Healing is a slow process

TL;DR: We’re healing slowly but well. Mike’s doing very well after his surgery and while I’m tired from radiation it’s going really well too.

We hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! We wanted to give everyone an update on how things are going here at the Williams household.

As noted, healing is a slow process. Mike’s healing well and is moving around pretty well with only minimal pain at the incision site. I’m very glad to see him have so much movement. The nerve pain is mostly gone and he’ll start PT this week to help with the muscle weakness. The downside is that he really can’t sit so he’s restricted to mostly standing and laying down. That gets old but he’s been very good natured and positive about the whole thing! He likely has at least another month of these restrictions. Overall, he’s doing very well and we are both very grateful! (The doctor agrees…we saw him Wednesday!)

I have completed 16 radiation treatments and have 12 to go. So far the skin irritation isn’t too bad and the creams are doing their job. I do think I’m experiencing the fatigue. Between the radiation, work, the PT I’m doing, and a couple other things I’m pretty busy and don’t feel like doing much in the evenings or on the weekends. I go to be bed pretty early and it’s hard to get up in the mornings. I’ve had to keep reminding myself that I am still getting treatment and recovering too so I try to be really patient with myself and my (low) energy level.

I am doing PT at a PT place twice a week to help with my arm range of motion and shoulder strength. I also have exercises to do at home most days. I’m really glad I pushed for the PT because I did have some limited motion and it’s been a bit of surprise at how much my shoulder strength was reduced. So far I am challenged by the PT and I really like the therapist I’m working with. It’s going well and I do think it’s making a big difference.

There’s not much else to report, we’re both trying to be patient with the healing process…it’s definitely a process and not fast.

Thank you so much for everything you are all doing for us and for all the check-ins and encouragement you’ve been providing, we’re so grateful! We’ve also had several friends and family bring over or send meals over the last couple of weeks and that’s been a huge help because microwaving is about our speed right now. (Thank you SO much!) We’re going to try to get back to cooking with Blue Apron this week so we’ll see how that goes.

The now “standard” note at the end of posts for website navigation help:

Thank you for taking time to keep up with us and see how we’re doing as well as all the help!  Because, I think like me, much of the world does nearly everything on their phones…I’m adding this note to the end of posts to make website navigation easier if you are on a phone.  If you’d like to read other journal entries, please click here (oldest post is at the bottom of the page).  There’s also a “hamburger” menu in the top right of the webpage that can help you navigate between the journal, ways to help page, stay in touch, and welcome pages.   Please know that reading this page and thinking of us is help!   Thank you for your support in all forms! If you have any issues, please email [email protected].