Life at the Beach

Ever since I can remember, I have always loved the beach and always looked forward to our yearly summer vacations. The best things I remember were the early morning walks along the waters edge, while the waves were lapping and teasing your feet as if it's begging or daring you to enter the water. There was always a peacefuless to those mornings. You could wander and for miles without even realizing it because you were so deep in thought for so many different reasons. For me, it was always about calmness, peacefullness, and serenity.

And now it's still all those things but more. And the 'more' I'm speaking of is my life post Cancer and stem-cell transplant.  I look at those earlier days and think things were a little easier. Sure I still had to contend with the humidity and the havoc it wrecked on my hair. I still had to lather up in sunscreen to protect myself from the rays of the sun. But now even though I'm still battling those same issues, it all on a different level. It seems I have more restrictions. I've learned that life with wigs is not so easy as I thought it would be. I had the naive notion that it would be like Jane Jetson from 'The Jetsons' where I would put the wig on, whether it be real or synthetic, and go on my merry way looking perfectly made with every hair in place. Boy, how wrong was I.  The ocean elements wreck havoc on synthetic wigs. It's like the kiss of death to a synthetic wig and as for real hair wigs, it's not much better. No matter how much I style it, it just like your normal head of hair and has a mind of its own. But where most people can throw it up in a ponytail or clip it etc, you are very limited as to the styles you can do with your wig. I thought it would be easy to throw on a ball cap but because of the amount of hair, it's difficult to tuck behind your ears without the risk of your ears sticking out and making yourseg look like an elf. Or you could just let it hang as is with the hat and risk walking around looking like the lost relative of 'Cousin Itt' from the Addams Family.

So what about going wigless??? If I were someone who hasn't been through cancer and hair loss, I would probably think the same thing.  But when you've spent months and even years without any hair due to being ill, the last thing you want to do is go through it again when your somewhat healthy. I've had enough walking around feeling like a freak-factor with people staring and even whispering.

It's still all a learning experience and truly, I'm still new at this so-called 'new normal'. I'm optimistic that I will get it figured out. It's just going to take some time and patience, and for any one who knows me, my patience is very limited. But i will try my hardest to stay positive because I've been through one of life's most difficult battles, and even though I carry many scars, both mentally and physically,  I am thankful of its success and this new journey.

A Chance Encounter

I surprised myself today.  I've been carrying a lot of anger and I even admit, hate, for a year now. And I encountered the source of those extreme negative emotions today.  I was surprised by my own reaction. I thought that if this encounter ever occurred, whether planned or by accident, I didn't think that I would react as a mature, rational human being.  But I did.  I even spoke a few words.  It felt awkward, strange and uncomfortable but no matter my past negative feelings, I just could not be anything other than smile and be civil.

This 'thing' I will call it has been a constant daily battle. It has been a source of heartache for me and those closest to me. It has even affected my children, to a point where I never really could give an explanation that they could understand, of why things became the way they are now.

I experienced many emotions, from shock, to nervousness, to sadness, and even loss, of what could have been.  But never once, did I feel that anger or hate.  And that surprised me the most because I have been carrying these feelings for the past year.

So this is a new self-discovery.  You can never predict how your going to react to a certain situation.  You can process and think about it all you want.  You can come up with numerous scenarios in your mind. But you can never truly prepare.  You just need to look at the 'good' inside yourself and hold your head high and know you did the right thing. It's an amazing feeling of calm and peacefulness and those toxic feelings have all but been washed away.

Moods & Anxieties

I posted the same posts on a few Leukemia/BMT pages on Facebook regarding mood changes (I.e going from being happy to easily becoming angry or highly agitated or irritable) and even touching upon isues regarding social anxiety.  I can't believe the overwhelming responses I received about these issues and how common they are.

I'm very aware that these issues are not just related to cancer. But I refer to these issues as a result of the cancer experience and how much emotionally some of us are affected once the treatments are over and while we're in remission.  Some survivors/warriors identified it as 'post-traumatic stress disorder' (PTSD), others refer to it as 'normal' and part of the journey post-cancer.

Whatever the reason or label, it's a part of our reality and we are not so abnormal in our thoughts and anxieties, especially in our social relationships and how we respond to others in those relationships.

We are not alone, many of us share a common experience (Cancer) with common emotions, thoughts and reactions.  And all of us are just trying to cope and heal, so we can move forward in our journey to our 'new normal'.

Image source: http://www.osteoarthritisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/mood.jpg

Past, Present, & Future: Searching for Peace

The above quote couldn't be more accurate. My daily life consists of all three happening simultaneously, although, it's more fear and anxiety than peace.  Cancer is so much more than a disease. Cancer not only affects your body physically with its attempt at ending it's life, but the psychological damage it leaves in its wake is just as damaging, if not, at times, worse.

Tomorrow will mark the five year anniversary of my initial diagnosis (June 25, 2009).  As I sit here today, I'm still in just as much fear as I was that day.  When will it get better, when will this fear go away???

