day 2 in iso

It's just over 48 hours since I took the RAI. I think I have spent at least 6-8 hours on the phone, and probably 20 or more online, since this laptop is my constant companion. The TV in here is not hooked up to the outside world, but once I realized I'd be online, I told DH not to bother with it. I don't miss it, really. I may sneak out and watch Brit Hume tonight in the family room after the kids are all upstairs in bed, though. I should at least purge the TiVO list, which has news shows and what-not for the past week or so... I haven't been keeping up at all. I do so much reading online I don't feel I really need to watch anything to keep up with what's going on in the world. It's such a relief to be untethered from the TV this way.

I had another night of broken sleep, but woke up feeling better anyway. The swelling in my face is down a little bit, I think. It's hard for me to tell. I just took some ibuprofen because I realized I have a headache, probably from muscle tension, holding my head in one position for too long, reading this screen! I have to watch that. Lucky for me, I know some excellent and easy exercises to reset my shoulder and neck muscles when they get all tensed up. Now if I could just remember to do them with any regularity...

Dr L called to see how I am tolerating the RAI. He had a chance to read through the book and he loved it, and encouraged me to pursue publication. That's very cool, huh? Dr M also called, after 9pm(!!!) to tell me it's OK to go back on my T4/T3, same dosage as pre-op, since my last labs showed me as pretty well suppressed before.

I did take them this morning, but I can't tell whether or not I feel any better. Last night I was feeling pretty crummy. Dr L warned that would happen, as the thyroid dies off...hopefully the new T4/T3 coming in will mitigate that effect somewhat. I have to just take it easy and see what happens. When I finish this entry, I am taking a nap!

I've had several great conversations with my older sister, my mom, my dear local friend T, and an old alt.tv.farscape bud who gave me a call today. That last was a surprise but not suprising, you know? It's the kind of guy he is... he has been through RAI before and was sympathetic and encouraging. I know a lot of really nice people.

I've been bouncing around online today, leaving comments here and there... it's nice to be able to do that and not feel like I am neglecting something I should be doing, since there is literally nothing else I have to do. I started writing out notes (longhand... what a trip) for two other books that will not quit pestering me, who knows what will come of that?

Oh, and last night, the Princeton Review sent me an email asking if I would like to audition for their December training sessions. I immediately replied, politely declining and explaining the cancer situation very briefly. I asked about re-applying in the Spring if I am up to it, and the recruiting director wrote back that I should contact her in March. So we'll just have to see how it goes.

Dr M (the endo) is 100% certain I'll need a follow-up scan in 6 months, so that brings us to May. That kind of sucks, because if I need follow-up surgery it will really screw up the summer. OTOH, if I need follow-up surgery, I can do it when all 3 kids are in camp. We can even stick them in aftercare, so DH can drop them off in the morning and pick them up in the evening, it won't be too terribly disruptive. Eh, it will work itself out. I'd just like to make summer plans again... wishful thinking? It's too soon now, anyway.

I've done a lot of writing but no other work while I've been in here, even though I brought in some handwork to do if I decide to watch a dvd. I'm just not in the mood. Maybe I will be later, though. I feel a bit sludgy in my brain now... time for that nap. More later, maybe...