After 717,824 long days, January is finally coming to an end! My goal is to blog at least 12 times this year so I think a monthly recap will be my target. We’ll see!

First – a health update! I met with a surgeon from the Georgetown Transplant Institute last week. He reviewed my case and said there was no right/wrong answer, but that if he were me or if I were one of his loved ones, he would go forward with the splenectomy (the 8.6cm cyst can’t be removed without removing my spleen). I asked how not having a spleen would impact my treatment if my MGUS were to progress. He is a skilled surgeon, but not an MGUS expert so he said he would like to discuss with my referring hematologist and also review with his team in his multidisciplinary meeting. We talked about the risks and benefits of the surgery. Fast forward one week and his PA called me back this Monday. She noted that all my scans were reviewed with the board and that they agree that the cyst looks benign. They spoke to my hematologist (who will also discuss with my oncologist). She stated that while my overall risk of MGUS progression is not high (this is confusing because all my paperwork says “high risk”), it would make me more predisposed to infections without a spleen if I were to need treatment. So, they have decided that surveillance is the better option for now. The plan is to check on it in 12 months, unless of course the pain becomes more intense before then. She told me to “try to avoid trauma” to my mid-section, which we both laughed about because I think most people do try to avoid trauma to their mid-section. I guess I won’t be going out on the banana boat, tubing, or any other high-risk activities anytime soon though – bummer! I’m conflicted about this path forward. I had just convinced myself that I was going to go ahead and move forward with the splenectomy (assuming my MGUS numbers are stable in Feb and my other doctors were on board). I’m kind of relieved to not have surgery on my calendar this year, but I’m also nervous it’s going to rupture on me (the spleen holds up to 30% of your blood, so you risk internal bleeding if it ruptures). And we all know things like this never happen at a convenient time or place. I just picture myself on vacation out of the country, taking a fall, and needing emergency surgery abroad (lol – I don’t even have any vacations planned so you can see the level of anxiety this is causing me). So anyway, the bottom line on my health is that the splenic cyst situation is on hold for now and my MGUS numbers will be checked again at the end of February.

Now, onto the fun part – the reason I created this blog in the first place. I’ve been killing it with my runs and I’m so happy about it! I was able to log 50 miles for the month of January (I was planning to run 4 miles yesterday but when I added up my mileage, I had to run 4.25 to get me to 50 for the month – those with OCD understand, right?). My pace isn’t exactly where I’d like it to be, BUT I have been running consistently and have gotten back to running 5 miles on “long-run Sundays”. I’m hoping to get to ‘6 mile Sundays’ by the end of February.  I’ve been running 3 days a week and strength training and/or stretching on my “off” days!

Some more SUPER EXCITING news! I signed up for my first race of the year! I’m going to run the 10k at the Annapolis Running Festival in March! I’ve got a couple of friends who are planning to run as well so I’m very excited about it! If you are a runner and are interested in this race (also offers a 5k and half marathon option), reach out to me for a code that may save you on your registration (you only get a refund if I get 10 people to sign up). Don’t worry, I won’t make you hang out with me if you have other plans, but you are more than welcome to – the more, the merrier!

I am also signed up for my first ever Orange Theory class this weekend. I’m excited, yet terrified. I have a feeling I’m going to love/hate it. It’s a shame we don’t have one in town.

How about you guys & gals? I’d love to hear how you are staying active this year in the comments below. And if you haven’t committed to fitness just yet, remember that tomorrow is a new month and the perfect time to get started on those goals 🙂