Chapter 22
The end of my chemo treatments saw me starting to have a lot more energy. I finally was able to make the 5 km round trip walk to Knowles. My friend and owner David offered me a ride home after seeing how I was visibly exhausted, but after a twenty minute break I headed back home on my own steam. The walk to Knowles was another goal reached and it had been my longest walk since my surgery. I was proud of myself that I persisted with all my walks even though I had wanted to quit so many times.
I headed back to the gym for some very light and non-strenuous exercise. My first five visits were nothing more than just a twenty minute walk on the treadmill with no incline at a slow walking speed. Since splitting up with my second ex and selling our house I no longer had a basement with all my exercise equipment. I no longer had any room for all that equipment since I now lived in a small condo.
I headed back to the gym for some very light and non-strenuous exercise. My first five visits were nothing more than just a twenty minute walk on the treadmill with no incline at a slow walking speed. Since splitting up with my second ex and selling our house I no longer had a basement with all my exercise equipment. I no longer had any room for all that equipment since I now lived in a small condo.
For me joining the newly opened Bracebridge Snap Fitness 24/7 gym was a perfect fit. There was all the equipment I could possibly need and it was very close to home.
After my light cardio treadmill workouts, I was very curious as to what my conditioning would be like after a five month layoff from my full workouts. I was very eager to get back at it and I figured that there was no better time than the present to get started. I had a six week window before my reversal surgery so I got right back in the saddle.
After my light cardio treadmill workouts, I was very curious as to what my conditioning would be like after a five month layoff from my full workouts. I was very eager to get back at it and I figured that there was no better time than the present to get started. I had a six week window before my reversal surgery so I got right back in the saddle.
Giddy up.
I found that exercise benefited me both mentally as well as physically and helped keep me in good spirits. I did not push myself because I couldn’t and I remember thinking that my October return to the ice might now be nothing more than a pipe dream.
My weight was now close to my pre-surgery weight. I was eating well and I still had fatigue, but it was manageable. My hair was still sparse, but I was told I would not lose it all.
I also slowly returned back to working full-time after chemo. I work for a small marine distributor in Muskoka. Both the owners are great people to work for and not once during my journey did they ever make me feel like I needed to get back to work ASAP.
They assured me my job was always there waiting for me when I was ready. The marine season is busiest during the June, July and August months and they worked around my availability. One of the owners had previously gone through a bout of cancer so he knew exactly what I was going through. I truly appreciated how I was treated by my employer during that first summer into my journey. Having worked for big corporations in the past, it was refreshing to be working at a smaller company that treats its employees properly.
Once Sherry and I started going out and about I found it extremely awkward with the bag as the bag was positioned just above my belt line. I physically couldn't tuck the bag into my jeans since it would not be able to fill properly, constricted by the waistline. It also would not allow me to sit.
I wore all my shirts untucked, but it would still leave the bottom of the bag visible, along with the clip.
It was not a very good look to say the least.
I found a company in the States that made custom ostomy pouch covers. I purchased a couple online and after a couple custom modifications, my bag was almost invisible. It was still hanging below my belt, but it was now covered by the matching blue jean material. I thought it was a pretty cool idea and I was now a lot less self-conscious going out and about in public.
One of our craziest experiences happened on one hot Saturday summer afternoon while out looking at furniture. We headed down to Barrie where all the big retailers have stores. While at one of the larger warehouse stores my bag got very full very fast.
No problem.
I just found the public washroom and went inside to empty it. There was a father taking his little kid for a pee at the urinal when I walked in. I preferred emptying the bag inside a cubicle, there was only the one cubicle so I went inside and locked the door. I had emptied my bag literally hundreds of times already, but nothing prepared me for what happened inside that cubicle.
As I released the clip the contents in the bag literally exploded. The green stinky liquid sludge combo went everywhere inside the cubicle. It was all over the toilet, the walls and the floor. It covered the toilet paper dispenser and there was even a bit of green sludge dripping from the ceiling.
Not one drop got on me.
I guess since I had the clip pointed out and away from me when I removed it, the contents also splattered outward and away from me. What a mess I had made and I prayed no one would come in needing to use that cubicle. There was nothing I could do and I needed to get the hell out of that washroom ASAP. I put the clip back on and slowly opened the door.
The father was still in there washing his kid’s hands at the sink.
I walked out of the washroom found Sherry and told her we have to go right now. I told her I will explain in the car as we quickly left the store and drove out of the parking lot.
I had visions of someone going into the washroom after we left and seeing the mess I had made. Not knowing what the green sludge over everything was, they called in a hazmat team. I felt so bad for the poor bugger who had to clean it up, but I truly had no idea it was going to happen.
It was the first and the only time in the six months that I had a bag explode.
Also, my blood clot slowly dissolved and my arm eventually returned back to normal, but my daily Fragmin injections were making big bruises all over my abdomen. I must have very sensitive skin because every injection left a multicolour bruise.
When you are doing ninety daily injections, it would mean ninety bruises.
It does not take too many weeks before your midsection looks like it was hit head on by a truck. Heidi suggested that I start doing the injections in my ass cheeks, which I did.
Like I had mentioned previously, I was an avid cyclist. Muskoka is a great area for cyclists, the complete region is very hilly and most of the major roads are well equipped with a nice wide paved shoulder. I was looking so forward to getting back on my bike, but I quickly realized that long distance cycling might be one thing that cancer takes away from me.
