Sometime in November, after my doctor suggested trying to avoid the immunoglobulin infusions, I realized that if I wanted to stay truly healthy, I would have to reroute my thinking and some of my habits. My focus became a broader Wellness that included lifting and running shorter distances, and a much more pointed focus on nutrition: more vegetables; a greater variety of vegetables; sleep; water; tea... Basically a shift to a sustainable lifestyle that would keep me healthy.
Last time I wrote, I was a few days away from my chem final and my quarterly PET scan. I ended up with an A in my class and a clear scan. Hooray! I also found out that after six weeks, my immunoglobulin levels had fallen to nearly undetectable levels. Boo! Most doctors are funny in that they don't believe something until they have tested and proved or disproved it themselves. Not one doctor over the past three years has believed my Ig levels could be as low as they are until they test them themselves and are appropriately shocked that, Yes, I am still here. Without those globulins. Needless to say, a few days later, I received an IgG infusion, which did help with how I was feeling.
As a brand new year gets underway, I have been reflecting on this last year and what I want from 2013. 2012 went by lightning-fast, and I am still trying to process everything that happened. Between learning the ins and outs of a new relationship, innumerable hospital visits, figuring out how to change my diet and lifestyle following a celiac diagnosis, marathons, hikes, travel adventures, Burning Man, going back to school, and a sense of incredulity that This is really my life?! Every month, almost every week, brought me some new reason to wake up with a smile on my face. I truly believe that it doesn't matter much what happens in your life. It is most important how you approach the challenges and appreciate the good moments.
Disclaimer: I used to be a raging pessimist and cynic. I had very low self-confidence and little appreciation for everything I am capable of accomplishing. Having cancer did little for my confidence. It doesn't help a 20-year old to lose her hair, her strength, to see her weight fluctuate an incredible amount. Yet, everything that has come my way since 2006 has only made me so much stronger. The immune issue and now the celiac issue both tried to once more take away my physical strength and confidence. I chose to laugh (after a little crying and self-pity) and start baking delicious cookies and muffins full of nutrients and non-gluteny grains that could only help my body. My poor body has gone through so much these past six years, and thankfully my attitude and perspective have changed almost as much.
So on New Year's Eve, I sat at home with a gluten free pizza, a movie, and time to reflect on what I want from this next year. I wrote down a whole bunch of things, some fantastic, most definitely within my reach. Not resolutions, but a loose map of where and how I want to find myself this time next year. I fell asleep shortly after midnight, mostly satisfied. I woke up a few hours later for work and realized that everything I had written down is wonderful, good ideas, nice to set goals, but I really only want one thing: I want myself and my friends and family to stay healthy this year. School, work, travel, running, all of it will fall into place if I can make it happen, but it will all only matter if I am healthy. If I have the energy to do everything, the strength to carry my bike all over the place, to study and work and dance around my living room and love as much as I am able, then it will be a Great year.
The best part is, to an extent, this is all within my control. I've been reading a lot about immunity and self-care through nutrition. I'm not sure how well it all applies to someone with a super compromised immune system (globulins! *still shaking fist), but it certainly won't hurt anything. So to bring this (probably unnecessarily) long post to a close: Wellness. I haven't run in about 3 weeks due to finals and then family in town and then I crashed on my bike and my knee has been out of commission. I haven't gone grocery shopping recently and my supply of vegetables is basically nil. While delicious, cereal for breakfast And dinner does nothing for my immunity. I am hitting up the store shortly, and while my knee is still busted, I'm stretching and doing push-ups and planks and dreaming about the day I can start running again. Even if I will once more be starting at ground zero. This is my life and my body and my health. I've come too far to throw in the towel now, so why not make the effort to truly take care of myself? Like I said, if I can do that successfully, everything else will happen as it should.
