Long time, no blogging

I did not realize how long it had been! And I've even been tagged in the meanwhile. I'll get to that one later.

So, what's been going on?
It feels like nothing is going on, especially compared to the trauma at last year at this time. May and early June are always busy times with the end of the school year activities. Rachel's had 2 flute recitals, a band concert, Family Day (another day of school performances and a carnival), dance rehearsals in addition to the 3 day a week ballet classes, and has a few more rehearsals and the spring dance performance next weekend. I've been busy running to all those events. Every once in a while, in the middle of the hubbub, I remember what it was like to be in the midst of all that with the feeling of impending doom hanging over my head. Last year, the goal was to get through all of these things before I started chemotherapy. All our usual fun, after the craziness, Mommy/daughter plans for June were cancelled. This year, we are talking about going to the shore, seeing what Broadway show we can catch by getting tickets at the TKTS booth, spending a day at the Museum of Natural History, visiting friends, etc. :)

In the meantime, I've had a few routine doctor's appointments.
I thoroughly miss the days when a check up was just something totally routine. Everything is much more complicated now. I left my physical at my internists office with a "to do" list that was incredibly long. I've become one of those patients with a complicated problem list. One of those multiple medical problem people. I feel like Rip Van Winkle, like I went to bed one day and woke up 50 years later. I'm supposed to see an allergist (no one else will do my vaccinations because of my allergy history), a cardiologist to consider the possibility of having a stress test (!!!), a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy (planning to put this one off a tiny bit longer), and a dermatologist (made that appointment). This is in addition to the previously made appointments with my medical oncologist, gynecologic oncologist, breast surgeon (done) and plastic surgeon. The only positive is that after my co-pays (which are higher than ever), I should hit my deductible very soon, if we have not already.

Then, I got my blood test results back. I suspect that nothing is ever easy, even on this road out of Cancer-ville. I thought life was going back to normal. Albeit, a new normal. And I guess this just is a new normal... just one that find me about 50 years older than I was going in!!! Some of you are aware that I had some serious physical side effects from the aromatase inhibitor (medication) I was supposed to take for at least the next 5 years. I went off that medication in February and most of the symtoms went away. I'm left with just one issue and we are all hoping that was a medication issue too and that it will go away as well. So, my medication was changed to tamoxifen. It's been around a lot longer, decent safety profile, etc. All is well. Until my bloodwork, that is. In some women, tamoxifen can affect the lipid profile. It slaughtered mine! The recent surgical menopause probably contributed a bit too. But, as you've read here before, I had already been working on getting into shape, eating right, etc. My triglycerides and cholesterol are now so high that diet and exercise and supplements are not enough. My levels actually skyrocketed while I was already doing all those things!! So, I get to add yet another medication to my list. I get to have even more bloodwork several times a year. It's a big deal when every needlestick in your arm (either one) is a risk for another possible lifelong complication, lymphedema. So, I try to get my blood drawn from my foot whenever I can. Not easy because not many medical folks have done it before. At least I can talk someone through the process because *I* know how to do it.

So, that's life in the fast lane at the moment. :) Glad to be here.. now to go check on that tag from Dana!