Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy 2010
So I clearly have decided to neglect this blog - you know, now that life is actually good for a change. I thought about doing a recap for the past year, but just thinking of it is kinda exhausting. Relay, Cancer, new job, moving, cancer - haha - ok i think that is enough already. oh, and the torn cornea, which is actually kinda cool - who does that! anyway, rather than making new years resolutions, i think i just need to let this year happen - who knows what will come, and it seems like after so much change, the goal of this year is taking care of myself and fun. pretty sure it is going to go just fine.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Did you know you have between 500-600 lymph nodes in your body?
And it only takes one to mess everything up - and in my case, the answer truly is one. I had my six month and first ultrasound since my surgery - the hope was that all lymph nodes, which are shaped like kidney beans would come back clean. However, I have one rogue node that decided to look more like a pancake. I would like to thank my Dr. for the fabulous food analogies.
What does this mean - I dont know, I have to see my dr. on thursday. It most likely means that i will soon be starting radioactive iodine treatments, which will be not fun, but, hey, it could be worse. The biggest frustration is that we have spend the last 6 months getting my medication correct and now we will have to start all of this over after the treatments. I will keep you all updated, as of now i really dont know much, but wanted to give everybody a heads up. Enjoy the warm November weather,
jess
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Great news!
Hi everybody!
Well, I hit my first cancer milestone, the six month mark! I am currently undergoing through my rounds of testing to see if the cancer has returned or if there are just any signs of it left in my body. I had my first test a few weeks ago, which was the bloodwork for the tumorcheck. It came back very low, which is good, and will know be the baseline to work from - if the number goes up, it means thyroid cells are back. If the number stays the same, all is good. This coming Thursday I have the lymph node ultrasound, where we will check the entire neck and throat - if any of them show any signs of anything, we will automatically do radiation treatment. I am anxious and just want to find out soon. I am hoping to know by november 12th. we are also still trying to get my med levels figured out, 6 months later and we are still chaning meds every 6 weeks. I am hoping to get this taken care of after the next round.
Life is great otherwise, it has been fun traveling with a speech team (and coaching them) of course. I dont think i realized how much I enjoyed this activity until I came back - who would have ever guessed this could be my future!!
Well, I hit my first cancer milestone, the six month mark! I am currently undergoing through my rounds of testing to see if the cancer has returned or if there are just any signs of it left in my body. I had my first test a few weeks ago, which was the bloodwork for the tumorcheck. It came back very low, which is good, and will know be the baseline to work from - if the number goes up, it means thyroid cells are back. If the number stays the same, all is good. This coming Thursday I have the lymph node ultrasound, where we will check the entire neck and throat - if any of them show any signs of anything, we will automatically do radiation treatment. I am anxious and just want to find out soon. I am hoping to know by november 12th. we are also still trying to get my med levels figured out, 6 months later and we are still chaning meds every 6 weeks. I am hoping to get this taken care of after the next round.
Life is great otherwise, it has been fun traveling with a speech team (and coaching them) of course. I dont think i realized how much I enjoyed this activity until I came back - who would have ever guessed this could be my future!!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Greetings from Mayo Clinic Gonda Building
That's right, this blog is coming to you straight from the Gonda building in Rochester MN - home of the mayo clinic cancer center and oncology. And no, I am not writing this as a patient here - thought I should go see if I can access my records, this is where my official diagnosis was made - I am actually attending a conference and the Khaler Grand hotel, which is across the street. This building has a lot of meaning and takes me back to when I used to visit my grandpa in the hospital. We used to watch the construction of this building from his window when he was at Methodist hospital for treatment. The building is gorgeous, to say the least. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tradition-heritage/gonda-building.html you can check it out here. sorry my links aren't more fancy.
It's been a much more difficult day since i have bee here - I have seen so many people who are clearly going through chemo and suffering the side effects, I have heard the words that cancer patients so frequently hear, and the nerves as families sit here in the waiting room anticipating news about their loved ones. The room is filled with such a strange energy, it could drive one crazy.