And finally, a challenge! I challenge you to figure out what is best for yourself this new year. Is it eating more leafy greens? Making time for breakfast? Doing yoga or giving yourself at least five minutes every day to sit, clear your brain, and think about Nothing, just let go for a few minutes? Figure out something sustainable that will ultimately make your life a little better, grow your confidence a little more, keep you healthier. Let's do it together! I think resolutions are stupid, hyped expectations that generally lead to guilt-induced bingeing. Make a long-term plan, plot out a change that can only improve yours and others' lives. I, again, am shooting for a plant-based diet with the occasional bacon strip thrown in. Less (no...?) refined sugar, more sleep, moderated and consistent exercise. Climbing mountains! Live this life, full of love and gratitude - share it with others. Thank you, 2012, for everything you brought me. Here's to 2013 and a whole new slew of adventures, challenges and growth! Cheers!
Showing posts with label immunity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immunity. Show all posts
Friday, January 4, 2013
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Happy Tuesday, once again!
Breakfast: kale/spinach/tomato/basil and goat cheese omelet, iced mate with honey. Woke up this morning to (finally!) a sprinkling of sparkling snow and the tantalizing prospect of maybe eventually beginning studying for a final exam on Thursday instead of using my day off to escape to the snowy mountains. Ah, to be a busy, working adult/student in Colorado in the winter. Oh well, soon enough there will be lots more snow and many more days to ski. Meanwhile, I need to pass my chem exam.
I also woke up with sore abs. What? you ask. Don't sore abs require some sort of activity to actually work those abs? Well, yes! Since I updated last week, I have run four more times and twice done lift-y things at the gym, including incline sit-ups, hence the sore lower abs. I have decided to try something just slightly different. Instead of running with the intention of gradually increasing my mileage for some long-distance race, I am focusing on a broader goal: strength and a solid base fitness level. I have only been running between 2.5 and 3 miles, which is actually working out pretty well.
Here is a fun update: it has been six weeks since I last received IVIg. (Immune-replacement therapy I'd been receiving since June 2011. The chemo sapped my body's ability to produce its own secondary immune response). I wasn't making my own immunoglobulins, so my doctor out here determined it was in my best interest to receive an infusion of someone else's immunoglobulins every three weeks. Okay, fine, good, I stopped having chronic sinus infections, slept through the night, changed my diet, stopped having debilitating intestinal issues, blah blah. And then, six weeks ago, I transferred my care from the children's hospital I had been going to to the adult hospital across the street. The adult hematologist/oncologist I met with six weeks ago had a different plan for me. He wanted me to NOT receive the immune therapy every three weeks, reasoning that it isn't necessarily that healthy to so frequently receive blood products. Are they really doing all that much for me, anyway? I have this long-term goal to eventually be off all medications and hospital infusions (including IVIg!). So, while acknowledging my trepidation of just letting my immune system slowly get worse concurrently with flu season, I agreed to pause the IVIg and see what happens with the directive to contact my doctor Immediately if I started feeling sick or if any of my old symptoms came back.
Like I said, it has now been six weeks, and honestly, I haven't felt great, but I also haven't fallen deathly ill (or gotten sick at all, actually). I go back in on Thursday for another PET scan, labs and a follow-up with my adult doctor. I am interested to see where my IgG levels are - higher, lower, how much lower... But anyway, the point of all this: with no external help for my immune system and a massive reluctance on my part to rely on any antibiotics, I am focusing heavily on shoring up my body and my immunity naturally and nutritionally. I am going back to school for nutrition to gain some credibility so I can help others do this very thing, but I am still going to start with myself and start now. So, while I would love to train for another marathon, I know that running those distances throughout winter is not the smartest choice for my body. Much more important is to focus on overall health - shorter running distances, strength training, perhaps yoga... Skiing!
And, of course, food. I would really like to add more vegetables to my diet. Comparatively, I already eat pretty well. (see: breakfast!) But there is so much room for improvement, so many things to learn about nutrition and immunity and incorporating it all into a sustainable lifestyle. I still have a sweet tooth; that isn't going away. I love baking and am having a blast learning how to make healthy, gluten-free snacks. (Side story: my roommate last night mentioned he tried a piece of the coffee cake I made the other day. "Is it really gluten free?" "Yup, sure is." "It doesn't even taste like it! It's really good." Sweet. I love when that happens.) I have also found I have trouble fueling myself adequately if I run any longer than half an hour. For some reason, my metabolism has skyrocketed, and the last thing I need is to lose any more weight. As winter sets in here in Denver, other people can go ahead and get sick, but I will not be one of them. I have too many more important things to worry about than viruses and bacteria. Letting go of stress, maintaining a healthy weight, running, eating super well, and listening closely to my body.
