Today is Monday, Sept 28, 2009, the day I was allowed to start showering. Yea! I did, it took me about an hour to get cleaned up for the day and I will say that I did do quite well. No pain, took my time, dressed myself with some help from my mom and I felt pretty good afterwards. I had some breakfast, now sitting and watching The View with their Hot Topics of the day.
I am taking the time to heal, now it's time to just sit and relax? Do I do that? I am trying, I have some books and I have my computer to visit you all with so keep the emails, notes, prayers and good thoughts coming I do appreciate them. Actually last night I felt my body get tired, as I was trying to describe it I hadn't been able to relax and sleep until last night. The actual "let down" feeling was noticeable and it made me think that maybe that feeling or adrenaline push is what keeps the "pain" away from me. Oh I must be getting smarter in my old age and many surgeries.
I am waiting now for the pathology reports and what that information will bring. Another chapter finished and another one to begin. Take care hugs,
Deb
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
It's all done, now the "healing" begins.
Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. I came through the surgery quite well and no surprises were there. The anesthesiologists were right on top of my meds all thru the 5 1/2 hour procedure as I awoke with no side effects and was wanting to get up and walk at 4 in the morning. The nurses asked me to wait awhile until they had orders for me to get up at least.
The surprise came the next day when the surgeon was continually told that I was up and around the 3rd floor a number of times and could actually handle my own drains. She said I was one of two patients that she had that "bounced back" like I did. My surgeon visited me last evening and agreed to release me as long as I rested and didn't believe that I was out of the woods. Well at noon I was finally released with those orders, the residents had forgotten to write the order when they were making rounds. So again communication becomes an issue with me towards the medical center. I do have a little pain with coughing which is to be expected although it doesn't debilitate me justs make me hold my side. Tylenol has been helping although tomorrow I get motrin and then I will be more relaxed. Yes I have done this with very little pain medicines.
As you can see I am back up and running a little anyway, I have a little energy and am feeling pretty good today but I am going to nap now so I will say ttfn.
Hugs, Deb
The surprise came the next day when the surgeon was continually told that I was up and around the 3rd floor a number of times and could actually handle my own drains. She said I was one of two patients that she had that "bounced back" like I did. My surgeon visited me last evening and agreed to release me as long as I rested and didn't believe that I was out of the woods. Well at noon I was finally released with those orders, the residents had forgotten to write the order when they were making rounds. So again communication becomes an issue with me towards the medical center. I do have a little pain with coughing which is to be expected although it doesn't debilitate me justs make me hold my side. Tylenol has been helping although tomorrow I get motrin and then I will be more relaxed. Yes I have done this with very little pain medicines.
As you can see I am back up and running a little anyway, I have a little energy and am feeling pretty good today but I am going to nap now so I will say ttfn.
Hugs, Deb
Thursday, September 24, 2009
And it's D day.
I am not sure what my feelings are today. Anxious as I don't think anyone LIKES to have surgery; ambivalence as I just want the procedure to be done; a little anger because I contend with this disease again. But then I am reminded of Philippians 4:8 to think on all things true, positive and good so now I feel comforted by all of your thoughts and prayers they help me tremendously; blessed to have so many of you thinking of me today; glad this day has arrived and I will be able to after today put this disease back where it belongs, in the "history" category; thankful for my faith.
We will talk tomorrow, my story is not over just taking an intermission!
Hugs, Deb
We will talk tomorrow, my story is not over just taking an intermission!
Hugs, Deb
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Do you know what happens when you assume?
Yesterday was my day for doctor visits or so I thought or was led to believe. There is this little procedure that the surgeon's office forgot to explain; that when you "see the anesthesiologist" you are actually seeing 4 other people and it is a Pre-operative visit! That would have been nice to know.
When the appointments were made, I even questioned why such a long time to speak with the anesthesiologist and she said that was "kind of normal", Yeh when you have to have an EKG, a history and physical, a visit from Patient Services, a nurse that needs your Blood pressure and a "chat" with the anesthesiologist who wants to tell you about the "planned day" and also hear any concerns you might have. I had a few, like you might want to know that I stop breathing when I am in the recovery room! He did think that was important, I did tell him that other Anesthetists were educated on my sensitivity first hand, as the old adage states "alls well that ends well". After going over my story 4 separate times and with many questions one of the health care providers wondered what brought on the tears as I had just been laughing and making jokes? Well we were all tearing up, I explained that although this had been fun it was quite exhausting to rehash the past 5 months 4 separate times to 4 separate people and that most of these questions would or were answered on my medical history sheet that I had provided them (it was there buried in all their little paperwork, who said technology is alive and working efficiently?). After a somewhat practiced statement of it's good to get your emotions out instead of keeping them inward(she didn't know I was a Gardner) I was released to my surgeon's appointment.
