I didn’t mean for a whole week to go by to update my progress and activities! I have been meaning to write something everyday, but for some reason I thought I had done it already, or I was planning to do it later, and the day was gone. I am so exhausted at night it is hard to focus. So I figure I will do it in the mornings–and then I ended up not writing.

I had struggled with dizziness the last time I blogged, but when I went to the doctor’s he recommended for me to take some over-the-counter medication to help. It has helped, but I still get light headed during the day, so I am not sure what is up with that. My blood pressure has been all over the place, although in the mornings it is normal, but in the afternoon it will be high. Too high. I finally started a mild blood pressure medication, but I am wondering if it is just the chemo still in my system, or the leftovers of the steroid that might be affecting my blood pressure. My general practitioner will check me at the end of the month and see if I need to continue it. I should keep a record of my daily readings, but I haven’t done that. Just another thing to do.

I went grocery shopping by myself for the first time in a long time on Thursday, and it was rather overwhelming for me. I want to start doing some things to build myself up again to be strong for surgery, but I am still struggling with fatigue with every activity. I had to ask for help for lifting items into my car, and when I got home, I saw some friends down the street doing a cleaning job for a neighbor, so I went and asked if they could unload my groceries into the house. I am still needing help for a lot of things yet.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, I did a workout DVD (P90X!) of one of the exercises I did prior to my first surgery, and I think it was too much for the first time trying to get back into it. I have been so sore with my muscles, that I have been hobbling around all week. I need to go much slower. My mind remembers what I was doing, but I need to gradually get back and not just jump into what I did. I so liked how I felt before when I was fit. I will get there again. I just want it today!

Wednesday, I went with my friend Janis who is a breast cancer survivor for several years, to a yoga class specifically for cancer people. It was a good class and the instructor didn’t do all the spiritual part of it, but just told us to do certain moves and focused on what our limitations were to keep us injury free. It was the perfect yoga class. I felt like I had a massage and I recommend it for anyone to keep the body limber. The instructor told me that I was very flexible and fit. She even showed me on one stretch how to get a better stretch since I was so flexible. Even in my out-of-shape self, I am more in shape that many people after chemotherapy and surgery. It is so important to stay active and fit to recover better and heal better.

A couple of times this week, two friends came by to see me and they brought their dog/dogs by, and Pete and I let the dogs explore the house some. I love the dog visitors. They had fun sniffing about and it brings a smile to my heart.

My goal for this time period was to jump into my exercise program and get fit prior to surgery that will be at the end of August, but I am thinking that I have grandiose expectations and need to go slower. Much slower. This recovery from chemotherapy is not instant, and I need more realistic expectations for myself. Today I will try to do a little yoga stretches, and definitely a walk. I want to do weights too and I got a couple of hand weights out, but there they are waiting for me. I did use them once this week, but with the overdo I had done my muscles and back were hurting very badly and I was severely stiff. I better not do that again!! That was my fault. I am better today, so remember, Dianne! Go slow and gradual!