Life-Long Side Effects

During these dreadful, hot summer days, the possibility of rain is welcomed in hopes for cooler, refreshing days.  I enjoy seeing the rain fall from the sky and after the rain I enjoy watching the rainbows that sometimes form in the sky.  In that moment it brings pure and utter joy to my life. However, the weather change also brings with it excruciating  pain all over my body.  Change in weather such as rainfall causes a shift in my body dynamics that results in exponential increase in pain.  Of course, this is one of the countless lingering side effects from my cancer battle.  One of the many battle wounds that remind me every day how precious being alive is. 

The pain levels can become intolerable or heighten to a level where I can’t mask it anymore. I feel internal turmoil and intolerable, and I put on a poker face.  My loved ones know that if I have a stern face or look on my face or act out of character that means something else is going on such as pain. You see I live with pain every day and every day I fight to not let it affect my daily life. It is a heavy burden to deal with daily but thanks to God I rather live with that burden and be alive then to not be here at all.  Therefore, in days where the weather changes, the pain becomes too much to bear. I know what you are thinking well why don’t you take pain management medication. As a Cancer survivor there is an abundance of options for pain management with medication. Well, the only time I took those was when I was undergoing my Chemo Treatments and they mostly would put me to sleep. Don’t get me wrong to this day it is the best, dreamless sleep I have ever experienced in my life. Honestly even before my cancer battle when I would sleep, I would dream. Of course, that has intensified as well after my cancer battle (another lingering side effect) which is why I sometimes feel tired. Moreover, I don’t like to take pain management medication because I would spend all day in bed sleeping and not be able to go about my day. The only thing that seems to help a bit are over-the-counter pain-relievers, but I only take them once in a while because if I take them too often the small relief, they provide stops working.  That is why I have looked for alternate ways to provide pain management other than medicine. As I have mentioned in previous blogs usually during these days, I increase the length of time of the massage therapy, I also lay on the acupressure mat and pillow for a longer period of time, I also use the weighted blanket or increase my physical activity with more exercise to counteract the pain.  As I stated before, pain is a side effect that has been my daily companion and that I have endured since I was diagnosed with cancer and it will be an ongoing side effect that will be with me until my time on this beautiful earth is up, therefore, I have learned how to make it manageable in my everyday life.  

Don’t let side effects from treatment or illnesses get the best of you.  Find ways to live your life with your new normal and enjoy life.  Despite the pain, I truly do enjoy the rain and all the newness and beauty it brings. I also thank God every day that I am alive to enjoy and cherish every precious moment.   

#Rainbow