We would all be a little bit better off if we ate more kale. As the holidays progress, I just hope you can figure out a way to relax and take care of yourself. Throw some garlic and spinach into your morning omelet! Make an effort to drink more tea and less coffee (less, not none...). I'm going to eliminate sugary beverages to make room for delicious homemade baked goods. Hooray, here's to your health. :)
Running just a little more, breathing deeply.
I also woke up with sore abs. What? you ask. Don't sore abs require some sort of activity to actually work those abs? Well, yes! Since I updated last week, I have run four more times and twice done lift-y things at the gym, including incline sit-ups, hence the sore lower abs. I have decided to try something just slightly different. Instead of running with the intention of gradually increasing my mileage for some long-distance race, I am focusing on a broader goal: strength and a solid base fitness level. I have only been running between 2.5 and 3 miles, which is actually working out pretty well.
Here is a fun update: it has been six weeks since I last received IVIg. (Immune-replacement therapy I'd been receiving since June 2011. The chemo sapped my body's ability to produce its own secondary immune response). I wasn't making my own immunoglobulins, so my doctor out here determined it was in my best interest to receive an infusion of someone else's immunoglobulins every three weeks. Okay, fine, good, I stopped having chronic sinus infections, slept through the night, changed my diet, stopped having debilitating intestinal issues, blah blah. And then, six weeks ago, I transferred my care from the children's hospital I had been going to to the adult hospital across the street. The adult hematologist/oncologist I met with six weeks ago had a different plan for me. He wanted me to NOT receive the immune therapy every three weeks, reasoning that it isn't necessarily that healthy to so frequently receive blood products. Are they really doing all that much for me, anyway? I have this long-term goal to eventually be off all medications and hospital infusions (including IVIg!). So, while acknowledging my trepidation of just letting my immune system slowly get worse concurrently with flu season, I agreed to pause the IVIg and see what happens with the directive to contact my doctor Immediately if I started feeling sick or if any of my old symptoms came back.
Like I said, it has now been six weeks, and honestly, I haven't felt great, but I also haven't fallen deathly ill (or gotten sick at all, actually). I go back in on Thursday for another PET scan, labs and a follow-up with my adult doctor. I am interested to see where my IgG levels are - higher, lower, how much lower... But anyway, the point of all this: with no external help for my immune system and a massive reluctance on my part to rely on any antibiotics, I am focusing heavily on shoring up my body and my immunity naturally and nutritionally. I am going back to school for nutrition to gain some credibility so I can help others do this very thing, but I am still going to start with myself and start now. So, while I would love to train for another marathon, I know that running those distances throughout winter is not the smartest choice for my body. Much more important is to focus on overall health - shorter running distances, strength training, perhaps yoga... Skiing!
And, of course, food. I would really like to add more vegetables to my diet. Comparatively, I already eat pretty well. (see: breakfast!) But there is so much room for improvement, so many things to learn about nutrition and immunity and incorporating it all into a sustainable lifestyle. I still have a sweet tooth; that isn't going away. I love baking and am having a blast learning how to make healthy, gluten-free snacks. (Side story: my roommate last night mentioned he tried a piece of the coffee cake I made the other day. "Is it really gluten free?" "Yup, sure is." "It doesn't even taste like it! It's really good." Sweet. I love when that happens.) I have also found I have trouble fueling myself adequately if I run any longer than half an hour. For some reason, my metabolism has skyrocketed, and the last thing I need is to lose any more weight. As winter sets in here in Denver, other people can go ahead and get sick, but I will not be one of them. I have too many more important things to worry about than viruses and bacteria. Letting go of stress, maintaining a healthy weight, running, eating super well, and listening closely to my body.
We would all be a little bit better off if we ate more kale. As the holidays progress, I just hope you can figure out a way to relax and take care of yourself. Throw some garlic and spinach into your morning omelet! Make an effort to drink more tea and less coffee (less, not none...). I'm going to eliminate sugary beverages to make room for delicious homemade baked goods. Hooray, here's to your health. :)
Running just a little more, breathing deeply.
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