Caring Bridge

I've decided to start a new website at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kimschaffer. Visit me there! :)

Kim

Nourished

So, the retreat was WONDERFUL!! Like most vacations, it took me a couple days to adjust. The retreat was intensive... my day started with yoga at 6:30 and then back to back sessions until 7-8:00 at night. The hotel was awesome. I slept so good the whole time I was there (on amazing feather beds!). I ordered room service several mornings. The lunches and dinners they provided were AMAZING... healthy, balanced, and nourishing to my body and spirit.

I learned so much about the ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda ("life wisdom"). In a nutshell, Ayurveda believes that, in order to live a happy, healthy life, we need to find balance in body, mind and spirit. Meditation is one of the key components to Ayurveda. Through quieting the mind and the endless stream of thoughts, we can slow down and be tuned into to what we really need to find balance in our life. I also learned about how everyone has a body/mind constituion, called your "dosha" (Vata, Pitta, or Kapha). Just as their universe it made up of the elements space, earth, air, water, and fire, so are our bodies. When our bodies are out of balance (i.e. too much "fire", or Pitta, causes problems such as heartburn/acid reflux, too much "water" or Kapha causes sinus congestion, etc..) A body/mind/spirit that is out of balance is prone to disease, physical discomfort/pain, and illness. By tuning into what our bodies are telling us we need, we become healthier and more balanced. Of course, food is a key component, since it is what nourishes the body. In Ayurveda, they believe that you should include 6 tastes at each meal... sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. (Many Indian meals naturally include all of these tastes at each meal.) I also learned about ways to release toxins in the body through proper nutrition, herbs/spices, massage, and other techniques. Some of the sessions I attended were "Imbalance to Disease", "Accessing Inner Silence", "Food as Medicine", "Soul of Healing", "Love as Medicine", and many others. Coincidently, a lot of information was shared about recent melanoma and breast cancer research.

There was also a wonderful guest speaker, Dr. Viccario, who is an Oncologist in California. He led a great session on Integrative Medicine in Cancer Care. I learned about ways to include complementary medicine in the treatment of cancer and create an "Optimal Healing Environment". He believes in a multi-disiplinary approach to cancer care that includes many different modalitiess, including traditional Western methods, such as chemo/radiation along with other "alternative" methods". He strongly believes that the medical community needs to shift their focus to treat the mind/body/spirit in cancer care. I couldn't agree more!!!! Their cancer clinic is very progressive and I hope more hospitals/doctors/clinics follow Dr. Viccario's lead! Here's a link for more info. www.sdcancer.com. I also met a woman at the retreat who just finished chemo/radiation for breast cancer. We had many great conversations about the emotional trauma of cancer and we were able to support each other in our fears, anxiety, and finding ways to heal.

Deepak Chopra was amazing. His thoughts on spirituality, healing, interconnectedness, and ways to live a healthy, happy life are inspiring and refreshing. My soul is filled with gratitude and love when I hear him speak about universal truths, such as love, compassion, connecting with the universe/nature, finding our life's purpose, etc...

Overall, the experience was nourishing on every level! I was so glad I went and I'm motivated to implement changes in my life. I'm hoping to go to the Perfect Health program at the Chopra Center and their Seduction of Spirit retreat in the future. :)

With love,
Kim

Closer to Fine

I'm listening to Indigo Girls, can you tell? :)

Well, this whole experience is the journey of a lifetime and always changing. Last week, seemingly out of nowhere, my hair started falling out in huge chunks. Woah!!! When I took my hair down last Thurs., I realized I had a big chunk of hair missing in the back. I was quite traumatized, especially since hair loss is not common with interferon treatment and why is it starting now? I'm going to have to go get my hair cut soon to even it all out. Hopefully, the hair loss slows down... from what I have read, I probably won't completely lose my hair. My doctors are also going to check my thyroid levels on Friday to see if they're O.K. I've lost 20 pounds since December. Hair and weight loss are common side effects with thyroid problems, which can be a side effect of interferon treatment.

I'm really looking forward to going to the Deepak Chopra conference next week. I'm trying to not focus on how much I will miss Todd and the kids and focus on this amazing opportunity to be immersed into a healing and nurturing setting. I need to continue my treatments while I'm there, so I'm really hoping I feel O.K.!

I have lots more things I want to add, but I'm not feeling like my thoughts are flowing very well today. I will post more later...

xoxo
Kim

Journey into Healing

I haven't updated in awhile, but wanted to share a little of what's going on. First of all, I am very excited because I've signed up for Deepak Chopra's 5 day workshop, Journey into Healing, in Chicago on May 27th-31st! :) http://www.chopra.com/journey The retreat will include meditation instruction, yoga, and mind/body healing sessions. Since my month of intensive treatment finished, I've really struggled with finding my way on this healing path... I think this retreat will be empowering and very healing for me.

