Follow-up on supplements

I recently had labs done by my primary care physician. These were the regular, annual physical labs that include things like a Lipid Panel and a Comprehensive Metabolic Profile.

All of my results came back normal except for my Red Blood Cell count which is always low. Even my magnesium level, which was incredibly low in the past, is now normal. Other test results that were “off” before are now where they should be.

Is it the supplements? Is it the healthy eating? Is it both? We can not know for certain, but I do know that given the positive results, I’m going to continue on the road I am on.

The best is yet to be

Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.

Our times are in his hand who saith, 'A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!'

Robert Browning

The January 8th appointment

To those who have reached out this week to ask how Monday went, “Thank you!” I wanted to wait until all results were back before I shared any news so that we would have a complete picture.

A little after 7 pm last night, my lab results finally posted. Dr. Rossi hasn’t commented on them yet, but I am sure she’ll concur with the following.

My CT scan, Inhibin B, and AMH tests all came back exactly as we would want them to be. The Inhibin A number is higher than it should be (which is slightly concerning), but this bloodwork is about trends versus getting too worked up about a slight variation. If the number is still up (or rising) in April when we re-test, then we’ll pay a bit more attention to it.

For now, however, I can breathe and live the next three months to the fullest, and that includes being part of the Wilmington Marathon Weekend February 24. I’ll be doing the half . . .and praying I stay ahead of the sweeper as I haven’t run this far in a long time and I didn’t start training when I should have! Wish me luck.

This little restaurant is becoming a regular stop when I go to Duke because it’s close to the hospital and the food is great.

I had just been told Dr. Rossi was running about an hour behind when I got the above results. As I knew we wouldn’t get lab results back for days, I asked reception if I could just skip the face-to-face visit. Within minutes, I got this message, and Rick and I were on our way back to Wilmington.

I signed up for the half marathon on the drive back to Wilmington.

6 months with Letrozole

Tomorrow will mark 6 months since I took my first dosage of Letrozole, and whether or not it is working remains to be seen. Hopefully we’ll know more when I go back to Duke January 8 for a CT scan, labs, and an appointment with Dr. Rossi.

Since I’ve tried to chronicle this in hopes of helping someone else considering whether or not to go on Letrozole, here are links to two previous posts on the same subject.

Looking back at the 90 Days post and comparing that with today, I would say:

1. Fatigue and insomnia are still issues, and I still try to get a nap in most days, as well as going to bed early each night.

2. Neuropathy, muscle, and joint pain, are all still issues, and some days are worse than others. But, again, I want to emphasize, it’s all bearable. I find the best way to keep pain at bay is to keep moving and not sit for too long. I go to the beach every morning to run/walk, and I think that really helps.

3. Hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, and edema seem to have been resolved.

4. My weight has stablized at roughly 10 lbs. less than it was pre-surgery.

5. I have a noticeable bald spot that keeps growing on the right side of my head, but I’m going to guess that Ashley (who does my hair) and I are the only ones who really see it. It’s easy to hide.

At this point, I’m still glad I chose to go on Letrozole, and I am hoping for positive news when I see my physician in a few days.

Continue

The last two mornings at the beach have been exceptionally life-giving, and I want to hold them in my heart forever.

