Brighter days

Happy New Year everyone can you believe we have almost finished the very first week of the year. Time flies way to quickly, well today is 1-year and 2 months of my missing butterfly. I'm very pleased to announce that I'm feeling really good. Better than ever, i'm loosing weight and volume just by watching what i eat and drinking a lot of water and tea. I hope i can make this my routine for a better life style. I'm extremely pleased by my nail design blog i have a lot more followers now and I'm having such a blast posting my designs. 

My holidays were really fun spend a lovely time with my family and felt so incredibly grateful to be a live and feeling better. January's weather has been a surprise. The days are warm with just the perfect amount of sun and breeze. For Christmas i  got these really beautiful scarfs and i was so exited to wear them this January. But i guess they will be put away till fall. Last week i got a bit sick with the flu but luckily I'm back to normal.

Vacation from school is almost over i go back Monday and after that ill have less than a month to complete school. Will be on my way to graduate and finally getting a job.

Thanks for stopping by and like always wish you the best of health.

Step aside 2011...

And make room for 2012!

Hey Everyone hope you have all been enjoying the holidays. I've spent such a great time with my family; and can hardly believe that tomorrow we will be celebrating the New Year to come.

Last year my New Years Eve was horrible it was right after my radiation and i spent it in bed crying. I was in massive pain and didn't think i would make it through this year (2011)

2011 has come and gone where did time go? But i absolutely have no regrets or complaints. I've had a rough year financially, but even rougher time adjusting to my health issues. I feel like i finally managed to control my condition and have learned my body's language. I still get scared, sad, depressed and stressed but its definitely a lot less than before.

About a month ago i was finally told i no longer have any thyroid tissue meaning I'm Cancer free.
I had my yearly check-up and everything came out pretty good. Just have to make some minor adjustments and ill be good to go.

I've learned to eat a lot healthier than before i can proudly say i don't drink soda and try my best to stay away from sodium. (Need to work on my exercising routine for 2012)

I've some-what have learned not to over-analyze every little thing. And I'm trying my best to let things run their course.

One of the biggest highlights and honor of my year was being chosen to be Nicole By OPI blogger of the month (September).  I can hardly believe what a wonderful experience that was.

It gave my nail design blog such a boost and made me realize that i had to follow this dream. Therefore I'm so happy that i started beauty school.

I finish school in February and I'm ecstatic about getting my nail technician license. I've met such wonderful people in that class and I've learned so much more than i ever thought i would learn.

I feel a lot more focused and mature about what i want to do with my life in general.

I'm sure there are a lot more events that happen this year but these are the ones i remember so far.

Other than that my wonderful family, friends and special someone have made this year supper extraordinary.
i couldn't of asked for more.

So farewell 2011 thank you for everything!

New Years resolution: Focus on my health and eating habits, get a job with my career, start traveling and make a lot more nail designs.

Thank you for being part of my blog, hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve!!! Wishing you all a prosperous new year filled with amazing loved ones, health and everything you might want.


 

Farewell 24 it was good knowing you!!!

What can i say? I dislike goodbyes their always so depressing and negative. 

But I want to try making this last hour  positive. 

Our meeting last year was so quick and some-what rough. I guess we started off on the wrong foot. We were roughed up and bullied all year long. 

But a lot has happen and i must say i have learned so much with you by my side. 

I always used to say that on my birthday i felt the same nothing different just one more number to add to my years in this world. 

But last year when we met it felt so much different. 

I finally realized 24 brought more weight and responsibility than 23.

It took a while to realize the changes i had to do with my life. But i can honestly say i feel more accomplish now. I know what i want with this new number I'm about to meet. I hope i can meet the standards and fulfill each and every responsibility this new number brings.

 It was quite a year full of surprises, struggles and emotions. But  i believe i did a heck of a job dealing with it. I'm more grown up mature this time around. 

Thanks 24 for all the new experiences i shall never forget you. But its time to let you go and make room for 25.

Still counting...

My hands and feet have turn to ice, its supper cold and windy. I get cold chills like crazy around the evening. Its now a year and one month since my surgery. I'm very happy to announce that my doctor finally declared me cancer free. He said from the look of it i no longer have any thyroid tissue left in my body. My dosage is working again so i'm thrilled about that. Hope this dosage is finally the one.

School is great I'm half way done. Already applied for my pre-state board exam. I've learned and continue learning so much. My sleeping habits have been stable. I switched from Melatonin to Valerian and back to Melatonin. I've also adopted a new habit of listening to classical music on Pandora. It relaxes me and puts me to sleep quickly.

I'm really trying to keep my eating habits where they should be. Trying my best to stay away from Cheeses and bread (So difficult) but have to have will power.

The only complain i have is that my stomach still hurts. Its now been 4 months since September that my abdominal pain has lasted. It use to be extremely painful in the morning and would go away during the day. But now its more intense pain below my belly button. I've also been getting a lot of lower back pain.

