I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I know that we did here. Meghan and Cliff came over on Christmas Eve for dinner and some present-opening. Then Meghan came back on Christmas morning while Cliff went to his mother's house and we opened the rest of our presents. John made a delicious waffle breakfast.
Next year, we'll have to do the Christmas eve dinner at both homes (ours and in-laws) because Christmas day will be at Meghan and Cliff's house. One doesn't want to bring home all those baby toys, etc after opening them. Yes, I did say baby. Meghan is expecting in July. I think I'm more excited than she is. As soon as it was official, I had to buy her her first baby clothes. They don't know the gender yet but that will come in February. They're looking for a bigger place on the other side of the river to make it easier for both to get to work.
Bill has been home the past few days and it's been nice having him here. He had PRK surgery in October and it's still strange seeing him without glasses. His last pair were black rims and he reminded me of Elvis Costello. He's been doing well in State College and has been getting more requests to do camera work.
I haven't started the trial yet. I'm a little disappointed but then again not too. I was supposed to have tests two weeks ago and then start treatment the week of Christmas. I still had so much Christmas stuff to get done that I was somewhat relieved to have the time. I need to call the doctor's office this coming week and find out what's going on. The only thing I can think of is that for insurance purposes they want to wait until the first of the year.
We're all getting ready to go out to lunch today at Max's Allegheny Tavern (German) on the north side of Pittsburgh. Then we're going to the Carnegie Science Museum to see the train exhibit they put up every year. It's pretty phenomenal. I'll try to take pictures.
I wanted to take the time here to tell someone very special to me how much she has meant to me this past year. Maria, the president of NationalLink, has been one of my biggest supporters. It has been a great comfort knowing she was there to listen whenever I needed to talk. She would also take work off of me when the pressure became too great and understood that I needed to work to keep my mind off of things that were happening. She and Lori worked around my schedule and insisted at times that I take time off so that I wouldn't get too tired. My entire team and myself along with everyone else at NationalLink miss you greatly. I wish you good luck in whatever you do.
Well...time to get this show on the road. Merry Christmas everyone!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Good news at last!
I received a call from Dr. Puhalla's office two weeks ago. I was told that they had a spot for me in the clinical trial. Woo hoo~! I had an appointment on Tuesday, December 8th at 4:30 p.m. to meet at Magee Hospital to fill out the consent form for the clinical trial. This is both exciting and scary. I'm excited to get started but also worried on whether or not I will tolerate this treatment as well as I did the last (at least I feel I tolerated it well).
I was put in the exam room at 4:20 p.m. I had just a gown on and those rooms are always cold. I put my winter coat on over it and sat in a chair versus on the table. I fell asleep and woke up about 10 after 5. It was awfully quiet in the offices and I started to wonder if they had forgotten about me. Finally, at 5:45 p.m. or so, the doctor came in. She had to read all the paperwork to me and go over the possible side effects. My favorites were the ones reported in animals but not in humans.
1. Excess production of salvia. Do they make cute bibs for adults?
2. Abnormal gait. The president of NationalLink said that if she saw me walking around the office like John Wayne, she wouldn't worry.
3. Mild sleepiness followed by mild excitation. *Snore* Hey! Are you people working?!?!? *Snore*
After signing the consent form, I left and went over to the Rivers Casino. I had arranged to meet Meghan (MFD) and her husband, Cliff, there. She and I were there first and she ended up winning $61 with a $20. We won't talk about what I didn't win. We had dinner at the buffet and it was much better than the first time when John and I went. I think they're getting the kinks out. I found that it's still too smokey for me there and ended up having an asthma attack walking out to the car. Combination of the smoke and the cold air, I think.
Dr. Puhalla told me that I would have tests scheduled next week and start treatment the week of Christmas. That's not new to me. My first chemo treatment started on December 22, 2008. I'm just waiting for the call for the tests. My creatonine was great; only .90.
I am definitely not looking forward to the queasiness and need to find out if they'll give me the same great drugs they gave me the last time. I'm also not looking forward to the muscle aches and pains and the hair loss. It was coming in nicely and I almost paid Philip Pelusi hair salon $30 to trim it up. Glad I didn't since it will start to fall out again. Maybe it won't...the side effects say "possible" hair loss. We'll see. It's too cold to be bald. Guess I'll have to wear my pink breast cancer awareness Steelers cap (man are they bad this year).
I'm sorry it's been so long since I've last posted. I've just been too tired to go online when I get home. Of course, the office, where the main computer is located, is freezing. I wear a robe and gloves when I'm in there.
Take care everyone and hope you're having a wonderful holiday. As soon as I hear more, I'll post.
-Suesan
I was put in the exam room at 4:20 p.m. I had just a gown on and those rooms are always cold. I put my winter coat on over it and sat in a chair versus on the table. I fell asleep and woke up about 10 after 5. It was awfully quiet in the offices and I started to wonder if they had forgotten about me. Finally, at 5:45 p.m. or so, the doctor came in. She had to read all the paperwork to me and go over the possible side effects. My favorites were the ones reported in animals but not in humans.
1. Excess production of salvia. Do they make cute bibs for adults?
2. Abnormal gait. The president of NationalLink said that if she saw me walking around the office like John Wayne, she wouldn't worry.
3. Mild sleepiness followed by mild excitation. *Snore* Hey! Are you people working?!?!? *Snore*
After signing the consent form, I left and went over to the Rivers Casino. I had arranged to meet Meghan (MFD) and her husband, Cliff, there. She and I were there first and she ended up winning $61 with a $20. We won't talk about what I didn't win. We had dinner at the buffet and it was much better than the first time when John and I went. I think they're getting the kinks out. I found that it's still too smokey for me there and ended up having an asthma attack walking out to the car. Combination of the smoke and the cold air, I think.
Dr. Puhalla told me that I would have tests scheduled next week and start treatment the week of Christmas. That's not new to me. My first chemo treatment started on December 22, 2008. I'm just waiting for the call for the tests. My creatonine was great; only .90.
I am definitely not looking forward to the queasiness and need to find out if they'll give me the same great drugs they gave me the last time. I'm also not looking forward to the muscle aches and pains and the hair loss. It was coming in nicely and I almost paid Philip Pelusi hair salon $30 to trim it up. Glad I didn't since it will start to fall out again. Maybe it won't...the side effects say "possible" hair loss. We'll see. It's too cold to be bald. Guess I'll have to wear my pink breast cancer awareness Steelers cap (man are they bad this year).
I'm sorry it's been so long since I've last posted. I've just been too tired to go online when I get home. Of course, the office, where the main computer is located, is freezing. I wear a robe and gloves when I'm in there.
Take care everyone and hope you're having a wonderful holiday. As soon as I hear more, I'll post.
-Suesan
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Update..
I received a call from Dr. Puhalla on Monday, November 16th. She said she had been keeping an eye out for my bloodwork to check my creatonine and hadn't seen it come in. I told her that I was waiting for a spot so that I had longer to get the numbers down. She said she'd rather I did it now so that if they needed to work on it, they had time. I went in on Wednesday, the 18th for the bloodwork. It took two tries to get it out of me. The arm didn't work so they went for the back of the hand.
Dr. Puhalla's assistant called me on Friday, the 20th and left a voice mail stating that the numbers looked good. Yipee! When I had spoken to Dr. P on Monday, she said that she expected a spot for me in the next 4 weeks. I'm hoping...
On Wednesday, the 25th, I received a call at work from my cousin, Karen. Turns out she and her husband, Ron, were in the area (they live in Grand Rapids, MI) and wanted to stop by and see me. They had been using their GPS to get from Michigan to West Virginia and ended up by us. Considering they were on their way to Morgantown, WV to see Ron's niece, it didn't put them too far out of the way but it was fun razzing him about it. He's a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the army. How could you miss WV and end up in PA? :)
I'm still feeling okay. A small problem with allergies which is making my asthma kick up a tad, but other than that, feeling good. I'm working too much (end of the month crunch) and need to cut back on that. 12-hour days don't do anyone any good.
Oh yeah! John got the Christmas lights up outside yesterday. I'll have to take a picture tonight and upload. My favorite time of year, however, I had hoped last year by this time this year, my travails would be a distant memory. Oh well...
I also received my Steeler's Breast Cancer awareness cap in the mail. I had ordered in October and finally got it last week.
John presented me with my repaired engagement ring all shiny and new (new setting) on Wednesday. Now I need to get the wedding band cleaned so it looks as nice as the engagement ring.
It's late Sunday afternoon and I think I'm going to head out to Barnes & Noble. I have a coupon for 40% off one item and I'm thinking tea. I really like their peppermint tea. I need more for home. I may also pick up another heater that I saw on sale for up here in the office.
Steelers on at 8! Too bad I won't be awake to watch the entire game.
Dr. Puhalla's assistant called me on Friday, the 20th and left a voice mail stating that the numbers looked good. Yipee! When I had spoken to Dr. P on Monday, she said that she expected a spot for me in the next 4 weeks. I'm hoping...
On Wednesday, the 25th, I received a call at work from my cousin, Karen. Turns out she and her husband, Ron, were in the area (they live in Grand Rapids, MI) and wanted to stop by and see me. They had been using their GPS to get from Michigan to West Virginia and ended up by us. Considering they were on their way to Morgantown, WV to see Ron's niece, it didn't put them too far out of the way but it was fun razzing him about it. He's a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the army. How could you miss WV and end up in PA? :)
I'm still feeling okay. A small problem with allergies which is making my asthma kick up a tad, but other than that, feeling good. I'm working too much (end of the month crunch) and need to cut back on that. 12-hour days don't do anyone any good.
Oh yeah! John got the Christmas lights up outside yesterday. I'll have to take a picture tonight and upload. My favorite time of year, however, I had hoped last year by this time this year, my travails would be a distant memory. Oh well...
I also received my Steeler's Breast Cancer awareness cap in the mail. I had ordered in October and finally got it last week.
John presented me with my repaired engagement ring all shiny and new (new setting) on Wednesday. Now I need to get the wedding band cleaned so it looks as nice as the engagement ring.
It's late Sunday afternoon and I think I'm going to head out to Barnes & Noble. I have a coupon for 40% off one item and I'm thinking tea. I really like their peppermint tea. I need more for home. I may also pick up another heater that I saw on sale for up here in the office.
Steelers on at 8! Too bad I won't be awake to watch the entire game.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Still waiting....
Still waiting for a call to say I have a spot. I've sent 2 emails to let them know I'm still interested. Still feeling fine. Let's get a move on!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Carboplatin/taxel ABT-888 clinical trial
I saw Dr. Puhalla today. She seemed very upbeat about this new therapy working for me. She said there was a narrow window of eligibility for this particular trial and I fit into it.
1. I couldn't have had taxel previously (I haven't)
2. I couldn't have had more than two kinds of therapy for the cancer in my lungs (I haven't).
3. My kidney function has to be perfect (okay...we're working on that).
There aren't any open spots right now in the trial but they expect one to open up in the next 3-6 weeks. She said it wasn't a problem to wait that long but if it were to go past 6 weeks, I might want to consider starting a chemo treatment while waiting. One that wouldn't infringe on the trial.
This is how the PARP Inhibitor (ABT-888) was explained to me. You have DNA in your cells. Each cell has many mechanisms to repair itself if it gets "hurt". Cancer cells have fewer mechanisms but multiply faster. Some stop working because of the chemo but the cancer cell has another one (PARP) to fall back on to repair itself and keep on growing. This is especially true if you have the BRCT gene (hope I got that right), which i don't or if you're triple-negative, which I am.
The pill, the PARP inhibitor, stops that fall-back mechanism from working. It works in tandem with the chemo to shut down the cancer cell's ability to repair itself and it dies. Sounds like a plan to me!
I googled carboplatin ABT-888 and actually found out what the trial consists of in the UPMC system. I would start course 1 (chemo #1) by taking the carboplatin chemo for 30 minutes and then the taxel chemo for 3 hours. It will be an all-day affair because they will take my blood every hour to check certain levels. Good thing I have a port so they don't have to stick me each time. Three weeks later, I will start course 2. I will take the PARP pill twice a day for 7 days. On the third day, I will have my chemo treatment 30 min/3 hours and will be there all day while they test my blood to see how I handle the addition of the PARP pill. These first two treatments will be done at the Hillman Cancer Center in Oakland (part of Pittsburgh). Once they determine that I can continue with the treatments, I can transfer back to Magee-Women's Hospital. I will get Dawn, my previous chemo nurse. The treatments won't be all day, just however long it takes to administer the chemo. I think that I would undergo 6 treatments in all.
Dr. Puhalla said that there were very few clinics in the country administering this trial and they had people coming in to Pittsburgh from all over to participate in it. Next time I complain about having to go to dahntahn Pittsburgh, I'll remember that.
In regards to my kidney function, I have to work on hydrating myself. I don't drink that much during the day. I've always been yelled at about that. I have a glass of water with breakfast, one with lunch and one with dinner and that's usually it. I don't drink much pop and sometimes, instead of water at meals, I drink plain unsweetened iced tea. I need to push the fluids big time to get my creatonine (sp) down to 1.0 or lower. When I was in the office on the 12th, it was 1.2. When I saw the renal doctor for the last time on September 8th, it was .90. Dr. Puhall said that it could be because I wasn't drinking enough. I know I don't. I took Bill's Brita pitcher that he had at school and bought new filters for it tonight. It will be sitting on my desk at work to remind me to drink more.
I had been envisioning that I had 5 spots on my lungs and some in the lymph nodes between the lungs. I was trying to zap them with brain waves (can't hurt!). I asked Dr. Puhalla today if I could see the PET scan and see the spots. Unfortunately, there were many more than I was imagining, between 20 and 25. However, they weren't as big as I had imagined. I'll take that as good news. I didn't want to see the spots on the 12th as I was still in so much shock. I needed to put some time behind me.
I am extremely encouraged with today's appointment. To all who ask "how are you feeling?" I feel fine. I have no symptons, no pain, etc. This does not mean, however, that you need to stop putting me and my family in your prayers. I appreciate all the help I can get!
A friend of mine told me what his mother said to her cancer doctor when he told her she had only 6 months left. She said "I'm not done pissing off people". She lived another 10 years before it got her. Those who know me, also know that I am not done pissing people off....
And...in case you noticed, as of this post, I've decided to stop using initials for people. I'm gonna call them who they are. Dr. Lembersky is Dr. L, my medical oncologist. Dr. Puhalla is new to me so I hadn't called her by her initial. Dr. Z, my surgical oncologist, is Dr. Ziauddin. His name is too hard to say for most people so his office called him "Dr. Z".
Anyways, *I* feel good about today and excited to start this new journey. Just hope it doesn't take too long.
Take care peoples.
Suesan
1. I couldn't have had taxel previously (I haven't)
2. I couldn't have had more than two kinds of therapy for the cancer in my lungs (I haven't).
3. My kidney function has to be perfect (okay...we're working on that).
There aren't any open spots right now in the trial but they expect one to open up in the next 3-6 weeks. She said it wasn't a problem to wait that long but if it were to go past 6 weeks, I might want to consider starting a chemo treatment while waiting. One that wouldn't infringe on the trial.
This is how the PARP Inhibitor (ABT-888) was explained to me. You have DNA in your cells. Each cell has many mechanisms to repair itself if it gets "hurt". Cancer cells have fewer mechanisms but multiply faster. Some stop working because of the chemo but the cancer cell has another one (PARP) to fall back on to repair itself and keep on growing. This is especially true if you have the BRCT gene (hope I got that right), which i don't or if you're triple-negative, which I am.
The pill, the PARP inhibitor, stops that fall-back mechanism from working. It works in tandem with the chemo to shut down the cancer cell's ability to repair itself and it dies. Sounds like a plan to me!
