Author: Amanda Lundberg

I Passed!!!

This week I had two appointments. My 3 month oncology appointment and my one year breast surgeon appointment. My blood work came back very good from my oncology appointment, and my new oncologist didn’t see or feel anything to be concerned about. My breast surgeon’s office also felt me up and said everything is looking good. I’ll probably do some scar revision in the future, depending on how these scars end up - I’m still healing a year out, yep - but that’s in the future.

 

For now, we are focused on the next year or two. Why? Because with my aggressive meanie cancer type, that’s the time it’s most likely to return. Except I’m pretty sure we kicked its ass and it’s not going to come back. 

 

And… they were all glad I’m walking! My oncologist said the human body is designed for walking, so I could just walk forever. I think 25 miles per day will cover it though. 

 

Last weekend I had my second required walk - 15 miles. The last one was when I was asleep in bed after my second Pfizer shot, but I got it done a day late! I did the 15 miles this last weekend, no problem. I have 16 miles in 5.5 hours this weekend. What’s another mile? 

 

After that, I have two more long walks on Saturdays - 20 miles, 22 miles - and then a 2 week chill period to let my body recover before the big one. I’m pretty excited. Nervous about flying. I love to fly, but ew, germs. Excited about San Diego, although I probably should have signed my husband up too since everyone keeps asking if he’s going. No, he’s staying home and taking care of the dogs. I’ll take him next time, though!

 

I feel like a slacker this week. I got rest days on Monday and Wednesday, and today was less than an hour, and tomorrow is just over an hour. I’m to the point where anything under 6 miles feels like nothing happened.

 

I do plan to keep walking after the long walk, although probably less intensely unless I’m training for another one! I do a lot of hills just because of where we live anyway. I think that’ll suffice. 

 

In other news, there are lots of things going on in the world right now. Do pay attention, even if it is difficult and feels far away. Keep your eyes and ears open. Work every day to make the world a better place in your small slice of it. If we all do good and kind things on the daily, it will absolutely make a difference.

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Ooooo!!!

My flight info has arrived for San Diego! Am I excited? Oh, yes. Am I nervous? Absolutely! Am I keeping on top of my training? Yep! Even on days when it’s tough to fit in. That would be week days. And last Saturday because I had a job during the day, so I walked 2 hours before and 2 hours after.

 

This weekend I’ll be walking 15 miles on Saturday, and 2 hours on Sunday. I’ve only got four more weekends of insane walks, and then we have a ‘rest time’ before we leave.

 

Oh! If you haven’t been following before now… I’m going on an Athena Adventure in San Diego in May. I’ll be walking 50+ miles in two days, so I’ve been training by walking and walking and cross-training and walking and yoga and walking.

Lots of walking. Lots. Of. Walking.

 

Oh! And I’m carrying a backpack. A light one - around 8 lbs with the water in it, but still. I carry 70 oz. of water inside the bag and another two bottles of I think 16 ounces strapped to it. And another one that I carry around my hand and then just hook on my belt when it’s empty. Maybe it’s 10 lbs. Who knows. It’s not bad, really. 

 

Best part? I carry my hiking poles across my chest because guess why? No tatas!! Some things are much, much easier now. Jumping jacks, for instance.

 

I also did a little jogging uphill last week because I’m a little off. It felt okay, though. I am overall feeling pretty healthy. Hopefully my oncologist and surgeons offices will agree with me next week. 

 

And… I’m fully vaccinated! I’m almost three weeks out from my second Pfizer shot. Now, this doesn’t mean I can just run around and do whatever I want, I still am wearing a mask and distancing as much as possible. My husband isn’t vaccinated yet - he was awake at 3am last night and scheduled an appointment nearby for next Monday. So, soon. 

 

Next week I have a few doctors appointments. Never can quite escape it...

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Get Vaccinated

Do it. 

 

The mRNA technology used in the Moderna and Pfize shots has been in development for years. It’s not new, and it’s safe. And the best part? It teaches your body how to fight the virus without introducing the virus into your system. How cool is that?

