The View from Here

Red

These certainly brightened my day!

Papillary Cancer

        Almost a year ago I fell in the yard and suffered a shoulder injury that required some physical therapy to correct. As a precaution, an MRI was done to determine if the injury had also affected my neck. The results showed some moderate changes to my spine, but not from the fall. However, the MRI also showed a nodule in my thyroid. Once he read the results, my physician scheduled an ultrasound at the local hospital. The outcome of that test lead to a referral to an endocrinologist, who did another ultrasound and ordered blood tests. The nodule seemed “suspicious”, so the next step was a needle biopsy. The diagnosis was papillary cancer. I was then referred to a surgeon who gave me lots of information, told me my options, and encouraged me to stay positive. On March 30 he removed half of my thyroid.

                A quick note before I continue: Most delays in testing/treating this were due to COVID. There were restrictions on some of the tests. One of the clinics I was attending had to quarantine for a few weeks because a patient tested positive. The another had to do the same because a staff member tested positive. Elective surgeries were restricted. And even under the best of conditions, specialists and surgeons are very busy people and garnering appointments with them often requires patience. In “normal” times this would probably have been treated in half the time.

                My primary reason for explaining the circumstances leading up to my surgery is to warn YOU. My cancer might have been overlooked for several more years if I had not injured my shoulder and had that MRI. All three of my doctors informed me that many women with thyroid cancer have NO symptoms. Like me, they are diagnosed during the treatment of some other problem.

                I encourage you to click on the following link and read the symptoms of thyroid cancer, especially if any other woman in your family has had surgery. The only symptom I had was a little trouble swallowing my vitamins. I had reported that to my doctor during a routine checkup about six months before the injury. He examined my neck, but the nodule was too small to detect.

Papillary Cancer

Knowledge is power.

Caffeine Free

I’ve faced some challenges since my recent surgery. I won’t bore you with some of them. There are a couple I’ll discuss later, with the intention of perhaps improving your health and happiness.

One of the problems I had to deal with was a powerful, painful two-day headache. While the major cause of it was never determined, my nurse observed that a contributing factor was undoubtedly caffeine withdrawal. (I couldn’t drink any yet.)

I’ve had several previous surgeries without that level of post-op headache pain, and I was also suffering from extreme nausea, so I’m going to blame both on a reaction to the anesthesia. I have, however, also had many medical procedures that have required caffeine abstinence and resulted in a slight headache. Several years ago, my doctor warned me that drinking ten cups a day was dangerous…so I cut back to four. My new thyroid medication came with a warning from my endocrinologist to NOT consume caffeine within two hours of taking it.

I don’t like for things to be complicated if it’s within my power to simplify them. I know that there will be other medical procedures in my future. I know that caffeine may be a hindrance to my optimum health. So, I made the decision two weeks ago to just give it up. I gave up sodas years ago and never think about drinking them. There was no doubt in my mind that I could give up caffeinated coffee.

Thanks to Keurig and some great “half-caf” coffee from Green Mountain the transition was not that difficult. I gave my body a week to adjust, then switched to decaf. What I’ve discovered is that I enjoy the warmth and taste of coffee. I don’t need the boost of caffeine.

I’ve always liked hot teas, and most of the ones on my shelf were already caffeine-free. No problems there.

Iced tea is always on our daily menu. Making the switch to decaf has been a little tricker because I need to make both caffeinated and decaf. I’m not going to force my choices on Gary. Remember…he still eats meat too.

I’m happy with this accomplishment. Not bad for a woman who drank her first cup of coffee when she was about five.

Note: Yes, I know there is a minimal amount of caffeine in decaf coffee. Caffeine is also present in chocolate, anything that contains chocolate (cookies to cereal to ice cream), and many other foods and drinks. My goal is not TOTAL avoidance, but simply getting rid of the major sources of it in my life.

Summer Sanctuary

I have finally begun phase one of the patio makeover I planned this winter. Our cold, wet weather forced me to postpone a couple of times, but yesterday was just about perfect. I felt good and the rain held off until late afternoon.

 I can no longer do a lot of yard work, or drag a water hose to some of my flower beds, so last year I began moving my plants closer to the house. This week I purchased some plants for my patio. Today I’ll move some succulents and other plants that have spent the winter outside.