I googled carboplatin ABT-888 and actually found out what the trial consists of in the UPMC system. I would start course 1 (chemo #1) by taking the carboplatin chemo for 30 minutes and then the taxel chemo for 3 hours. It will be an all-day affair because they will take my blood every hour to check certain levels. Good thing I have a port so they don't have to stick me each time. Three weeks later, I will start course 2. I will take the PARP pill twice a day for 7 days. On the third day, I will have my chemo treatment 30 min/3 hours and will be there all day while they test my blood to see how I handle the addition of the PARP pill. These first two treatments will be done at the Hillman Cancer Center in Oakland (part of Pittsburgh). Once they determine that I can continue with the treatments, I can transfer back to Magee-Women's Hospital. I will get Dawn, my previous chemo nurse. The treatments won't be all day, just however long it takes to administer the chemo. I think that I would undergo 6 treatments in all.
Dr. Puhalla said that there were very few clinics in the country administering this trial and they had people coming in to Pittsburgh from all over to participate in it. Next time I complain about having to go to dahntahn Pittsburgh, I'll remember that.
In regards to my kidney function, I have to work on hydrating myself. I don't drink that much during the day. I've always been yelled at about that. I have a glass of water with breakfast, one with lunch and one with dinner and that's usually it. I don't drink much pop and sometimes, instead of water at meals, I drink plain unsweetened iced tea. I need to push the fluids big time to get my creatonine (sp) down to 1.0 or lower. When I was in the office on the 12th, it was 1.2. When I saw the renal doctor for the last time on September 8th, it was .90. Dr. Puhall said that it could be because I wasn't drinking enough. I know I don't. I took Bill's Brita pitcher that he had at school and bought new filters for it tonight. It will be sitting on my desk at work to remind me to drink more.
I had been envisioning that I had 5 spots on my lungs and some in the lymph nodes between the lungs. I was trying to zap them with brain waves (can't hurt!). I asked Dr. Puhalla today if I could see the PET scan and see the spots. Unfortunately, there were many more than I was imagining, between 20 and 25. However, they weren't as big as I had imagined. I'll take that as good news. I didn't want to see the spots on the 12th as I was still in so much shock. I needed to put some time behind me.
I am extremely encouraged with today's appointment. To all who ask "how are you feeling?" I feel fine. I have no symptons, no pain, etc. This does not mean, however, that you need to stop putting me and my family in your prayers. I appreciate all the help I can get!
A friend of mine told me what his mother said to her cancer doctor when he told her she had only 6 months left. She said "I'm not done pissing off people". She lived another 10 years before it got her. Those who know me, also know that I am not done pissing people off....
And...in case you noticed, as of this post, I've decided to stop using initials for people. I'm gonna call them who they are. Dr. Lembersky is Dr. L, my medical oncologist. Dr. Puhalla is new to me so I hadn't called her by her initial. Dr. Z, my surgical oncologist, is Dr. Ziauddin. His name is too hard to say for most people so his office called him "Dr. Z".
Anyways, *I* feel good about today and excited to start this new journey. Just hope it doesn't take too long.
Take care peoples.
Suesan
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Bravo! Bravo!
They enjoyed my performance so much they've called me back for an encore.
So...
I had my CT scan to place the radiation markers on Friday, October 2nd. On Tuesday, October 6th, the radiation oncologist called me and said he couldn't do the radiation because the CT scan showed spots on my lungs. He told me I needed a PET scan and to see my medical oncologist (Dr. L) right away.
I had the PET scan on Friday, the 9th and on Monday, the 12th, I saw Dr. L. Bad news. The spots were cancer. They were in both lungs and also in the lymph nodes between the lungs.
I didn't get very far....
I have to undergo more chemo and an experimental pill called a PARP inhibitor. They just started having articles on it in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. L is hopeful. I'll have 2-3 chemos, then another CT scan to see if it's working.
I have an appointment on the 29th with another doctor in his group to go over what the requirements are for the clinical trial for the PARP inhibitor.
This was and still is a great shock to me. The spots weren't there in May when I had a CT scan while in the hospital with kidney failure. My last chemo was June 15th. It didn't take very long for it to spread.
I'm taking each day at a time and still continue to work, if only to take my mind off of things.
I'll know more once I have the meeting on the 29th.
Please keep me and my family in your prayers.
So...
I had my CT scan to place the radiation markers on Friday, October 2nd. On Tuesday, October 6th, the radiation oncologist called me and said he couldn't do the radiation because the CT scan showed spots on my lungs. He told me I needed a PET scan and to see my medical oncologist (Dr. L) right away.
I had the PET scan on Friday, the 9th and on Monday, the 12th, I saw Dr. L. Bad news. The spots were cancer. They were in both lungs and also in the lymph nodes between the lungs.
I didn't get very far....
I have to undergo more chemo and an experimental pill called a PARP inhibitor. They just started having articles on it in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. L is hopeful. I'll have 2-3 chemos, then another CT scan to see if it's working.
I have an appointment on the 29th with another doctor in his group to go over what the requirements are for the clinical trial for the PARP inhibitor.
This was and still is a great shock to me. The spots weren't there in May when I had a CT scan while in the hospital with kidney failure. My last chemo was June 15th. It didn't take very long for it to spread.
I'm taking each day at a time and still continue to work, if only to take my mind off of things.
I'll know more once I have the meeting on the 29th.
Please keep me and my family in your prayers.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The company that I work for, NationalLink, had a special breakfast on Friday, October 9th, to promote Breast Cancer Awareness and the importance of yearly mammograms and monthly self-exams. They asked that everyone wear pink to help support. Of course, it was also Friday, two days before a Steeler's game so there was some competition for that in regards to wearing apparel. Some compromised by wearing a pink Steelers jersey.
I wanted to thank Maria and Lori for offering the breakfast and their support. It was enjoyed by all. Below are three pictures of my co-workers. There were some not in the pictures (they were actually working!)and I also appreciate all the support they've shown me since this "journey" started. It was and still is a great comfort to me. Thank you all again. We truly are a family.
ServiceLink, a partial owner of NationalLink and where I worked before transferring to NationalLink, is also offering workers a chance to donate to breast cancer research via their paychecks. It is appreciated.
I wanted to thank Maria and Lori for offering the breakfast and their support. It was enjoyed by all. Below are three pictures of my co-workers. There were some not in the pictures (they were actually working!)and I also appreciate all the support they've shown me since this "journey" started. It was and still is a great comfort to me. Thank you all again. We truly are a family.
ServiceLink, a partial owner of NationalLink and where I worked before transferring to NationalLink, is also offering workers a chance to donate to breast cancer research via their paychecks. It is appreciated.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
It's been awhile since I've last posted. Let's see if I can remember everything that's happened.
Barbara, from the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Headquarters in Missouri called me last week to tell me that she wanted me to send back my cancer grant application along with canceled checks for the dues and she would have the check issued from their fund. This means I can return the check to the local auxiliary and they can put it back in their kitty. Barbara said that she wanted to make sure it was all above board and there wouldn't be any issue in the future of it looking like money was given to the post commander's wife. I'm relieved.
I went and saw Dr. S, a new doctor, who examined me to see if there were any signs of lymphodema and how I could avoid it, if possible. I don't have it as of yet, however, I can no longer wear my watch on my right arm or my rings. He gave me a prescription for a compression sleeve for when I fly. He said I wouldn't have to worry about wearing it for flights under two hours. He said flying aggravates the condition; it doesn't initiate it. Now I need to find the time to find a company that does custom sleeves.
When Sandy, my clinical coordinator came in to go over a questionnaire with me, I realized that it was September 23rd, the 1-year anniversary of me finding the lump. Maybe that's why I've been a little emotional lately. Sandy said "And you're still here!" I know she meant it to inspire me but it made me think. If I hadn't of found it when I did, where would I be now health-wise? Would I even be here? Kind of scary and depressing.
I also had my preliminary radiation appointment. When I first got there, I asked if they had some sort of parking plan. I would be there Monday-Friday for 5 weeks or so and it's $4.00 to park for the first hour. The receptionist told me that I would get a "Get out of Jail Free" card every visit. I told her about trying to go to another facility in Moon but couldn't because I would have to pay the specialist co-pay each visit. The insurance lady was sitting there and heard my conversation. While I was in seeing the doctor, she checked on my insurance. She came in to the room near the end and told me that I would STILL HAVE TO PAY the co-pay to go to Magee-Womens Hospital. Talk about upsetting. If I had to pay, there was no way I was going to drive to downtown Pittsburgh if I could avoid it. I told her that I would check again when I got home but I was told that if it was a hospital, it would be free to me. While they were making the appointment for a CT scan, she came back and told me I was right. No co-pay. Apparently they had the radiology doctor listed as being in a private office and not a hospital, so all is well on that front. Whew!
The radiologist told me that I would be undergoing 6 to 6 1/2 weeks of radiation because of the advanced nature of the cancer. He said the side effects were blisters (ouch), ribs more likely to fracture on that side (double ouch) and fatigue. I had no clue it would become tiring. We'll have to see how that works out.
I went back yesterday for the CT scan. First I had to go to the radiology clinic where they tested to see if I could raise my arm high enough. I passed! Then the doctor came in and I was attacked with a blue Sharpie. They drew marks all over my chest. I then went to the CT department where they put tape with metal in it to mark areas. They did the scan which took about 5 minutes. No iv or contrast. Woo hoo~! They left stickers on my chest and told me to try to leave them on as long as possible (adhesive reaction) but if it got too bad, I could remove them. It's already starting to itch. The nurse said that when I took a shower to try not to rub too hard so as to not lose the stickers. This means I will have sharpie marks on me for quite awhile. Guess it's turtleneck time.
They'll take a few days to plan the radiation and have me back in next week for another simulation. Then I'm not sure how long it will take after that to actually schedule the radiation treatments and start. I'm figuring the week after that.
I also was fitted for a prosthesis and bras. I'm having a little difficulty with the prosthesis. When I was fitted, it looked great. However, we did not take into account all the moving I do at my desk at work. Turning from side to side, reaching up to put files on shelves, etc. The prosthesis is moving around more than it should. I may have to duct tape that baby down but then I tend to have reactions to the adhesive. Oh well. I did learn some interesting facts. I was originally a D cup prior to surgery. I'm now in between an A and a B. The fitter told me that they carry up to L cups for Pittsburgh. L!!!! I've never heard of anything bigger than an E. When she handed me the fake boob (tired of spelling prosthesis), I couldn't believe how heavy it was. They try to balance the weight so that you don't feel too heavy on the side with the real breast. Btw, she gave me an A cup size. Could you imagine how heavy an L would be? You'd need two people just to help you hold it and get it into the bra. I couldn't get over that. I went back to work the next day and proudly showed off my "two".
I also saw Dr. Z, my surgical oncologist. This will be the last time I see him unless I pop in during radiation. He will be leaving the practice at the end of the month. I told him I was mad at him (he moved away when I said that..wonder why) and asked if he knew where he was going. He said no and I told him I had an extra room if he needed a place to stay. I thanked him for helping me through this. He was my first doctor and called me all the time to tell me what was going on, what would happen next and explained all the tests. He even called once on a Saturday. He's a very dedicated doctor. He said wasn't it funny that we had met previously when he called me out of the blue to notarize some documents for him. He just picked my name off of a notary website. Must have been karma.
He told me that I did not need to be seen by the surgical associates group unless I had an issue. Once a year I was to go to the wellness clinic where they would do a physical exam and other tests. I will miss him.
MFS came home from State College on Thursday night because he was having PRK (hope I got that right) surgery on his eyes the next morning. It's different than Lasik. It's supposed to have better results but the recovery time is longer and more painful. It's the only eye surgery the Navy will accept if you want to enter their flight program, which he does.
On the night he came home, I had moved a bag of socks for the troops off the rocking chair in the family room so that I could sit and talk to MFS and BDHA. While sitting there in the chair, I looked down and saw a white speck. For some reason it reminded me of my lost diamond and I told MFS that I had lost it a few weeks earlier. I reached down, picked up the speck and IT WAS MY DIAMOND! It had been on the chair and fell off when I moved the bag and sat down. I was stunned, to say the least. I still am.
MFS will be home this next week recovering from the surgery and seeing the eye doctor for follow-ups. He was given a pair of sunglasses and with the way his hair is cut, he reminds me of Ellwood (Dan Akroyd character) from Blues Brothers. How does it go..? "We have a full tank of gas, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses."
BDHA is flying to Chicago today to attend his sister's tenure party. She is celebrating being a tenured professor at Illinois State University. I had thought about going but I've been tired lately with working so much and decided I needed some down time. Congratulations Dianne!
I think that's all that's happened since my last post. If not, I can always post again. :) I was planning on going back to bed (been tossing and turning since 4 am) but I just looked at the clock and realized I would have to get up in 15 minutes to take MFS to the eye doctor. Oh well. Afternoon naps are wonderful!
Take care peoples.
-Suesan
Barbara, from the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Headquarters in Missouri called me last week to tell me that she wanted me to send back my cancer grant application along with canceled checks for the dues and she would have the check issued from their fund. This means I can return the check to the local auxiliary and they can put it back in their kitty. Barbara said that she wanted to make sure it was all above board and there wouldn't be any issue in the future of it looking like money was given to the post commander's wife. I'm relieved.
I went and saw Dr. S, a new doctor, who examined me to see if there were any signs of lymphodema and how I could avoid it, if possible. I don't have it as of yet, however, I can no longer wear my watch on my right arm or my rings. He gave me a prescription for a compression sleeve for when I fly. He said I wouldn't have to worry about wearing it for flights under two hours. He said flying aggravates the condition; it doesn't initiate it. Now I need to find the time to find a company that does custom sleeves.
When Sandy, my clinical coordinator came in to go over a questionnaire with me, I realized that it was September 23rd, the 1-year anniversary of me finding the lump. Maybe that's why I've been a little emotional lately. Sandy said "And you're still here!" I know she meant it to inspire me but it made me think. If I hadn't of found it when I did, where would I be now health-wise? Would I even be here? Kind of scary and depressing.
I also had my preliminary radiation appointment. When I first got there, I asked if they had some sort of parking plan. I would be there Monday-Friday for 5 weeks or so and it's $4.00 to park for the first hour. The receptionist told me that I would get a "Get out of Jail Free" card every visit. I told her about trying to go to another facility in Moon but couldn't because I would have to pay the specialist co-pay each visit. The insurance lady was sitting there and heard my conversation. While I was in seeing the doctor, she checked on my insurance. She came in to the room near the end and told me that I would STILL HAVE TO PAY the co-pay to go to Magee-Womens Hospital. Talk about upsetting. If I had to pay, there was no way I was going to drive to downtown Pittsburgh if I could avoid it. I told her that I would check again when I got home but I was told that if it was a hospital, it would be free to me. While they were making the appointment for a CT scan, she came back and told me I was right. No co-pay. Apparently they had the radiology doctor listed as being in a private office and not a hospital, so all is well on that front. Whew!
The radiologist told me that I would be undergoing 6 to 6 1/2 weeks of radiation because of the advanced nature of the cancer. He said the side effects were blisters (ouch), ribs more likely to fracture on that side (double ouch) and fatigue. I had no clue it would become tiring. We'll have to see how that works out.
I went back yesterday for the CT scan. First I had to go to the radiology clinic where they tested to see if I could raise my arm high enough. I passed! Then the doctor came in and I was attacked with a blue Sharpie. They drew marks all over my chest. I then went to the CT department where they put tape with metal in it to mark areas. They did the scan which took about 5 minutes. No iv or contrast. Woo hoo~! They left stickers on my chest and told me to try to leave them on as long as possible (adhesive reaction) but if it got too bad, I could remove them. It's already starting to itch. The nurse said that when I took a shower to try not to rub too hard so as to not lose the stickers. This means I will have sharpie marks on me for quite awhile. Guess it's turtleneck time.
