143.2
And before anyone thinks that two minutes on an exercise bike caused a three pound weight loss...
Since I have no salivary glands (thanks to the radiation treatments), I drink about a gallon of water a day. By the time I posted yesterday, I had already begun to make inroads into that gallon. So the three pound difference is water weight.
Normally I just weigh in the morning, but since my scale has gone wonky (must get new one), I've not been weighing daily like I should. So yesterday I had to step on it before I got on the bike so I'd have some idea of where I was.
This 143.2 is actually where I'll be starting from. I want to get back to 132-135. I have a range there because the water weight can easily carry over from one day to the next morning, so I need a bit of wiggle room.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
7/19/2010 - Day One - OHMIGOD
146.2 lbs
OHMIGOD...two minutes on the exercise bike. Kill me now. This is gonna hurt.
I remember when, at one point when I was exercising, I rode 13 miles a day on an exercise bike and worked out with weights 3-4 times a week. It's gonna be a long, painful journey just to get to five minutes on the bike.
Randall has to lift my right leg up so I can get it on the strap over the pedal, and my arms just about fell off my body after a minute on this machine. But...two minutes today...two minutes tomorrow...two minutes until I can do three minutes. Then four. Then five.
Then at some point we'll stick the damned batteries in so I can see how far/fast I'm going. That's bound to be depressing as hell.
Oh well. It's a start and I really need this. No strength. No stamina. It's past time to improve both. Not to mention lose weight.
OHMIGOD...two minutes on the exercise bike. Kill me now. This is gonna hurt.
I remember when, at one point when I was exercising, I rode 13 miles a day on an exercise bike and worked out with weights 3-4 times a week. It's gonna be a long, painful journey just to get to five minutes on the bike.
Randall has to lift my right leg up so I can get it on the strap over the pedal, and my arms just about fell off my body after a minute on this machine. But...two minutes today...two minutes tomorrow...two minutes until I can do three minutes. Then four. Then five.
Then at some point we'll stick the damned batteries in so I can see how far/fast I'm going. That's bound to be depressing as hell.
Oh well. It's a start and I really need this. No strength. No stamina. It's past time to improve both. Not to mention lose weight.
Repurposing This Blog
Since my cancer is in remission, and I really only have a few updates a year that I post, I've decided to repurpose this blog.
During the time before, during and after my cancer was diagnosed and being treated, I began an unintended (though MUCH needed) weight loss program. During the years that led up to my cancer, I'd put on a huge amount of weight due to getting married, quitting smoking and experiencing some pretty serious physical problems that had nothing to do with my cancer. When the tumor on my tongue began to be a problem, I pretty much stopped eating except for foods that didn't irritate it (basically that was six months). Then once it was removed, I began radiation soon after, and dealt with all the side effects that head/neck radiation has.
So all in all, I lost 70 pounds. Now, that's a huge amount of weight to lose at any time, but keep in mind I lost the vast majority of it within 6-8 months. And along with that weight, I lost muscle mass.
Now, two years later, I'm still weak, still tire easily and still have little muscle strength. Exercise, from what I've read, is supposed to seriously help with cancer-related treatment fatigue. I've also got 10 pounds that will NOT go away (I'm sure, in part, because I now have my lower dentures and my eating horizons have really broadened (Wheat Thins, anyone? LOL).
So here I am. I've got a blog that's just sitting here. And I'm starting a new exercise regimen that's directly related to what I went through when my cancer was active. So the blog's focus will change. The name will change and the design will change. And I'll blog about the exercise program and how I'm feeling. I'll also post the few updates a year when I see my radiation oncologist, ENT and have the CT scan done.
I doubt anyone will follow this. And that's OK. It's not exactly a scintillating topic. :) But it's something I need to do so I can keep track of where I've been, where I am, and how things are going...with any luck it will help motivate me into staying on track with exercise.
During the time before, during and after my cancer was diagnosed and being treated, I began an unintended (though MUCH needed) weight loss program. During the years that led up to my cancer, I'd put on a huge amount of weight due to getting married, quitting smoking and experiencing some pretty serious physical problems that had nothing to do with my cancer. When the tumor on my tongue began to be a problem, I pretty much stopped eating except for foods that didn't irritate it (basically that was six months). Then once it was removed, I began radiation soon after, and dealt with all the side effects that head/neck radiation has.
So all in all, I lost 70 pounds. Now, that's a huge amount of weight to lose at any time, but keep in mind I lost the vast majority of it within 6-8 months. And along with that weight, I lost muscle mass.
Now, two years later, I'm still weak, still tire easily and still have little muscle strength. Exercise, from what I've read, is supposed to seriously help with cancer-related treatment fatigue. I've also got 10 pounds that will NOT go away (I'm sure, in part, because I now have my lower dentures and my eating horizons have really broadened (Wheat Thins, anyone? LOL).
So here I am. I've got a blog that's just sitting here. And I'm starting a new exercise regimen that's directly related to what I went through when my cancer was active. So the blog's focus will change. The name will change and the design will change. And I'll blog about the exercise program and how I'm feeling. I'll also post the few updates a year when I see my radiation oncologist, ENT and have the CT scan done.