And grandma, just for you - remember the blown glass hanging from the ceiling - in greens, blues, yellows and browns. I am sitting in front of it writing this now. I bet I even have the pictures back home we took of it on your camera.
It's been a much more difficult day since i have bee here - I have seen so many people who are clearly going through chemo and suffering the side effects, I have heard the words that cancer patients so frequently hear, and the nerves as families sit here in the waiting room anticipating news about their loved ones. The room is filled with such a strange energy, it could drive one crazy.
And grandma, just for you - remember the blown glass hanging from the ceiling - in greens, blues, yellows and browns. I am sitting in front of it writing this now. I bet I even have the pictures back home we took of it on your camera.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Research? Oh yeah!
Hi everyone,
Two posts already this month - yeah, I clearly need more to do. When I think about the amount of work I did in the last six months and what I am doing now, it seems like I have nothing to do. I went from teaching five classes and five preps, helping host the relay for life, planning comm day for my dept, mentoring in the brother sister program to teaching two classes, one prep, and coaching a speech team. My life seems so much more peaceful not - wait until tournament season starts.
For those of you who are academically excitable, I would like to tell you about my new research project. I am doing an analysis of messages aimed at young cancer survivors and how they need to to differ compared to messages that are aimed at older adults. I got my inspiration from a few different places. One was from a pastor that stopped by my hospital room last April and asked me what was my sickness. I explained it to him and he commented that his wife was also having her thyroid out and it became apparent that facing this issue at 27 is much different than 67. I have also been listening to a podcast from a website called "I'm too young for this" that talks about the dirty little secrets of being young and dealing with issues such as dating, fertility, hair loss, body image, etc. I am excited to be working on this project and hope to help others who have dealt with issues related to their age and cancer.
Have a nice weekend everybody! Good luck to my little brother as he will be playing football this week and also to Jason who is training for the Twin Cities marathon!
Two posts already this month - yeah, I clearly need more to do. When I think about the amount of work I did in the last six months and what I am doing now, it seems like I have nothing to do. I went from teaching five classes and five preps, helping host the relay for life, planning comm day for my dept, mentoring in the brother sister program to teaching two classes, one prep, and coaching a speech team. My life seems so much more peaceful not - wait until tournament season starts.
For those of you who are academically excitable, I would like to tell you about my new research project. I am doing an analysis of messages aimed at young cancer survivors and how they need to to differ compared to messages that are aimed at older adults. I got my inspiration from a few different places. One was from a pastor that stopped by my hospital room last April and asked me what was my sickness. I explained it to him and he commented that his wife was also having her thyroid out and it became apparent that facing this issue at 27 is much different than 67. I have also been listening to a podcast from a website called "I'm too young for this" that talks about the dirty little secrets of being young and dealing with issues such as dating, fertility, hair loss, body image, etc. I am excited to be working on this project and hope to help others who have dealt with issues related to their age and cancer.
Have a nice weekend everybody! Good luck to my little brother as he will be playing football this week and also to Jason who is training for the Twin Cities marathon!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Happy September
Happy September and completion of the first week of the new academic year! Summer is (almost) over and school is back in session. It is so refreshing to have an actual schedule again after being in change for so long. I missed having a dept to belong to and a working office (piles of books at home) and being unpacked.
Work is fabulous and I love teaching at a private institution. While I will admit to having been pretty anti -private school up to this point, I have changed my tune. I enjoy my students, my office (double the size with awesome furniture) the culture and everything else. The dining center is pretty amazing also. I am only teaching two classes, which is a significant change from the 5 I taught last spring, I am also back coaching forensics, which I love. I missed every aspect of it, from the coaching to the literature and topics to the people you meet. I am very glad to be back and am looking forward to travel.