They'll take a few days to plan the radiation and have me back in next week for another simulation. Then I'm not sure how long it will take after that to actually schedule the radiation treatments and start. I'm figuring the week after that.
I also was fitted for a prosthesis and bras. I'm having a little difficulty with the prosthesis. When I was fitted, it looked great. However, we did not take into account all the moving I do at my desk at work. Turning from side to side, reaching up to put files on shelves, etc. The prosthesis is moving around more than it should. I may have to duct tape that baby down but then I tend to have reactions to the adhesive. Oh well. I did learn some interesting facts. I was originally a D cup prior to surgery. I'm now in between an A and a B. The fitter told me that they carry up to L cups for Pittsburgh. L!!!! I've never heard of anything bigger than an E. When she handed me the fake boob (tired of spelling prosthesis), I couldn't believe how heavy it was. They try to balance the weight so that you don't feel too heavy on the side with the real breast. Btw, she gave me an A cup size. Could you imagine how heavy an L would be? You'd need two people just to help you hold it and get it into the bra. I couldn't get over that. I went back to work the next day and proudly showed off my "two".
I also saw Dr. Z, my surgical oncologist. This will be the last time I see him unless I pop in during radiation. He will be leaving the practice at the end of the month. I told him I was mad at him (he moved away when I said that..wonder why) and asked if he knew where he was going. He said no and I told him I had an extra room if he needed a place to stay. I thanked him for helping me through this. He was my first doctor and called me all the time to tell me what was going on, what would happen next and explained all the tests. He even called once on a Saturday. He's a very dedicated doctor. He said wasn't it funny that we had met previously when he called me out of the blue to notarize some documents for him. He just picked my name off of a notary website. Must have been karma.
He told me that I did not need to be seen by the surgical associates group unless I had an issue. Once a year I was to go to the wellness clinic where they would do a physical exam and other tests. I will miss him.
MFS came home from State College on Thursday night because he was having PRK (hope I got that right) surgery on his eyes the next morning. It's different than Lasik. It's supposed to have better results but the recovery time is longer and more painful. It's the only eye surgery the Navy will accept if you want to enter their flight program, which he does.
On the night he came home, I had moved a bag of socks for the troops off the rocking chair in the family room so that I could sit and talk to MFS and BDHA. While sitting there in the chair, I looked down and saw a white speck. For some reason it reminded me of my lost diamond and I told MFS that I had lost it a few weeks earlier. I reached down, picked up the speck and IT WAS MY DIAMOND! It had been on the chair and fell off when I moved the bag and sat down. I was stunned, to say the least. I still am.
MFS will be home this next week recovering from the surgery and seeing the eye doctor for follow-ups. He was given a pair of sunglasses and with the way his hair is cut, he reminds me of Ellwood (Dan Akroyd character) from Blues Brothers. How does it go..? "We have a full tank of gas, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses."
BDHA is flying to Chicago today to attend his sister's tenure party. She is celebrating being a tenured professor at Illinois State University. I had thought about going but I've been tired lately with working so much and decided I needed some down time. Congratulations Dianne!
I think that's all that's happened since my last post. If not, I can always post again. :) I was planning on going back to bed (been tossing and turning since 4 am) but I just looked at the clock and realized I would have to get up in 15 minutes to take MFS to the eye doctor. Oh well. Afternoon naps are wonderful!
Take care peoples.
-Suesan
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Not a good day...
BDHA is the post commander for the local VFW. They had a fundraiser and the entertainment was an Elvis impersonator. I have to admit that even though I'm not a big Elvis fan, he was pretty good. He looked like him and sounded like him but didn't take himself too seriously.
At intermission, the president of the ladies auxiliary came up to me and told me she had to give me a check for $400.00. When you pay your dues, $2 of it goes towards a cancer fund. If you're diagnosed, the National Auxiliary sends you a check for $400.00. I first started paying my dues in August of 2007 for the 2008 membership year. To apply for the cancer grant, you have your doctor fill out a form and you send it in to the Ladies Auxiliary Headquarters in Missouri, which I did. I received a call from a rep there last week who told me she couldn't find me anywhere in the system and she was sending my application back. I faxed her a copy of my membership card I received in 2007 for 2008. She told me I would need to send in proof of payment. I requested a copy of the canceled checks for the 2008 dues and the 2009 dues. The checks I just wrote for 2010 have not yet cleared. MFD joined at the same time and she also is not in the system. I'm getting proof of her dues paid too.
Anyways, while talking to the rep, I mentioned that BDHA was the post commander. She was pretty shocked that I wasn't in the system. Apparently she called the District President who came down this past week and told the local auxiliary that THEY had to pay me the $400.00. I feel awful. I told the president that I didn't want to accept it and that I would call the rep in MO and get it straightened out with proof of payment. She told me she had to give me the check. I told her I would not cash it until I found out what was going on. I know how hard the local auxiliary works for their money. I'm going to think long and hard about that.
The worst thing that happened today is when BDHA and I were in McDonalds getting a take-out order, I just happened to look down and noticed that the diamond in my engagement ring was missing. It was there on Thursday because the trainer in the class I was in noticed I had on a lot of pieces of Black Hills gold. My wedding band and engagement ring are Black Hills gold. I feel just awful. BDHA gave me the engagement ring January of 1978. It's not very common to have a wedding set made out of that gold. I'm hoping that maybe I lost it at work and it's around my desk somewhere. They don't vacuum very often (so it seems) so let's hope that this weekend wasn't one of the times they decided to do it.
I hope everyone's weekend was better than mine.
-Suesan
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Yesterday we attended Amy Valenty's wedding. She and MFD went through grade school and highschool together.
She married Jeffrey Schmetzer. Her sister put together a video of pictures of both Jeff and Amy growing up. That's one thing I missed about not having MFD's wedding here. I would have liked to have done something like that.
I found that my appetite came back and felt I was eating too much last night. I had fasted from the night before because I had to give blood and I made up for it big time. I need to watch that and work on losing more weight.
I woke up at 6:00 a.m. this morning from all the traffic noise. Normally it's really quiet on Sundays. I even wondered for a short time if maybe I had slept through Sunday and it was actually Monday. The tv has football on all over so it must be Sunday. I decided I needed to start walking today.
I went to the Montour Trail and walked 1.13 miles. I have this chip in my shoe that communicates with my ipod (Nike+ipod). I can listen to music and track how far I walked. I then upload it to the nike website and it keeps track. I had never seen as many people at the trail as I did today. There were over 20 cars parked.
BDHA left on a 4-day trip today. I've been watching episodes from last season's NCIS in preparation for the new season starting next week. I've been watching them on my tiny netbook which is nice when I feel like moving around or sitting on the patio.
Time to go attempt to get something productive done. Tomorrow morning I have an appointment with my PCP, Dr. B. I also need to pick up a book from the library that came in.
One last picture from last night.
Take care.-Suesan
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Radiation Roadblock
I was supposed to have a preliminary meeting with the radiologist tomorrow afternoon. I received a call from their office. The claims person told me that since the radiology clinic was in a free-standing building, I would have to pay the specialist co-pay every time I went. That's $40 a visit. That's a minimum of 30 visits for a total minimum of $1200.00. If I went to a radiation clinic in a hospital, it's free to me.
That's a no-brainer. However, the closest hospital that offers this is Magee which is where I've been going for all of my treatment. I just didn't want to drive downtown every day for a 5-minute procedure. I certainly don't want to pay $1200 just to save myself time. Sigh...
I received a call from Dr. Z's clinical coordinator who said she'd set up an appointment for me with their clinic in the hospital. I told her to hold off and wait until I checked out the two local hospitals. They use free-standing clinics so I'm right back where I started. I'll have to call her back and tell her to go ahead.
I had a follow-up appointment with the kidney doctor this morning. I just need a blood test to re-check my levels and I should be good and not have to see her again. She asked about MFD's wedding. The doctor is Egyptian and liked the idea of having it in the Luxor.
I drove out to State College yesterday by myself to take MFS out to lunch, check out his new apartment and to stock his pantry/fridge. It's a nice apartment. It's clean and freshly painted. The best thing is that it comes with it's own washer and dryer that he shares with his roommate and he doesn't have to pay per wash. I think he just pays for electricity.
The drive wasn't too bad. I had plenty of energy. I only got tired about an hour from home. I think that would have happened even without me going through everything I had gone through previously.
On Sunday, MFD and I went to Ross Park Mall. I hadn't been there since December 23rd, the day after my first chemo when I had plenty of energy from the steriods. I felt fine on Sunday and walked all over the mall. I even picked up some info on kayaking from L.L. Bean. I think BDHA and I will first try our canoe in the Ohio River next summer. I haven't been in it for years. Hopefully my arm strength will be back by then.
Well...time to eat lunch then head into work.
Have a great day!
That's a no-brainer. However, the closest hospital that offers this is Magee which is where I've been going for all of my treatment. I just didn't want to drive downtown every day for a 5-minute procedure. I certainly don't want to pay $1200 just to save myself time. Sigh...
I received a call from Dr. Z's clinical coordinator who said she'd set up an appointment for me with their clinic in the hospital. I told her to hold off and wait until I checked out the two local hospitals. They use free-standing clinics so I'm right back where I started. I'll have to call her back and tell her to go ahead.
I had a follow-up appointment with the kidney doctor this morning. I just need a blood test to re-check my levels and I should be good and not have to see her again. She asked about MFD's wedding. The doctor is Egyptian and liked the idea of having it in the Luxor.
I drove out to State College yesterday by myself to take MFS out to lunch, check out his new apartment and to stock his pantry/fridge. It's a nice apartment. It's clean and freshly painted. The best thing is that it comes with it's own washer and dryer that he shares with his roommate and he doesn't have to pay per wash. I think he just pays for electricity.
The drive wasn't too bad. I had plenty of energy. I only got tired about an hour from home. I think that would have happened even without me going through everything I had gone through previously.
On Sunday, MFD and I went to Ross Park Mall. I hadn't been there since December 23rd, the day after my first chemo when I had plenty of energy from the steriods. I felt fine on Sunday and walked all over the mall. I even picked up some info on kayaking from L.L. Bean. I think BDHA and I will first try our canoe in the Ohio River next summer. I haven't been in it for years. Hopefully my arm strength will be back by then.
Well...time to eat lunch then head into work.
Have a great day!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
I saw Dr. Z (surgical oncologist) again today. I hadn't seen him since the 21st. The wound is almost healed. I have my first appointment with the radiologist next Wednesday, the 9th. It's just a preliminary. I'll probably find out then when I'll start radiation.
Dr Z's nurse told me that he was leaving the practice. She didn't say when. Hope he's there for my next appointment which is in October. Apparently he was offered a full-time position with the group and neglected to turn in the paperwork on time. They ended up offering the position to someone else who accepted it. The nurse wasn't too happy. She said he was really good and the staff liked him. Oh well..
I wrote a thank-you note for Dr. L (medical oncologist) and his staff. I put in a Panera Gift card. I took it upstairs after my appointment with Dr. Z and gave it to Suzi, Dr L's nurse. She said she would make sure he saw it. He only works at this hospital on Mondays and since next Monday is a holiday, he won't be in until the 14th. I also was able to see Dawn, my chemo nurse. I was delayed on my last two chemos and by the time I started up again, she had had her baby girl and was out on maternity leave. It was nice to catch up and see her pictures.
Below is what I wrote in the note. It didn't come close to saying everything I felt. I ran out of room on the card.
Dear Dr. L and staff:
I wanted to thank all of you for your assistance in helping me through this ordeal. It’s very hard for me to express myself verbally without getting all choked up so I am writing.
Everyone was so helpful and kind and made what was the scariest thing I had ever undergone into something not so scary. One hears horror stories of chemo treatments and I have to admit, mine were not nearly as bad as I had heard they might be. I attribute that directly to the staff and the center. It was bright and cheery and friendly. I rarely felt that it wasn’t something I couldn’t do and that was because there were so many people willing to help.
Dr. L, I wanted to especially thank you. You were calm and confident (for the most part) which helped me to stay calm and confident. Many times I thought to myself, “you need to do this, you don’t want to disappoint Dr. L.”. I have been singing your praises to anyone who will listen. You are a wonderful, caring doctor. I look forward to enjoying this “new lease on life” and have many plans. Thank you.
Please accept this gift card as a small token of my appreciation to you and the staff. I know how fun it is to have a “food day” at work.
God Bless you and yours.
Time to head to bed. I have three LONG days ahead of me where I have to entertain Mr. Whacko, or else.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Suesan
Dr Z's nurse told me that he was leaving the practice. She didn't say when. Hope he's there for my next appointment which is in October. Apparently he was offered a full-time position with the group and neglected to turn in the paperwork on time. They ended up offering the position to someone else who accepted it. The nurse wasn't too happy. She said he was really good and the staff liked him. Oh well..
I wrote a thank-you note for Dr. L (medical oncologist) and his staff. I put in a Panera Gift card. I took it upstairs after my appointment with Dr. Z and gave it to Suzi, Dr L's nurse. She said she would make sure he saw it. He only works at this hospital on Mondays and since next Monday is a holiday, he won't be in until the 14th. I also was able to see Dawn, my chemo nurse. I was delayed on my last two chemos and by the time I started up again, she had had her baby girl and was out on maternity leave. It was nice to catch up and see her pictures.
Below is what I wrote in the note. It didn't come close to saying everything I felt. I ran out of room on the card.
Dear Dr. L and staff:
I wanted to thank all of you for your assistance in helping me through this ordeal. It’s very hard for me to express myself verbally without getting all choked up so I am writing.
Everyone was so helpful and kind and made what was the scariest thing I had ever undergone into something not so scary. One hears horror stories of chemo treatments and I have to admit, mine were not nearly as bad as I had heard they might be. I attribute that directly to the staff and the center. It was bright and cheery and friendly. I rarely felt that it wasn’t something I couldn’t do and that was because there were so many people willing to help.
Dr. L, I wanted to especially thank you. You were calm and confident (for the most part) which helped me to stay calm and confident. Many times I thought to myself, “you need to do this, you don’t want to disappoint Dr. L.”. I have been singing your praises to anyone who will listen. You are a wonderful, caring doctor. I look forward to enjoying this “new lease on life” and have many plans. Thank you.
Please accept this gift card as a small token of my appreciation to you and the staff. I know how fun it is to have a “food day” at work.
God Bless you and yours.
Time to head to bed. I have three LONG days ahead of me where I have to entertain Mr. Whacko, or else.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Suesan
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
I worked a full day yesterday. At 1:30 p.m., I looked at the clock and said..."Okay..make it to 4". The next time I noticed the time, it was 5 p.m. Had no problem making it one more hour to 6. I was starving by the time I got home. That was probably from eating so much the night before. BDHA made a great dinner of grilled boneless porkchops, grilled zucchini, peppers and onions and sliced tomatoes from the garden.
I decided to count months to get to my three year anniversary. This is more psychological than anything. I can see the number getting smaller each month vs once a year. Right now I have 35 months left to go. In a few weeks, it will be 34. I have my calendar marked at work.
I've been trying to come up with things that I can store in the empty pocket of my bra. Why you ask? Because I can! This is what I've come up with so far. Feel free to email me with more.
1. phone
2. snacks
3. id and cash when you don't want to carry a purse/wallet
4. thought about keys but that would probably hurt
5. flask to sneak into Steelers' games
6. kleenex
7. water balloon filled with gin martinis and with a straw. But then people might notice that my boob is getting smaller as the day wears on.
I'm also wondering how much BDHA has been bribing people because at least 3 have said to me in the last few days that they really like my hair. Right now, I'm still leaning on dyeing it...sorry!
