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Friday, July 8, 2016

Ah, those pesky school routines!

Remember when you were in gym class, back in seventh grade, and you went through warm up exercises, circling your arms, squatting, push-in up...Well, if you continued to do them, all your life, you'd have a fit body, including your arms, and your torso, and your belly. Those were my thoughts when I walked in my simulation visit for future radiation treatments and was asked unusual questions.

Do you have trouble putting your arms over your head?  No.
Do you have trouble climbing on the platform? No.
Do you have trouble lying down and still for fifteen minutes? No

Easy questions.

Not so easy when the execution started. On my back, with my arms over my head, with my feet tied down, with my head tilted just so, the technician worked for forty minutes molding a custom-made body armor that was to keep me in place during radiation treatments. Forty minutes later, I was in so much pain, that I thought my body was giving up for good before it even received the first session of real treatment.

I had failed in a profound way. Who knew that putting dishes away above my head twice a week when my turn came up to empty the dishwasher had not been enough to keep my arms in shape? And my neck? Heck, I only look at myself in the best of light in my house, avoiding long mirrors whenever possible. For the real event, the radiation, I would need to be half naked, a la Marilyn Monroe, part of the time, while the machine adjusted its beams in very precise ways for very precise timing. My breasts, my underarms and part of my torso were covered with a thin cotton pillow case and were not aided by push-up- bras or pretty corsets.

No. I did this all to myself, by laughing at those routines and ignoring the laws of gravity for decades.
I felt bad for the staff, who had to position me this way and that, an inch from the waist up, two from the hips down, moving me just so to align those majestic rays to do their precise work of killing some precise nodules hiding behind my not so precise skin.

The first treatment hit me like hot sand on a cool beach. Not literally. I left the radiation room and the only thoughts I had: I should have practiced those not so stupid routines all these decades. I should have listened to those teachers. 

10 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I wonder whether anyone finds those poses comfortable or easy to maintain?
I suspect not - but that could be rationalising for all the activity I have not done...
Go well. I hope the treatment is successful and as minimally unpleasant as is possible.

the walking man said...

Last time they put me in that hot dog bun there was no way I could be still for the time they needed--and I believe the same is true today 7 years later. Be well Rosaria, may your treatments come with a conclusion named success.

Shadow said...

I believe I should take out my trampoline again... Physical health is such a precious gift, too often taken for granted. Wishing you a successful treatment, payers of healing for you *smiles*

erin said...

but the way you tell it i perceive it like two lovers together. don't you hear it? you and you)))

might you be touched in the most healing manner))) profoundly. profoundly.

love

joeh said...

I believe in all but a few states PE is no longer required. My son is a PE teacher, he believes in teaching exercises, sports and lifestyles that the students can use the rest of their life.

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

Oh, Rosaria! I'm so sorry you have to go through this at all! Maybe gym time would have made this easier -- but maybe not. It's so hard to deal with on a lot of levels. I hope the radiation does its job and that you get a clean bill of health soon!

Rob-bear said...

So sorry you are going through all of this, Rosaria. I hope you will be in better shape at the end of the process. With or without all the new exercises.

Blessings and Bear hugs!

ellen abbott said...

I do yoga just about every day but I don't know if I could lay like that for 40 minutes and still not suffer from it.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

My husband just went through radiation and as difficult as it was every day for a few months, we are so thankful that the results were good. I pray that it is for you also.

A Cuban In London said...

I just hope you pull through this one. Sending you lots of hugs across the ocean.

Greetings from London.