Monday, May 16, Day 6 by #45605 Blog entry

Day 6 of the fast

Date: 5/16/2005 12:15:04 PM ( 19 y ) ... viewed 2589 times

Thanks to you all for your encouragement! I have been 'living off' your encouragement and prayers these past few days, believe me!

Things are going very well, although of course I feel discouraged. Anyone would be a little discouraged so soon post-op! Part of it is because I can't DO anything...even shower or wash my hair! That's downright icky. But this phase will be over soon, and I'll be able to get around better.

I had no idea that my right arm would be so affected. I don't know HOW I didn't notice that before surgery. Somehow, I thought the left mastectomy would be the 'big boo-boo', and the right arm would just be a band-aid kind of wound.

WRONG! The re-excision of the nodes in my right arm was quite traumatic. No need for details. Suffice to say I was not prepared to recover with a REALLY hurting right arm!

And the other discouragement is my appearance. I guess you can 'know' with your mind, but not fully realize with your comprehension what the scars will look like. It has quite an impact on me every time I see my chest.

But God is good, and He will help me to heal from all these discouragements.

As far as the fast goes, it's fine. I am almost water-fasting. So far, I've only needed one big glass of juice a day, and a few saltines. I have no hunger, no ill-health, and even no headaches! When those start up, I'll make more juice. I've experienced no hunger. It's just like the experts say - when your body is severely hurt, it's natural state is fasting. It happens all the time in the wild. I can see that theory is correct, because it's happening to me.

I do need to force more water for hydration. Water is beginning to taste terrible, so I'll squeeze a lemon into it.

The pain meds were easy to cut out. I took half the prescribed amount the first day home, then none at all the second day. At night, I took one fourth of the prescribed meds and am doing very well. Now, if I need anything at all, I take one tylenol or one advil with a few saltines. That works fine. I don't really need any more than that. I surmise that fasting helps with pain control, too. I'd read theories about that, and perhaps the theories are true. My experience seems to confirm them, anyway.

I have a reall problem with concentrating on my Bible study, prayer, and meditation. I simply _can't_ concentrate. I'm not going to worry about it, though. I read a few sentences and then drift off. I cannot keep up the effort. As I recover, however, I expect it to be easier. I will draw near to my Abba, and will trust Him to draw near to me, whether I'm concentrating or not. My fellowship with Him is certainly NOT dependant upon my mental strength and concentration ability. It depends upon HIM, not me. So I'll just relax and make sure I don't drift off into evil imaginations or passtimes that are not Godly, and let HIM take care of the rest!

Well, enough for today!
Thanks for listening, praying, and encourageing
Some of you who have written back to me are in my heart's prayers for YOUR fasting walks as well!
Mercy and Truth