I'm hoping this will be my final post for this CaringBridge page.

It's been 8 months since my last update, and September 20th was the 2 year mark since my diagnosis.
Processing all that the last 2 years have held has been a gradual thing. In a lot of ways, cancer treatment feels like a distant memory...in other ways, I feel like I'm only now beginning to heal.

For those that see me regularly, I no longer bear the appearance of battling cancer. My hair has grown back, I actually enjoy having it short (it makes the hot flashes more bearable) and I've made my peace with it being grey. What many of you HAVEN'T seen, or I haven't publicly expressed, is how much my body has been hurting, post chemo.

It's been over a year since my DEXASCAN (bone) and diagnosis of osteopenia. (Osteopenia is not as bad as osteoporosis, but it's headed in that direction. Chemo drugs that I received and the hormone blocking pill I'll take for the next 5 years, contribute to bone density loss.) My doctors have recommended dietary and supplemental vitamins and minerals, which I've been taking for over a year, but the aches and pain and stiffness of my joints really caught me off guard. I had been looking forward to feeling better post chemo, and that was true in some ways, but very untrue too!

I'm not sure if there is a connection to be made or not, but in January 2023 I began waking up at night, numerous times, with stiff, numb, painful fingers in my dominant right hand - consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome. To make a long story shorter, I was instructed to see an orthopedic doctor and schedule an EMG-2 at the neurologist. The orthopedic doctor said my symptoms were typical for CTS but to rule out that there wasn't something wrong with my spine, the EMG-2 was necessary. 

An EMG-2 consists of electric pulses sent through the nerves in your hands/wrists, through a pronged instrument and a long thin needle inserted into the veins. This helps to determine if there is permanent nerve damage, and to measure whether any nerves are being compressed by the tissue surrounding it.

I saw the orthopedist in February but the earliest I could schedule the EMG-2 was the end of June. This meant that the oncologist's advice to get plenty of rest went out the window. I tried, but waking 2-3 times a night resulted in exhaustion I hadn't anticipated. Thankfully, the EMG-2 showed clear results: no permanent nerve damage (which meant the test REALLY hurt!), minor CTS in my left hand, moderate CTS in my right hand and thus a surgery referral. Surgery was quickly scheduled for the end of July and I had immediate relief once the anesthesia wore off. Praise the Lord! 

Last year my oncologist told me about a treatment she wanted me to consider once I finished chemo, that would help to strengthen my bones. It would be given in 4 infusions, each 6 months apart. The infusion had a side benefit too. If cancer reoccurred, this medicine reduced the odds of the cancer moving into my bones. She recommended that if I decided to proceed with the treatments, that I not wait longer than 8-9 months following chemo to start. So I scheduled my first infusion the week after my carpal tunnel surgery. I already was out-of-commission, so why not?! (The reason some people choose not to do these treatments is because the recovery symptoms are reminiscent of the "hard" chemo kind: nausea, fever, body aches, bone aches, etc. etc. etc.) And it was no joke! My husband was relieved to tell me on the 4th day that I no longer looked grey in the face, but had my color back. I just know it LAID ME OUT for 5 days. 

Supposedly those recovery symptoms can lessen with each infusion. We'll see. I'll get the next one at the beginning of February 2024, then August, then February 2025.

Once the carpal tunnel surgery was finished, I was finally able to sleep at night, and as a result felt better upon waking. However, my feet, legs, hips, and shoulders still ached so much and I was struggling to "keep moving" and preserve what energy I had to go through my day. 

Then, three weeks ago, while taking a walk with my mom (I was hobbling) she mentioned a friend with arthritis who had cut inflammatory foods (gluten, dairy, sugar) from her diet. I decided I would simply cut out gluten for 2-4 weeks to see if it made any difference. Within 2 days I felt a marked change! Instead of my joints hurting as I went to sleep, instead of being so stiff upon getting up in the morning that putting my feet on the floor and walking down the steps was a painfully slow process, my joints didn't hurt to the same degree and I could move easier!

It's hard to express how much that one change encouraged and invigorated me! I had never considered that gluten might be affecting me so drastically. I had relegated gluten intolerance to those who experienced digestive issues. I had begun to wonder if my body would ever experience relief again. I had been looking at each day on my feet, each weekend excursion, each future vacation with the question: will I have the ability to keep up? Will I need to rent a scooter? Should I even be considering this trip? 

I took a walk again with my mom yesterday, we covered 4 miles, and I felt GREAT! (I'm sore today, but it's a good kind of sore.) I'm hopeful I can get back on my bike again soon too.

Finally, I had my yearly mammogram a few weeks ago and am thankful to say that my results are again clear! 

The Lord has been faithful. He has been so kind. He's preserved me, grown me, and demonstrated over and over again that He is a strong and steady anchor for my soul.

Much love, Krista