Today's the big day! the first day of the last part of my treatment! i'm sitting in the hospital cafateria waiting for time to pass by so i can go become radioactive! We got to the hospital just under an hour ago, been moved around a few times, and i got some blood tests done. Next is the waiting game before we head to radiology.
I've been off my meds and on an iodine free diet for about a month now. I'm feeling sluggish and bloated and my brain feels like mush. But luckily it hasn't been to terrible until this last week. As far as symptoms go i would say its a mix between mono and menopause. I'm so exhausted my whole body hurts, and i have been extremely sensitive to tempurature and getting the shakes a lot. But the worst part is the mood swings. I can be happy and laughing one minute and crying the next. I've been having to limit my TV watching to the food network, the comedy channel, and the fishing channel in order to try and keep my emotional swings in check. however, i'll admit even cake decorating has made me cry ta couple times.. I'm sorry to any one that has been caught up in my waves of crazy the past few days! ...But all things consitered its not to horrible and i've only gained a few pounds (which i think thanksgiving is more to blame than anything else) and I'm still in surprisingly good spirits. And the best part: After today i'll go back on my meds and normal diet and should be feeling more like myself in a week or two!
It's been a slow moving day so far, and at least on the surface we're all surprisingly calm and content. Although my mom has decided to tease me by eating a dohnut and hot chocolate in front of me. (I can't eat anything with iodine, and nothing for the rest of the day till after my treatment) In about an hour, we will head over to the radiology for my dose of radioactive iodine. I'm still not sure what exactly is going to happen, but i know that the does will be taken orally, and i suspect they will spend a long time explaining everything and going over protocol and such. For the next few days i will be considered radioactive and will have to be isolated, but i've got my fingers crossed they'll let me use my computer and guitar so i don't go to crazy! But if i'm unable to update on here, i'll make sure to get my family to keep this updated! fingers crossed I gain some cool super powers too!
In other news, Frankie has returned back to Australia :( It was an absolute blast to have her here! It was truly a life saver. Even though I was unable to take her to do as much as i wanted to, I'm increasingly grateful for the distraction! She has a wonderful sense of humor even amid the crazy that is my family! We even got up to the mountains for some fun in the snow! I snowboarded for the first time in at least a year, and Frankie's well on her way to being a skiing pro! I can not thank her and her family enough for her coming over here! I also want to thank my loving boyfriend Daniel! He has been my superhero through this whole mess! and with any luck at all I'll be back in Australia with them both and everyone else who has been loving and supporting me from afar in under 2 weeks!!!!!
This whole experience seems like such a dream! it's hard to believe i was diagnosed almost 4 months ago! It's been a hard thing to deal with, but it some ways i think its been a good experience and its made me and many of my relationships that much stronger! I can't wait to put this whole thing behind me and move forward with my life! I know it's far from over, and life never stops throwing in the unexpected, but like they say, it's all about how you handle plan b!
it will all work out for the best
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