When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, someone told me it is a year out of your life and then you get back to some sort of normal.
Another blogger this morning announced that after two years of blogging about her Hodgkins Disease she is moving on to blog about social media and other things. Her cancer adventure has slid into the background of her life - right on schedule as she had been told when she was diagnosed.
The wise people who tell us the deadlines on our diseases are not doctors or medical specialists but usually other patients reflecting on their experience and what they have been told by other patients.
So how do you put a schedule on a cancer diagnosis? My life, six years out from diagnosis two, is a never ending stream of doctor appointments. Well yes I did develop additional, non cancer ailments - bad back, rheumatoid, fibromyalgia, but at every doctor appointment there is still a little cancer hanging in the room. Maybe if I could go back to annual physicals I would be more relaxed about it.
I just don't think I can ever put a date on the end of cancer stress. The little cancer roller coaster rides through my life like the little train that could. I don't see an end of the line for it.
Maybe I am a bit pessimistic these days but I am tired. I just woke up and still need a nap. The nap is the fibro/RA speaking to me. I do need to go to the grocery store and want to go for a walk in this nice weather.
But I would like to kick that little cancer train out of my life....
Showing posts with label schedules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label schedules. Show all posts
Over committed again
I am over committed again these days. Combined with a lot of back pain, it is not a lot of fun. We spent the weekend away (without a cell phone and survived) but that cut in to my work time.
I am working my one job, winding down my other job but do not have enough time to get everything finished and I have deadlines. I am also starting to do a little more volunteer work, and tomorrow is an annual event where I have to be there at 6 am - but its only ten minutes from home. I usually stay the whole day but this year they are going to be lucky to have me until lunch. Between back pain and other things I need to do, I am a little short on time and abilities.
Yesterday afternoon I spent was in a good deal of pain even though I took my pills. Silly me, I thought I could go for a walk after working for six hours.
Let's see how I do today. I bet I'll be on my way home by noon.
I am working my one job, winding down my other job but do not have enough time to get everything finished and I have deadlines. I am also starting to do a little more volunteer work, and tomorrow is an annual event where I have to be there at 6 am - but its only ten minutes from home. I usually stay the whole day but this year they are going to be lucky to have me until lunch. Between back pain and other things I need to do, I am a little short on time and abilities.
Yesterday afternoon I spent was in a good deal of pain even though I took my pills. Silly me, I thought I could go for a walk after working for six hours.
Let's see how I do today. I bet I'll be on my way home by noon.
Day by day
These days I live things day by day. What I mean by this is I plan to have a normal schedule and be the normal me (as much as I can be considered to be normal) and then I start making alterations to my schedule based on how I feel. Some days I keep my schedule and some days, I make short cuts, go home early and take naps.
Yesterday I was supposed to go out to dinner with family but I opted to stay home. I was sore, tired, achy, and felt my pink fuzzy pajamas were calling my name. We stayed home and had tuna sandwiches for dinner and I went to bed early.
This week I am taking it easier than most. The accident did leave me some (additional) aches and pains which have slowed me down some more. I will see my primary care next week. I called her office to ask about my CT report and as soon as I said that I had been in an accident that brought me to the ER, they said of course she needed to see me. How about Tuesday at 1030?
I am learning, slowly of course - as I am not always quick on the uptake - that I have to make changes in my life. A few months ago, I would have pushed myself and then spent three days recovering. I used to over schedule myself frequently and now I do it less.
Now I know, nap first, motivate later.
Yesterday I was supposed to go out to dinner with family but I opted to stay home. I was sore, tired, achy, and felt my pink fuzzy pajamas were calling my name. We stayed home and had tuna sandwiches for dinner and I went to bed early.
This week I am taking it easier than most. The accident did leave me some (additional) aches and pains which have slowed me down some more. I will see my primary care next week. I called her office to ask about my CT report and as soon as I said that I had been in an accident that brought me to the ER, they said of course she needed to see me. How about Tuesday at 1030?
I am learning, slowly of course - as I am not always quick on the uptake - that I have to make changes in my life. A few months ago, I would have pushed myself and then spent three days recovering. I used to over schedule myself frequently and now I do it less.
Now I know, nap first, motivate later.
Cutting back
In the past several months, I find I run out of steam between my two jobs, home life, social life, etc. I decided I needed to cut back on life - to allow more down time, naps, and sleeping in general.
Five years ago, I was happy to expand my life to add more work and do more things. That was great. I was through cancer treatment and feeling good and we even took a vacation to Acadia National Park for hiking and biking.
Then I had my gall bladder out and my back pains started. Now my gall bladder is healed and my back pains have a treatment plan so they are usually under control. unless I do things like stand, walk, sit, or lie down for any length of time. My life slowed down some. I stopped some of my more aggressive activities - no more skiing down the fall line or bike riding for me.
I juggled and coped. I worked two part time jobs. I went to northern Wisconsin and rode a scooter on an island in Lake Michigan and enjoyed other vacations. I did volunteer work. I worked about 35 hours/week between the two jobs. I would usually work part of each weekend day
In the last several months, this has all become a problem. Between the RA and fibromyalgia, I need more time to rest between work and other obligations.
At my first part time job where I go to an office 15 hours/week. I have changed my schedule to be 3 six hour days one week, followed by 2 six hour days the next. This will mean meet my obligations but I get to have short work days where I can come home and rest as needed.
By the end of February my second part time job will be down to 10 hours. During March, I will take care of some specific obligations that were previously scheduled. Then as of April 1, I will not do any nights, weekends, or non-local events.
I can't. I tried. I go to a meeting at night and then need to sleep in the next day to recover. I need time off on weekends to recover from the week. I have six weeks left to get through before I can start my resting time. I will have a count down to see if I can make it.
Five years ago, I was happy to expand my life to add more work and do more things. That was great. I was through cancer treatment and feeling good and we even took a vacation to Acadia National Park for hiking and biking.
Then I had my gall bladder out and my back pains started. Now my gall bladder is healed and my back pains have a treatment plan so they are usually under control. unless I do things like stand, walk, sit, or lie down for any length of time. My life slowed down some. I stopped some of my more aggressive activities - no more skiing down the fall line or bike riding for me.
I juggled and coped. I worked two part time jobs. I went to northern Wisconsin and rode a scooter on an island in Lake Michigan and enjoyed other vacations. I did volunteer work. I worked about 35 hours/week between the two jobs. I would usually work part of each weekend day
In the last several months, this has all become a problem. Between the RA and fibromyalgia, I need more time to rest between work and other obligations.
At my first part time job where I go to an office 15 hours/week. I have changed my schedule to be 3 six hour days one week, followed by 2 six hour days the next. This will mean meet my obligations but I get to have short work days where I can come home and rest as needed.
By the end of February my second part time job will be down to 10 hours. During March, I will take care of some specific obligations that were previously scheduled. Then as of April 1, I will not do any nights, weekends, or non-local events.
I can't. I tried. I go to a meeting at night and then need to sleep in the next day to recover. I need time off on weekends to recover from the week. I have six weeks left to get through before I can start my resting time. I will have a count down to see if I can make it.
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