.
This visit was more positive as I learned that I had dropped another two pounds (yes I know it's a hell of a weight loss program) that bringing my total drop to date of 11 pounds. Yes keep it going! The surgeon's surgical nurse (her name is Debbie too) went over (finally) the results of the MRI, the MRI that I had done there on 8/20/09 showed no involvement of the left side, so that's good news. The reason for the delay in giving me these results arose due to the "comparison" or original MRI that was done on 8/29/07, it was some kind of random slides that didn't make sense to their radiologist so instead of stating that to his assistant or anyone so that they could call me, nothing was said until yesterday afternoon as I was sitting there. As some of you know that will be taken care of this Friday as I visit the Orange Imaging Center and offer some constructive criticism on what they sent to UCSD. A clinical trials research student came in and asked if I wanted to be part of a study that was trying to determine what actually causes this disease (I have a lot of adjectives but it's better if I just say disease) and I agreed so she needed blood, urine and tissue, I told her she needed to wait on the tissue as I wasn't ready to give that up today. LOL The surgical nurse Debbie gave me a really nice notebook on the implant that I was getting(hey that's where the pharmaceutical companies spend their money on stupid books in a great presentation to explain nothing) and asked me sign a disclaimer regarding the "small implant", after reading 8 different ways that it could "make problems for me in the future" I said I am not sure I want that in there. Considering that I will have a serial number for the rest of my life and the "maybe problems" why do that? Well they explained, they really have never had any problems with Allergan implants in the past but they are required to give you this information. Yes I know the requirement and the laws to protect all companies but really does your product work or not? There I have said it why is it that we as a nation or government feel the need to constantly disclaim so as to not feel accountable if something goes wrong? Oh I digress...
Back to me and my upcoming "event". I am feeling overwhelmed: at the surgery (it's an 8 hour procedure); for the recovery which some say will be painful some say you really won't feel anything as you will be numb for quite a while; (yea my right arm in some places is still numb after 10 years), for the thoughts of getting this home packed up and shipped off back east (I know that a lot of you have stretched out your arms and more than willing to help, don't you worry you will be called upon). I feel blessed: that so many of you have sent prayers, thoughts and good wishes as well as your offers to do whatever whenever for me and my family. This is what I will dwell over, not the cancer for to do that gives it validity. Cancer has no valid place in my life or my body or my mind. For that matter cancer is but a small speck and if we keep that in it's place we will be better people for that as diseases/illnesses do not "own" us, we are allowed to detach ourselves from them.
For myself, I lean on the Lord for strength, peace, comfort and healing and any other need I can't think of right now. Thanks again for your support,
Hugs, Deb
When the appointments were made, I even questioned why such a long time to speak with the anesthesiologist and she said that was "kind of normal", Yeh when you have to have an EKG, a history and physical, a visit from Patient Services, a nurse that needs your Blood pressure and a "chat" with the anesthesiologist who wants to tell you about the "planned day" and also hear any concerns you might have. I had a few, like you might want to know that I stop breathing when I am in the recovery room! He did think that was important, I did tell him that other Anesthetists were educated on my sensitivity first hand, as the old adage states "alls well that ends well". After going over my story 4 separate times and with many questions one of the health care providers wondered what brought on the tears as I had just been laughing and making jokes? Well we were all tearing up, I explained that although this had been fun it was quite exhausting to rehash the past 5 months 4 separate times to 4 separate people and that most of these questions would or were answered on my medical history sheet that I had provided them (it was there buried in all their little paperwork, who said technology is alive and working efficiently?). After a somewhat practiced statement of it's good to get your emotions out instead of keeping them inward(she didn't know I was a Gardner) I was released to my surgeon's appointment.
.
