Yes, I know it gets old waiting. But this last surgery will have two surgeons present. Dr. Rod Flynn, and Dr. Timothy Sherwood. Now, how easy do you think it is to get two specialist in the same OR at the same time? Yeah, I thought so. But they better hurry up, I have a wedding cake and grooms cake to do and I need to be healed up to do them. May have to get Gweedo after them. LOL! Just kidding folks.
I got to thinking it may be nice to "introduce" my Virginia Dream Team. A great group of doctors who planned and executed my treatment. Their individual support staffs are just as talented as they are, from the receptionists to the nurses. Top notch treatment. (I'll introduce you to the Cleveland Clinic Team in another post, they are from my 2003 dance with cancer).
Meet the dream team, in order as I met them:
Doctor Rod Flynn, surgical oncologist.
He is a hoot, quick with an infectious smile. Great doctor, great bedside manner. Takes his time to actually talk to you and explain things. If you don't understand, ask questions, he answers them, and not in terms that are over your head.
He will laugh and joke with you, but when it is time to get serious, he does. When I first met him I told him that I didn't want to shit or piss in a bag. He tilted his head and said "Oh, girls from Cleveland are a bit earthy." But he took it in stride.
He has the cutest two year old!! Ask him to show you the picture!!
The staff is wonderful. His PA, Kevin is a sweetheart. Caring, concerned for the patients well being. Just wonderful.
And the staff that works with them are fantastic. Quick with a smile, if you have a problem with something they are quick to help find the answer. Amazing staff. Here is a link to learn a bit more: Dr. Rod Flynn and staff They need to put a picture of Kevin in there and info on him.
Dr. Christopher Vaughn, Medical Oncologist
Through Dr. Flynn, I was given an appointment with Dr. Christopher Vaughn, oncologist (my chemo doctor).
Kind, sort of soft spoken, a bit reserved, kind of reminds me of Wilson from House MD. Great smile, and his expressions tell all. When he is serious, serious, his face shows it. Not in a bad way though, so it doesn't cause you to worry. He is another doctor that explains what the treatment plans are, what the possible side effects will be, he listens to your concerns.
All the doctors at Hematology Oncology Associates of Fredricksburg are great.
The staff of nurses and office staff are wonderful. Right there when you need a question answered, helping to find a solution to a problem. And trust me the nurses can handle emergencies in a calm, cool, collected manner. My second day of chemo proved that, and I got an ambulance ride out of it. LOL! Here is a link to learn a bit more (well they don't have a huge site, but a few pictures of the building that looks like a ski lodge where I went for chemo) Hematology Oncology Associates of Fredricksburg
Dr. John Chinault. Radiation Oncology.
Part of the Cancer Center of Virginia. Unfortunately I can't find a web address for them other than the list of doctors that is on the Mary Washing site.
Dr. Chinault has a touch of a southern drawl. Not much at all, really. It is just a couple of words that have the faintest of faint drawls. Really nice. Easy going, explains things that will happen. Someone you feel comfortable with.
In 2003 I had radiation, and I had a huge radiation burn, purple and red, burned like a bitch (by the way NEVER put Solarcane on a radiation burn), and oozed. Really disgusting. This time? No burn, no pain from a burn, no oozing. Fantastic!!!
The staff there is awesome too. The folks that do the treatments rock. They are caring, they will laugh with you, and cry with you. The nursing staff is just as caring, and the office staff is stellar.
Dr. Timothy Sherwood, Thoracic Surgeon
Dr. Sherwood is talented, and you can't help but smile when he is. He makes sure you feel comfortable and tells you up front what to expect. He will listen to your concerns, and addresses them. And he has a beautiful wife, and some great looking kids, four of them!! He is a family man lots of pictures in his office, and I think that helps when a patient is sitting there discussing treatment. You see he has a family, and he understands that you are worried for your family.
The staff is another example of a great staff. Both office and nursing. Need something, they do their best to handle it as quickly as humanly possible.
