Friday, September 10, 2010

It's all connected!

What is that old song that went like this....the knee bone connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone...? Anyway, maybe some of you are too young to know it, but the idea is that everything is connected. I am learning this lesson more and more as I continue on with my new Physical Therapist who is also a Spine Specialist. Today she was testing the strength of my arm muscles and lower traps, she was shocked that they were almost not working at all. She then tested the soreness on the T -4 rib area and it was very sensitive. She then talked about all the scarring from my mastectomy and how that is effecting those muscles in my arms and around the ribs. She was shocked that no one told me about the side effects of cutting all those muscles and from the surgery. Of course if there is any kind of surgery, amputation, or accidents to your body...yes there will be side effects. I am frustrated ONCE AGAIN, of the lack of knowledge given to the cancer patients.
I know that the oncologist's and surgeons have done their job and when they are finished, they are finished. But we (the survivors) are the ones that have to continue to live with all the side effects of the surgeries, medications and or treatments. No one really talks much about that. Most of the information you have to find out on your own, it is NOT just told to you. And many patients are so scared and paralyzed from their diagnosis, that they just blindly do what they are told. I just get frustrated that there isn't more done to get patients to become healthy, happy survivors. There is a lot in between there that has been missed!
So once again, I am still struggling with the after effects of having had cancer and still paying $ for it too! That seems a bit much, when  you realize my surgery was almost 2 years ago! It definitely is life altering, for the Good and the Bad!

Well, it is Friday and Date Night with Jeff and so I will finish this up. The message of this post today is... that we need to listen to our bodies, know what they need and don't need! We need to also get informed about anything (such as surgery or treatments and medications) that will be done to our bodies! It is all connected, yes, they only took a breast but...they cut my muscles, my immune system has been compromised and other other areas have been damaged from the whole ordeal, not even mentioning the emotional effect it has had. Yes, from our head to our toes, it is all connected and it is vital that we know that, and be pro-active to get all the knowledge we can, to get to the healthiest place we can be! I am still on that journey frustrated but grateful to be able to at least take this journey!

"The body never lies."  ~Martha Graham

"The human body is the only machine for which there are no spare parts."  ~Hermann M. Biggs

"Trying out new ways of using your body in handling various situations breaks you free from old ways of thinking and being."  ~ Mirka Knaster

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