This visit was more positive as I learned that I had dropped another two pounds (yes I know it's a hell of a weight loss program) that bringing my total drop to date of 11 pounds. Yes keep it going! The surgeon's surgical nurse (her name is Debbie too) went over (finally) the results of the MRI, the MRI that I had done there on 8/20/09 showed no involvement of the left side, so that's good news. The reason for the delay in giving me these results arose due to the "comparison" or original MRI that was done on 8/29/07, it was some kind of random slides that didn't make sense to their radiologist so instead of stating that to his assistant or anyone so that they could call me, nothing was said until yesterday afternoon as I was sitting there. As some of you know that will be taken care of this Friday as I visit the Orange Imaging Center and offer some constructive criticism on what they sent to UCSD. A clinical trials research student came in and asked if I wanted to be part of a study that was trying to determine what actually causes this disease (I have a lot of adjectives but it's better if I just say disease) and I agreed so she needed blood, urine and tissue, I told her she needed to wait on the tissue as I wasn't ready to give that up today. LOL The surgical nurse Debbie gave me a really nice notebook on the implant that I was getting(hey that's where the pharmaceutical companies spend their money on stupid books in a great presentation to explain nothing) and asked me sign a disclaimer regarding the "small implant", after reading 8 different ways that it could "make problems for me in the future" I said I am not sure I want that in there. Considering that I will have a serial number for the rest of my life and the "maybe problems" why do that? Well they explained, they really have never had any problems with Allergan implants in the past but they are required to give you this information. Yes I know the requirement and the laws to protect all companies but really does your product work or not? There I have said it why is it that we as a nation or government feel the need to constantly disclaim so as to not feel accountable if something goes wrong? Oh I digress...
Back to me and my upcoming "event". I am feeling overwhelmed: at the surgery (it's an 8 hour procedure); for the recovery which some say will be painful some say you really won't feel anything as you will be numb for quite a while; (yea my right arm in some places is still numb after 10 years), for the thoughts of getting this home packed up and shipped off back east (I know that a lot of you have stretched out your arms and more than willing to help, don't you worry you will be called upon). I feel blessed: that so many of you have sent prayers, thoughts and good wishes as well as your offers to do whatever whenever for me and my family. This is what I will dwell over, not the cancer for to do that gives it validity. Cancer has no valid place in my life or my body or my mind. For that matter cancer is but a small speck and if we keep that in it's place we will be better people for that as diseases/illnesses do not "own" us, we are allowed to detach ourselves from them.
For myself, I lean on the Lord for strength, peace, comfort and healing and any other need I can't think of right now. Thanks again for your support,
Hugs, Deb
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Keeping up to keep up!
Hi all,
I am doing fine these days just a little muscle soreness which I figured out might be from the Aromasin, an oral ERP inhibitor like Rimidex or Femara. I guess it has the least amount of side effects so a little soreness isn't much to whine about. They put me on that as my surgery is a little outside the normal window (8 weeks from the last chemotherapy session). This drug is to control or inhibit any cancer growth in the cells, we'll see if it does the trick I just didn't want another chemo session as I was so far out that I was beginning to "taste" again. That metallic taste has finally left my mouth so I am beginning to enjoy food again, but not too much.
So to spend the days I am going through closets, cupboards and even cookbooks to whittle down our moving weight and of course every few years you need to "glean the supplies" for extra baggage. I am not accomplishing by myself as I still can't lift but 10 pounds so my friends, sisters have happily volunteered to do the purging for me. It's a release to sit and "that stays or that goes".
My pre-op appointments start next week (9/16), one with the surgeon and one with the anesthesiologist and then to a short pre-admission with the hospital. The surgery will be done at UCSD Thornton Hospital. The surgery is 9/24 at 12:30PM.
That's all for now, thank you all for being such loyal friends and family checking in every so often.
Hugs, Deb
I am doing fine these days just a little muscle soreness which I figured out might be from the Aromasin, an oral ERP inhibitor like Rimidex or Femara. I guess it has the least amount of side effects so a little soreness isn't much to whine about. They put me on that as my surgery is a little outside the normal window (8 weeks from the last chemotherapy session). This drug is to control or inhibit any cancer growth in the cells, we'll see if it does the trick I just didn't want another chemo session as I was so far out that I was beginning to "taste" again. That metallic taste has finally left my mouth so I am beginning to enjoy food again, but not too much.
So to spend the days I am going through closets, cupboards and even cookbooks to whittle down our moving weight and of course every few years you need to "glean the supplies" for extra baggage. I am not accomplishing by myself as I still can't lift but 10 pounds so my friends, sisters have happily volunteered to do the purging for me. It's a release to sit and "that stays or that goes".
My pre-op appointments start next week (9/16), one with the surgeon and one with the anesthesiologist and then to a short pre-admission with the hospital. The surgery will be done at UCSD Thornton Hospital. The surgery is 9/24 at 12:30PM.
That's all for now, thank you all for being such loyal friends and family checking in every so often.
Hugs, Deb
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