I love to sit outside early in the morning, drink tea or coffee, and watch the birds. This covered patio is the perfect place to do that.

Learning to be Lovely

This morning I pulled a family research book off the shelf in my office and a little booklet came out with it. I’m not sure where it came from or how long I’ve had it. I do recall finding it in a box last year when I was cleaning out some old storage boxes. But I digress…

The booklet is titled “Here’s to You with Poise” and was produced by the Cooperative Extension Service Kansas State University and on the back is stamped “Naomi M. Johnson, Extension Specialist, Clothing and Textiles”. It’s dated 1971, so it’s not something I would have received in school. I was living in CA at that time. But that doesn’t really matter. What does is the content and of course I had to stop and read some of it again.

I’ve posted from this booklet before. It’s just such a perfect example of some of the unreasonable expectations women of my generation were faced with on a daily basis. The introduction states that “Most people need to learn how to be lovely, learn how to walk gracefully, learn how to position the body for good posture.” I certainly did! My high school home economics teacher made us practice walking with a book on our heads, and sitting in a chair with our ankles properly crossed. I’m not sure I ever attained the great posture and natural grace that my mother possessed.

Even though I had planned to share some gardening thoughts today, I’ll share these lovely insights instead.

Only God Knows

I had a little plan worked out for today, and for the rest of the week. I based that plan on my wants, my feelings, and my physical recovery. I was going to shop at Lowe’s for some patio plants, clean our patio furniture, and arrange everything for the summer.

Oops…forgot to consult God about his plan.

Forgot to check the weather forecast.

It’s going to drop down to near freezing on Tuesday-Wednesday. The tropical plants and hanging flower baskets I had planned to buy would just have to be covered. So…those plans have been postponed in favor of a much better one. We’ll go to Walmart later this morning and buy a few grocery items that we need.

An additional change had to be accommodated this morning. Gary’s skin clinic appointment, originally scheduled for last week, had to be changed to 8:30 this morning at the request of the clinic.

Gary informed me at breakfast that he needs to have the car serviced tomorrow.

Wednesday will be the coldest morning of the week, so I’ll have to wear my coat to my PT appointment. Hadn’t envisioned THAT when I made the appointment for 9am.

Thursday now seems too far away for any planning…

I find it ironic that when things aren’t going well, and I’m not feeling well, I am perfectly content to leave everything to God’s plan. I constantly ask Him for guidance. I pay attention when He gives it.

When things are better and I feel more in control, I still ask for guidance, but not as often. I sometimes miss or even ignore some of his instructions. I was just sitting here reviewing the past five days. Not even one of them turned out like I thought it would. Each one had a small change, a surprise, or a revelation that I hadn’t anticipated.

Only God knows what will happen today, or tomorrow…

I am so thankful!

Crazy Food!

                Recently, while “resting and recovering”, I watched several television shows that I don’t normally see. Most were food-themed shows, though I wouldn’t call any of them cooking shows. They quickly go through the basic ingredients and instructions for dishes, but not in any way that a person could duplicate. In reality, they’re just long commercials that show the best dishes offered by a variety of restaurants, and attempt to entice you to visit them. To do this they show at least half a dozen customers smiling, devouring the food, and explaining why they’ve been eating at the restaurant for ten years…or more. If the place is really popular there are long lines out front or twice as many people packed inside than is probably legal.

                That show format is pretty standard and restaurant reviews have long been a part of our culture. I remember going to restaurants in the seventies because they received a good review in the newspaper. However, two things seem to have drastically changed in the restaurant business:

1. Portion sizes are gigantic! I saw plates and bowls placed in front of single customers that would feed at least three people. There were burgers on one show that were so tall, they had to be “smashed” before they could be eaten. The last time we ordered food from a local restaurant my plate contained twice as much food as I wanted to consume.
2. Some menu items are crazy!! Macaroni and cheese nachos? Burgers topped with pork rinds? Deep fried cheesecake? And I don’t think a food exists that hasn’t been topped, wrapped, or combined in some way with bacon. I saw things recently that looked disgusting and were oozing grease or sauce…yet someone on the screen was stuffing it into their mouth as quickly as possible.