Time to get ready for work!
I decided to count months to get to my three year anniversary. This is more psychological than anything. I can see the number getting smaller each month vs once a year. Right now I have 35 months left to go. In a few weeks, it will be 34. I have my calendar marked at work.
I've been trying to come up with things that I can store in the empty pocket of my bra. Why you ask? Because I can! This is what I've come up with so far. Feel free to email me with more.
1. phone
2. snacks
3. id and cash when you don't want to carry a purse/wallet
4. thought about keys but that would probably hurt
5. flask to sneak into Steelers' games
6. kleenex
7. water balloon filled with gin martinis and with a straw. But then people might notice that my boob is getting smaller as the day wears on.
I'm also wondering how much BDHA has been bribing people because at least 3 have said to me in the last few days that they really like my hair. Right now, I'm still leaning on dyeing it...sorry!
Time to get ready for work!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Check-up with chemo doc
I worked a half day today and spent the other half seeing my chemo doc, eating way too much and gambling at Pittsburgh's new casino.
Work went well. I wasn't too tired though I did wake up at 4:30 a.m. and tossed and turned until the alarm went off at 6:45 a.m. It was like the first day of school. Don't forget this..this..etc. I did forget my computer glasses. I need to put them by my keys tonight. Of course, I only worked until 1:30 p.m. so it wasn't a true test to see how tired I'd get. I was told by the director and a VP to not push it and to not set myself back. Tomorrow my goal is to work at least 6 hours. We'll see.
I ran home and took a quick shower to clean the wound and then left for Oakland and Magee-Women's Hospital. I hadn't seen Dr. L. since my last chemo on June 15th. He congratulated me on conquering the cancer. I still have radiation but that's just a follow-up. He noted that my left breast was significantly smaller (1 3/4 pounds smaller!) The cancer is gone from my body, hopefully forever. He said that this was a new lease on life and to not waste it.
I asked him what I could do to help ensure that it didn 't come back. He said a diet that was super low in fat. I asked him "Dean Ornish kind of super low fat?" He said "yes". I looked at his diet once. It's pretty hard and no fun at all. Maybe I can compromise a little. One of the diets that I was successful with (for the 6 months and 50 pounds lost) lets me eat potatoes and rice but no flour, fat, sugar or salt. I would make my own turkey sausage for breakfast and turkey chili for lunch. I would have to eat every 2 hours or so in strict amounts and kinds of food at certain times of the day. Typical menu would be:
Breakfast
2 0z turkey sausage
1/3 cup oatmeal (before cooking)
Mid-morning snack
2 oz chicken or turkey or fish
1/2 cup berries
Lunch
2 oz protein
1/2 cup carb (potato or rice)
salad
Mid-afternoon snack
2 oz chicken or turkey or fish
1 small apple
Dinner
2 oz protein
1/2 cup carb
salad
I can follow that and I know it works for me. It would also probably be a good diet to control diabetes. He also said that I needed to exercise. Treadmill and bicycle here I come!
I asked him about the chances of it coming back. He said that since my cancer was not caused by estrogen (Triple negative and HER-2 negative), if I were to go three years without a recurrence, the chances of it coming back after that would be low. He said we started the countdown on 7/20/2009. So my target date is 7/20/2012. There's going to be some kind of celebration on that day.
I can also dye my hair if and when I want and that would not affect anything. I'm to have a mammogram once a year (believe me, I will not give up again on those) and see him every three months for the next two years. I've been planning a thank-you gift for him. It's going to be a wooden box covered in stained glass mosaics. I'm still "creating it" in my head. I hope to have it completed for real by the next time I see him in November.
After the appointment, BDHA and I went to The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. It opened on August 9th. I had heard a commercial where the buffet was 2 for 1 Mon-Thur. We joined the Player's club, played a few slots, had dinner (ate way too much...Dr. L would not be happy) and played a few more slots. I bet a total of $30 and walked out with $28.95. Not bad! I do not think I will ever eat again. I also will not weigh myself tomorrow as I don't want to see if I gained. I had been staying within a pound of 40-pounds lost (up one day, down another) and I don't want to get discouraged.
Well, it's 8:45 p.m. and I'm yawning like it's 1:00 a.m. Time to head upstairs to bed.
Good news today and good night peoples!
-Suesan
Work went well. I wasn't too tired though I did wake up at 4:30 a.m. and tossed and turned until the alarm went off at 6:45 a.m. It was like the first day of school. Don't forget this..this..etc. I did forget my computer glasses. I need to put them by my keys tonight. Of course, I only worked until 1:30 p.m. so it wasn't a true test to see how tired I'd get. I was told by the director and a VP to not push it and to not set myself back. Tomorrow my goal is to work at least 6 hours. We'll see.
I ran home and took a quick shower to clean the wound and then left for Oakland and Magee-Women's Hospital. I hadn't seen Dr. L. since my last chemo on June 15th. He congratulated me on conquering the cancer. I still have radiation but that's just a follow-up. He noted that my left breast was significantly smaller (1 3/4 pounds smaller!) The cancer is gone from my body, hopefully forever. He said that this was a new lease on life and to not waste it.
I asked him what I could do to help ensure that it didn 't come back. He said a diet that was super low in fat. I asked him "Dean Ornish kind of super low fat?" He said "yes". I looked at his diet once. It's pretty hard and no fun at all. Maybe I can compromise a little. One of the diets that I was successful with (for the 6 months and 50 pounds lost) lets me eat potatoes and rice but no flour, fat, sugar or salt. I would make my own turkey sausage for breakfast and turkey chili for lunch. I would have to eat every 2 hours or so in strict amounts and kinds of food at certain times of the day. Typical menu would be:
Breakfast
2 0z turkey sausage
1/3 cup oatmeal (before cooking)
Mid-morning snack
2 oz chicken or turkey or fish
1/2 cup berries
Lunch
2 oz protein
1/2 cup carb (potato or rice)
salad
Mid-afternoon snack
2 oz chicken or turkey or fish
1 small apple
Dinner
2 oz protein
1/2 cup carb
salad
I can follow that and I know it works for me. It would also probably be a good diet to control diabetes. He also said that I needed to exercise. Treadmill and bicycle here I come!
I asked him about the chances of it coming back. He said that since my cancer was not caused by estrogen (Triple negative and HER-2 negative), if I were to go three years without a recurrence, the chances of it coming back after that would be low. He said we started the countdown on 7/20/2009. So my target date is 7/20/2012. There's going to be some kind of celebration on that day.
I can also dye my hair if and when I want and that would not affect anything. I'm to have a mammogram once a year (believe me, I will not give up again on those) and see him every three months for the next two years. I've been planning a thank-you gift for him. It's going to be a wooden box covered in stained glass mosaics. I'm still "creating it" in my head. I hope to have it completed for real by the next time I see him in November.
After the appointment, BDHA and I went to The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. It opened on August 9th. I had heard a commercial where the buffet was 2 for 1 Mon-Thur. We joined the Player's club, played a few slots, had dinner (ate way too much...Dr. L would not be happy) and played a few more slots. I bet a total of $30 and walked out with $28.95. Not bad! I do not think I will ever eat again. I also will not weigh myself tomorrow as I don't want to see if I gained. I had been staying within a pound of 40-pounds lost (up one day, down another) and I don't want to get discouraged.
Well, it's 8:45 p.m. and I'm yawning like it's 1:00 a.m. Time to head upstairs to bed.
Good news today and good night peoples!
-Suesan
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I did get the corrected release to return to work faxed to me. I forwarded it to HR. Let's hope that's all I need.
I made 10 lbs of potato salad this morning for the VFW picnic. It's my mother's recipe and is a variation of german potato salad. BDHA calls it potatoes in a bacon grease dressing. It's served warm to room temperature. It's pretty good as long as you don't eat too much of it. I'm sure your heart is protesting every bite while your tastebuds are loving it.
I'm also making dinner tomorrow night. A mexican dish from Rick Bayless's cookbook, MEXICAN KITCHEN. The dish is called Smoky Shredded Chicken and Potatoes with Roasted Tomatoes. I've decided it's my turn to cook since BDHA has been doing it all for the past year. He left on a trip this morning and will return tomorrow afternoon. This dish is better when the ingredients have a chance to meld so I may make it tonight and reheat tomorrow. When I have an interest in cooking, I must be better!
If I have the energy I would also like to make some cookies tomorrow. The recipe makes about 5 dozen Oatmeal/Chocolate Chip cookies. I'd like to take some in to Dr. L's office on Monday for my appointment. I have an appointment on September 28th to get fitted for my prosthesis, bras and camisoles.
One of the questions that I want to ask Dr. L is when do you start counting yourself as a cancer survivor? Does it start the day you find out you have cancer (you've survived since then) or when you have the surgery to remove the cancer? I've read it both ways. My 1-year anniversary of finding the lump is 9/23. So am I a 1-year survivor on that date or on 7/20/2010 which would be 1 year since my surgery? The goal is to make it 5 years without it coming back. Your chances of being cancer-free the rest of your life would be pretty good.
One of my fitness goals is to get comfortable riding a bicycle. I used to have one that BDHA gave me for Christmas when we lived in Kingsville, TX. MFS was in "Sound of Music" at OLSH during his sophomore year and they used the bike as a prop. The musical was held at Robert Morris' theater as OLSH was being renovated. I never did get the bike back along with a few other props so I'm in need of one. I saw one I really liked, a Schwinn. It's pink and is called Roxie. Target has it in stock. I stopped at the Schwinn dealer in Coraopolis today and asked if he had the bike or could get it. He said he was no longer a Schwinn dealer and the sign was coming down soon. BDHA, I tried to shop local! Really!
The bikes he carries now are fairly expensive, in the $300-$400 range for serious bike riders. The Roxie is $150.00. If I could do it, I'd like to ride the bike on the Montour Trail with Mr. Whacko on a leash. I would have to be pretty comfortable in riding a bike before I could handle both the bike and the dog. I could wear him out on the days BDHA was out of town and couldn't take him on a walk.
Well, it's time to feed Mr. Whacko. He's been pretty patient with me. That's because I bought him a new chew toy today. Gumby! Then I think I might go to 4th Avenue Grill for an appetizer in place of dinner. MFD works there once in a while to help out. She's there tonight. They have these handmade potato chips. They're really good but the cook hates to make them. I warned her to warn him.
Go STEELERS!
-Suesan
I made 10 lbs of potato salad this morning for the VFW picnic. It's my mother's recipe and is a variation of german potato salad. BDHA calls it potatoes in a bacon grease dressing. It's served warm to room temperature. It's pretty good as long as you don't eat too much of it. I'm sure your heart is protesting every bite while your tastebuds are loving it.
I'm also making dinner tomorrow night. A mexican dish from Rick Bayless's cookbook, MEXICAN KITCHEN. The dish is called Smoky Shredded Chicken and Potatoes with Roasted Tomatoes. I've decided it's my turn to cook since BDHA has been doing it all for the past year. He left on a trip this morning and will return tomorrow afternoon. This dish is better when the ingredients have a chance to meld so I may make it tonight and reheat tomorrow. When I have an interest in cooking, I must be better!
If I have the energy I would also like to make some cookies tomorrow. The recipe makes about 5 dozen Oatmeal/Chocolate Chip cookies. I'd like to take some in to Dr. L's office on Monday for my appointment. I have an appointment on September 28th to get fitted for my prosthesis, bras and camisoles.
One of the questions that I want to ask Dr. L is when do you start counting yourself as a cancer survivor? Does it start the day you find out you have cancer (you've survived since then) or when you have the surgery to remove the cancer? I've read it both ways. My 1-year anniversary of finding the lump is 9/23. So am I a 1-year survivor on that date or on 7/20/2010 which would be 1 year since my surgery? The goal is to make it 5 years without it coming back. Your chances of being cancer-free the rest of your life would be pretty good.
One of my fitness goals is to get comfortable riding a bicycle. I used to have one that BDHA gave me for Christmas when we lived in Kingsville, TX. MFS was in "Sound of Music" at OLSH during his sophomore year and they used the bike as a prop. The musical was held at Robert Morris' theater as OLSH was being renovated. I never did get the bike back along with a few other props so I'm in need of one. I saw one I really liked, a Schwinn. It's pink and is called Roxie. Target has it in stock. I stopped at the Schwinn dealer in Coraopolis today and asked if he had the bike or could get it. He said he was no longer a Schwinn dealer and the sign was coming down soon. BDHA, I tried to shop local! Really!
The bikes he carries now are fairly expensive, in the $300-$400 range for serious bike riders. The Roxie is $150.00. If I could do it, I'd like to ride the bike on the Montour Trail with Mr. Whacko on a leash. I would have to be pretty comfortable in riding a bike before I could handle both the bike and the dog. I could wear him out on the days BDHA was out of town and couldn't take him on a walk.
Well, it's time to feed Mr. Whacko. He's been pretty patient with me. That's because I bought him a new chew toy today. Gumby! Then I think I might go to 4th Avenue Grill for an appetizer in place of dinner. MFD works there once in a while to help out. She's there tonight. They have these handmade potato chips. They're really good but the cook hates to make them. I warned her to warn him.
Go STEELERS!
-Suesan
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
I finally received the fax from DR. B with the authorization to return to work....only he put the date 9/30/2009 instead of 8/31/2009. I called and they're going to refax. Hopefully it won't take too long.
Yesterday I spent a few hours at Barnes & Noble. They now have free wi-fi if anyone cares. I find that place peaceful. Besides they have the best unsweetened black iced tea, along with Starbucks. I used to work at this particular Barnes & Noble and helped them set up the store when they first opened in 1997. We had Starbucks come in and give us a lecture on coffee. We had to watch a film about how it was harvested, roasted, etc. After being on our feet for hours that day, lifiting and moving boxes filled with books, the film put everyone to sleep.
The rep then went around to each of us and asked us what we liked about coffee and to name our favorite book. Anyone who knows me, knows I can be very cranky...especially when I feel my time is being wasted. When she got to me, I said "I've never had coffee, I will never have coffee and you can't make me have coffee. Other than that, I do like it's smell. My favorite book is "The Last Temptation of Christ". She moved on pretty quickly after that....and I've still never had coffee. I worked there to feed my reading habit. When all was said and done, I think I spent more than I earned. I did go back to work the holiday season a few years ago while working full time. I guess I'm older than I thought cause after awhile I couldn't handle working 40+ hours a week at my regular job then on my feet on Saturday and Sunday at the store. I still had a good time though. I could sit in that place for hours.
I did get the first disk of Season 1 for NCIS yesterday. There were 4 episodes. Two I had already seen so I skipped over those. It's going back today. Gotta get my money's worth out of Netflix by getting/sending back as quickly as possible.
On my way home from B&N yesterday, I stopped in at the Moon building of work. We have three buildings in the Pittsburgh area. Two in Hopewell, where I work, and one in Moon which is really close to home. That's where HR is located and also my old boss in Risk Management. She just moved from the Hopewell building to Moon. I hadn't seen her since before the surgery. I also got to see a few others I used to talk to all the time before they moved. One was even kind enough to notice that I had lost weight. I hadn't seen her in about 8 months though we had communicated by email.
Today is my last week day before I go back to work. What to do...what to do...laundry...cleaning...naaah. Reading, I think.
-Suesan
Yesterday I spent a few hours at Barnes & Noble. They now have free wi-fi if anyone cares. I find that place peaceful. Besides they have the best unsweetened black iced tea, along with Starbucks. I used to work at this particular Barnes & Noble and helped them set up the store when they first opened in 1997. We had Starbucks come in and give us a lecture on coffee. We had to watch a film about how it was harvested, roasted, etc. After being on our feet for hours that day, lifiting and moving boxes filled with books, the film put everyone to sleep.