Healthwise (since it was the original purpose of this blog, things are going well. We almost have med levels figured out and I feel 100 times better than i did before. In fact, I am often confused when I know longer need to sleep for 12 hours and just get up early and feel fine. I am in the process of picking a new doctor ( I have it narrowed down to three) and just need to make some calls. Two speacialize specifically in thyroid cancer so I am hoping to work with one of them. I know I am nearing my first six month check (ok, November, but still - it's been four months already!) and need to find somebody I am comfortable with. I guess this is one of the benfits of living in a city, rather than going to the one person around, you get to choose who is best for you.
speaking of the city, I am finally getting used to not living in Mankato. I have realized that sitting in traffic is not a choice but a way of life and it is easier to just accept than to get frustrated. I went to the statefair last weekend wit my brothers and karie and had a great time! I am still disgusted by the amount of food we all consumed (nothing on a stick for me, ironically) but it was well worth it the one time a year it happens. Looking towards teh rennasance festival and a play in the next couple weeks.
tata for now, it's time to get back to work.
Work is fabulous and I love teaching at a private institution. While I will admit to having been pretty anti -private school up to this point, I have changed my tune. I enjoy my students, my office (double the size with awesome furniture) the culture and everything else. The dining center is pretty amazing also. I am only teaching two classes, which is a significant change from the 5 I taught last spring, I am also back coaching forensics, which I love. I missed every aspect of it, from the coaching to the literature and topics to the people you meet. I am very glad to be back and am looking forward to travel.
Healthwise (since it was the original purpose of this blog, things are going well. We almost have med levels figured out and I feel 100 times better than i did before. In fact, I am often confused when I know longer need to sleep for 12 hours and just get up early and feel fine. I am in the process of picking a new doctor ( I have it narrowed down to three) and just need to make some calls. Two speacialize specifically in thyroid cancer so I am hoping to work with one of them. I know I am nearing my first six month check (ok, November, but still - it's been four months already!) and need to find somebody I am comfortable with. I guess this is one of the benfits of living in a city, rather than going to the one person around, you get to choose who is best for you.
speaking of the city, I am finally getting used to not living in Mankato. I have realized that sitting in traffic is not a choice but a way of life and it is easier to just accept than to get frustrated. I went to the statefair last weekend wit my brothers and karie and had a great time! I am still disgusted by the amount of food we all consumed (nothing on a stick for me, ironically) but it was well worth it the one time a year it happens. Looking towards teh rennasance festival and a play in the next couple weeks.
tata for now, it's time to get back to work.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
It's been a busy month...
Hey all,
The month of July and now half of August has flown by, and lots have changed, I have moved, worked at Le Cordon Bleu, tomorrow start a new job, you know, the basics.
First, I moved to Minneapolis about three weeks ago - it's been great, just busy. have not finished unpacking, which is not a suprise. But you know, we will get there.
I work a two week stint at Le Cordon Bleu for a friend. It was fabulous - I ate a lot of cake, taught some public speaking, and had a pretty great time.
Monday the 17th I start orientaiton at Bethel. Starting two new jobs in a two week period is a bit stressful, but I enjoy change, so it has been fun.
On a health note, we are getting closer. My doctor upped my dosage again, which is a good thing. The bad news is I am also in the process of having to change doctors before we get everything settled, which is tough. However, I am clearly in a place where good healthcare is abundant, so I will be able to find someone good.
good night for now,
jessica
The month of July and now half of August has flown by, and lots have changed, I have moved, worked at Le Cordon Bleu, tomorrow start a new job, you know, the basics.
First, I moved to Minneapolis about three weeks ago - it's been great, just busy. have not finished unpacking, which is not a suprise. But you know, we will get there.
I work a two week stint at Le Cordon Bleu for a friend. It was fabulous - I ate a lot of cake, taught some public speaking, and had a pretty great time.
Monday the 17th I start orientaiton at Bethel. Starting two new jobs in a two week period is a bit stressful, but I enjoy change, so it has been fun.
On a health note, we are getting closer. My doctor upped my dosage again, which is a good thing. The bad news is I am also in the process of having to change doctors before we get everything settled, which is tough. However, I am clearly in a place where good healthcare is abundant, so I will be able to find someone good.
good night for now,
jessica
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