The weeks seem to be flying by. Here it is time for another update. This week I want to share a bit about being loyal to myself and doing things for my self-care. I’m still recovering from my chemo infusion of Rituximab. I’m so thankful and feel so blessed that I only have to endure chemo every 6 months. Unlike cancer patients that go in sometimes up to 3 times a week. I find those who endure chemo treatment to be courageous people. I cannot imagine the stress of having to get it more than once every six months. I know just getting it once is exhausting and I’m still recovering after two weeks. The side effects are a pain and so draining.
I woke up Friday morning feeling exhausted still. I did not want to get up and go to my physical therapy. I have been doing my exercises, but I still felt run down. I went to PT anyway. I prayed before I got out of bed that I did not know how I was going to walk the long corridor to get to Rebound Physical Therapy to see Mike. Once again God answered my prayer. While sitting at the beginning of the long labyrinth a lady who works at the Rebound saw me and asked me if I was alright. I said I’m okay, just resting before the long walk to the end of the hallway to get to Rebound for physical therapy. She said in a joking way to me you are getting your physical therapy before you get there. I laughed and said yes I am. Well the lady told them and someone came to me with a wheelchair and wheeled me to physical therapy. I don’t usually like to be wheeled where I am going but I needed it on Friday. Mike, my PT therapist only had me do half the exercises until I am fully recovered. My heart rate shot up to 165 instead of the normal 145 it normally hits when I am doing my exercises. I am blessed to have an oximeter with the heart rate on it. I love this gadget. I can measure my oxygen and my heart rate at the same time. I will be seeing Mike in two weeks. I think God knew I needed some encouragement because Mike said out of the blue that I was his favorite patients because of my go get them attitude. I struggle, but though I fall down I get back up again.
I saw my nutritionist Friday also. I lost 3 pounds. When you are on chemo and steroids gaining weight is so easy and weight doesn’t seem to want to come off. I was amazed, because the two weeks before I gained 11 pounds. My body fluctuates like this a lot because of the medications I have to take to keep my throat open and my body from attacking herself. While walking to see the nutritionist I tripped over my feet. Thankfully I did not land on my face or butt. I laughed it off because I am clumsy and trip over myself all the time. Heck one time I hit myself in the head with the car door, talk about a classic move. I woke up Saturday with my left knee hurting me, so I rested. I put some peppermint oil and basil oil on my knee. Basil helps with inflammation and peppermint oil helps with swelling and it just smells soothing to my soul. My knee is better now, thankfully.
I am learning a lot this past couple of months about self-care and being loyal to myself. This morning I rearranged my living room. I need to change things up a bit so that it fits my lifestyle now. I will also be enjoying the movie “The Monumental Men” with Timothy and Lisa on Wednesday. Self-care requires that I start loving who I am. Jesus loves me. He loves me enough that he died on the cross for me, so why can’t I take the time to love myself? One of the best things that I do for myself is making sure I get enough sleep. I don’t feel like myself if I don’t get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Or when I just have had my chemo I can sleep up to 12 hours a night. Sleep allows the body to heal. When you are sleeping the cells in the body regenerate so that we can get up and have our morning coffee in the morning or in my case tea.
What are ways that you love yourself?
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