 

With that being said, do be aware there may be side effects!

 

I had my second Pfizer shot last Friday. I came home and worked until 3:30, and then by about 5:30 I was starting to feel a bit spacey. By 8pm I was in bed with the chills. Those lasted a few hours and then I was hot. Worse than hot flash hot. And then I slept until 10am.

 

And then I felt nauseous, and really? I don’t believe in trying to hold that stuff in, so… yeah. I tried to have some tea after that, same result. I slept most of the day Saturday and had to miss my 12 mile required walk. There was no way.

 

Thankfully, my trainer knows I’m human.

 

Except maybe not. I didn’t want to get behind, so… I walked 12 miles on Sunday. And 5 miles on Monday. And 6 miles on Tuesday. And 5 miles today (Wednesday). Tomorrow is cross-training day, and we have agreed that corpse pose meditation yoga is acceptable. 

 

I’m tired. I don’t know how much is vaccine remnants, how much is lots ‘o exercise, and how much is me not getting enough fuel because I was afraid my tummy would reject stuff for a few days.

 

I did lose 4 lbs Friday to Sunday. I’m going to recommend this diet only because it was a side effect of the vaccine and if you have similar side effects? Yeah. You’re gonna lose weight. But! Make sure you stay hydrated and eat when you can.

 

To recap: GET VACCINATED. The preliminary findings are that vaccinated people pretty much don’t spread the COVID. Hopefully that holds true. But until I’m told otherwise, I’m still going to social distance and wear a mask in public. 

 

Totally looking forward to corpse pose meditation yoga tomorrow… oh yeah...

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March 18

....2020. That was the day I had surgery to cut the rest of the cancer out.

I'm happy to report that I am doing very well. Healthier and stronger every day.

I apologize for not blogging as much lately. Training is going well! I've walked a lotta miles and it take a lotta hours and... I discovered Zelda. Oops. I also have to work and sleep.

I also got my first Pfizer shot 1.5 weeks ago! I go back in 1.5 weeks to get the second one and then 2-3 weeks after that I'll be considered fully-vaccinated.

I still won't go anywhere because hubby isn't vaccinated yet, but it's progress! And please, please don't hesitate to get vaccinated. It's an mRNA vaccine. Basically, it goes into your body and is like your favorite teacher. It teaches your cells how to respond if attacked like COVID attacks. They learn - I felt a little weird after the first shot, not excited about the second one, but at least I'll know why I feel ick - and then the vaccine leaves your body. There is no virus in Pfizer or Moderna. I don't think in the others too.

Please get vaccinated. If you're reading this, we've probably met, and I want you to be safe and healthy and able to hug whoever you please soon!

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Prosthesis

Definition: an artificial body part, such as a leg, a heart, or a breast implant.

I have some cheapos, but I have not moved into prosthesis world. I cannot say what it would be like to wear one, since I haven’t tried to this point, but I have a feeling that I would dislike it. A lot.

 

Why? A few reasons. 

 

First, I am perfectly content in my own skin. I feel like conforming to society is not a thing I can or want to do anymore. Societal norms and expectations steal the joy from you if you try to comply. I’m over that. I want the joy without expecting to look or act a certain way. 

 

Second, would you want to strap something on your chest and carry it around with you if you didn’t have to? I don’t. From what I’ve heard, they’re heavy. I think it’s an attempt to make them look as much as possible like real tatas. Great! Except, see above. 

 

But… I don’t have tatas anymore. And… I’m fine with that. I’ve barely been in public in the past two years because cancer and then pandemic, but the times I have been, no one seems to notice I have nothing there. Yes, I wear layers a bit, but even my regular doctor office didn’t notice. You can leave your bra on! Ha! I don’t have one on! Take that, societal norms!

 

There is nothing wrong with wearing a prosthesis. It’s the same as reconstruction vs. no reconstruction, or any other personal choice a person makes about their body. You want to wear makeup? Great! I don’t. We can still be friends. 

