Oh hey bikini season, how are ya? Just getting some nice colour in over here for the summer😝 It's been months since I went in for acupuncture and I'm all about adding in complementary therapies so I thought hey why not give it another shot. Soooo...1.5 hours later, acupuncture needles across my whole body, my ears blinged out in acupressure seeds, and some colorful cupping done on my hip and back, I'm feeling a bit tender but hoping to see some improvements soon. Anyone else tried acupuncture? Did it work for you?
Strength isn't always about pushing through the hard times, but having the courage to say I'm struggling when your body's had enough. Ten months ago, I began my journey back to work...starting back gradually and building up to full time. I wanted to give it a good shot and try and give myself enough time to readjust after being away for nearly 2.5 years. But it's been hard constantly running on an empty tank from the sleepless nights, the brain fog blackouts and embarrassment when I completely forget what I'm talking about, the fatigue leaving me feeling like a sloth by the end of each week. And funny enough, it's been my doctors at each visit asking me "how are you really doing?" cause I just kept pushing through for the sake of pushing through. So when I went to see my oncologist a few weeks ago, I had to finally get real with myself on how things were really going. I was struggling, could barely get through my week, and felt like I spent my weekends recovering rather than living. So starting this week, I finally reduced my hours at work, took another 3 week extended holiday from exemestane, and hoping to get myself back to a point where I'm thriving and not just surviving💪
Another day, another appointment. Still working on fixing this old lady hip and figuring out what's going on in there. Physio, massage, acupuncture, whatever works to not be in pain anymore. While it can be frustrating some days, I'm hopeful that it'll all work itself out in time. But what's been really helpful and encouraging is knowing I'm not alone. I've been getting tons of messages from others going through the same thing, and one common theme seems to come down to hormone therapy. Being put into early menopause really effs with your body. #thankscancer . Who else feels like they're 30 something going on 80???
Pretty much how I spend my weekends now. Food prep and kitchen dance parties on repeat. Is this what adulting's like?😂.
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In all seriousness though, I need to pretty much pre-plan my entire life now to manage those days of fatigue where all I want to do is lay on the couch as soon as I get home and binge watch Netflix. And pack about a hundred containers of food to work the next day because I'm a serial snacker. #foodieproblems
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I always considered myself to eat healthy before but then cancer happened and I really struggled knowing what to put in my body. The fear instilled in me with each conflicting piece of info I'd read. Being shamed for eating this or that. I've never really labeled myself as any one thing though. I just find for me it's been all about balance, knowing what I'm putting in my body, knowing where my food is coming from, and allowing myself a treat here and there because life is way too short.
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But most importantly, I find it's about doing what feels right for me. There's a lot of stuff out there that can be so confusing and contradictory but the only one who truly knows your own body and what is best for you is you. So feed it with the things that make you feel good and healthy. And don't beat yourself up for indulging sometimes! There's no right or wrong way to go through this, no manual on how to get through cancer, just a lot of learning and living it along the way.
