July 17th to August 7th - A Time of Transition - Part I

 

The Tipping Point

I am approaching the two-year anniversary of my major chest reconstruction (August 19th). I have been truly blessed during the past two years. I've been able to travel (Utah and the Canadian Rockies), take a few bike trips (West Virginia, Virginia, and the GAP Trail in Pennsylvania), and have wonderful life experiences with my family and friends. All of this has happened with no pain, despite my acknowledgement that I do in fact have breast cancer that has also invaded my chest wall.

In an earlier post, I acknowledged that my oncologist advised me not to ride my bike any more. I was devastated as this is my "happy place." After I got over the shock, I spent a couple of weeks trying to find a bike that would enable me to ride more safely with fewer balance challenges. I considered a trike, but was surprised to read how often people tip those when riding around a corner at too great a speed. I settled on a Rad Enhance5 that has a lower center of gravity and fat tires -- the combination upping the chances that I would not fall. Here is a picture:

Bill and I put it together, taking care that the handlebars and seat height were comfortable for me. For two days, I rode it to the bakery with no problem. On the third day, I decided to ride it to my oncology appointment, a trip of 15 miles when combined with a bakery stop. Things were great -- I even told my doctor of my new purchase. BUT my luck was about to run out.

Shortly after leaving the doctor's office (luckily riding on a bike path vs the road), the handlebars slipped. Bill and I had forgotten to tighten down the handlebars once we agreed on positioning. They slipped forward, and when I tried to correct it, the handlebars actually rotated 180 degrees, making it impossible for me to grab the brakes. Down I went, and this fall was hard.

Two wonderful women stopped to try to help, as did a man with a pickup truck. They picked me up and the man put my bike in the back of his truck and drove me across the street to a picnic shelter so I wouldn't have to wait for my husband in the sun. Bill arrived and was more than a little irritated with me as he thought I was riding to the Christ Outpatient facility in Montgomery (four miles) and not all the way to Mason (15 miles on the road). I was bruised and the pain was pretty significant, but that is to be expected.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) I had to tell my lovely daughter, Liz, about the fall because we had tentatively planned to go to Columbus on Sunday. She called my oncologist's office to tell them of my fall. The next thing you know, I get a call advising me to go to an Urgent Care because I take blood thinners. The doctor at the Urgent Care wanted me to go to the ER because he felt a CT scan of my brain was in order. Otherwise, I could have an undetected brain bleed. (I was wearing a helmet). All tests came back negative. It was just going to take time for me to heal, and boy has this past week been a week of pain and healing.

Once again, I was advised NOT to ride my bike. So the question is, am I stubborn or stupid?

But wait -- there's more. Read Part II for an update on my cancer journey.

Note: I've mentioned before that writing this blog is therapeutic for me. I really appreciate all of you who are on this journey with me. Thank you. It means a lot to me.

Kathy