The shots haven't been as easy as I had hoped. I've been dealing with fevers all the time, even on my "off" days. I've also been extremely tired and weak. Last week, I finally called Dr. Albertini because I really felt like I was not coping well. He had me skip my treatment on Fridy to give me a break. He was very supportive about the physical and emotional toll the treatment has taken on me. After I resume the shots, we are going to reevaluate how things are going and at that point, we'll discuss whether I need a dosage reduction or whether we want to stop the shots altogether. Because of the study that was released not too long, there is the question whether the shots offer any added benefit anyway! So, we'll see what will happen. For now, my plan is to just keep doing the shots until I talk to Albertini again.

O.K., Drew wants to play outside. More later...

Kim

Spring is here!

Our trip was good. The kids had a great time and were sad to leave! Avery had the best 6th birthday... breakfast with the princesses (she thinks they were real), Epcot, Bibbity Bobbity Boutique (got all dolled up like Sleeping Beauty), Magic Kingdom, and finally crashed at the hotel at midnight! :) Drew dressed up like Buzz Lightyear that day, but was sure to reassure people that his name was really Drew and that he was just dressed up in a costume. We had nice, warm weather all week, too!

I started my shots on Monday night. The shots are easy... actually, painless! Unfortunately, it was a VERY rough night. Having a week off had something to do with it. I was awake all night with severe body aches, chills, and fever. Tylenol and benadryl didn't even touch it. I ended up in bed most of the day on Tuesday. Needless to say, this was quite a blow for me and all night I worried and feared that this would be life for the next year! The good news... I talked to my doctor yesterday. He suggested I start taking Lorazapam to help me sleep. I took it last night with Tylenol and last night was dramatically better! I slept better and only had minor body aches and a low-grade fever. Yeah! (He's mailing me a Rx for oxycodone, too, if I need it, but I really hate narcotics!) So, right now, I'm on a serious mission to get a good "cocktail" that will help me through this. I'm going to go back to the Acupuncturist to help with my energy level and side effects. I'm also seeing my Physical Therapist today. My back is seriously screwed up and I have so much tightness and discomfort at the site of my surgery. I'm actually looking FORWARD to the pain because I know it's going to help so much!

On a positive note, I had a LOVELY day with the kids yesterday. This spring weather is really picking up my spirits! Drew and I went to his Little Gym class yesterday, then came home and played outside and had a picnic in the backyard. We picked Avery up from school and went for a bike ride. The look on Drew's face when he was riding his new bike with training wheels was priceless! Then, Avery started soccer last night. Most of the kids are Kindergartners from Stoner Prairie, which was fun! The best part of yesterday was that I actually felt like a NORMAL mom... all I've wanted for some time was just to live a normal life again. I feel like I'm getting there. :)

O.K., gotta run to PT. Will update more later!

xoxo
Kim

3 treatments to go!!! Yeah!

I haven't updated my blog (and never got around to starting that new one). I've been feeling very rough lately and haven't had the energy to update as much. I've been considering the day a "success" if I don't spend the whole day/night in bed!! Yesterday, I spent most of the day in bed and finally gave up at 7:00, took a benadryl, and went to bed for the night. Today is the best day I've had in awhile. I attibute a lot of it to seeing my acupuncturist this afternoon. She has really helped me in managing my side effects, especially the headaches. After I see her, they are gone for about a week! I have a lot of weakness in my legs and feel SO incredibly fatigued every day. And, the lovely flu-like symptoms are just so much fun... they typically hit me late afternoon- early evening. But, the GOOD news... only THREE treatments to go and then we're headed to Florida... Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Sea World, the SPA (just Todd and I, of course), the pool, and most importantly, lots of warm weather and relaxation! :) I'm not going to start my shots until I get back from our trip, so I'm SO looking forward to having the week off! The shots will be half of my current dosage, three times a week. I will do the shots before bed, so hopefully, I sleep through the side effects. I don't know what I will do being away from UW Hospital for a whole week! Since my surgery, in December, I have been at the doctor, for a follow-up appt., random doctor's visits, scans, lab work, physical therapy, radiation treatment, or chemo clinic, almost every single day!! I can't wait to wake up in the morning and NOT have to drive to the hospital!!! I promise that I will be spending some mornings bumming around in my pajamas with my coffee, for sure!

So, right now, my focus is on getting through these last 3 treatments and then time to CELEBRATE!!! :)

Kim

Update/ New blog

I am going to start a new blog on a website called Caring Bridge. You will be able to be notified each time I update the blog on that site. I will post the address here when I get it set up.

To give you a very brief update... my labs looked great on Friday. It seems that my body is tolerating this new dose better. So, hopefully, things will be smooth sailing the next two weeks. (We're planning to still go to Florida, just a couple days later than originally planned.) Side effects were not fun, but manageable... fever, body aches and chills. My headaches are GONE, thanks to the acpuncturist I've been seeing! YEAH! :)

O.K., I'm going to go enjoy the beautiful weather with the family, but wanted to give a quick update! :)

Kim