Today's update...

Here's today's update....The weather is just gorgeous here and it's really nice to go out and take my "walkabout" as my uncle refers to it and then begin in on my exercises. I may actually be getting some sun, which would be nice rather than being so pale...Driving miss Julie...Last night, we got in the car to see how I would do shifting since my right side is the one that is bothersome at times and, even though I could feel my muscles working, it wasn't a bad thing necessarily. I was surprised that it was actually work to drive and that my muscles had to work for it. We usually just don't think about it, and frankly neither did I until then. We took a spin around the block and I did okay shifting and turning the wheel, etc. and then down the street to a cul-de-sac and some three point turns. I felt like I was 15 and 1/2 again driving again getting my driving lessons with my parents. It was funny but my uncle was right about just trying to do it in increments rather than just thinking I would get in the car next week and it would be fine. Anyway, he gave me the clearance to take a small jaunt up to the store or physical therapy about one trip per day but not a lot. I need to work up to being able to drive back next week, so if we do it in increments, that should be good.
Physical therapy... Speaking of incremental improvements, I was able to see a physical therapist today that just happened to be right up Fair Oaks Ave, which was great. Of course, I could have gone to USC but this was closer. I've never had physical therapy before, but wow, was it great! She worked on my neck and shoulder on the right side and then spent some time on the soft tissue to help it stretch out as well. It's amazing just how the truncating of the lymph vessels really impairs movement and is a combination of tightness and pain, and also affects the tissues and muscles around it. I realize just how the muscles and tissues are so interdependent. As I right this my pec is kind of cramping up but I'm not stressing about it because of the progress that I was able to make this afternoon with the therapist's help. It was pretty amazing how far I was able to reach after she worked on me. The main problem is that my shoulder is kind of stuck and the pec tensing up doesn't help the shoulder to be free to move. Anyway, I was there for about an hour and a half (paperwork, etc) and I was so jazzed when I was finished becuase I really felt so much better. Even though I had been doing the exercises I was supposed to, there are just some things I can't do myself and I needed help to get some of the kinks worked out. I'll continue to go back this Friday, next Monday and then possibly next Wednesday and then leave to come home to the desert right after that. I was planning to head back to the desert after my next fill next Tuesday but I really like the physical therapist here and I think it would be worth it to stay one more day so that I could get worked on again. Of course I'll need to find someone in the desert who can work on me as well.I was able to drive to the store on the way home from therapy and pick up a couple of things for my aunt, which was nice to feel like I was contributing to the household and gave me a sense of freedom as well. I need to get my car washed so I'll try that tomorrow or Friday.I still came home and crashed out for a nap in the afternoon and I keep trying to analyze why I still need them but, duh, I'm still recovering from surgery and chemo...so I guess I shouldn't be so hard on myself.Oh I'm just so excited about my physical therapy session today, it was just so encouraging that perhaps I'm on the upswing. Yay!God is good!Julie