 

My thought process for my decision is pretty basic. Will I fall over if I am not wearing a prosthesis? No? No prosthesis. Yes? Prosthesis. I haven’t fallen over yet. No prosthesis. If I start falling over a lot? Probably still no prosthesis because it’s probably something else.

 

In other news, Valentine’s Day was a rest day for workouts. The next full rest day is February 26th, although there are days in there that are just yoga stretches. No problem! 

 

I hope you are staying safe and healthy. Hopefully vaccines will be here soon! I really want to get one in the next 14 weeks so I feel more comfortable going for my walk. Enjoy your day!

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Oh! Snow!

I mean, I love the snow. But… apparently my pining for it a few weeks back worked. We’ve now had snow on the ground for the longest stretch of time that we can remember since moving to Pennsylvania.

 

Oops. 

A snowy road with one set of tire tracks down the middle. Pine trees are to the left of the road.
Isn't it pretty???

Sorry for anyone who hates snow, but… I love it! It’s so pretty. It really helps me in the winter to just look outside at the beautiful snow, look for the tracks of wild critters or Edie trails in the backyard. It’s wonderful. Arthur hates it though. He requires a shoveled path for outside wee time. 

 

It made it tough to walk yesterday. I did manage a mile in the slop and snow, but then came home and did a 2 mile/30 minute walk in place to finish my three miles. That one mile outside took 24 minutes, which for me is a very slow walk.

 

It’s okay. It’ll be spring before we know it and then I’ll have zero excuses.

 

I have been staying on top of my workouts. I haven’t missed one since I started the actual training plan 1.5 weeks ago. Even on rest/stretch days I do yoga or stretches as indicated on the training plan, so that’s good. I’m hoping to have no issues doing my 5 mile walk on Saturday!

 

Other than that, I’m just working too much again already. The pandemic is hard for way too many people, but I’m happy that accessibility is getting a boost. Not just because that’s what I do as a captioner, but also that more people are getting more and better access now. That’s a good thing. 

 

Well, I’m off to work! Oh! It’s snowing again. Hahhahaha….. And this is my 90th blog post. Impressive or insane. One of those. 

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Let the Training Begin!

This week is the official start of training! It appears I am probably ready, although I am sure I’ll be hurting by stretch day next Sunday. I only have 7 miles of required walking this week, but I also need to do arm workouts, yoga, cross-training and the aforementioned stretches at the end of the first week. 

 

I’m tired thinking about it already, and will probably be more tired by the time I actually post this. But. As much fun as sitting around knitting or reading or watching TV is, it’s not going to get me to my fitness goals. Drats.

 

One thing I have been using to advance toward those goals is our Switch. We managed to bag a Fortnite edition because we play Fortnite so much. (We don’t) I have Just Dance and Ring Fit Adventure. My dance moves are very flail-like, but are getting better. I’m pretty good at “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd. In Ring Fit Adventure, I made Dragaux fly off to the next challenge! Yes! Dragaux is a really muscle-y black fire breathing dragon who you have to do workout battles with.

 

It’s all very reality-based. Yes. But it is a decent workout. Except it told me I’d been working out for 11 minutes and I’m sure it was not telling the truth. I was much more tired than 11 minutes of workout!

 

I’m going to have to get out of bed early this week. My work schedule is asinine and does not leave a lot of time during normal daytime hours to do much. Hopefully I don’t get too crabby. I’m used to sleeping basically until I wake up these days, except last week we set alarms at 7am all week, and then I woke up Saturday and Sunday at 7am as well. Not that I got up - it’s the weekend! - but it’s good to know I can do it.

 

I hope you are staying safe, staying healthy, and wearing 2-5 masks every time you have to be around anyone outside of your bubble!

 

Cheers!

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Winter

Winter is pretty dreary where we live. We didn’t see the sun the first week or more of the year. It’s cold. I’d rather have the snow outside still to make it more special. Mostly it’s just overcast and bleh. It’s trying to snow right now, but not enough to bring back the magic of the recently melted snow.

Our backyard, covered in about 6 inches of snow. There are bushes and a tall burning bush in, a shed in the neighbor's yard. In the foreground is a table covered in snow.
*This* was snow.