Meet Dr. Sherwood. Dr. Sherwood
If you click on the links on this page there are youtube videos of Dr. Sherwood and Dr. Flynn. Mary Washington - Dr. Flynn & Dr. Sherwood video links Oh yeah, there is a picture of Dr. Flynn and Dr. Sherwood in the title bar, one of the sliders, who ever did the photoshop work of putting Dr. Flynn next to Dr. Sherwood did a great job. The OR pic is the same one that is on the Thoracic Surgery Program page. Yes, I notice things like that.
I have said this before, the nursing staff at Mary Washington Hospital is top notch. Caring, concerned, can handle anything. Every nurse I met is a 100% A plus plus sweetheart of a nurse.
From the cleaning staff, to the food staff, to the volunteers. Polite, caring, do their jobs efficiently, and well. Always taking the time to be sure the patient is first.
Going through the cancer for a second time, I am glad I was here in Stafford, and had my "Dream Team" and their staffs treating me, and if I had to be hospitalized (and I did so many times people accused me of confusing Mary Washington in Fredricksburg with a vacation home. LOL!)
I don't think I could have been in better hands.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
July 13th has come and gone, and the staples have been removed - Tumor pics attached
Normally I would have done a post about the up coming surgery, but this time I didn't. I don't know why, just didn't feel like writing. Been meaning to write something since but writers block I guess. Maybe because I really didn't have any apprehensive feelings about the surgery. After all I survived having my chest cracked open and 2/3 of the right lung being removed.
Maybe it had something to do with the doctor, or the fact my friend Debbie (who is an awesome nurse) was going to be there watching. To me that was rather comforting.
I do like Doctor Flynn. He is funny, personable, and deals with me straight forward, no holds barred. He is the only doctor I have ever hug whenever I see him. (To be honest I hug Kevin too, Dr. Flynn's PA-C.) Oh yeah, Dr. Flynn has the cutest two year old, and he is so wrapped.
July 13th was the date for my abdominal surgery, the day they took the "alien baby" out. But I had an adventure the day before that.
July 12th I went in for an endo something or other. It is were they knock your happy ass out and put a camera down your throat to look at your small intestines. Well, the doctor doing that decided to use the longer scope and got further into the small intestines, and guess what he found? Yep, you guessed, another tumor. Ain't I the little tumor factory?
Dr. Lee (yes his name is Lee, no relation) tattooed the spot where the tumor was, and even took pictures, there below. Hey, my intestines had a tattoo, how weird is that?
So on the 13th Dr. Flynn got to take out part of my intestine too. I was sliced open from stomach to the pelvic bone, one long vertical cut and my insides were messed with. Then I was stapled up.
One thing I will tell you right now, it hurts like a bitch to stand up and try to walk right after surgery, and it is impossible to walk when you have an epidural in your lower back. You have no control over your legs. (In my case this time it only affected the right leg).
My son was there when they helped me get out of bed and move over to the chair, he said I had anime eye because of the pain. He had no idea a humans eyes could get that big. But I made it and sat up for something like 7 hours. Started walking too. They were amazed at me once the epidural was taken out and I had feeling in the leg again. I don't see why, I mean come on how can I walk if the muscles in the leg can't work because I can't feel them, and how incredible is it that when I can feel my leg I can walk. Only common sense. But then again, who knows.
My son actually made me realize something when I made the comment I wish my abdominal muscles would stop aching. Duh, that is my core, and you get lots of strength from your core, mine has to heal again, and it will be a while before it feels normal. DUH!!
One more surgery to go. Remove the mass from in between the pectoral muscle and under the right clavicle (collar bone). Only one more......
OK, this is gone from being semi well written to just rambling, so below there are pictures, if you have a weak tummy, don't look.
My insides ----------->
That yellow stuff is fat I think. :D
Maybe it had something to do with the doctor, or the fact my friend Debbie (who is an awesome nurse) was going to be there watching. To me that was rather comforting.
