I am feeling much better since returning home from PA. I do a home program which takes an hour a day, but it really helps with the pain. I am extremely fatigued, which they told me would happen, and I am weaning off narcotics, which is a bear! But I think I am making progress.
We adopted a 3-year-old mini-schnauzer named Lucy from a family leaving the country for mission work, and she is a doll. She and Tatiana seem to get along well. She has a black body, with a silver face and legs.
My little great-niece, Kennedie, has been having a lot of trouble with her trachea and with her breathing over a period of at least a month. She is now at Cincinnati Children's Hospital being treated for a benign tumor on her trachea that was cutting off most of her breathing! They have lasered the tumor and are using other methods to completely destroy it. Jessica and Jarrod will probably be there with her through next weekend. She is such a tiny sweetheart, and we can't wait to see her enjoy her little life without struggling for air.
Katie ran the Mini-Marathon with Bryan Saturday. She completed the 13 miles and is ready for her next challenge! Sarah, Becky, Mom and I had fun cheering them on.
Finally, for those of you who have followed Emily's boyfriend, Hunter Cantwell, you know that he was not drafted yesterday. Bryan and I turned off the TV and quietly tried to eat some dinner. Emily called within minutes to tell us that he had signed as a priority free agent with the Carolina Panthers. He will fly there on Thursday. I am happy that he gets to continue to play football, and who knows, maybe there will be an engagement soon?
Sorry I have not written for awhile. My fatigue gets the best of me much of the time.
Thanks for prayers,
Jan
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Update from PA
I finished treatment early today, so I have a little time to write.
I am seeing big improvements in my level of pain, and the therapists tell me that it will take a month or so for my body to integrate the changes that have been made, so I should continue to see improvements after I am home. I am not pain-free, but my pain is lessened so that I can breathe deeply without chest pain, and I am not pushing through pain to do daily activities. I have also been able to go to the treatment center without wearing my truncal compression, although I will continue to wear it to clean house or if I am doing much standing or walking.
The treatments sometimes feel good; at other times they are painful. The work on loosening the facsia in the area of my chest is painful, but it yields good results so I am glad to endure the pain.
I felt good enough this weekend to drive to Lancaster on Saturday and see the Amish farms; on Sunday I went to see Valley Forge. I did not spend a long time out; I usually left my "home" around noon and returned by six after eating some dinner. But the ability to drive and do those things is good for me.
The therapists tell me that I will need to rest and take it easy for the next month, focusing on my home program and listening to my body, stopping before I get tired.
There is also a component of this program that deals with the mind: practicing forgiveness, letting go of personal failures, relaxing and dealing with relieving stress, etc., all of which can contribute to illness and tightness of the facsia.
In addition, there is a focus on thinking positively about oneself and visualizing having successes; for example, I would picture myself doing some of the things I want to do again and I would be smiling, looking happy while I engaged in those activities. I have been encouraged to journal about the things we talk about during the day, which I am doing, and I am finding that my attitude towards my future does make a difference.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support for me during my time here. I appreciate it very much!
Love,
Jan
I am seeing big improvements in my level of pain, and the therapists tell me that it will take a month or so for my body to integrate the changes that have been made, so I should continue to see improvements after I am home. I am not pain-free, but my pain is lessened so that I can breathe deeply without chest pain, and I am not pushing through pain to do daily activities. I have also been able to go to the treatment center without wearing my truncal compression, although I will continue to wear it to clean house or if I am doing much standing or walking.
The treatments sometimes feel good; at other times they are painful. The work on loosening the facsia in the area of my chest is painful, but it yields good results so I am glad to endure the pain.
I felt good enough this weekend to drive to Lancaster on Saturday and see the Amish farms; on Sunday I went to see Valley Forge. I did not spend a long time out; I usually left my "home" around noon and returned by six after eating some dinner. But the ability to drive and do those things is good for me.
The therapists tell me that I will need to rest and take it easy for the next month, focusing on my home program and listening to my body, stopping before I get tired.
There is also a component of this program that deals with the mind: practicing forgiveness, letting go of personal failures, relaxing and dealing with relieving stress, etc., all of which can contribute to illness and tightness of the facsia.
In addition, there is a focus on thinking positively about oneself and visualizing having successes; for example, I would picture myself doing some of the things I want to do again and I would be smiling, looking happy while I engaged in those activities. I have been encouraged to journal about the things we talk about during the day, which I am doing, and I am finding that my attitude towards my future does make a difference.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support for me during my time here. I appreciate it very much!
Love,
Jan
Friday, April 3, 2009
Greetings from Pennsylvania!
I finished my first week of therapy today, and I am glad to have a couple of days off. I feel great while they are treating me, but soreness kicks in a few hours later and I am worthless for the rest of the evening.
I have noticed big changes and I am very hopeful for pain relief and flexibility.
They are teaching me a home program that I will need to follow daily. I will spend 45 to 60 minutes each day doing this program for continued progress.
I may not be 100% at the end of next week, but I am pleased so far with my progress, and expect great gains next week, too.
I am also learning alot about self-talk and attitudes that can affect our healing. Without realizing it, I had become fairly negative about my healing process and out of touch with my body, tuning out things that I need to be aware of to continue to treat myself at home.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support! I brought the cards that people sent to me the weeks before my trip, and they are on my bulletin board here, so I feel like you are with me.
God Bless,
Jan
I have noticed big changes and I am very hopeful for pain relief and flexibility.
They are teaching me a home program that I will need to follow daily. I will spend 45 to 60 minutes each day doing this program for continued progress.
I may not be 100% at the end of next week, but I am pleased so far with my progress, and expect great gains next week, too.
I am also learning alot about self-talk and attitudes that can affect our healing. Without realizing it, I had become fairly negative about my healing process and out of touch with my body, tuning out things that I need to be aware of to continue to treat myself at home.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support! I brought the cards that people sent to me the weeks before my trip, and they are on my bulletin board here, so I feel like you are with me.
God Bless,
Jan
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