health issues

this recent post by one of my fav bloggers, so NOT cool, got me thinking about the shit hand some people are dealt healthwise.

up until eight years ago, i was one of those people who exercise, eat right, don't drink or smoke. then i got diagnosed with breast cancer when i was, literally, in the best shape of my life.

first there were surgeries. one breast gone. then six months of hell (chemo). then a month and a half of radiation. then elective surgery to remove other breast and ovaries.

then came osteopenia, followed by osteoporosis. and migraines. and back pain. and three herniated discs in my back. and broken bones. and injury upon injury upon injury.

i am currently still recovering from being knocked down at the dog park last year, which resulted in a knee the size of a small watermelon, whiplash and a concussion. my back went out earlier this month, and i am slowly gaining mobility again.

i've given up on running anymore, and biking doesn't look too promising either. i used to swim a mile every day, but this summer, between injuries and the bad air quality where i live, i haven't been able to swim nearly enough.

injuries + menopause has resulted in a weight gain, which i'm very unhappy about. in the past, i'd always been a bit underweight, so this is new, unpleasant territory for me.

while the thought of ever going back to work in an office makes me want to jump of the nearest tall building, the more my body speaks its mind, the more i think i won't be able to even if i ever wanted to again.

i can't sit for more than an hour straight without having to get up, move around and loosen my back. i need to roll my back five times a day, at least, followed by stretching and ice for 20 mins.
the arm i broke a few years ago still aches, and i need to take typing breaks to let it rest. and i get migraines if i stare at the computer screen for too long.

in short, i'm a mess. a mess that will most likely never be able to work a traditional full time job again. for now, i'm still able to freelance and earn a small, teeny, tiny income. but if it weren't for my husband, i would most likely be homeless and definitely be without health insurance.