It’s cold to walk in too! I walked 8 miles last Saturday. That was about all I could manage with the cold. I walked just under three on Tuesday, and I’m hoping to walk a lot more the next few days. As long as it’s not too cold. Walking in the cold sucks the life out of me. It’s no bueno.

 

But I’ll keep walking. To train, obviously, but also because my new oncologist was so excited that I’m walking. Walking helps against recurrence of cancer! 

 

At my three month checkup on Monday, we talked about this a bit. If I can make it through two years cancer-free, my prognosis is hella good. I’m almost a year in. I can do this! It turns out that super nasty aggressive cancers like I had tend to give up after a few years and then never wanna try again. Sounds like most New Year's Resolutions.

 

But I’m also feeling blah. I don’t know if it’s the weather or what. My blood work was a little crazy in the white blood cell area, but not enough for an oncology office to be concerned about. I’m hopeful that it’s just the weather and stress and all that stuff. It’s not likely to be COVID, although if it is, I can point to my husband as my only contact to trace. I really don’t go out in public. I do walk the dogs, but rarely see anyone else. Did I mention it’s cold out?

 

The one area of my life that is going exceedingly well is work. I’m still busy, and it appears that my two weeks off over the holidays were the perfect remedy. My writing is pretty beautiful these days with very few errors. I’m always pleased when I get through a job with nothing but minor oops. The days of the butter police may be in the past! (I was going for butterflies in their stomach… not sure how I got to butter police, but it’s good to know that someone is watching out for the butter of the world.)

 

So, that’s about it. I’ve been really bad about keeping up with my writing, but I don’t have much to write about most days. Maybe I’ll write about book club soon. It’s on Zoom, and I’ve read several books I probably would have never picked up before, so it’s been wonderful. Even when it came time for me to pick, I found one that I might never have read just because it’s not an 8-book story arc of epic fantasy.

 

I hope the new year is going well. I hope we will all get to hang out together safely soon. I miss all my people. Cheers!

Arthur and Edie asleep on the couch. They are both half under blankets, Arthur under a gray blanket and Edie under a yellow one. Arthur is brown. The couch is fake black leather.
We watch telly at night often. We cuddle there too.

Edie beagle asleep on her side - she is tri-color, black/brown/white. She is cuddled up against Arthur chi-mix who is curled into a little ball. They are on their beds in my office.
Cuddling has commenced.

PS - It tried to snow after I wrote this. It really did. It kinda covered everything, but not enough. It's okay. I feel better today.

 

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Take a Deep Breath

I am having trouble sleeping. Melatonin used to work for me. Keeping busy all day used to work. Exercise. I slept like a baby during my cancer treatment. Probably something to do with the drugs.

 

Last night I fell asleep and woke up an hour later. Looking back, I think I had a panic attack. Gosh. What a surprise. It’s not like there’s anything going on in the world right now that could cause this. Nope.

 

But I also imagine this lack of sleep is a side effect of menopause. I get hot at night still even though my daytime hot flashes have calmed down a lot. I’m hesitant to get a lighter comforter because when I’m not hot, I’m fine. Plus, I don’t want my husband to freeze. Trying to be nice.

 

Tonight I’ll just try Tylenol. I am finding if I take it at night it helps. Not Tylenol PM, just regular. I’ve been sore off and on due to training, but I’m getting much, much stronger, so I’m not having as many issues as I was when I first started.

 

Last Saturday I walked 9 miles in just under 3 hours. I can’t seem to walk slower than a 20-minute mile, probably a side effect of a spouse with long legs and spending my life trying to keep up! Not a bad thing. My fastest miles currently are around 18 minutes and 30 seconds. I’m not sure how fast I should be aiming for, but that’s not terrible! 

 

This week I’m kind of just walking, getting back into work, using my new Ring Fit Adventure game on the Switch - you battle a monster with squats! - and my goal is to walk 18 miles between now - Thursday - and Sunday. No problem.

