Friday, February 28, 2014

How's the brow?

It is the end of February.  I can so feel and see Spring although today is overcast and rainy.  I figured you've amused me long enough by my not talking about my health.  So I figured as the end of February comes about, I will stop for a minute and give you an update.

First off, I still have an eyebrow dent....although the dent is getting better.  I found I can really disguise it by using brow makeup.  I usually don't worry about it but when I am out with my friends, I usually try to disguise it some.  (Thanks Mom for the eyebrow powder)

What else is going on is I feel it.  It is a different feel.  It has been sore to touch since surgery and has a "band" of swelling that goes up my forehead.  My eyelashes are still numb too.  When I talked to Dr. S (my Surgeon),  he said that was right were the nerve was and it will take time for it to heal.  I think this "swelling" is not helping the dent  as it really shows it off.  But the feeling is strange.  Almost like rubbing hair the wrong way.  I often find my cancer lumps because I "feel" it so you can imagine my freak out when my eyebrow was "feeling".  But as I play with it, I suspect the numbness is wearing off and that is what I feel.  There is a lumpy feel but I'm not sure it feels like a cancer lump yet. I plan to wait to see what is going on with it and try to relax about it until I see Dr. L again.  I see Dr. L(my Oncologist) in April.

Muscle wise?  I am weak but it is weakness from the gym.  I went again last night and for some reason, I am more sore than usual today.  My butt muscles are crying.  And my underarms...oh my underarms are sore.  What? But I am sticking with it.  I believe it will get better if I keep sticking with it and I will get stronger.  I have little tiny calf muscles already. Yeah you have to dig around for them but I can feel them again.  As much as my butt hurts, I hope I am getting my gluts in shape.  But mostly I am working on my hip flexors and shoulders as those are the muscle groups my disease attacks most.  I did go 2 days between gym work outs (instead of every other day) and that seemed to feel better for me.  If I stick with that schedule, I won't make my 3 times a week but I will give me permission to change if I need.

I get my blood checked monthly.  One of the tests is the CPK (or CK) which checks injury to the muscles.  I was a little nervous to have it checked since going back to the gym but it came back at 101 which is fantastic.  You are considered normal under 200 so I am good.  My main concern is that I haven't been to the gym since I got off Prednisone.  At this point, it appears I am doing okay with my work outs and not further damaging my muscles.  I will see my Dr. D (my Neurologist) in April.

So things are good for now.  I wouldn't consider myself out of the woods at this point but I feel I am stable and waiting.  Waiting hopefully for good news down the road.  I have a goal for myself.  And that is easier mobility when we head to Moab the end of May.  I want to be able to cruise around that gravel at the RV park without issues.  We will see....

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