My neuropathy in my feet made for a very awkward feeling on the pedals. I used toe-clips, but it really is a scary and unsafe sensation when you can’t feel your feet while pedaling. I resigned myself to the fact that so long as I had the numbness in my feet; my 100 km rides on busy roads were finished.
Attempting those long rides would now be just too scary and unsafe for me.
Sherry and I still do cycle together a lot, but we have now opted for the more leisurely 40-50 km rides on bike friendly trails. Trails like the Tay Shoreline on Georgian Bay or Humber River, Martin Goodman and High Park trails in Toronto. I actually do enjoy cycling so much more now.
I am no longer cycling hundreds of kilometers all over Muskoka like a madman anymore always striving to better my best time. I had become obsessed with trying to achieve faster times.
So cancer I will give you the long distance cycling.
But that’s it.
I found that exercise benefited me both mentally as well as physically and helped keep me in good spirits. I did not push myself because I couldn’t and I remember thinking that my October return to the ice might now be nothing more than a pipe dream.
My weight was now close to my pre-surgery weight. I was eating well and I still had fatigue, but it was manageable. My hair was still sparse, but I was told I would not lose it all.
I also slowly returned back to working full-time after chemo. I work for a small marine distributor in Muskoka. Both the owners are great people to work for and not once during my journey did they ever make me feel like I needed to get back to work ASAP.
They assured me my job was always there waiting for me when I was ready. The marine season is busiest during the June, July and August months and they worked around my availability. One of the owners had previously gone through a bout of cancer so he knew exactly what I was going through. I truly appreciated how I was treated by my employer during that first summer into my journey. Having worked for big corporations in the past, it was refreshing to be working at a smaller company that treats its employees properly.
Once Sherry and I started going out and about I found it extremely awkward with the bag as the bag was positioned just above my belt line. I physically couldn't tuck the bag into my jeans since it would not be able to fill properly, constricted by the waistline. It also would not allow me to sit.
I wore all my shirts untucked, but it would still leave the bottom of the bag visible, along with the clip.
It was not a very good look to say the least.
I found a company in the States that made custom ostomy pouch covers. I purchased a couple online and after a couple custom modifications, my bag was almost invisible. It was still hanging below my belt, but it was now covered by the matching blue jean material. I thought it was a pretty cool idea and I was now a lot less self-conscious going out and about in public.
One of our craziest experiences happened on one hot Saturday summer afternoon while out looking at furniture. We headed down to Barrie where all the big retailers have stores. While at one of the larger warehouse stores my bag got very full very fast.
No problem.
I just found the public washroom and went inside to empty it. There was a father taking his little kid for a pee at the urinal when I walked in. I preferred emptying the bag inside a cubicle, there was only the one cubicle so I went inside and locked the door. I had emptied my bag literally hundreds of times already, but nothing prepared me for what happened inside that cubicle.
As I released the clip the contents in the bag literally exploded. The green stinky liquid sludge combo went everywhere inside the cubicle. It was all over the toilet, the walls and the floor. It covered the toilet paper dispenser and there was even a bit of green sludge dripping from the ceiling.
Not one drop got on me.
I guess since I had the clip pointed out and away from me when I removed it, the contents also splattered outward and away from me. What a mess I had made and I prayed no one would come in needing to use that cubicle. There was nothing I could do and I needed to get the hell out of that washroom ASAP. I put the clip back on and slowly opened the door.
The father was still in there washing his kid’s hands at the sink.
I walked out of the washroom found Sherry and told her we have to go right now. I told her I will explain in the car as we quickly left the store and drove out of the parking lot.
I had visions of someone going into the washroom after we left and seeing the mess I had made. Not knowing what the green sludge over everything was, they called in a hazmat team. I felt so bad for the poor bugger who had to clean it up, but I truly had no idea it was going to happen.
It was the first and the only time in the six months that I had a bag explode.
Also, my blood clot slowly dissolved and my arm eventually returned back to normal, but my daily Fragmin injections were making big bruises all over my abdomen. I must have very sensitive skin because every injection left a multicolour bruise.
When you are doing ninety daily injections, it would mean ninety bruises.
It does not take too many weeks before your midsection looks like it was hit head on by a truck. Heidi suggested that I start doing the injections in my ass cheeks, which I did.
Like I had mentioned previously, I was an avid cyclist. Muskoka is a great area for cyclists, the complete region is very hilly and most of the major roads are well equipped with a nice wide paved shoulder. I was looking so forward to getting back on my bike, but I quickly realized that long distance cycling might be one thing that cancer takes away from me.
My neuropathy in my feet made for a very awkward feeling on the pedals. I used toe-clips, but it really is a scary and unsafe sensation when you can’t feel your feet while pedaling. I resigned myself to the fact that so long as I had the numbness in my feet; my 100 km rides on busy roads were finished.
Attempting those long rides would now be just too scary and unsafe for me.
Sherry and I still do cycle together a lot, but we have now opted for the more leisurely 40-50 km rides on bike friendly trails. Trails like the Tay Shoreline on Georgian Bay or Humber River, Martin Goodman and High Park trails in Toronto. I actually do enjoy cycling so much more now.
I am no longer cycling hundreds of kilometers all over Muskoka like a madman anymore always striving to better my best time. I had become obsessed with trying to achieve faster times.
So cancer I will give you the long distance cycling.
But that’s it.