 

I am sad for the state of the country. I’ve been sad for a long time, but it has gotten worse since the attempted coup last week. I’m going to add that last sentence to the list of things I never thought I’d write. A Capitol Police Officer lost his life in the insurrection. Another committed suicide. I honestly have no feelings toward the people that stormed the Capitol and also lost their lives. Apparently they thought they were going to war. These things happen in war. The officers did not anticipate going to war that day, or perhaps should have, but were not advised properly and not given the correct support.

 

So, I’m also angry. I don’t get angry often, but this? As I said previously: Words matter. And to this day over a week later very few Republicans have stood up and disavowed the words that led to them hiding in rooms and in offices, under tables. They’re more upset by having to wear masks on the floor of the House after they refused to wear them when locked up with Democratic colleagues in an enclosed space. Subsequently, at least three Democrats have tested positive for COVID-19, including a 75-year old cancer survivor.

 

Oh, yes. I’m angry. The complete disregard for their health and the health of others as well as their calls for ‘unity’ when many of them objected to the Electoral College count - my rep was one of those asshats - honestly? No. There will be no ‘unity’ as it relates to attempted coups, insurrection and anti-maskers.

 

My only hope is that with the tech community finally standing up and dumping those advocating for war on their platforms that maybe we will make it through the Inauguration okay. I’m sad that President-elect Biden can’t take the Amtrak to his Inauguration because of security threats. I’m sad that instead of being able to focus 100% on getting the pandemic under control, he has to focus on getting extremist groups under control. I’m sad that so many people are so easily manipulated and think they’re under attack.

 

You’re not under attack. You’re just bored. Get a hobby. Maybe try reading - maybe you can learn to visualize the realities of war. I would suggest “The Beekeeper of Aleppo” maybe? It’s very good.

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I Wanted to Write a Fun Blog About Training Today

Instead, I am writing about an attempt to overthrow the US government by a pathetic, weak man who has convinced his followers that they are right despite all evidence to the contrary.

 

I realize I probably lost a few readers right there. I… don’t care. 

 

I turned off the TV after listening to Republican congressmen begging for him to call off his followers. One of them compared it to his time in Iraq. Is this law and order? No.

 

Words have power. They really do. They have the power to raise up and heal, encourage. They also have the power to destroy. To convince people of ideas that, when looked at through a lens that hasn’t been warped, are insane. Like breaking into Congress to try to stop the Electoral College vote count.

 

Destruction of property? Wasn’t there other protesters that were accused of that, except often when you went back and really looked, it was some white anarchist lighting fire to things? 

 

The Electoral College is done. Joseph R. Biden Jr. will be the next President of the United States. Nothing can or should change that.

 

But I am angry. I am angry with the people who thought he ‘wasn’t that bad…’ or that he’d change for the better. 

 

When someone shows you who they really are, believe them. The current occupant of our White House has shown it throughout his entire life that he does not care for anyone but himself. That he will throw you under the bus if you even think about going against him. That if you are Black, he thinks you are less than. 

 

I don’t cry while captioning much. It’s no fun because of the snot running down your face and the tears trickling into your mouth that you cannot do anything about because your hands are steady on the steno keyboard. I cried when a few of the Central Park Five told their story about being accused of rape and how a full page ad was taken out in the paper by the current president against them.

 

They were innocent. They spent years in jail. He doesn’t give a shit.

 

Anyway, as I was told four years ago when this buffoon was elected: You lost. Get over it. 

 

And my next call to action: Vote people out of office. Get people in office who have been poor, who have suffered in life. Get people in office who care about the American people. We need compassion for our fellow humans more than ever at this moment in time.

 

And if you cared enough to read until here, I have been doing my training! Today was a rest day. I walked 8 miles last Saturday. Monday was 4 miles and yesterday was body weight exercises. I’m supposed to walk again tomorrow. 6 or 7 miles probably. I listen to audiobooks while I’m walking. Current book: “Promised Land” by Barack Obama. Narrated by Barack Obama. It’s 29 hours long. I have 13 left. It’s so refreshing to listen to someone who actually knew what they were doing and understood world events. It’s a no-win job, but at least he tried FFS.

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