthiritis it is

I got the phone call today, the x-ray showed that I have a little arthiritis in my backbone. Yaaay! I am so happy.

see you in 6 months

that's what the doctor said!  I thought that for 2 years I had to have check-ups every 3 months, but I guess I was wrong.  The blood tests all came back normal.  Physical examination was fine.  I did have an X-ray of my backbone taken, just to make sure that the discomfort that I feel is nothing serious.  Should get the result of that tomorrow.  So I am very very happy.  OK, better get back to work before I go to pick up that girls from art camp.  Thank you for all your prayers. 

Check-up tomorrow

So tomorrow is another 3 month (actually it is 2 months, because I will be gone next month) check up.  I am a little stressed, as it is expected.  Well, this time I won't have my port for blood-draw, let's hope the vein in my right arm cooperates. Had my acupuncture today.  Have I mentioned how much I love it?  it really helps to relax me and calm me down.  I truly feel better afterwords, sometimes I even take a nap.  I call it my "maintenance plan". 
I will put a short update tomorrow - hopefully all will be good and we can be on our way for a restful and peaceful vacation next week.

Oh, yesterday I saw my surgeon, he said that the surgery site looked good and that he did not need to see me again.  Boy I love it when doctors tell me that they do not want to see me again :)

Feeling good again

It has been a while since my last update.  It has been over 3 weeks now since the surgery.  Finally in the last few days I have been feeling really good.  Exactly 5 days after the surgery I started having some back pain that felt like an electric shock that started in my back and radiated through my body.  Thankfully that day I was seeing the Dr. and he said that the most likely explanation would be that it was due to the way they strapped me down during the surgery.  After about 36 hrs of this weird feeling it went away.  Then about 10 days after the surgery I started having a weird headache, similar to the back pain in that it was also pulsating like an electric shock, hitting from the left back side towards my left eye socket.  Again after 2 days or so it went away.  Then the following week the back ache came back, not as strong as last time but definitely bothersome.  Finally I gave in and called my oncologist to make an appointment, but she was out of town so they called me back on Monday.  Well, by then I had already been to my acupuncturist and the pain was gone.  So I am waiting till next week when I was supposed to see my oncologist anyway.  The acupuncturist thought it was due to the tense muscles on my back, both from the surgery and afterwards from trying to protect my right side and being stiff.  In addition to acupuncture she also did "cupping" where she burns an alcohol swab in a glass cup, blows out the flame and immediately puts it on my back.  As the vacuum formed the cup sucked on my back, she moved it around - and yes I did get bunch of hickies on my back but I do not care. It helped.

Yesterday and today have been awesome, no weird pains, no GI problems that I had for a week or so, it is so great to feel like myself again.  Even my right side feels almost normal, I can raise my right arm quite high, use it almost as normal as the left arm.

In 2 weeks we will be flying to Turkey.  We are getting excited about the trip, although leaving Dan behind will be sad.  Part of the vacation is already planned.  While in Istanbul we'll get to see our family.  I am also trying to line up dinners/get togethers with friends.

OK, I better go, I will put up another update in a week, after I see the oncologist. Cheers everyone!

Oh, as I promised here is a picture of me.  This was taken at Ada's graduation from preschool.