It Itches

I am exactly 8 weeks and 2 days from my operation. In the first few days after I returned from the hospital (after spending 5 days therein), I couldn't sleep longer than 5 minutes at a time. I couldn't much focus on anything because of the vicodin and the pain. I couldn't drive anywhere. I was supposed to walk a little every hour (but we all know how that goes...). Today, I drive everywhere I want to go. I drink wine if I want to, because I'm not on painkillers, and haven't been for over a month now. But I have this 7.5-inch zipper from my navel down to where the sun don't shine. It isn't painful to touch any more, but it sure is red. And the vampire bite marks on either side of the surgical line are still there. It's a reminder of where I've come from. Not constant, but near enough. I have a slight bit of pain, right around the belt line. I pretty much don't pay any attention to it. It's not like even two weeks ago, when I knew the pain was there all the time. I have to be reminded now that I have any at all. I consider myself cured. What do I face now? I will walk unassisted into Lab Corp on June 1st and have my blood drawn for the first of two tests. I will then call the oncologist's office, and Shirley will apply for a PET CT scan one more time. I have to say I'm a little nervous about the latter, not because of the procedure, which is a piece o' cake, but because of what it might show. If it shows I'm free and clear of cancer, I'm home free. Well, pretty much, although the gynecologist will see me annually for five years. If not... well, I don't want to think about that. Oh, one further thing: the incision scar itches. It's the damnedest thing.

Searching for a Nutritious Diet

I have just finished my eighth week of recovery from the operation. If you don't know, I had surgery to remove cancer in my uterus on March 9, 2012. I am still recovering from that rather extensive surgery.

A medical student came to my house a few weeks ago to visit and interview me. This had nothing to do with the cancer or the surgery. In fact, I had seen her before several times at Lifelong Medical workshops on diabetes and stroke risk. She was required by her school, as part of her training, to do some in-home visits. After all, Dr. Miller explained to me as we were setting this up: you can learn a lot about a person by their home environment. Do they have a support system? What is their greatest worry or challenge?

My answer to that last question was: "I am recovering from cancer surgery -- my second cancer -- but that's not my worry. Diabetes kicks my butt daily." And so we talked about that. And that is the absolute truth.

I was talking to a friend the other day about what I would do differently 15, 20 years ago if I knew what I know now about how diabetes would affect me. Nothing, I replied. I don't think I could change a thing.

But that's not important, really. What's important is, what am I doing now? I'm taking my blood sugar levels every morning before breakfast, which tells m absolutely what path, what trend I'm on. I'm conscious every time I put something in my mouth, and now I write it down (in my new app in my phone). But I'm going one step further.

I'm ordering food from a local nutritionist. Yes, I've tried NutriSystem, and when the food was lousy and cardboard-like, I tried BistroMD. A little more upscale cardboard but still not tasty. And so I couldn't stick with it.

My nutritionist, Sandy Der, is making meals according to menus she puts together with my guidance. She will deliver the frozen goods to my door -- 20 of them -- and I'll eat them over the month. Then, next month we'll do the same thing. (Sandy has worked for year's with Oakland Women's Cancer Resource Center, teaching nutrition and helping people with cooking ideas.)

This month's menu items include:

Fish of the Day with sun dried tomato pesto. Side of wheat berry pilaf and broccoli.

Grilled lime and garlic marinated chicken. Side of cut corn and roasted sweet potatoes.

Beef stew with carrots. Side of egg noodles and sugar snap peas.

Hoisin glazed roast chicken breast with stir fried green beans and brown jasmine rice.

Turkey bolognese sauce. Side of whole wheat spaghetti and broccolini.

The whole idea is not to diet. The idea is to make better choices. I start May 12th. Wish me luck.