The rep then went around to each of us and asked us what we liked about coffee and to name our favorite book. Anyone who knows me, knows I can be very cranky...especially when I feel my time is being wasted. When she got to me, I said "I've never had coffee, I will never have coffee and you can't make me have coffee. Other than that, I do like it's smell. My favorite book is "The Last Temptation of Christ". She moved on pretty quickly after that....and I've still never had coffee. I worked there to feed my reading habit. When all was said and done, I think I spent more than I earned. I did go back to work the holiday season a few years ago while working full time. I guess I'm older than I thought cause after awhile I couldn't handle working 40+ hours a week at my regular job then on my feet on Saturday and Sunday at the store. I still had a good time though. I could sit in that place for hours.
I did get the first disk of Season 1 for NCIS yesterday. There were 4 episodes. Two I had already seen so I skipped over those. It's going back today. Gotta get my money's worth out of Netflix by getting/sending back as quickly as possible.
On my way home from B&N yesterday, I stopped in at the Moon building of work. We have three buildings in the Pittsburgh area. Two in Hopewell, where I work, and one in Moon which is really close to home. That's where HR is located and also my old boss in Risk Management. She just moved from the Hopewell building to Moon. I hadn't seen her since before the surgery. I also got to see a few others I used to talk to all the time before they moved. One was even kind enough to notice that I had lost weight. I hadn't seen her in about 8 months though we had communicated by email.
Today is my last week day before I go back to work. What to do...what to do...laundry...cleaning...naaah. Reading, I think.
-Suesan
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday/Thursday
I'm hooked on reruns of "NCIS". USA runs a marathon every few days and I get sucked in and am unable to accomplish anything else. Another reason I need to go back to work. I even ordered Season 1 from Netflix. It should arrive here tomorrow. Another day wasted.
I found out from HR today that I have to have a "release to work" form signed by my doctor before I start back to work. I had no clue. Hopefully they can fax me the form tomorrow and I can get it to my PCP tomorrow. Then he'll need to fax it to me by Friday so that I can get it to HR by Monday morning. Paperwork!
It's after midnight and "You Only Live Twice" is on. Time to turn off the tv before I get sucked into that.
My wound seems to be healing slowly. My arm still hurts and I have a hard time falling asleep. I can't get comfortable. It also feels like a vise is strapped around my side. Dr. Z said that that feeling should go away with time. If I'm doing something, it doesn't bother me at all; I don't even notice it. It's when I'm trying to relax that it flares up. Oh well. This too shall pass.
Since I don't want to sleep half the day away tomorrow, I'd best get myself to bed.
Good night all!
-Suesan
I found out from HR today that I have to have a "release to work" form signed by my doctor before I start back to work. I had no clue. Hopefully they can fax me the form tomorrow and I can get it to my PCP tomorrow. Then he'll need to fax it to me by Friday so that I can get it to HR by Monday morning. Paperwork!
It's after midnight and "You Only Live Twice" is on. Time to turn off the tv before I get sucked into that.
My wound seems to be healing slowly. My arm still hurts and I have a hard time falling asleep. I can't get comfortable. It also feels like a vise is strapped around my side. Dr. Z said that that feeling should go away with time. If I'm doing something, it doesn't bother me at all; I don't even notice it. It's when I'm trying to relax that it flares up. Oh well. This too shall pass.
Since I don't want to sleep half the day away tomorrow, I'd best get myself to bed.
Good night all!
-Suesan
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Countdown to "W" day...
Only 9 more days before I head back to work. I want to go back but then again I've been enjoying the time off. That is when I wasn't in pain, gunk oozing down my side, curing infections and an arm that no longer wants to work.
I saw Dr. Z yesterday. He said the healing was coming along nicely. He said to keep changing the dressing and adding the cream every 12 hours. He said wounds like that heal faster if they're moist which is why he's having me use the cream instead of a saline solution. He said the saline would dry out and require a change every 2 hours. The cream pretty much stays wet all the time.
He was surprised that I was driving and cautioned me to remember that I didn't have full movement in my right arm. I know this and have alawys been one to drive before I was supposed to (2 C-sections).
I'm not to see him for another 2 weeks. He's out of the office next week. I forgot to ask him where he was going, if anywhere. I had a bunch of appointments to make plus I wanted to get to work by 1:00 p.m. for a training class, if possible, so I was in a hurry.
I have an appointment on the 23rd of September to get fitted for a compression sleeve. I would need this in case I wanted to fly and also in case I ever came down with lymphedema. The insurance should cover this. I had looked online and there were many to choose from. I'm glad I asked my friend, R, in Chicago who has already taken this journey before me. She's given me some good suggestions. She said that I would want to get a prescription for one and not buy one off the web as they don't fit as well nor last as long. Thanks R!.
I also have to make an appointment to get fitted for a prosthesis. It's funny how bras won't fit you right if one of the pockets is empty. That part tends to ride up and shows at the neckline. It's most annoying. The clinical coordinator at Dr. Z's office said that the insurance should pay for that also. They're going to try for the full line of bras, camisoles and prosthesis. I did buy some bras last week. I've gone down one chest size. I've lost 40 pounds since January. We know that 1.75 pounds of it was boob. I've also gone down a couple of cup sizes. The plastic surgeon said I was now a full "B" and maybe a "C". The bra I bought was a "B" and it's still a little poofy but I'm wearing it.
I had a scare a few weeks ago and didn't tell anyone till yesterday when I told BDHA. I received an Explanation of Benefits from the insurance company and it said that since I did not get prior approval, I would have to pay for the surgeries on my own. Talk about an immediate stomach ache. I called my nurse caseworker at BCBS and left her a voice mail. I said, "we talked about the surgeries before they happened and after. It was in the system. I would have assumed it was approved. Please let me know what's going on. "
She finally called me back yesterday to see how I was doing and I asked her about it. She said she remembered getting my message but the system said everything was taken care of. She said the hospital probably sent in the wrong "CODE" which is why I got that message. Whew! Talk about heart failure!
I left Dr. Z's office at Magee at 12:32 p.m. I made it to work in the Hopewell Industrial Park, found a parking space and made it to the training room by 1:02 p.m. I think I went over the speed limit a little....(for those who don't know, if you follow posted speeds, it's probably a 45-minute drive). They didn't know I was coming so it was a surprise. I also spent a few hours moving my stuff from one cubicle to another. I took my time and made more trips so that I wouldn't lift anything too heavy. I want to say "hi" to Sarah here who was in the training room. I didn't get a chance to say hi to her then.
I will work a half day on my first day back, the 31st, because I have a follow-up appointment with Dr. L, my medical oncologist. He wanted to see me about a month after surgery and he'd been on vacation the past two weeks. I haven't seen him since my last chemo which was June 15th. I have lots of questions for him, such as diet (recommend a good nutritionist), chances of cancer coming back, what can I do to lower those chances and the MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION of all. "WHEN CAN I DYE MY HAIR?!" If he says never, I can live with that. However, BDHA will have to promise to only mention once a year, on my birthday, how gray I am, if I can't dye it anymore.
Speaking of hair, it's now about an inch long and covers my entire head. No more hats unless I'm out in the sun. I also discovered that I have enough eyelashes to wear mascara. I've started at least wearing that and earrings. Earrings? I hadn't worn any since my hospital stay in April. You have to understand that I would go without make-up before I went out without earrings. I didn't even wear any to MFD's wedding because I was just too tired to decide which pair and to put them on. That's pretty darned tired. Mostly mentally exhausted. I'm starting to feel like my old self again and am pushing myself a little further each day so that I won't be exhausted going back to work.
I bought myself a netbook (teeny laptop) the other day. It's nice to be able to sit out on the back patio and surf the web or take it to the library with me and research books. It weighs hardly anything. I took the sd card out of my digital camera and copied the pictures to the computer. Below are a few for your viewing pleasure. One of these days I'll get the hang on posting them.
What a lovely bunch of coco...
errrr..homegrown tomatoes!
He really does sleep...we call this
"recharging the lasers".
I saw Dr. Z yesterday. He said the healing was coming along nicely. He said to keep changing the dressing and adding the cream every 12 hours. He said wounds like that heal faster if they're moist which is why he's having me use the cream instead of a saline solution. He said the saline would dry out and require a change every 2 hours. The cream pretty much stays wet all the time.
He was surprised that I was driving and cautioned me to remember that I didn't have full movement in my right arm. I know this and have alawys been one to drive before I was supposed to (2 C-sections).
I'm not to see him for another 2 weeks. He's out of the office next week. I forgot to ask him where he was going, if anywhere. I had a bunch of appointments to make plus I wanted to get to work by 1:00 p.m. for a training class, if possible, so I was in a hurry.
I have an appointment on the 23rd of September to get fitted for a compression sleeve. I would need this in case I wanted to fly and also in case I ever came down with lymphedema. The insurance should cover this. I had looked online and there were many to choose from. I'm glad I asked my friend, R, in Chicago who has already taken this journey before me. She's given me some good suggestions. She said that I would want to get a prescription for one and not buy one off the web as they don't fit as well nor last as long. Thanks R!.
I also have to make an appointment to get fitted for a prosthesis. It's funny how bras won't fit you right if one of the pockets is empty. That part tends to ride up and shows at the neckline. It's most annoying. The clinical coordinator at Dr. Z's office said that the insurance should pay for that also. They're going to try for the full line of bras, camisoles and prosthesis. I did buy some bras last week. I've gone down one chest size. I've lost 40 pounds since January. We know that 1.75 pounds of it was boob. I've also gone down a couple of cup sizes. The plastic surgeon said I was now a full "B" and maybe a "C". The bra I bought was a "B" and it's still a little poofy but I'm wearing it.
I had a scare a few weeks ago and didn't tell anyone till yesterday when I told BDHA. I received an Explanation of Benefits from the insurance company and it said that since I did not get prior approval, I would have to pay for the surgeries on my own. Talk about an immediate stomach ache. I called my nurse caseworker at BCBS and left her a voice mail. I said, "we talked about the surgeries before they happened and after. It was in the system. I would have assumed it was approved. Please let me know what's going on. "
She finally called me back yesterday to see how I was doing and I asked her about it. She said she remembered getting my message but the system said everything was taken care of. She said the hospital probably sent in the wrong "CODE" which is why I got that message. Whew! Talk about heart failure!
I left Dr. Z's office at Magee at 12:32 p.m. I made it to work in the Hopewell Industrial Park, found a parking space and made it to the training room by 1:02 p.m. I think I went over the speed limit a little....(for those who don't know, if you follow posted speeds, it's probably a 45-minute drive). They didn't know I was coming so it was a surprise. I also spent a few hours moving my stuff from one cubicle to another. I took my time and made more trips so that I wouldn't lift anything too heavy. I want to say "hi" to Sarah here who was in the training room. I didn't get a chance to say hi to her then.
I will work a half day on my first day back, the 31st, because I have a follow-up appointment with Dr. L, my medical oncologist. He wanted to see me about a month after surgery and he'd been on vacation the past two weeks. I haven't seen him since my last chemo which was June 15th. I have lots of questions for him, such as diet (recommend a good nutritionist), chances of cancer coming back, what can I do to lower those chances and the MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION of all. "WHEN CAN I DYE MY HAIR?!" If he says never, I can live with that. However, BDHA will have to promise to only mention once a year, on my birthday, how gray I am, if I can't dye it anymore.
Speaking of hair, it's now about an inch long and covers my entire head. No more hats unless I'm out in the sun. I also discovered that I have enough eyelashes to wear mascara. I've started at least wearing that and earrings. Earrings? I hadn't worn any since my hospital stay in April. You have to understand that I would go without make-up before I went out without earrings. I didn't even wear any to MFD's wedding because I was just too tired to decide which pair and to put them on. That's pretty darned tired. Mostly mentally exhausted. I'm starting to feel like my old self again and am pushing myself a little further each day so that I won't be exhausted going back to work.
I bought myself a netbook (teeny laptop) the other day. It's nice to be able to sit out on the back patio and surf the web or take it to the library with me and research books. It weighs hardly anything. I took the sd card out of my digital camera and copied the pictures to the computer. Below are a few for your viewing pleasure. One of these days I'll get the hang on posting them.
What a lovely bunch of coco...errrr..homegrown tomatoes!
He really does sleep...we call this
"recharging the lasers".
MFS & MFD at Phipps on Mother's Day a few years ago.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
I saw Dr. Z today. He ended up cutting off the dead skin around the triangular-shaped wound under my arm. I didn't feel any pain but I could feel the scissors snipping away. It was a strange icky feeling. There was blood but I didn't know that until he took the bandages to throw away.
He gave me another three days' worth of antibiotics (total of 10) and also a prescription for an antibiotic cream that I'm supposed to smear on the area twice a day and cover with a gauze. It's a huge tub of cream. Hope I get my money's worth. He said to me "This will end". I said "You promise?" The nurse replied "We don't make promises". Arrgh. I have another appointment next Friday. He should just put me on his schedule automatically.
BDHA and MFD and Kristin (friend of MFD) are hosting a hash on Sunday. To be exact, the Pittsburgh Hash House Harriers (http://www.pgh-h3.com/). It's an international beer drinking club with a running problem. The "hare" lays the trail using flour. They mark false trails and the real trail. The others (harriers) try to follow the trail and not get lost or go too long on the false trail. They have a beer stop every mile or so. Then there is an "apres" party at the host's house or a designated bar. This time it's at our house. They do this all over Pittsburgh at least once a week. They also do it on full moons and holidays. Many of the members are professionals (lawyers, doctors) and they do this to blow off steam. You have to earn your nickname. BDHA is Mr. Balltapper, MFD is Gooey Decimal and Kristin is Hot Soxx. I have no desire to join this group. I just make sure there's enough food when it's our turn. All I have to do is make an eggplant pasta dish. The rest is up to the other three.
Hopefully Mr. Whacko will take this in stride. He's funny in that he barks all mean at the first 4-5 people who come in but after that he either loses interest or that there are so many people (30-40) that he loses track of who is new. He also suffers from doggy dementia. The people will come in between 2-2:30 and then leave to run the trail. They'll come back a few hours later and he'll have forgotten they were there before and will start all over again. He even does that when we have guests. He'll leave the room and when he comes back in, he runs at them, barking "Where the heck did you come from?!" even though they hadn't moved off the couch and he was out of the room less than 5 minutes.
Below is a picture of Mr. Whacko being my best buddy when BDHA is out of town. Otherwise, I don't exist.
He gave me another three days' worth of antibiotics (total of 10) and also a prescription for an antibiotic cream that I'm supposed to smear on the area twice a day and cover with a gauze. It's a huge tub of cream. Hope I get my money's worth. He said to me "This will end". I said "You promise?" The nurse replied "We don't make promises". Arrgh. I have another appointment next Friday. He should just put me on his schedule automatically.
BDHA and MFD and Kristin (friend of MFD) are hosting a hash on Sunday. To be exact, the Pittsburgh Hash House Harriers (http://www.pgh-h3.com/). It's an international beer drinking club with a running problem. The "hare" lays the trail using flour. They mark false trails and the real trail. The others (harriers) try to follow the trail and not get lost or go too long on the false trail. They have a beer stop every mile or so. Then there is an "apres" party at the host's house or a designated bar. This time it's at our house. They do this all over Pittsburgh at least once a week. They also do it on full moons and holidays. Many of the members are professionals (lawyers, doctors) and they do this to blow off steam. You have to earn your nickname. BDHA is Mr. Balltapper, MFD is Gooey Decimal and Kristin is Hot Soxx. I have no desire to join this group. I just make sure there's enough food when it's our turn. All I have to do is make an eggplant pasta dish. The rest is up to the other three.