So i'm worried about that. I've already made an appointment to see my doctor. But im really scared, hopefully it will be something curable.

Anyways thanks for reading. Take care

xoxo Karla-

1 year cancerversary!!!!!

November 5th to many is just another day in the calendar or it could be a birthday, a special date, a test etc.

But for me it will always be "remember remember the 5th of November'  I shall never forget this day. Today marks my 1 year anniversary or more like my cancerversary. Last year around this very same time i was in surgery and still hadn't been told i had thyroid cancer.

What a year it has been, its seems like just yesterday i was laying in that hospital with a new scar on my neck and pouch to drain my blood. I'm very thankful that i made it, i didn't think i would. Its all bittersweet now i feel like a masochist remembering everything that I've been through. But remembering, to me feels like I'm healing.

It almost puts tears to my eyes when i remember how everything changed last year. My whole life was altered i'm no longer the Karla i was last year before this day. I truly believe i have changed almost everything about myself. I no longer take life for granted, i cherish each day that comes and goes. I now think before i do anything. I analyze my life with a lot more details and im trying to change all the negative aspects to positive one's. It's been a struggle, my life was robbed away from my hands. I had to changed dramatically, i grew, matured and have learned to love myself. The things that i may have done last year before this day. I would no longer do. My body changed it has gone through a roller coaster of emotions, symptoms and self adjustment.

But im now starting to understand it. I'm not complete just yet and i do realize this might take weeks, months and years. But i'm willing to do anything in my power to feel complete.

How am I today? Well im doing a whole lot better, i've adjusted to taking my meds on time (Have an alarm to remind me each-day) Always have new symptoms it could be my stomach, uterus, head, eyes, ears etc...  but no matter what i always wonder if its a symptom that has to do with my cancer! I eat a whole lot healthier now, i think before i put that chocolate brownie, or soda in my mouth. I'm a lot more energetic than i was. I take long wonderful naps when my body needs them desperately. I try to relax (still haven't mastered it) but im trying. I cry and let my feelings out when i need to and feel like. I'm on my 5th thyroid dosage hopefully this is the one! I still feel very tired at times, my stomach unfortunately still hurts and i need to get my yearly check-up (which im kind of scared to do.)

I'm less pounds and have reduced body volume. My attitude has changed i no longer let little things get to me or stupid people for that matter. I'm a lot more careful about people trying to hurt me in any way. I can truly say I have learned to love myself. I have discovered great attributes i didn't know i had. I've accomplished some of my goals. I've gained a handful of friends. And I've realized that i should never shut myself from the world.

I'm so thankful for my family, friends and strangers who have become friends. They have all encouraged me with words of wisdom, thoughtful gestures, and have kept me in their prayers. Above all i thank the lord for giving me strength to overcome all these obstacles. I too pray for more guidance and strength to overcome new obstacles that may arise.

Someday i will look at all this and finally say i'm healed but for now i can only say im doing my best to get there.

Thank you to everyone who has been interested in my personal blog.
May you be well. and i'm here, im not planing on abandoning this blog. I do post more on my nail design blog. But this one is very important because it helped me realize what i can do and who i really am.

ill post a picture of my scar later on.

xoxo Karla

New symptoms, same headaches

I'm back so sorry i haven't written in a while, I haven't forgotten about you! I don't think i can ever forget about you lol!

School is awesome i love everything about it, the professor is really great and i'm learning at such a fast pace, everyone is really great. I'm now friends with almost all my class-mates.  and parking is not only free but always there for me lol.

I've been really busy with school, and life in general in search of a job in search of myself. Basically adjusting to my new schedule. I've been trying my hardest i can honestly say that this month i have put in a lot of effort to eat healthy. Fruits, Vegetables, a lot of water and small portions. Luckily my mother has been cooking for me as healthy as she can. Just adding flavors by lemon, pepper or natural herbs. No condiments. She's trying her best to help me out.

I've been able to reduce body volume my clothe fit better i joke about feeling like a dis-inflated balloon lol (I really don't i just say that because my shirts are loose) Anyway although i'm happy that my eating habits have changed and that i do believe this will be a lifetime commitment to my body and my health. I have been struggling with my health this whole month. I've had constant headaches (moving constant headaches its sometimes at the top, side, back of my head and etc........ I don't like it one bit (well duh! who enjoys headaches) Its not only pain but mostly heat that i feel like that part is on fire like a burning sensation specially in the back of my head. Mind you that my wisdom tooth needs to be extracted, my hears have felt full and i think my saliva gland is annoying me again. Also this whole past month i started using the Iphone which im not used too and it might be that my head is annoyed by it. Maybe little by little my body is telling me to learn at a
slower pace.

I've been extremely tired, to the point where i have been taking naps because i don't have any energy whatsoever (although some of my classmates have also been very tired after school and none of them have my condition) So it might be that my body is adjusting to this new routine. Keep in mind that this is my first month out into the world since my surgery.