I doubt anyone will follow this. And that's OK. It's not exactly a scintillating topic. :) But it's something I need to do so I can keep track of where I've been, where I am, and how things are going...with any luck it will help motivate me into staying on track with exercise.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Update June 2010
Just a quick update.
I saw Dr. Mundy last week for a follow-up, and everything looked really good. I've scheduled an appointment with Dr. Holland for August, and a CT scan for the end of November. I should meet with Dr. Mundy in early December, but I'm sure he'll call me with the results before our appointment.
So my next update should be in August.
(Oh...and I now have lower dentures. WOOT!)
I saw Dr. Mundy last week for a follow-up, and everything looked really good. I've scheduled an appointment with Dr. Holland for August, and a CT scan for the end of November. I should meet with Dr. Mundy in early December, but I'm sure he'll call me with the results before our appointment.
So my next update should be in August.
(Oh...and I now have lower dentures. WOOT!)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
It's like exhaling a breath you didn't know you were holding
My latest CT was last Friday (I had seen Dr. Mundy the day before), and I got the news today that it was clear! Man. I'm exhausted. :)
I know I don't update this blog often, but that's a good thing. A REALLY good thing.
My visit with Dr. Mundy was completely uneventful, and he asked that I set up a follow-up appointment for six months. He also said if this last scan came back clear that we'd move to a once a year scan.
So it's 1 1/2 years out from my last radiation treatment, and this is really beyond excellent news, because after the first year, the chances of this cancer returning go down dramatically. To something like 30%. So, it is VERY good news.
YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know I don't update this blog often, but that's a good thing. A REALLY good thing.
My visit with Dr. Mundy was completely uneventful, and he asked that I set up a follow-up appointment for six months. He also said if this last scan came back clear that we'd move to a once a year scan.
So it's 1 1/2 years out from my last radiation treatment, and this is really beyond excellent news, because after the first year, the chances of this cancer returning go down dramatically. To something like 30%. So, it is VERY good news.
YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, May 8, 2009
One year and it's clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had my one year anniversary CT scan on Wednesday, and Fentress called just now to let me know that the results are CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While there will remain a chance of it coming back over the next four years, the fact it hasn't shown back up within the first year is really outstanding. Now the chance of it recurring each year goes down. Now we're at about a 30% chance of it returning, and that's a hell of an improvement over where I would have been without radiation.
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO relieved!
As far as the side effects go, I still have some residual taste problems. Those are slowly but surely dissipating. Swallowing really isn't a problem except that I have a chronic case of dry mouth and that, coupled with no lower teeth still, can cause some trouble. I refuse to eat out still, but that's a small price to pay.
My energy level still isn't 100%, but I bounce back pretty fast now (generally within a few hours) if I overdo it, so I suspect that by this winter I'll be back to normal there.
Anyway, everything is trucking right along and getting that all clear was the most outstanding news I think I've ever had. Randall and I are going to go get one of those really decadent, calorie- and fat laden sundaes from Baskin Robbins to celebrate the good news.
WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While there will remain a chance of it coming back over the next four years, the fact it hasn't shown back up within the first year is really outstanding. Now the chance of it recurring each year goes down. Now we're at about a 30% chance of it returning, and that's a hell of an improvement over where I would have been without radiation.
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO relieved!
As far as the side effects go, I still have some residual taste problems. Those are slowly but surely dissipating. Swallowing really isn't a problem except that I have a chronic case of dry mouth and that, coupled with no lower teeth still, can cause some trouble. I refuse to eat out still, but that's a small price to pay.
My energy level still isn't 100%, but I bounce back pretty fast now (generally within a few hours) if I overdo it, so I suspect that by this winter I'll be back to normal there.
Anyway, everything is trucking right along and getting that all clear was the most outstanding news I think I've ever had. Randall and I are going to go get one of those really decadent, calorie- and fat laden sundaes from Baskin Robbins to celebrate the good news.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Second CT Scan is Clear!!
YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just got back from my follow-up appointment with Dr. Mundy and the CT scan looks good. Very, very cool.
HUGE relief for both Randall and me, as everyone can imagine.
That also means I'm free now to plan my holiday stuff and painting projects and closet cleaning. And...and...and...
I've been putting off making any plans at all just in case the scan didn't look good and chemo was in my future. Fortunately it did look good and I get to keep my hair, so life is much better.
There is a follow-up consultation with Dr. Mundy at the end of January, and three months after that I'll have another CT scan. So, I can dance this worry dance again, but not until the end of April or so.
I've got a follow up with my ENT on Thursday at 1:00, and I'm sure I'll post a quick follow-up on that, too.
So until Thursday....
Just got back from my follow-up appointment with Dr. Mundy and the CT scan looks good. Very, very cool.
HUGE relief for both Randall and me, as everyone can imagine.
That also means I'm free now to plan my holiday stuff and painting projects and closet cleaning. And...and...and...
I've been putting off making any plans at all just in case the scan didn't look good and chemo was in my future. Fortunately it did look good and I get to keep my hair, so life is much better.
There is a follow-up consultation with Dr. Mundy at the end of January, and three months after that I'll have another CT scan. So, I can dance this worry dance again, but not until the end of April or so.
I've got a follow up with my ENT on Thursday at 1:00, and I'm sure I'll post a quick follow-up on that, too.
So until Thursday....
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