Hopefully Mr. Whacko will take this in stride. He's funny in that he barks all mean at the first 4-5 people who come in but after that he either loses interest or that there are so many people (30-40) that he loses track of who is new. He also suffers from doggy dementia. The people will come in between 2-2:30 and then leave to run the trail. They'll come back a few hours later and he'll have forgotten they were there before and will start all over again. He even does that when we have guests. He'll leave the room and when he comes back in, he runs at them, barking "Where the heck did you come from?!" even though they hadn't moved off the couch and he was out of the room less than 5 minutes.
Below is a picture of Mr. Whacko being my best buddy when BDHA is out of town. Otherwise, I don't exist.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
I came into the Sewickley Library this morning to request some books and decided to post here. Of course, this is the SECOND post I've started. The library lost power for a few minutes and I lost everything I had previously typed.
Dr. Z called me on Tuesday to tell me that the lab culture showed a staph infection in my arm. He said that the antibiotic I was on was "sensitive" to that strain and it should work fine. I haven't had a fever since the weekend and the red part on my arm is getting smaller. It seems to be draining from underneath my arm (arm pit) and not where the drains were. There is a small hard section underneath my arm and I'm hoping that if it needs to be drained, I don't feel it. It's still pretty numb in that area.
I've been spending the last few days sitting with a towel wrapped around my side letting it drain. It's too annoying to keep changing dressings, bras and shirts as they get soaked. I put a dressing on myself this morning to make it to the library and we'll see how long it lasts.
I have another appointment with him tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. MFD is taking me downtown. He'll probably prescribe another round of antibiotics as it's still red. This has got to be the most annoying part yet. I'm hoping that I'm done draining by the 31st as that's the day I want to go back to work. If it's still draining, I'll have to postpone. It wouldn't be any fun to be at work with that mess.
I tried to upload a picture of Mr. Whacko (my best buddy when BDHA is out of town) but it's taking forever to come through. Maybe from home later.
-Suesan
Dr. Z called me on Tuesday to tell me that the lab culture showed a staph infection in my arm. He said that the antibiotic I was on was "sensitive" to that strain and it should work fine. I haven't had a fever since the weekend and the red part on my arm is getting smaller. It seems to be draining from underneath my arm (arm pit) and not where the drains were. There is a small hard section underneath my arm and I'm hoping that if it needs to be drained, I don't feel it. It's still pretty numb in that area.
I've been spending the last few days sitting with a towel wrapped around my side letting it drain. It's too annoying to keep changing dressings, bras and shirts as they get soaked. I put a dressing on myself this morning to make it to the library and we'll see how long it lasts.
I have another appointment with him tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. MFD is taking me downtown. He'll probably prescribe another round of antibiotics as it's still red. This has got to be the most annoying part yet. I'm hoping that I'm done draining by the 31st as that's the day I want to go back to work. If it's still draining, I'll have to postpone. It wouldn't be any fun to be at work with that mess.
I tried to upload a picture of Mr. Whacko (my best buddy when BDHA is out of town) but it's taking forever to come through. Maybe from home later.
-Suesan
Friday, August 7, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
When I woke up this morning, my temp was 98.7. Not too bad.
BDHA and I went down to Dr. Z's office. I do have an infection in my arm. It was red and swollen. He ended up taking out the drains because he said foreign objects and infections don't get along. It was surprising but I didn't feel a thing when he pulled them out. I was all prepared for massive pain because they hurt in the hospital jabbing me when I moved wrong. It was a nice surprise.
He took a swab for the lab to check on the infection. He also gave me an antibiotic. BDHA and I will go later to get it filled. He put a bandage over the incisions. Just need to change them once a day. He said to call if it gets worse. I have an appointment for next Friday. I'm glad I no longer have the drains, I just hope it doesn't cause more problems as I was still draining a lot.
We stopped for lunch at Jimmy Tsangs on Centre Avenue. It's a Korean restaurant. You get quite a lot of food for less than $7. We also stopped at Trader Joe's. Don't tell MFD but I picked up some chocolate cat cookies (chocolate cookies in shape of kittehs). She'll come steal them all.
I feel much better today. Let's hope that the antibiotic takes care of the infection and there aren't any other complications.
-Suesan
BDHA and I went down to Dr. Z's office. I do have an infection in my arm. It was red and swollen. He ended up taking out the drains because he said foreign objects and infections don't get along. It was surprising but I didn't feel a thing when he pulled them out. I was all prepared for massive pain because they hurt in the hospital jabbing me when I moved wrong. It was a nice surprise.
He took a swab for the lab to check on the infection. He also gave me an antibiotic. BDHA and I will go later to get it filled. He put a bandage over the incisions. Just need to change them once a day. He said to call if it gets worse. I have an appointment for next Friday. I'm glad I no longer have the drains, I just hope it doesn't cause more problems as I was still draining a lot.
We stopped for lunch at Jimmy Tsangs on Centre Avenue. It's a Korean restaurant. You get quite a lot of food for less than $7. We also stopped at Trader Joe's. Don't tell MFD but I picked up some chocolate cat cookies (chocolate cookies in shape of kittehs). She'll come steal them all.
I feel much better today. Let's hope that the antibiotic takes care of the infection and there aren't any other complications.
-Suesan
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Setback
I've had a setback. Yesterday afternoon my throat started feeling gunkier than usual (allergies). I also had a cough. Last night I had a temp of 99.9. This morning at 6:00 a.m. it was 101.4. my usual morning temp is 97.something. I just checked it now at noon and it's over 102. Unfortunately I have no way of getting to the doctor. I'd try to drive myself but the only car available is MFS's and I can't get into/out of it. I have an appointment tomorrow morning at 10:15 a.m. BDHA comes in tonight around 7:00 p.m. I'll take Tylenol and it will have to wait until then. I started taking Advair last night and this morning and the cough isn't as bad.
One of the drains has also started to pull out of my body. I see the white perforated part sticking out about an inch. The bulbs keep suction as long as I keep my arm tight to my body. Otherwise it drips down my side. I have a towel placed there for now.
Why can't this be easy?
-Suesan
One of the drains has also started to pull out of my body. I see the white perforated part sticking out about an inch. The bulbs keep suction as long as I keep my arm tight to my body. Otherwise it drips down my side. I have a towel placed there for now.
Why can't this be easy?
-Suesan
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
I've improved a lot since I last posted. I went out Friday night for dinner with some of our friends from Chicago who came in for the wedding picnic. We went to Lobello's here in Coraopolis which had been featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives". My arm got a lot of action with eating. I am left-handed (mastectomy on the right), but the only thing I do left-handed is write. And I don't write like a left-handed person where their wrist/hand is twisted upside down. Everything else I do right-handed like use scissors, cut glass and eat. My right hand is stronger when I play the piano. I was taught to eat right-handed by my mother because she told me (I swear she did) that "I did not want to be bumping elbows with the President at the White House when invited there for dinner since most people eat right-handed". I'm still waiting for that invitation.....
Anyways, with raising my arm up and down, it ached quite a bit that night. On Saturday, BDHA helped me get into the shower and I felt much better. I was still taking the Vicodin at that point. I got to the picnic around 4:00 p.m. The humidity started to get to me and I felt a little dizzy. Good thing they brought my chair from the patio. It's a big adirondack and is very comfortable. Around 7:00 p.m. my neighbors across the driveway stated they were going home and asked if I wanted a ride home. I took them up on it.
The next few days I tried to do without the pain meds as I was running out anyways. On Tuesday, after laying down for a nap, when I got up, the fluid was running down my side from where the drain went into me. Wednesday, I couldn't get the drains to hold suction more than a few minutes. I called Dr. Z's office and they asked that I come in so that they could take a look. MFD got off work early and drove me in to Magee. Wouldn't you know it, that as soon as Dr. Z put the suction back on, it held? It held while he was in the room and putting bandages over where the drains went in. As soon as he left and I was talking to his nurse, they popped again. Unfortunately, it's just one of those things I'll have to deal with. It has to do with how much I'm moving and how much fluid is in it. The good news is is that he's pretty happy with the healing going on. I don't need to see him again until next Friday. Once each drain is down to less than 30 ml a day, they can take them out. Right now they range anywhere from 80 ml to 160 ml. Still a ways to go.
Today, MFD drove me to my plastic surgeon's appointment. He was also very pleased with how the breast reduction side is healing. He said that he didn't have to do a skin graft for the nipple which he was happy about. He said they removed about 775 grams of tissue. If I converted correctly that's almost 1 and 3/4 pound fat/tissue/skin! Wow! I told him I didn't remember it being this small since I was in junior high. It's kind of cute. I can say that because it's mine.
I don't need to see him again until three months after radiation is finished so that we can start the process on the reconstruction. They take the fat from your abdomen (free tummy tuck!) to build up the missing breast. So I have from now until then to try to lose as much weight as possible. Perky boobs and a tummy tuck is some nice reward for going through this hell for the last year. I'm pumped!
It's a little uncomfortable sleeping. I have to sleep sitting up at an incline and on my back. The plastic surgeon said I could sleep on my side with the reduction if I wanted but I would still need to be elevated. I'm still a little sore so I'm not sure about that. My only complaint right now is that I can't get comfortable sleeping on my back so I wake up every few hours, get up and work the kinks out (go online, read/answer emails) and then try to sleep again. Last night I went to sleep at 9:00 p.m. and woke up at 11:30 p.m. I got up to let Mr. Whacko out and got a Coke Zero from the fridge. Why is it I never remember Coke Zero means NO SUGAR and not NO CAFFEINE? I ended up reading until 3:30 a.m. and didn't fall asleep until around 4:00 a.m. I had to be up at 7:00 a.m. for today's appointment. Hopefully tonight will be better.
I am so happy to be where I am right now. Every day is less pain and less uncomfortableness (is that a word?) I can even tell that I have more energy. Of course, if I consistently took the iron pills prescribed for me, I could probably run a marathon next week (NOT).
I'll post again as soon as I have any news.
Take care all.
Suesan
Anyways, with raising my arm up and down, it ached quite a bit that night. On Saturday, BDHA helped me get into the shower and I felt much better. I was still taking the Vicodin at that point. I got to the picnic around 4:00 p.m. The humidity started to get to me and I felt a little dizzy. Good thing they brought my chair from the patio. It's a big adirondack and is very comfortable. Around 7:00 p.m. my neighbors across the driveway stated they were going home and asked if I wanted a ride home. I took them up on it.
The next few days I tried to do without the pain meds as I was running out anyways. On Tuesday, after laying down for a nap, when I got up, the fluid was running down my side from where the drain went into me. Wednesday, I couldn't get the drains to hold suction more than a few minutes. I called Dr. Z's office and they asked that I come in so that they could take a look. MFD got off work early and drove me in to Magee. Wouldn't you know it, that as soon as Dr. Z put the suction back on, it held? It held while he was in the room and putting bandages over where the drains went in. As soon as he left and I was talking to his nurse, they popped again. Unfortunately, it's just one of those things I'll have to deal with. It has to do with how much I'm moving and how much fluid is in it. The good news is is that he's pretty happy with the healing going on. I don't need to see him again until next Friday. Once each drain is down to less than 30 ml a day, they can take them out. Right now they range anywhere from 80 ml to 160 ml. Still a ways to go.
Today, MFD drove me to my plastic surgeon's appointment. He was also very pleased with how the breast reduction side is healing. He said that he didn't have to do a skin graft for the nipple which he was happy about. He said they removed about 775 grams of tissue. If I converted correctly that's almost 1 and 3/4 pound fat/tissue/skin! Wow! I told him I didn't remember it being this small since I was in junior high. It's kind of cute. I can say that because it's mine.
I don't need to see him again until three months after radiation is finished so that we can start the process on the reconstruction. They take the fat from your abdomen (free tummy tuck!) to build up the missing breast. So I have from now until then to try to lose as much weight as possible. Perky boobs and a tummy tuck is some nice reward for going through this hell for the last year. I'm pumped!
It's a little uncomfortable sleeping. I have to sleep sitting up at an incline and on my back. The plastic surgeon said I could sleep on my side with the reduction if I wanted but I would still need to be elevated. I'm still a little sore so I'm not sure about that. My only complaint right now is that I can't get comfortable sleeping on my back so I wake up every few hours, get up and work the kinks out (go online, read/answer emails) and then try to sleep again. Last night I went to sleep at 9:00 p.m. and woke up at 11:30 p.m. I got up to let Mr. Whacko out and got a Coke Zero from the fridge. Why is it I never remember Coke Zero means NO SUGAR and not NO CAFFEINE? I ended up reading until 3:30 a.m. and didn't fall asleep until around 4:00 a.m. I had to be up at 7:00 a.m. for today's appointment. Hopefully tonight will be better.
I am so happy to be where I am right now. Every day is less pain and less uncomfortableness (is that a word?) I can even tell that I have more energy. Of course, if I consistently took the iron pills prescribed for me, I could probably run a marathon next week (NOT).
I'll post again as soon as I have any news.
Take care all.
Suesan
Friday, July 24, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Well, I made it out. During the operation, they nicked a vein and I ended up losing more blood than they expected. I was in recovery 2 more hours than normal because they were watching my blood pressure. My blood count was falling so they were talking about giving me a blood transfusion.
The two operations are considered out patient and I was supposed to go home the next day, on Tuesday. I was feeling really tired and they gave me the option of staying an extra night which I took. Good thing as I had a slight fever Tuesday night which they were able to monitor. I didn't have a fever all day Wednesday and I took a few walks around the floor to get my energy up. Around 5:00 p.m. one of the surgical associates came in to tell me I could go home if I wanted. I told him yes. MFD was there to see me on her way home from purchasing a new Saturn, an Aura. She stayed and got the happy task of chauffering me. We didn't leave until around 7:30 p.m.
This was a different floor than where I had stayed previously. This floor had private rooms and was basically recovery from surgery. There were a few mothers who had given birth via C-section so I would hear babies crying off and on. On one of the doors, it said that if you took an infant past it, an alarm would sound. MFS and BDHA were speculating what they inserted into the infant (ankle bracelets people!). MFS even told me that if I got bored, to take an infant past the security point just to see what would happen. The hospital also rented tugs (big carts run by robots) from CMU. MFS said one came down the hall towards him and stopped until he passed it by. One of the aides told me that they have a tendancy to get "stuck" and bump into walls. If you stand in front of it long enough, it tries to go around. They use it mostly for taking used food trays back down to the kitchen. I never saw one, but I did hear them go past all the time.
I'm in a little pain, mostly from the drains. I can empty them myself (I have two on the mastectomy side) but I can't reach far enough up into my armpit. BDHA has been helping out and the "ick" factor isn't that bad. Both doctors told me that I could shower and not have to worry about covering up any of the incisions. I was glued shut! I can let the water run over it; I just can't scrub it. I'm going to attempt that today. I have to wear this belt around my chest to hang the drains (plastic bottles) from so that it doesn't hang out and pinch me. That pain is not covered by the vicadin.
My surgical oncologist, Dr. Z., called yesterday with the pathology report. He said that the mass had shrunk by 48%. He called it a "big bad cancer". Out of the 29 lymph nodes they took, 7 had cancer. They were confident it hadn't gone past the lymph nodes before I started chemo and believe the same thing now. I was considered Stage IIIb cancer. The last step before Stage 4. Thank god I felt it when I did. The tissue that was removed from the left breast for the reduction showed benign. That's the breast they were always watching. Hopefully with the attention placed on it for the operation, it won't get jealous and say "I'll show you!".
As soon as I've healed and the drains are removed, they'll start radiation. I don't really know what that entails other than 7 weeks, 5 days a week and I'll need some sort of cream for the "burn". I have an appointment on the 30th with both the plastic surgeon and the surgical oncologist, Dr. Z. to see how I'm coming along.