My wish for you

Is that you continue

Continue

To be who and how you are

To astonish a mean world

With your acts of kindness

Continue

To allow humor to lighten the burden

Of your tender heart

Continue

In a society dark with cruelty

To let the people hear the grandeur

Of God in the peals of your laughter

Continue

To let your eloquence

Elevate the people to heights

They had only imagined

Continue

To remind the people that

Each is as good as the other

And that no one is beneath

Nor above you

Continue

To remember your own young years

And look with favor upon the lost

And the least and the lonely

Continue

To put the mantle of your protection

Around the bodies of

The young and defenseless

Continue

To take the hand of the despised

And diseased and walk proudly with them

In the high street

Some might see you and

Be encouraged to do likewise

Continue

To plant a public kiss of concern

On the cheek of the sick

And the aged and infirm

And count that as a

Natural action to be expected

Continue

To let gratitude be the pillow

Upon which you kneel to

Say your nightly prayer

And let faith be the bridge

You build to overcome evil

And welcome good

Continue

To ignore no vision

Which comes to enlarge your range

And increase your spirit

Continue

To dare to love deeply

And risk everything

For the good thing

Continue

To float

Happily in the sea of infinite substance

Which set aside riches for you

Before you had a name

Continue

And by doing so

You and your work

Will be able to continue

Eternally

- Maya Angelou

One life on this earth is all we get, whether it is enough or not enough, and the obvious conclusion would seem to be at the very least we are fools if we do not live it as fully and bravely and beautifully as we can.

Frederick Buechner

All earthly things are the shadows of heavenly realities—the expression, in created, visible forms, of the invisible glory of God.

Andrew Murray

Supplements

I have been asked repeatedly about what supplements I am taking, so I decided to share the list here as a reference for the future.

Let me start out by saying I am not endorsing any of these supplements, nor do I necessarily believe any of them are necessary to my well-being. What I do know is that I am doing so much better than anticipated; therefore, I will continue taking these supplements for the foreseeable future because I do not want to change anything about this routine which seems to be working for me.

Further, I do believe nutrition from real food is better than any supplement, so I am careful about what I eat daily. I’ve eliminated meat from my diet, and I have minimized dairy, sugar, processed food, and gluten, though I have not entirely eliminated them.

Also, I believe exercise has a significant impact on the way I feel day-by-day, and so I am committed to daily cardio and weight-bearing exercises.

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These are the supplements I currently take in the morning:

1. B Complex Plus with Choline from Seeking Health

2. Vitamin A 7,5000 mcg from Klaire Labs

3. Vitamin D 1,000IU from Thorne

4. Vitamin C Version 3.3 from Vibrant Health

5. Multi Collagen Plus from Dr. Emil Nutrition

6. Turmeric Curcumin 1500 mg from Bio Schwartz

These are the supplements I currently take in the evening, along with my medication:

1. Melatonin-SR from Pure Encapsulations

2. Magnesium (glycinate) from Pure Encapsulations

3. Letrozole 2.5 mg

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Above and beyond all this, I truly believe Proverbs 17:22:

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

And ultimately, that’s the game plan - to keep trusting the Lord and finding joy on this journey day-by-day.

My heart is filled with thankfulness…

… and my legs were ready to run.

I haven’t registered for a 5K in forever. I’m not sure how long it’s been. 5 years? 7 years? More than that? Back in the day when I was running anywhere, everywhere, as often as I could, I stopped running 5Ks. Instead, I spent my race fees on longer distances.

But today it seemed appropriate to get back to the basics and cherish the fact that on this Thanksgiving, I am able to run. Despite all of the bad possibilities I was confronted with earlier this year, very few of them have come to pass. And more importantly, the things that have come to pass have not been more than I could deal with on any individual day.

So today, as so many are sharing, “I am grateful for __________________”, I would like to add:

I am thankful for my health which includes the ability to run a 5K on this Thanksgiving morning.

And, if I’m being honest, I’m thankful that I still have my hair. There. I said it. Yes, that feels so vain, but it’s true.

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Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!

How are you feeling, and what’s next?

These are the two questions I am asked on a regular basis recently. And here’s how I respond.

First, I’m feeling so much better than could have been anticipated given all that transpired this summer. I don’t feel great, but I don’t feel terrible, either. I’ve told several people most days feel like the day after running a marathon. If you’ve done distance running, you know what I mean.

The morning after a long run, you don’t feel great, but you also don’t lie in bed all day and complain. You just get up and do what you need to do, albeit a little more slowly and with some pain and stiffness (especially if you sit down for too long).

Second, unless something new comes up, I can breathe and relax until January. On January 8, I am scheduled for a CT scan (my first since February 2023) and blood work.

So, between now and then, my plan is to not borrow trouble from tomorrow and live each day as it comes, by God’s grace.

Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement!

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

Luke 12:25-26