A warm Saturday

I have never been one for the heat.  This week, (and, according to the weather reports),  the coming week, will be in the upper 80’s to 90’s.   Not my favorite weather.  I also have to go into Manhattan for my treatment and labs on Friday.  I keep saying that I will take the subway and avoid driving in with the traffic and expense, but somehow, treatment day rolls around, and I jump in the car.  The City is starting to really clear out for the summer, and hopefully, the traffic will be less.  This is my third year of treatment;  It’s funny that the first two I didn’t seem to mind the traffic or the parking or the bother.  This year, it bothers me.  Perhaps it is because I am feeling more like my normal self.  The previous two years, between the myeloma and the treatments, I was really preoccupied with how I felt physically.  Now, I suppose, I can focus on other things.  That’s not to say myeloma isn’t constantly on my mind, but I am not feeling as sick as I was.  When I look back, I find it hard to believe that I worked through induction.  Not full time, but most days, say 10-4 ish.  I cooked dinner almost every night for my family.  Even on those nights i could barely eat myself.  I didn’t knock myself out with housework, but I still did the laundry, changed the bedding, kept the kitchen clean, and shopped for groceries, (sometimes).  Groceries I found hard.  Carrying things caused me fatigue and sometimes pain.  My muscles were very weak, and I was very thin.   I have gained about 10 -12 pounds back, and although most of it appears to be fat, I still feel stronger.

I would like to work out more.  I have tried on a few occasions, and I was able to go a few weeks in succession, and then I hurt my back….then I got the flu….then bronchitis…..it is frustrating.  I  was really devoted to working out in pre-myeloma days.  I do so love to get a good sweat going….I know that after all I have been through I will probably not ever be able to work out at the same level I did.  And, of course, I am 61 now.  That in itself poses some limitations.  But, I will keep trying.  My stamina in general is much better, but I am a flab magnet at this point.  I sit too much.  Now I work from home, so I don’t necessarily even get that little bit of walking around you get from going back and forth to work.  I should just pretend to go to work….walk to the car….drive around…..walk back.

Today was a pretty good day.  I do have a small cold that I caught from my son.  I catch everything!  But, luckily it is just a runny nose.  No fever, no swollen glands, no sore throat.  But, I was tired this morning when I woke up.  Perhaps it was the movie I watched between 2 and 4 am!!!!  I don’t sleep all that well, even with the addition of ativan.

So, I had a somewhat productive day.  Ran some errands, shopped for some new t-shirts at Kohl’s.  Now we are getting some takeout from Bareburger.  Not exciting, but normal.  Tomorrow we are invited to a barbecue at a friends house.  I will bring salad, wine and dessert.  Should be fun. I am looking forward to it.  I hope the traffic back and forth to Long  Island won’t be too bad.