Is this how ordinary people eat? Or is all of it just a gimmick to entice viewers? I grew up in restaurants and cafes. My grandmother was a cook, and I worked for a while as a waitress. I was a child when “fast food” was invented. I ate at one of the first Mc Donald’s franchises. I spent a lot of years eating comfort foods and enjoying buffets. But the gluttony I saw this week was shocking and sickening. I just can’t imagine eating like that!

Note: since I can’t show you a photo or “name names”, I will just share the nutrition basics of one currently available entrée at a nearby restaurant:

1,650 calories, 98 g fat (10 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 5,000 mg sodium, 129 g carbs (9 g fiber, 18 g sugar), 64 g protein

We are not alone...

I’ve always had a keen interest in the lives of other people. Two of my favorite college courses were sociology and abnormal psychology. My sociology professor often brought in guest speakers with interesting experiences or occupations. We were privileged to listen to a variety of ex-cons, victims of violence and abuse, recovering alcoholics, counselors, and community leaders. The class, held in an auditorium, was so popular that half the people attending weren’t even enrolled!

                That class, more than any other, impressed upon me that #1. I’m not the only person in the world with problems and #2. there is always more than one way to interpret a situation.  My grandmother Della imparted those same lessons by instilling in me the notion that people have their “good faults and bad faults”. She was quick to admonish me if I harshly judged another person (usually a classmate) by reminding me that I had no idea what their struggles were without walking a mile in their shoes.

                For a while I considered becoming a psychologist or some other type of counselor or healthcare worker. I joined the Junior Red Cross. I took some pre-nursing classes. Eventually I decided that I wanted to guide little minds before they got too messed up. I wanted to encourage them to choose the right path, not return from a detour. It was only after I started teaching that I realized even kindergartners have serious problems and need counseling and healing. I found myself immersed in their little lives and walking more than a mile in their shoes. Teaching was God’s perfect plan for my life.

                Today I try to be helpful to my circle of family and friends. I try to share their triumphs and tragedies, be supportive and encouraging, and generally lead a useful life. I know people have some serious objections to Facebook and other social media. I have my own concerns about the power of evil and the influence that can be used by those who are far more “tech savvy” than I am. However, my current prayer list includes a friend having surgery, the daughter of a friend who is recovering from a car accident, a former student preparing for a speech contest, and a long-distance friend who is moving into a new house. I would not have been aware of any of them without the opportunity to correspond on social media. So…like any tool, social media can be used for good.

                The power of friends and family carried me through some dark days recently. The prayers and encouragement of others proved to me that I am not alone, and that my problems are not unique. My hope and prayer for you today is that you are supported and encouraged by someone and that you are supplying the same for someone else. Our connections are vital to our health and happiness. COVID has proven that to us. We are not alone…and we don’t want to be alone.

From Patient to Person....

 

I am happy to report this morning that I’m feeling much better and stronger. Most of my pain has subsided and all three of my doctors have pronounced my surgery a success. My general health is good and my lab tests show only a few ongoing problems that are just part of this package of genes I’ve been issued. I need a little more PT for my shoulder injury. I was advised to continue with my current diet, but add a little more protein. I need to look for ways to lower my cholesterol. But essentially, I have been declared “recovered”.

It’s interesting to consider what a tremendous role perspective plays in our daily life. Last week when I was in pain and sick and weak and tired, it was difficult to imagine that I would ever feel good again. Now that my body is becoming stronger and more stable, my mind is reacting more hopefully. Yes, there will undoubtedly be more problems to solve in the future. I’m getting older and I heal at a much slower pace than I did in my youth. But once again, God has been blessed me with a successful transition from patient to person.

As a patient, I wanted to stay in my recliner and sleep.

As a person, I want to go outside and enjoy the birds and flowers.

Five minutes after I returned from the doctor this morning, I was out in the yard.

It feels good to be me again.

Recovery Roller Coaster

My recovery from this very ordinary surgery has turned out to be quite complicated. While the procedure was successful, my allergic reaction to a medication created some unforeseen challenges. Instead of spending one night in the hospital, I spent three nights and four days.

Still facing some challenges, but hopefully will be much more coherent next week. Thank you for your patience.