There is an invisible three foot barrier around me for days to come. It is to keep others out of harm’s way from the radiation. So here I am at home thinking about my life. So many people have told me write a book over the years. I plan to one day.
So many storms have come and gone, but I never gave up. I’m aware of my purpose and will continue to welcome the experiences good and bad to come my way. Because there are lessons in each one to be learned.
As I sit and think about my life; the pain, the joy, the love, the loss, I can feel my eyes start to well up with tears. Then I remember to be careful where they fall. My tears are radioactive today. Some might think that they are tears of saddness and a few years ago they would have been. But these days I cry tears of joy and gratitude. These tears are from being overwhelmed with all that has touched my spirit. For I am alive. I did it again. I surrendered to the fight. I’m a cancer survivor!
March 29, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Jennifer,
Wow! It has been almost a year! It seems like it has been forever. How are you?
I hope you got your sense of taste back. I think it took about 3 months for mine to return. It also took about 4-5 months for the “penny” taste to leave my mouth completely.
I am doing great otherwise. Clean scans and life has moved on. I hope everything is going well. 🙂
Sarah
May 17, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Jennifer,
I took the I 131 on May 15th 2009, just a week after you. I have too been crying and thought, “oh my gosh, grab a kleenex because those babies are radioactive!” Then of course I’m blubbering while crying so there are some boogies and those are radioactive too! Geeze, can’t a girl catch a break?
I was wondering how you felt otherwise while you were Radioactive Girl? My mouth taste awful! No matter if I brush my teeth like crazy, it still taste bad and food is not as good as I remembered it being before the LID. Oh the diet. I was starving! Anyway, I also feel like I have the flu and my neck is very sore. It feels like it did when I had my surgery. Did you experience these things also?
Anyway, long letter from some totally random chick. Sorry about that! 🙂 Hope you are having a great day.
Sarah Sjodin
May 27, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Hi Sarah. Thank you for your comment. I felt fine during most of the radiactive weekend. A bit sick at times, but that only lasted a couple hours. Post-RAI, I have had some loss of taste and a sourness in my mouth and tongue. The doctor said it will be back to normal in time, but it is a bit frustrating. After that LID, I can now eat again, but the taste is limited. Oh well. Just another part of the adventure for now.
Please keep in touch!