Six weeks out: a view from here

From reddit. Of course it is.

 

I am now about six weeks out. I can say several things.

I continue to progress and heal. I remain really pleased that I did the double mastectomy surgery. I feel as good as one can possibly feel after a major surgery -- which is to say, I am still feeling it, but also, I feel pretty good.

Endocrine therapy update

Yeah, it's kicking my ass a little.

Hot flashes are the most common side effect, and it was over a week on tamoxifen before I got them, but now they are here with a vengance. I spend a lot of my day with ice packs. I have also bid adieu to any hot beverages for now. Time to get the cold brew going because my hot coffee with a crapton of ice cubes in it each morning is just sad. Eating hot food also isn't ideal so dinner time is spent with an icepack, as is post-dinner couch time. Ice packs moderate it reasonably well though.

The surgery incisions go into my underarms so I have not been able to shave, or wear deodorant. It hasn't been a huge issue honestly...until now. And now it definitely is. Sweet baby Jesus. By 7 am today I smelled like a garbage dump. Anna suggested we pressure wash me. I think it is a good idea.

Other than that, still a bit headachy, but that's pretty minor. And sleepy/foggy but that may just be from trying to do too much. Who is surprised?

Physical therapy update

My range of motion is incredible but my pecs are TIGHT. I met with my therapist again today and she was really pleased with my progress. And she gave me new exercises to start working on because the last set was really easy now. 

Anonymous friend, I can tell you, these new ones are not easy.

A good friend who has worked with her said she's good at the "yay, you're doing so good! NOW PREPARE TO SUFFER" which is a good summary of my appointment. These exercises were hard but felt good and they are a step toward getting back in the air, which is exciting.

I had a moment the other night scraping the bottom of a pan out where I tweaked a muscle and freaked out. I brought it up with her because I wanted strategies to get past the self-protective instinct there and what was funny was she asked me to explain the feeling when I tweaked it. As I thought it through, I realized it was tweaked...it was just not used to being used. I panicked because I used my muscle. That awareness alone was worth the whole appointment.

Still have several months before I am back to pre-surgery strength and flexibility levels, but I'm over the moon about how far I have come.