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Shannon Rinaldo - Journal

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Posted 2017-01-26T03:27:30Z

And then there are days like today...

Today really sucked. I'm not afraid or ashamed to admit that. Some days just do but in a far different way than before all of these health issues started. This week I've been feeling great. I saw my family doc earlier in the week for a quick check up and I reflected to him and myself about how well I've been feeling lately. And then today was a shit storm. I felt great in the morning, had breakfast and coffee (maybe a little too much coffee it turns out) and then got ready for work. When I was almost ready to go, my peripheral vision started acting up to the point that I was seeing flashing in my periphery (not so unusual but has been happening less and less lately), I had a brief stint of neuropathy (again, happens from time to time), and had just a general state of mild dizziness and confusion. And then, of course, I get a little scared and frustrated. Telling those around me, while necessary, freaks them out a little also. And then I just had to wait it out. [...]

Posted 2017-01-20T21:29:46Z

It's all about the food

My energy has continued to be up and I've been at work at least a few hours each day. I love being able to get things done, even if I have had to accept that I won't get as much done in as short a time as I used to. I recently heard a quote that resonated with me by Joseph Campbell, American writer of comparative mythology and philosophy: “You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” Upon awaking each day, I try to have the attitude that I am greeting the day on today's terms. I'm no longer interested in engaging with the struggle inherent to the human condition. When I get tired, I go home. When I need to sit down, I sit down. When I need love and support, I ask for it. Of course, this is all much easier these days without an egg sized tumor squishing my brain. I feel like finally the brain I have left is recovering on its own terms. My mental capacity is wider, clearer, sharper, etc. I've not felt this cognitively capable in a very long time. It's amazing what brain surgery can do for a person![...]

Posted 2017-01-15T18:42:24Z

Chemo & Food Matters

Round 8 of chemo was uneventful and I have had more energy lately than usual. I have been able to work more hours and even got some exercise moving supplies to the new lab space at Rawls from the various places I had stuff stashed (home, my office, and the smaller space we've been operating in). Aidan has been very sick for the past week so we are both pretty much quarantined. I miss him. The students return soon so I've put a "No Germ Zone" sign outside my office to remind them that my immune system is severely compromised. My colleagues are very concerned with these issues, however, some of the undergrads don't really think about it, barge in, and spew their germs when they cough all over my office. Not only does this completely stress me out, I have to suppress the urge to make them sanitize my office. After all, it could hurt their self esteem to call them out on it-- millennials are sensitive. Luckily, I just have a few more months to go on chemo and then (I hope) my numbers will go up to normal. [...]

Posted 2017-01-06T22:02:22Z

Diet, Fatigue, & Who Wants to Party?

We just returned yesterday from being in Houston for the holidays and a check up. The check up was good, no delays on the chemo. I started it immediately. We are now in round 8 of 12. My lymphocytes are still low and I am still taking monthly breathing treatments of pentamadine to stay safe from lung infection. My platelets have recovered. The dose of the chemo was decreased a bit last month due to blood count issues. The dose this time stayed at that lower amount. For the first time ever we were out of the hospital by NOON! Jason called it a Christmas Miracle. [...]