October Follow-Up Appointments

In October, I had my 3 month follow up appointments on what was going on with my 

Shingles/Lump under my arm.

I must say that at the time I felt like I had slowed my life down a lot.

Prior to the Shingles, I would get to work at 8, stay until 4:30, go for a run, eat dinner, and then grade papers until close to bedtime. This was pretty much my schedule Monday through Friday, 

and would include work on the weekends

(The to-do list for a teacher is never complete!).

From June until October, I tried to slow myself down.

I would get to work at 8, stay until 4:30, go for a run, eat dinner, 

and then grade papers until about 8:00.

(The to-do list for a teacher is never complete!)

I made an effort to be off of the computer altogether by

8:00 in order to get my brain shut down.

In October, I walked into my follow-up ultrasound 

feeling better than I had in months.

I still had a small, light colored rash on my side,

but it was not red and swollen like it was in June.

I definitely was proud of my progress and

was ready for good news.

The same ultrasound tech who did my ultrasound in June,

completed the scans and  reminded me again that she would take the

scans to the doctor on duty.

I was more than elated to see the tech 

walk back in moments later (without the doctor this time!).

Unfortunately she had some good news for me and some bad news.

Bad news:

The lump was still there.

(WHAT?! I could barely feel anything anymore!)

Good news:

It's a lot smaller than it was in June,

so that's a good sign,

but I am still not at 100%.

With strict doctor's orders, I have once again been told to 

"Slow Down!"

So I am trying to slow down even more than before.

Now, I get to work at 8:00, leave at 5 (yes, I know that it is a half an hour later than previously noted),

but I get all of my work done for the evening at school.

I no longer bring anything home.

Also, I try to run every other day in hopes that this will give my body some

extra rest that it is apparently craving.

I will follow up with my doctor's again in about 3 months.

We'll see how it goes!

Moral of the story:

Listen to your body.

If your body is telling you that you are tired, you probably are.

Don't be a superhero.

Some things can wait until tomorrow.