I can't drive for now (and don't want to right now) but I know I'll want to before I should. I did that with both of my C-sections. I just have to be careful of my arm. There's a possibility that I could get Lymphodema. That possibility will exist for the rest of my life; it could show up tomorrow or ten years from now. If I fly, I have to wear a compression sleeve on that arm (my own personal G-suit).
Well, MFD's wedding picnic reception is tomorrow. I plan on going for a short time. Right now, however, it's back to bed.
Take care peoples.
-Suesan
The two operations are considered out patient and I was supposed to go home the next day, on Tuesday. I was feeling really tired and they gave me the option of staying an extra night which I took. Good thing as I had a slight fever Tuesday night which they were able to monitor. I didn't have a fever all day Wednesday and I took a few walks around the floor to get my energy up. Around 5:00 p.m. one of the surgical associates came in to tell me I could go home if I wanted. I told him yes. MFD was there to see me on her way home from purchasing a new Saturn, an Aura. She stayed and got the happy task of chauffering me. We didn't leave until around 7:30 p.m.
This was a different floor than where I had stayed previously. This floor had private rooms and was basically recovery from surgery. There were a few mothers who had given birth via C-section so I would hear babies crying off and on. On one of the doors, it said that if you took an infant past it, an alarm would sound. MFS and BDHA were speculating what they inserted into the infant (ankle bracelets people!). MFS even told me that if I got bored, to take an infant past the security point just to see what would happen. The hospital also rented tugs (big carts run by robots) from CMU. MFS said one came down the hall towards him and stopped until he passed it by. One of the aides told me that they have a tendancy to get "stuck" and bump into walls. If you stand in front of it long enough, it tries to go around. They use it mostly for taking used food trays back down to the kitchen. I never saw one, but I did hear them go past all the time.
I'm in a little pain, mostly from the drains. I can empty them myself (I have two on the mastectomy side) but I can't reach far enough up into my armpit. BDHA has been helping out and the "ick" factor isn't that bad. Both doctors told me that I could shower and not have to worry about covering up any of the incisions. I was glued shut! I can let the water run over it; I just can't scrub it. I'm going to attempt that today. I have to wear this belt around my chest to hang the drains (plastic bottles) from so that it doesn't hang out and pinch me. That pain is not covered by the vicadin.
My surgical oncologist, Dr. Z., called yesterday with the pathology report. He said that the mass had shrunk by 48%. He called it a "big bad cancer". Out of the 29 lymph nodes they took, 7 had cancer. They were confident it hadn't gone past the lymph nodes before I started chemo and believe the same thing now. I was considered Stage IIIb cancer. The last step before Stage 4. Thank god I felt it when I did. The tissue that was removed from the left breast for the reduction showed benign. That's the breast they were always watching. Hopefully with the attention placed on it for the operation, it won't get jealous and say "I'll show you!".
As soon as I've healed and the drains are removed, they'll start radiation. I don't really know what that entails other than 7 weeks, 5 days a week and I'll need some sort of cream for the "burn". I have an appointment on the 30th with both the plastic surgeon and the surgical oncologist, Dr. Z. to see how I'm coming along.
I can't drive for now (and don't want to right now) but I know I'll want to before I should. I did that with both of my C-sections. I just have to be careful of my arm. There's a possibility that I could get Lymphodema. That possibility will exist for the rest of my life; it could show up tomorrow or ten years from now. If I fly, I have to wear a compression sleeve on that arm (my own personal G-suit).
Well, MFD's wedding picnic reception is tomorrow. I plan on going for a short time. Right now, however, it's back to bed.
Take care peoples.
-Suesan
Monday, July 20, 2009
July 20, 2009--SURGERY DAY
Well, BDHA and I are getting ready to leave for the hospital. Wish me luck!
See you on the other side.
-Suesan
See you on the other side.
-Suesan
Friday, July 17, 2009
07/08/09 Wedding Las Vegas Style!
We all had a great time in Las Vegas. I was completely exhausted by the time the reception was over but it was well worth it. She was absolutely beautiful if I do say so myself. The only hitch was that there was a miscommunication between the wait staff with how much beer/wine the guests were allowed. My contract said unlimited. Unfortunately, since I don't drink, I wasn't aware of this until the next day. Oh well.
I wanted to thank all of our family members and friends who made it out to Las Vegas to share this with us. I wanted to thank my mother and brother, Jeff and his wife, Betty, Tom, Nancy and Cash, Jeff and Lin, Janet and Nick and Bob and Debbie. We hadn't seen Bob and Debbie since the early '90's. We've known them since Bob and BDHA were in navy flight school together in the late 70's. We were together in Corpus Christi, TX, San Diego and then back to South Texas. They haven't changed a bit!I especially wanted to thank Dianne for helping make sure that my in-laws Bill and Marilyn (her parents) made it. It wouldn't have been the same without them.
One last picture. A little background first. BDHA and MFD have this ritual with Marty Feldman. (Yes, the googly-eyed actor now deceased). Apparently when she was little, she saw a picture of him and it really bothered her. BDHA cut it out and would put it in strange places for her to find. Her lunch box was one. She would return the favor by putting it under the covers on his bed. They have continued this tradition to this day. Please see the proof below.
By the way, I did win some money. I was playing this 1-cent slot called Monkey in the Middle. I put in $20 and ended up printing out a voucher for $27 and some change. The next morning, I went back intending to lose it and ended up with $130 and change. I cashed it in and bought BDHA lunch at the Venetian. That was my lucky day. I had dropped my camera in the casino and an employee found it and turned it in. I got it back. It was also the day we found out that MistyPines Dog Park would let Mr. Whacko stay an extra day which meant that BDHA could stay an extra day. Even though it was the next day, we also ended up being able to fly back first class. Woo hoo~!P.S. I published another post prior to this one named Medical Update. Don't forget to read that one too!
-Suesan
Medical Update
Sorry that it's been so long since I've updated my blog. A lot has happened. I will post about my daughter's wedding in Las Vegas after this post.
On July 2nd, I met with Dr. Z to go over the surgery. I asked if I would be put completely under and he said yes. I asked if the tube would be put down my throat while I was still awake or after I was out. I told him I had a really sensitive gag reflex and the thought of them trying to do that while I was conscious was freaking me out. He said it was done after I was under mostly because it was easier for them to do it if the patient wasn't actively fighting it. Sounds good to me.
I asked him if I would be aware of things going on while under. He said no. I said that I figured I'd hear him talking to Dr. G (plastic surgeon) about what they did over the weekend. He said that Dr. G would probably be talking to his assistant while he was talking to his. (Trying to get this man to laugh is hard). I told him that I still remember the dream I had while I was under when I was 5 having my tonsils taken out. It was a big hand chasing me. I probably saw the hand holding the mask coming down over my face which made me dream that.
I told Dr. Z earlier about the framed photograph in Dr G's waiting room of the cast of "Marcus Welby, M.D.". Dr Z said "Tell you what. You don't ask Dr. G why he has that picture. I'll ask him during surgery. You tell me after surgery if you heard what we were saying". He then laughed. The bet is on! For what it's worth, I did watch the power point presentation for the hospital on anesthesia and it said in rare cases, patients become aware and can hear what's going on in the operating room. I certainly don't want to be one of those rare cases but it sure would be cool to tell him what I heard.
I had my pre-op testing on Monday, July 13th. All it entailed was an EKG and blood work. They were supposed to do a chest X-ray but because I had had one while in the hospital in May, they decided not to. Bad choice. Dr. Z called the next day and asked why one wasn't done. He told me that the one in May showed "issues" in the bottom of my lungs and he wanted to make sure it was cleared up. He said it was consistent with asthma. I had to go back to the hospital on the 15th to have the x-ray done again. Dr. Z called and said it was still hazy but not enough to worry him. Glad he's not worried. He also told me that he saw the MRI image that I had brought in. It showed a "partial response" to the chemo. He said that the skin showed no involvement and the lymph nodes weren't as involved as they were before. I have to look at this as the glass half full. A partial response is better than no response. Hopefully they'll get rid of everything and the radiation will seal the deal. He talked about doing another CT/Bone Scan after all was done. I really want that to feel better emotionally.
The RN that took the blood work made me really nervous. As many of you know, giving up blood is not something my body likes to do. The RN had some sort of condition that made her hands shake. I couldn't believe that I actually let her take blood from me. She only got a tube and a half and said if they needed more they would take it the day of surgery. I came close to fainting thinking about the needle trying to find the vein while her hands were shaking.
I received a call from the nurse assigned to me through BDHA's insurance, BCBS of North Carolina. I have to say they've been wonderful. She keeps tabs on me and calls every few weeks to see how I'm doing. She's got that great southern accent which reminds me of living in South Texas where everyone was super friendly.
I found out today that I have to be at the hospital on Monday, July 20th at 5:30 a.m. That's not the time of the surgery but when I have to be there. I figure it will start around 2 hours later. It can last anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.
I feel this need to get things in order before I go to the hospital. I have a few items I'd like to give to friends/family "just in case". Plus, since I'm the one that pays the bills and uses the online bill paying service, I need to sit BDHA down and go over how it works. MFS would say I'm being morbid. I'm just being prepared, like a good boy scout! Oh wait..wrong gender.
Anyways, wish me luck. I'm supposed to be home the next day. I'll post as soon as I can. Or maybe I'll have MFD post for me.
My next post will be wedding-related.
-Suesan
On July 2nd, I met with Dr. Z to go over the surgery. I asked if I would be put completely under and he said yes. I asked if the tube would be put down my throat while I was still awake or after I was out. I told him I had a really sensitive gag reflex and the thought of them trying to do that while I was conscious was freaking me out. He said it was done after I was under mostly because it was easier for them to do it if the patient wasn't actively fighting it. Sounds good to me.
I asked him if I would be aware of things going on while under. He said no. I said that I figured I'd hear him talking to Dr. G (plastic surgeon) about what they did over the weekend. He said that Dr. G would probably be talking to his assistant while he was talking to his. (Trying to get this man to laugh is hard). I told him that I still remember the dream I had while I was under when I was 5 having my tonsils taken out. It was a big hand chasing me. I probably saw the hand holding the mask coming down over my face which made me dream that.
I told Dr. Z earlier about the framed photograph in Dr G's waiting room of the cast of "Marcus Welby, M.D.". Dr Z said "Tell you what. You don't ask Dr. G why he has that picture. I'll ask him during surgery. You tell me after surgery if you heard what we were saying". He then laughed. The bet is on! For what it's worth, I did watch the power point presentation for the hospital on anesthesia and it said in rare cases, patients become aware and can hear what's going on in the operating room. I certainly don't want to be one of those rare cases but it sure would be cool to tell him what I heard.
I had my pre-op testing on Monday, July 13th. All it entailed was an EKG and blood work. They were supposed to do a chest X-ray but because I had had one while in the hospital in May, they decided not to. Bad choice. Dr. Z called the next day and asked why one wasn't done. He told me that the one in May showed "issues" in the bottom of my lungs and he wanted to make sure it was cleared up. He said it was consistent with asthma. I had to go back to the hospital on the 15th to have the x-ray done again. Dr. Z called and said it was still hazy but not enough to worry him. Glad he's not worried. He also told me that he saw the MRI image that I had brought in. It showed a "partial response" to the chemo. He said that the skin showed no involvement and the lymph nodes weren't as involved as they were before. I have to look at this as the glass half full. A partial response is better than no response. Hopefully they'll get rid of everything and the radiation will seal the deal. He talked about doing another CT/Bone Scan after all was done. I really want that to feel better emotionally.
The RN that took the blood work made me really nervous. As many of you know, giving up blood is not something my body likes to do. The RN had some sort of condition that made her hands shake. I couldn't believe that I actually let her take blood from me. She only got a tube and a half and said if they needed more they would take it the day of surgery. I came close to fainting thinking about the needle trying to find the vein while her hands were shaking.
I received a call from the nurse assigned to me through BDHA's insurance, BCBS of North Carolina. I have to say they've been wonderful. She keeps tabs on me and calls every few weeks to see how I'm doing. She's got that great southern accent which reminds me of living in South Texas where everyone was super friendly.
I found out today that I have to be at the hospital on Monday, July 20th at 5:30 a.m. That's not the time of the surgery but when I have to be there. I figure it will start around 2 hours later. It can last anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.
I feel this need to get things in order before I go to the hospital. I have a few items I'd like to give to friends/family "just in case". Plus, since I'm the one that pays the bills and uses the online bill paying service, I need to sit BDHA down and go over how it works. MFS would say I'm being morbid. I'm just being prepared, like a good boy scout! Oh wait..wrong gender.
Anyways, wish me luck. I'm supposed to be home the next day. I'll post as soon as I can. Or maybe I'll have MFD post for me.
My next post will be wedding-related.
-Suesan
Friday, June 26, 2009
June 26, 2009
The Breast MRI was successful yesterday morning. However, the trip to get there was pretty frustrating. My GPS said the fastest route was going up route 28. I knew something was up with that road but wasn't sure what. There was a detour that made you go across the river near the zoo and then cross back later on. I heard on the news that there was an accident near the zoo but wasn't sure how it would affect me. Apparently it made a stoplight malfunction and it wouldn't turn green. After waiting in line about 10 minutes, cars decided to go through it carefully. I was one of those.
I was supposed to be at the hospital in Kittaning (57 miles away) at 10:30 a.m. to register. I was okay on time until I got to the Kittaning exits. This is where my GPS failed me. It would tell me to take the exit right, however there were TWO exits right. I couldn't tell on the screen which one I wanted until it was too late. There is a West Kittaning and East Kittaning. I kept going around in circles until I decided to ignore the GPS and follow the big "H" signs. I ended up getting there at 10:59. My appointment was at 11:00 a.m. As soon as I walked into radiology they ushered me into the back. They sent for the iv lady instead of trying to see if they could get it themselves. I thought that was very nice of them.
The whole process took about 25 minutes. At one point, after they started the contrast, I had this urge to throw up. As soon as I told the technician that, the urge went away. I then waited about 15 minutes while they put the images on CD for me to take to Dr. Z.
I decided to go the same way home (only because the tech told me the detour was for northbound 28). I stopped at Pittsburgh Mills and had lunch at Sonic. I used to stop there when we lived in Kingsville, TX and MFD was little, because of their tator tots.
I took 28 to 65 and stopped at the Sewickley Library to see MFD. She informed me at that time that Farrah Fawcett had passed. How sad.
After I got home, MFS was packing up to go back to State College. He has an interview at the local public access station there next week. Please think good thoughts for him.
A few hours later, I heard that Michael Jackson had passed. MFD and I were texting each other the news. There were so many people online and apparently using their cell phones that our texts were taking over 30 minutes to get to each other.
While I was laying down, I received a call from Dr. Z. He already HAD THE RESULTS from the MRI. I was amazed that he had them that quick, went over them and called me. All in the same day. He said that the area of the tumor had not changed but that there were substantial changes in the make-up of the tumor itself. Not quite sure what that means but I'm telling myself it's good news. He also didn't think that I would need a mammogram if I had an MRI. He's looking into canceling that for me and will let me know.
We talked about radiation. He said it would be 5 days a week and last for 7 weeks. I had no idea. He is also looking into having it done somewhere close to me so I don't have to go dahntahn every day and can still work. I don't think that the radiation takes that long but I'm not sure.
I had hoped that today would be another lazy day but Mr. Whacko's stomach won't allow it. We're out of canned dog food and almost out of dry. I need to make an effort to get that for him. I think it's also time to end this right now as Chas is under the desk and putting his paws on my toes. Any second now, his claws will come out, trying to get me to move and let him outside. I'm moving, I'm moving!
Take care all.