I try to give myself positive pep talks each day when I wake up. Even when I'm nauseous and tired or my eyes feel as though sand has been thrown in them, or I'm up against a limitation after the transplant that I try to search for the good, so I can maintain a balance.  But sometimes the 'fear', outweighs it all and the scales I'm trying to balance collapses.

No one knows this, until now, not even my husband, but almost daily I'm subjected to tears, whether it's a limitation from my stem-cell transplant,  or an event that triggers a memory of what once was or could eventually be.  Many times my crying episodes are in solitude (in the car, the shower, or even in bed in the middle of the night). Usually it's my mind going a mile a minute and I mourn so many thoughts and feelings or losses due to cancer.

Some assume that when the cancer is gone, it's back to living normally. I truly believe this is so far from the truth.  I came to the realization in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep that 'fear' has taken ahold of my life.  I'm afraid to 'live'. I'm afraid that once I allow myself that happiness and joy of living that it will be ripped from me again. I'm beginning to see the consequences of my relapse and the psychological damage it has left.

I've been to counseling,  I've been to support groups, I've spoken to other survivors, warriors, etc. but I still haven't learned a way to cope with all that has changed or has been lost.  I wish there was a magic wand to take all the pain and fear away. What may work for someone else may not work for another.  I want my 'peace' in the living world. All I can do is hold onto my 'hope' that through this journey I will find the 'peace' I'm looking for and finally be able to 'live'.




Image source: http://definingwonderland.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/past-quote.jpg

Brain Fog, Chemo Brain...What is it???

Well, I've noticed many times this new year that my issues with 'chemo brain' have gotten worse.  But I've also noticed that the severity of it varies daily.

For example, I had been removing laundry from the washer and placing it in a basket so that I could place it in the dryer.  Please note that my washer & dryer are not side by side due to our house being very old (built in the 1890's) and the outlets are not near each other.  So due to the location of the washer and dryer, I needed to place the wet laundry in the basket so that I could easily transfer it to the dryer, which leads me to my chemo brain moment. After I placed the laundry in the basket, I added a dirty load to the washer and added the soap and fabric softner, chose the cycle of wash and water temp and started the new load of dirty wash.  Then I went upstairs to start a new chore in the house. After sometime, I heard a few beeps notifying me that my laundry was done.  So upon arrival, I went to the dryer and noticed there was no laundry in there. I had completely forgotten to add the wet laundry to the dryer.  I stood there wondering how could I forget something like that and how could I forget that I forgot about it.  I had gone to the dryer to fold and hang the clothes and I just stood there absolutely in a fog. This has been happening a lot lately. 

I am finding myself just standing or sitting somewhere mentally searching for some form of recollection of a specific incidence or attempting to recall a piece of conversation or even the amount of an item that I wrote a check out for and I can't remember!!!

Someone could tell me something and even after 5 minutes, I can't fully recall the details of the conversation, it's like I lost a moment or two in time that I can't remember.

Is this normal??? Are thsee bouts of chemo brain worse some days than others???
 

Thankfully, I visit my oncologist tomorrow and I will be able to discuss these concerns with him.  I just wanted to put it out there for others to read (and before I probably forgot) hoping to have some feedback from anyone else with similar issues after  chemotherapy.

The list could go on and as to the things that I forget and I'll save that for my doctor.  But if this is common, then I'll just have to figure out how to adjust to this 'new normal' of intermittent lapses in memory and hoping that this brain fog, forgetfulness,  lapses in memory will be 'forgotten' and a thing of the past.

Image source: http://maryhardy.com/?p=1891

National Cancer Surviors Day 2014

Image Sources:

http://anasebrahem.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/how-do-you-see-the-morning-today/

http://www.hmh.net/HMHWebsite/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=199

http://marcusaureliusquotes.blogspot.com/2013/08/when-you-arise-in-morning-marcus_12.html?m=1

#FeelAlive

Lately I have been beginning to look at the brighter sides of where I am today. Many of my posts speak of the trials that I have encountered since my diagnosis and stem-cell transplant.  And while I still want to keep it real, I also want to express my joy with Life. 

Recently, and quite fortunately, I was able to receive a free real-hair wig.  It has uplifted my self-confidence and has made me feel more normal.  I know the saying 'bald is beautiful', but it's not as easy for some to embrace. Especially someone like me who has always struggled with weight and a poor body self-image. 

Somedays, I feel like shouting how happy I'm here to be alive. I want to laugh daily. I want to be my geeky, book nerdy, techie self. And if anyone has issue with my quirky ways, then so be it. I love who I am. I love all those odd ball things about me because that is 'me'.

I'm embracing the newer things about me.  When faced with your own mortality, your outlook and perspective definitely changes.  And those changes affect how you approach Life.

Well, I'm approaching Life by the  #feelalive motto!!!   I hope many of you will do the same.  Don't be ashamed of who you are...Live, Laugh, Love, Feel Alive and Embrace Life!!!