2023 was a pretty good year, as far as my health is concerned. We received great news every scan, and I have felt pretty normal on my treatment regimen. I did have major surgery, but it went well and I am fully recovered. I should have taken more time off of work but too late for that. I am glad to have that behind me!
I was able to start running in August and have gradually built my mileage up each month. I raced my first and last race of 2023 in December down in Okaloosa, FL. I was top female! The weather was horrible, but I was so happy and grateful to be back racing that I didn't care what the weather was like. It felt so good to be back out on the roads, doing what I love. I do have occasional pain, but it is so much better than it had been. I hope to continue to run, race, and build my mileage back up in 2024! I deferred the Jekyll Island half last year and didn't think I'd ever run it again. I am happy to say I am signed up for the 2024 edition and will be running in it a couple of weeks! I'm not to a point where I can run 13.1 hard, but I am just excited to have the endurance back to run 13.1. I'm looking forward to a nice, long weekend in Jekyll, one of my fave places!
I was supposed to have my last scan of 2023 on 12/22, but insurance denied the PET scan so my scan was changed to a CT scan and pushed back to 12/26. The nice thing about a CT scan is the results come through quickly. I received the great news that I'm still NEAD (no evidence of active disease) a few hours after my scan.
Going into 2024, my main concern is my medicine. My insurance has changed it from tier 2 to tier 3, meaning it's going to be more expensive. It's $14,000 per month (without insurance), $80 per month (with insurance), and I have been using a co-pay card to get it for free. With the tier change, it may be $200 per month. I am hoping I can still use a co-pay card instead of paying thousands of dollar this year for medication. My other option is to change medication, which I really don't want to do. I feel fine on Ibrance and am doing well on it. It frustrates me that I either pay up or switch meds because insurance changed how they are covering it.
I hope everyone has a year full of good health, joy, gratitude, and love. Please pray I continue to have clear scans and little to no pain!