Last week my neck kept hurting so much and it still hurts it got so bad that my neck was supper stiff. I couldn't move it. That lasted about a whole week. But my neck still feels supper tender.

But i now have a new symptom to add, Since my last period i have been feeling extra sensitive on my stomach. It has hurt nearly everyday upon waking up. When i was on my period i felt that it could be my ovaries since even when i cough i had so much pain in the lower abdomen. Then my whole stomach started hurting exactly in the middle. Now my pain has gone to my lower left side. It hurts everyday and if i put pressure on it hurts even more. Last week around Wednesday i got yet another new symptom. On my back left side at first i thought i had slept the wrong way on my bed. But its now been 4 days and the pain is still there. Now im really worried, I'm getting a stomach ultra-sound this coming up Tuesday. Its really scaring me, i pray that its not something serious.

I did talk to my endo about my fatigue, headaches and lack of energy he drew blood to check my thyroid level, he called to give me my results and said that my thyroid levels are where they should be. I'm not really satisfy with this conclusion i asked him what may be causing all these symptoms and all he said was 'Its not your thyroid its probably something else' ummm really???????? Isn't he my doctor doesn't he have the obligation to find my problem? after all that is why my insurance is paying him so much money each time i go.

He left me with nothing so i'm seriously in search of a new endo this one isn't doing it for me anymore. I just wish i could take his secretary Patty with me to another Endo she's supper nice and so very helpful.

Although this Tuesday im having my stomach ulta-sound done in with him because i need to know whats going on ASAP i do however want to find if possible a female Endocrinologist if anyone knows about one please let me know. Need to also check my ovaries and im thinking of getting my yearly physical done as well. I just need answers im tired of living like this. I'm back to being isolated from my friends its just school and back home. My anxiety is back and i have mild depression. It annoys me to feel like this. But i just need answers.

My parents and i are even thinking of trying to go to Cuba during the holidays. Because im tired of all these doctors, all of my health issues didn't just come out of the blue. There has to be a reason for my condition. I no longer want to be just another number to these doctors i want to be a person who they really invest their time to helping me live my life.

Wish me Luck and please pray for me i'm worried and scared, I hate going to the doctor so much its like a trauma i definitely have white coat syndrome.

So take care of your health you never know how precious it is until you loose it. Drop those Cheetos and Sodas and get yourself some real food.

thanks for stopping by and take care of yourself, I'm trying my hardest!!!! All i need is my health back.

Exercise: Doing Its Job For Cancer Patients (Guest Writer David Haas)

Hey Everyone, David Haas a re-searcher and writer of the benefits of networks and staying physically fit for people going through Cancer.  Wanted to share a very insightful article on this blog.  Check it out.

Physical fitness is not a cure-all for cancer, but it is extremely important to the health and well-being of cancer patients. Exercise can help cancer patients regain the lost energy when going through cancer treatments and even help the treatments do their job in fighting the cancer.

Modern research has examined the benefits of exercise for cancer patients, and the findings are promising. Physical exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of developing certain cancers; reduce the risk of cancer recurrence; improve survival rates for certain cancers; and enhance overall quality of life.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), several studies have examined the relationship between physical activity and various cancers, including breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, and prostate cancers. The research seems to link exercise, weight, hormone levels, and cancer. While these studies did not look at pancreatic cancer, leukemia, mesothelioma, and other cancers, it is evident that exercise has benefits for all cancer patients.

Exercise Benefits For Cancer Patients

Conventional cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, are proven methods of fighting cancer cells. However, these aggressive treatment methods come with many negative side effects. Physical exercise can improve the side effects during and after treatment.

Fatigue is a common cancer symptom and treatment side effect. It can start from the time of diagnosis and last long after the last cancer treatment. While many cancer patients feel too tired to exercise, physical activity can actually increase energy and reduce fatigue.

Most cancer patients also experience stress, depression, and sleep problems. Exercise releases endorphins that improve mood and reduce depression and anxiety. By lowering the stress hormones, exercise helps patients sleep better, too.

Weight gain is another common side effect of cancer treatment, especially hormonal therapies used in prostate and breast cancer treatment. The steroids in some chemotherapy medicines also cause weight gain. Exercise, along with a healthy diet, can reduce or control weight gain.

Bone thinning is another side effect of hormone therapy, and this increases a cancer patient’s risk of osteoporosis. Walking, dancing, and other weight-bearing exercises can strengthen bones and reduce this risk.

Other benefits of exercise for cancer patients include pain reduction, improved balance and coordination, increased appetite, stronger muscles, and better digestion. Of course, it is important to seek medical advice before starting an exercise program. Whether they are in mesothelioma treatment, recovering from a mastectomy, or starting chemotherapy, cancer patients should consult with their doctor about the best kind of exercise for them.