The hum of the dehydrator reminded me of finding joy in the everyday EVERY day. That reminded me it’s time to share what’s new in my world.
Lying very still, palms out, light dimmed, music playing, I glance down to peek at the eighteen needles just before my body relaxes and I feel the energy flowing to my fingertips and toes. Yup, acupuncture. Before I know it the half hour is up, Dr. Z is back in the room pulling out the teeny needles, and I have to make my reentry to this world. My body responds well to acupuncture. Many years ago it “cured” my chronic migraines. Eight treatments over four weeks. Headaches gone, just like that, after years of torment.
When I read that neuropathy is treated with acupuncture, I called Dr. Z. to schedule a visit. A side effect of my targeted therapy, neuropathy is the mini beast I’m dealing with now. Fingers, hands, toes, and left foot. None of the descriptions I read prepared me for how it would affect me. Wow. Much tougher than daily diarrhea was while on crizotinib. We already reduced my med dosage, so that’s not an option. Out of my research came two possible remedies for relief: acupuncture and topical cannabis essential oil. The oil provides temporary relief. After two sessions of eight scheduled, I can see marked improvement from the acupuncture. It’s going to work.
No, acupuncture doesn’t hurt. Don’t like needles? Don’t look! These are just tiny, thin as a piece of hair, and they get poked into your skin. Okay, how about gently inserted? I had to count as he gently inserted them to even know how many there were. Two on the inside of each elbow, one near each thumb, three on the inside of each knee, two on each ankle, and one in each foot. I think. I know I counted 18. Well really I counted nine, on each side. Maybe I’ll ask for a phone pic. That’s taking up two mornings per week for a month. Then the weather will be warmer and my foot will feel well enough for walking, maybe hiking.
Got the dehydrator for Christmas, a little bigger than the one we lost to the fire, still sits nicely on the counter. So nowadays instead of pickle-making, it’s jerky, venison jerky, and applesauce leather, and best of all? Dried apple peel for naughty Dottie and sweet Matilda. Who knew goats prefer their apple dried? Won’t touch a fresh apple, but they go crazy for their apple snacks. Now Dan has to eat applesauce, apple leather, apple crisp… You get the picture. And, Matilda now stomps her foot on her bowl when there’s no apple. Can’t say “poor Dan” though, he gave me the dehydrator. Just lucky for him that the grandchildren like jerky.
A few years ago I took a dehydrator to my preschool classroom to dry starfruit. Shortly after we filled it, one of the students lined all the chairs up facing the dehydrator. Her plan was to watch it. Huh. I must have missed a step in my explanation. I learned from that day that I would need something to do while the dehydrator was humming along. I have found a great new hobby. Combines many things I love and I can do it whenever I want while sitting with my feet up and my dachshunds by my side. Online classes that are either free or cheap! There’s all kinds of photography ones, and I’ve always wanted to learn more about my camera and lenses. Other topics of interest such as drawing and writing are available too. Why, I might even brush-up (relearn) on French or learn a new language. All while the dehydrator is humming.
Winter has been wonderful for me. Dan’s been home most days, working on lobster gear in his basement shop. Our first winter of being home together most of the time. Really nice. Soon he’ll be back on the water more, and before we know it, it will be time to move to our Salt Pond camp.
Headed to Dana Farber for my brain MRI, CT scans of chest and abdomen, blood draw, EKG, and doctor appointment on March 1. It’s been nine weeks, the longest between scans since diagnosis. If all goes well, appointments will stay at nine weeks. Thinking positively. I’m grateful for research, genomic testing, and targeted therapy drugs in clinical trials.
That’s me. Finding joy in the everyday every day here in our winter home on the mountainside with Dan, the three little dachshunds, and Dottie and Matilda, Nigerian Dwarf goats.
polepole ~ breathe 