Breathing Through the Journey

Someone recently asked me if anything positive has come out of this experience.

The answer is yes.

Funny enough, I had already been drafting a list of positives before receiving this question, so the timing worked out perfectly.

I’ve been quite the negative Nancy lately. But then I remembered I created this platform for myself to be real and honest. Not every moment of this journey has been pretty, and I don’t want to pretend that it is.

That said, there has been positives, and for the first time in a while I feel like I can write about them.

Let’s hope it stays that way. But you know life…sometimes it just fucks with you.

So let’s talk about some wins.

My Dogs

One thing I used to be really afraid of was my dogs jumping on me or laying on me in bed. With the pump and the sub-q site, I was constantly worried something would get pulled out.

Now I tape the pump wires on my stomach, and my dogs have actually learned not to jump on me. They know they can’t lay directly on me either.

I’m no longer scared to have them in bed with me.

Plus, Cali already accidentally scratched me in her sleep once. The sub-q site didn’t fall out, it didn’t get infected, and she only scratched near the area—not the actual site.

It also taught me something important. I learned how to properly clean the area and replace the dressing when needed. Previously, I thought if I changed the dressing it might rip the site out.

Turns out… I was completely fine.

Hell Week

Oh hell week.

Thankfully, the worst of it usually only lasts 2-4 days. I can manage that.

I’ve even bought extra ice packs so I’m better prepared when those days hit.

Preparation makes a huge difference. This is a win.

Health and Weight Management

Another unexpected positive: I’m getting healthier and losing weight.

WOOT WOOT.

This is something I’ve struggled with for a long time. My body image has been really hard for me.

I hated looking at pictures of myself and would often avoid being in them altogether.

But lately things have started to shift.

Social Life

I’m slowly starting to come out of my shell again.

I’ve been able to see a few friends, and even though pain sometimes interferes with plans, I’m really proud of myself for at least trying and making the effort.

Going back to work mid-January also helped a lot. I genuinely needed that sense of normalcy again.

And I even went to my first concert since my diagnosis.

Organization

Another positive? I’ve been getting my life organized.

Now, let’s be clear…I am naturally a bit of a slob. So the fact that I’m cleaning and organizing more often is definitely a win.

The hubby is pretty happy about it too. LOL. He’s been a fan of a lot of all the positives to be honest.

Fun fact, I used to clean houses with my mom. So I definitely know how to clean. I learned a lot from my mom growing up.

But I’ve always been a little chaotic when it came to keeping things organized in my own space.

If you were at my wedding and heard my maid of honor’s speech…you probably already know exactly what I’m talking about.

Now I’m really focused on getting my life in order, and that has translated into keeping the house in order too.

Turns out my mom was right all along—having a clean house really does make things feel better.

Brandon (hubby) is great at decluttering, but deep cleaning? That’s definitely my department.

Test Results

And finally… the test results.

So what happened at my doctor’s appointment?

You can read the full update here in my previous post.

But overall, things are looking positive in terms of my progression.

I’m starting to breath better. I’m walking better. And overall I just feel lighter on my feet.

And honestly…that alone feels like a huge win.

This journey isn’t easy, but the small wins remind me that progress is happening. And right now, those small wins matter.