leanna's Cancer Blog
February 7, 2010
As you can see by the new photo, the hair is short. I have not had my hair this short in 15 yrs or so and it is a big adjustment, but I am so happy that I do not have the piles of long hair following me around the house, shower, truck and all over my clothes. No more cleaning the shower drain. I am glad I choose to cut it short at this point, it was harder to see all the hair going in the trash on a daily basis then it was as a one time thing at the salon. I think it really has helped me to move forward with healing now that I am not focused on how much hair I have lost through out the day.
Only a few other health concerns, I hurt all over. I feel that every muscle in my body is screaming at me and it only gets worst as the days go on. I do get out and walk and have been doing most of my normal activities when I can stay away, but I find that I feel stiffer as time goes on. Any suggestions? Sleep is a new issue…I fall asleep at 5 or 6 am and then sleep until 11 am or so. Why all of a sudden do I have sleep issues??? Sleep meds do not work either… frustrating.
On a good note, I am eating salads, nuts and some veggies again and have gained 5 lbs…wooo hooo. The air bags work again.
Well I wish all of you a wonderful super bowl sunday. Love, thoughts and prayers to all.
xoxoxo
I love your hair and picture is really cute. Sleep issues can be hard to deal with. I don’t like Ambien myself, as it gives me a headache. Not a bad one just a pain. The drone of t.v. can sometimes work to put you to sleep. You have been thru a lot so maybe it will take some time. It is great you gained some weight. Hope the body aches ease up. Thinking of you- Linda
Posted on Hi Leanne,
Wow, the doo looks great! Like me, you look good in short hair…but I still just love long hair. It actually grows back better than before.
Sleep….you’ve been put thru menopause and definately need to get on some bioidentical hormones. I did a 24 hour urine hormone test and I had no estrogen, no testosterone and little of progrestrone. She if your gyno can do a through hormone test.
I also ached all over. At first not too bad and then it got worse. Stayed that way for a long time until finally it was determined that my thyroid wasn’t working. Please check that out and your numbers should be around 1.0 to 2.0 the highest. Not in the 3’s or 4’s.
Also, the body is trying to detox and so your muscles are tight and they are also getting tighter from the radiation which keeps on working for about 3 more months. If you can get massage do so…you will be amazed at how good you feel. Every week if you can. Get a scrubby and do a lymph drainage scrub every morning. Maybe I wrote about this … not sure .. if not, i will. Take warm salt baths. All of these things along with stretching will help.
Are you seeing a naturopath? You may need glucosomine for the muscles, L- carnitine and someother things. Definately look at my blog on vitamins you NEED.
I know how you feel. I ached so much. Do the legs up the wall pose at night….
Isn’t it great though that you see improvement/ You can eat salads all ready and that is great. and you’re gaining weight….good for you Leanne. Sounds like you’re on the way to recovery! Cheers, Nova
Posted on You are still as beautiful as ever short hair and all, and inner beauty will always prevail anyways..
Anything to make life easier is a possitive move so enjoy your new freedom
your pal
mike
Posted on Hi Leanna—
I love your new haircut! It looks very cute on you—makes you look peppy and perky! You may not be feeling quite that way yet, but be patient, as you soon will. The sleep thing—ah—it plagues me constantly. Some nights I sleep pretty good, others not so. As Nova mentioned, the fact that you have instantly been thrown into menopause probably has a lot to do with this. Talk to your gyno—hormones are probably all out of whack. It’s good to hear that you have gained some of your weight back. As for the stiffness, it seems to be a common side effect for those of us getting this treatment. My best advice is to keep moving! Also stretching helps tremendously. I was very stiff for a few months, but things are better now with exercise. It’s great to hear from you and I’m so glad you are doing well. Please keep us posted as you continue your recovery. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs—
Martha
Posted on hi, leanna. i gotta say i love the new “do”. you look so young and pretty. i hope you get some relief from the soreness. as far as lack of sleep, i am no help there. working nights for most of 26 years of nursing has me all messed up as far as sleep. i have just learned to live with the mess. hang in there… you have been through the worst part of cancer and are on the road to recovery. God bless you. debby
Posted on Dear Leanna,
I love the short hair- Soooooo flattering – really gorgeous. Wow you look sort of French and artsy! Hang in there with the sleep- it was so awful. I took Benadryl for awhile and slowly was able to get back to my sort of normal sleep pattern. I still have to take something about once a week. The achiness will dissipate…give it time. you are so just out of treatment ….Blessings ! Lori
Posted on Hi Leanna,
Your haircut is really cute! The sleep issues well I still have them (8 months oout of tx) I do take ambian but not everyday. Even with that I sleep 4 hours and I wake up but I can go right back to sleep. The achiness is normal and does take time for it to get better. Mine got worse at first and then started feeling better and better as time goes on. My GP put me on Nutrametrix OPC3. It is an antioxidant and has a natural anti-inflammatory in it. Hang in there!
Nancy
Posted on Leanna,
I love your new haircut! Its so cute! I cut mine short this week too (will post a pic soon) for the same reasons as you. I was tired of cleaning up the pile of hair every day and it just made me sad. Now I think my short hair is sassy.
You continue to be in my prayers for your continued healing and wellness!
Warmly,
Ruth
Posted on Hey Leanne, I just thought about something my naturopath told me about sleep. He told me I couldn’t sleep because my body was starving for nutrition (I’m really tiny also) and that if I couldn’t sleep at two in the morning, i should get up and make some pancakes (whole grain or buckwheat). wow, the first night I did that I felt so good and got right back to sleep. You might want to try that. Also, taking Melatonin might help. There was some other type of hormone I took for a short while but can’t think of it right now. Anyone else remember what that might be called. it seemed to regulate my system again.
Thanks for your support - 