I was supposed to be at the hospital in Kittaning (57 miles away) at 10:30 a.m. to register. I was okay on time until I got to the Kittaning exits. This is where my GPS failed me. It would tell me to take the exit right, however there were TWO exits right. I couldn't tell on the screen which one I wanted until it was too late. There is a West Kittaning and East Kittaning. I kept going around in circles until I decided to ignore the GPS and follow the big "H" signs. I ended up getting there at 10:59. My appointment was at 11:00 a.m. As soon as I walked into radiology they ushered me into the back. They sent for the iv lady instead of trying to see if they could get it themselves. I thought that was very nice of them.
The whole process took about 25 minutes. At one point, after they started the contrast, I had this urge to throw up. As soon as I told the technician that, the urge went away. I then waited about 15 minutes while they put the images on CD for me to take to Dr. Z.
I decided to go the same way home (only because the tech told me the detour was for northbound 28). I stopped at Pittsburgh Mills and had lunch at Sonic. I used to stop there when we lived in Kingsville, TX and MFD was little, because of their tator tots.
I took 28 to 65 and stopped at the Sewickley Library to see MFD. She informed me at that time that Farrah Fawcett had passed. How sad.
After I got home, MFS was packing up to go back to State College. He has an interview at the local public access station there next week. Please think good thoughts for him.
A few hours later, I heard that Michael Jackson had passed. MFD and I were texting each other the news. There were so many people online and apparently using their cell phones that our texts were taking over 30 minutes to get to each other.
While I was laying down, I received a call from Dr. Z. He already HAD THE RESULTS from the MRI. I was amazed that he had them that quick, went over them and called me. All in the same day. He said that the area of the tumor had not changed but that there were substantial changes in the make-up of the tumor itself. Not quite sure what that means but I'm telling myself it's good news. He also didn't think that I would need a mammogram if I had an MRI. He's looking into canceling that for me and will let me know.
We talked about radiation. He said it would be 5 days a week and last for 7 weeks. I had no idea. He is also looking into having it done somewhere close to me so I don't have to go dahntahn every day and can still work. I don't think that the radiation takes that long but I'm not sure.
I had hoped that today would be another lazy day but Mr. Whacko's stomach won't allow it. We're out of canned dog food and almost out of dry. I need to make an effort to get that for him. I think it's also time to end this right now as Chas is under the desk and putting his paws on my toes. Any second now, his claws will come out, trying to get me to move and let him outside. I'm moving, I'm moving!
Take care all.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Update
It's been a week since the last chemo. I still have good days and bad. Today is one of the bad ones. However, it's not as bad as it was last week. I've spent pretty much the entire day in bed.
Last Wednesday and Thursday were also spent in bed. On Friday, I got dressed and made a list and went out and purchased some Father's Day presents for BDHA. I went slow, sat down when needed and even used the motorized scooter that some stores provide. Saturday and Sunday were more days of not doing much.
MFS came in from State College Sunday morning and had picked up a shift at Wings, Suds and Spuds that day. He was working as a cook and BDHA, MFD and myself had dinner there so we could be together (sort of).
When I was out on Friday, I found a T-shirt with the Ghostbuster logo on it. Anyone who knew MFD when she was 2 knows what that shirt means. We lived in Texas at the time the movie came out. This was also the time when MTV started. As soon as the music came on, MFD would realize it and run out of the living room and hide in her room. She was terrified of the video. I don't recall why I bought her a Ghostbuster's t-shirt back then but she was very attached to it. She wanted to wear it every day. Maybe she thought it would protect her from Slimer. When we went up to Chicago to visit family, we had to bring that shirt, of course. There were so many "fights" of her wanting to wear it every day and not allow me to wash it, that one of her uncles went out and bought her a second shirt.
When I saw they had it in adult sizes, I had to buy one for her. After dinner at Wings, we dropped her off at her apartment. I had given her the shirt prior to dinner. By the time BDHA and Mr. Whacko walked up to her apartment, she was wearing it. Later that night, they actually had Ghostbusters on TV. We had to watch it. My two favorite lines in the movie (and I knew when they were coming even though I hadn't seen the movie in over 10 years) are: "If someone asks you if you're a god, you say YES" and "What did you DO, Ray?!"
Yesterday I took MFS to Men's Wearhouse to get his suit fitted for the wedding. We also went to Target (motorized scooter) so that I could subsidize his clothing allowance. That afternoon I had an appointment with my PCP for a meds check. Things seem to be going well there. Yesterday afternoon I started feeling dizzy. Probably from not drinking enough fluids. Today was more of the same which is why I spent most of the day in bed.
I have a breast MRI scheduled for this Thursday up in Kittaning. I have a mammo on June 30th. I have a pre-surgery consultation with Dr. Z on July 2nd. I will go up for pre-op testing immediately after the appointment. That afternoon we pick up MFD's dress from the bridal boutique. On July 6th we leave for Vegas and come back on the 10th. On July 15th I have another appointment with my PCP to discuss what meds to drop for the surgery and on July 20th I have the surgery.
If all goes well and there are no complications/set backs, I plan on returning to work on Monday, August 31st. I need to start working on increasing my stamina. I bought a WiiFit and should start using that. I'm afraid to see what my WiiFit age will be..probably in the 80's.
Take care all.
Last Wednesday and Thursday were also spent in bed. On Friday, I got dressed and made a list and went out and purchased some Father's Day presents for BDHA. I went slow, sat down when needed and even used the motorized scooter that some stores provide. Saturday and Sunday were more days of not doing much.
MFS came in from State College Sunday morning and had picked up a shift at Wings, Suds and Spuds that day. He was working as a cook and BDHA, MFD and myself had dinner there so we could be together (sort of).
When I was out on Friday, I found a T-shirt with the Ghostbuster logo on it. Anyone who knew MFD when she was 2 knows what that shirt means. We lived in Texas at the time the movie came out. This was also the time when MTV started. As soon as the music came on, MFD would realize it and run out of the living room and hide in her room. She was terrified of the video. I don't recall why I bought her a Ghostbuster's t-shirt back then but she was very attached to it. She wanted to wear it every day. Maybe she thought it would protect her from Slimer. When we went up to Chicago to visit family, we had to bring that shirt, of course. There were so many "fights" of her wanting to wear it every day and not allow me to wash it, that one of her uncles went out and bought her a second shirt.
When I saw they had it in adult sizes, I had to buy one for her. After dinner at Wings, we dropped her off at her apartment. I had given her the shirt prior to dinner. By the time BDHA and Mr. Whacko walked up to her apartment, she was wearing it. Later that night, they actually had Ghostbusters on TV. We had to watch it. My two favorite lines in the movie (and I knew when they were coming even though I hadn't seen the movie in over 10 years) are: "If someone asks you if you're a god, you say YES" and "What did you DO, Ray?!"
Yesterday I took MFS to Men's Wearhouse to get his suit fitted for the wedding. We also went to Target (motorized scooter) so that I could subsidize his clothing allowance. That afternoon I had an appointment with my PCP for a meds check. Things seem to be going well there. Yesterday afternoon I started feeling dizzy. Probably from not drinking enough fluids. Today was more of the same which is why I spent most of the day in bed.
I have a breast MRI scheduled for this Thursday up in Kittaning. I have a mammo on June 30th. I have a pre-surgery consultation with Dr. Z on July 2nd. I will go up for pre-op testing immediately after the appointment. That afternoon we pick up MFD's dress from the bridal boutique. On July 6th we leave for Vegas and come back on the 10th. On July 15th I have another appointment with my PCP to discuss what meds to drop for the surgery and on July 20th I have the surgery.
If all goes well and there are no complications/set backs, I plan on returning to work on Monday, August 31st. I need to start working on increasing my stamina. I bought a WiiFit and should start using that. I'm afraid to see what my WiiFit age will be..probably in the 80's.
Take care all.
Monday, June 15, 2009
What a wonderful day this has been
Today was chemo #8 and the last one. it's finally over.
While I was in the waiting room at the cancer center, Dr. L came out and went into the coffee/tea room. He saw me sitting there and I waved at him. I followed him in and the first thing he said to me was "You're looking great! Much better than the last time. How's your kidney function?" I told him that I had the blood work done on Saturday and hadn't gotten the results yet. I told him that I had met another patient of his at my daughter's shower at the Sewickley library. He knew exactly who I meant. He told me that she was due in today but wasn't sure of the time. He then came up to me and said "How's your tumor doing" and acted like he was going to look right then and there. I backed up and said "Why don't we wait until we're in the back? I have an appointment at 8:45 a.m." He said.."More like 9:15 a.m." Damned if he didn't show up until 9:45 a.m. I'm not complaining. He has to spend as much time with a patient as they need.
When he came in, he said that my bloodwork showed my kidney function as being perfect. It was actually lower than the first time I was discharged from the hospital when they considered it a great number. He told me I was a resilient, strong woman. I agreed... I was going to beat this. He also said that the chemo treatment was a great success as far as he was concerned. The tumor had shrunk significantly and the skin was no longer hardening. When I asked him if he thought I should just get a lumpectomy, he said he felt that the mastectomy was the best way to go. I agreed with that. His only concern was that it showed I was a little anemic. I've been that way my entire life. I guess I should start taking the iron pills I bought after my last stay in the hospital. He was a very happy man with the results which made me happy.
The chemo treatment itself went off without any problems. I asked the chemo nurse when I would start feeling my old self again. She said about two months after the surgery, I should have more energy and feel like I used to. The chemo effects would have worn off by then and I should be fully recovered from the surgery barring any complications.
Afterwards, BDHA and I went down to the second floor to my surgical oncologist to make an appointment to see him and to get any tests scheduled he would need. When I spoke with his assistant, she told me that surgery had just been scheduled. It's going to be on July 20th and fairly early in the morning. I may have to enter the hospital the night before. She also scheduled me for a mammogram on June 30th. I'm to schedule the breast MRI up at Kittaning as soon as possible. I see Dr. Z, the surgeon, on July 2nd. Hopefully I can get the MRI in before I see him. Things are falling into place.
After we finished at the hospital, we went to lunch at a place called "Big Jim's on the Run". BDHA said it has been featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives". Don't ask me where it was located but the rueben was good. I couldn't finish it and took half home. After that, we went to Whole Foods and picked up some items. We then met MFD for her final dress fitting so that BDHA could see the dress. We pick up the dress on July 2nd.
I have been feeling pretty good today. The steroids really help. It's 11:00 p.m. and I don't think I could fall asleep any time soon. I have to be careful. I checked my blood sugar before dinner and the meter actually said "HI" and no number. I need to look up what that means. It doesn't sound good. The steroids raise it through the roof. I need to make sure I take all my pills and shots each day to control it. I'm not very good at remembering to do that. I want to make sure I'm in the best health possible when I go for the pre-op testing. I don't want anything to delay the surgery.
Another reason it's a good day. The claim check came in from AFLAC. I still have to provide paperwork to get the rest of it but the first check was a goodly amount. If you have AFLAC available to you, check into it. I'm so glad I did and signed up for it. (I wonder if I can get paid for endorsing them?)
I wanted to thank Ruth and Bob Ward for the beautiful note cards with their original photography on the front. I look forward to using them. They also sent me a bouquet of flowers today to celebrate my last chemo. They were orange and yellow roses with yarrow and thyme.
June 10th was BDHA's and my 31st wedding anniversary. He was out of town so we went out to dinner on June 11th. We went out for 6 years before we were married. I was 15, he was 17. If you ask him how long he's been married, he says (and imagine whiny voice) "I've been married my ENTIRE life". Poor guy.
I'm dreading the pains starting this week. I don't think I'll feel as bad as the last time as I'm no longer suffering from the upper respiratory thing. Plus, since this is the last time, I can make it through. I just need to keep telling myself that.
All in all, this has been a GOOD day. Hope it has been one for you too.
Good night ....hope I can sleep.
While I was in the waiting room at the cancer center, Dr. L came out and went into the coffee/tea room. He saw me sitting there and I waved at him. I followed him in and the first thing he said to me was "You're looking great! Much better than the last time. How's your kidney function?" I told him that I had the blood work done on Saturday and hadn't gotten the results yet. I told him that I had met another patient of his at my daughter's shower at the Sewickley library. He knew exactly who I meant. He told me that she was due in today but wasn't sure of the time. He then came up to me and said "How's your tumor doing" and acted like he was going to look right then and there. I backed up and said "Why don't we wait until we're in the back? I have an appointment at 8:45 a.m." He said.."More like 9:15 a.m." Damned if he didn't show up until 9:45 a.m. I'm not complaining. He has to spend as much time with a patient as they need.
When he came in, he said that my bloodwork showed my kidney function as being perfect. It was actually lower than the first time I was discharged from the hospital when they considered it a great number. He told me I was a resilient, strong woman. I agreed... I was going to beat this. He also said that the chemo treatment was a great success as far as he was concerned. The tumor had shrunk significantly and the skin was no longer hardening. When I asked him if he thought I should just get a lumpectomy, he said he felt that the mastectomy was the best way to go. I agreed with that. His only concern was that it showed I was a little anemic. I've been that way my entire life. I guess I should start taking the iron pills I bought after my last stay in the hospital. He was a very happy man with the results which made me happy.
The chemo treatment itself went off without any problems. I asked the chemo nurse when I would start feeling my old self again. She said about two months after the surgery, I should have more energy and feel like I used to. The chemo effects would have worn off by then and I should be fully recovered from the surgery barring any complications.
Afterwards, BDHA and I went down to the second floor to my surgical oncologist to make an appointment to see him and to get any tests scheduled he would need. When I spoke with his assistant, she told me that surgery had just been scheduled. It's going to be on July 20th and fairly early in the morning. I may have to enter the hospital the night before. She also scheduled me for a mammogram on June 30th. I'm to schedule the breast MRI up at Kittaning as soon as possible. I see Dr. Z, the surgeon, on July 2nd. Hopefully I can get the MRI in before I see him. Things are falling into place.
After we finished at the hospital, we went to lunch at a place called "Big Jim's on the Run". BDHA said it has been featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives". Don't ask me where it was located but the rueben was good. I couldn't finish it and took half home. After that, we went to Whole Foods and picked up some items. We then met MFD for her final dress fitting so that BDHA could see the dress. We pick up the dress on July 2nd.
I have been feeling pretty good today. The steroids really help. It's 11:00 p.m. and I don't think I could fall asleep any time soon. I have to be careful. I checked my blood sugar before dinner and the meter actually said "HI" and no number. I need to look up what that means. It doesn't sound good. The steroids raise it through the roof. I need to make sure I take all my pills and shots each day to control it. I'm not very good at remembering to do that. I want to make sure I'm in the best health possible when I go for the pre-op testing. I don't want anything to delay the surgery.
Another reason it's a good day. The claim check came in from AFLAC. I still have to provide paperwork to get the rest of it but the first check was a goodly amount. If you have AFLAC available to you, check into it. I'm so glad I did and signed up for it. (I wonder if I can get paid for endorsing them?)
I wanted to thank Ruth and Bob Ward for the beautiful note cards with their original photography on the front. I look forward to using them. They also sent me a bouquet of flowers today to celebrate my last chemo. They were orange and yellow roses with yarrow and thyme.
June 10th was BDHA's and my 31st wedding anniversary. He was out of town so we went out to dinner on June 11th. We went out for 6 years before we were married. I was 15, he was 17. If you ask him how long he's been married, he says (and imagine whiny voice) "I've been married my ENTIRE life". Poor guy.
I'm dreading the pains starting this week. I don't think I'll feel as bad as the last time as I'm no longer suffering from the upper respiratory thing. Plus, since this is the last time, I can make it through. I just need to keep telling myself that.
All in all, this has been a GOOD day. Hope it has been one for you too.
Good night ....hope I can sleep.
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