Over the past year I have turned 40, been diagnosed with cervical cancer, have had radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which led to instantaneous menopause, which, in turn seems to be leading to a series of health changes, not the least of them being joint pain. The hot flashes I expected and so far they are relatively benign. The joint pain, however, came as quite a surprise. The symptoms came on very suddenly and migrated a little, but now the worst can be felt in my knees all day long and my hands in the morning and sometimes at night. My fingers feel swollen and my morning exercise consists of trying to make a fist. As for my knees, any type of stairs, whether going up or down, brings on varying degrees of discomfort through the day.
I remember the doctor saying that I would be able to continue my regular activities and that life would get back to normal. I guess I’m still waiting for this “normal” mode to make its reappearance. On the one hand, I feel this new thirst for life and want to live it to the fullest. Yet, physically, I feel 20 years older than I am chronologically, and don’t see how I can live it up and pursue activities that I dreamed of picking up again. Guitar, anyone?
What is normal life after cancer and sudden onset of menopause? If anyone out there is actually reading this, do you have an answer to that question?
No comments:
Post a Comment