I do like Doctor Flynn. He is funny, personable, and deals with me straight forward, no holds barred. He is the only doctor I have ever hug whenever I see him. (To be honest I hug Kevin too, Dr. Flynn's PA-C.) Oh yeah, Dr. Flynn has the cutest two year old, and he is so wrapped.
July 13th was the date for my abdominal surgery, the day they took the "alien baby" out. But I had an adventure the day before that.
July 12th I went in for an endo something or other. It is were they knock your happy ass out and put a camera down your throat to look at your small intestines. Well, the doctor doing that decided to use the longer scope and got further into the small intestines, and guess what he found? Yep, you guessed, another tumor. Ain't I the little tumor factory?
Dr. Lee (yes his name is Lee, no relation) tattooed the spot where the tumor was, and even took pictures, there below. Hey, my intestines had a tattoo, how weird is that?
So on the 13th Dr. Flynn got to take out part of my intestine too. I was sliced open from stomach to the pelvic bone, one long vertical cut and my insides were messed with. Then I was stapled up.
One thing I will tell you right now, it hurts like a bitch to stand up and try to walk right after surgery, and it is impossible to walk when you have an epidural in your lower back. You have no control over your legs. (In my case this time it only affected the right leg).
My son was there when they helped me get out of bed and move over to the chair, he said I had anime eye because of the pain. He had no idea a humans eyes could get that big. But I made it and sat up for something like 7 hours. Started walking too. They were amazed at me once the epidural was taken out and I had feeling in the leg again. I don't see why, I mean come on how can I walk if the muscles in the leg can't work because I can't feel them, and how incredible is it that when I can feel my leg I can walk. Only common sense. But then again, who knows.
My son actually made me realize something when I made the comment I wish my abdominal muscles would stop aching. Duh, that is my core, and you get lots of strength from your core, mine has to heal again, and it will be a while before it feels normal. DUH!!
One more surgery to go. Remove the mass from in between the pectoral muscle and under the right clavicle (collar bone). Only one more......
OK, this is gone from being semi well written to just rambling, so below there are pictures, if you have a weak tummy, don't look.
My insides ----------->
That yellow stuff is fat I think. :D
 |
| More of my insides |
 |
| This is Fred the Alien Baby they cut out and part of the small intestine |
 |
| This is Debbie, my friend and awesome nurse |
 |
| This is the tumor with the small instestin cut open, the white round thing is the tumor that was in the intestine |
 |
| Close up of the tumor in the small intestine |
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A Good Day, A Good Week - Just talking about it
This wee really has been a good week looking back at it. Nothing amazing happened, but it was filled with little simple things that made it good, normal every day things.
Monday was a quiet day, that is it. Yeah, I get bored, but then I get over it, yes I get cabin fever, but at least I can get cabin fever.
Tuesday was my birthday. Just surviving the surgeries and being alive was a great gift. My co workers sent our Bosses (yes, plural) Warrant Officer, Branch Head, and Outside Plant Manager to my house with two birthday cards and and Edible Arrangements arrangement. And it had chocolate covered strawberries. It was yummy!!
Then Jasmine and I spent the afternoon walking through the Torpedo Factory. It was a torpedo factory in the day, then it was converted into Artist Studios, lots of talented people with studios there. Indian for dinner and home. Great day. No big party, don't need that simple enjoyable. Those are the best.
Wednesday we stopped at Starbucks and had ice coffee with a blueberry muffin. Nothing fancy, sat outside for a while, and talked. Then we took a ride to Town Center so I could get my eyebrows threaded (they finally grew back and looked very Sicilian). We stopped in a couple of stores and we saw some outfits I could really rock, but then I looked at the price, and went I don't think so. And they were suppose to be on sale. Leftovers for lunch, Jasmine went to work, and I had the last of my leftovers for dinner.
No exciting adventure, just a simple day.
I'm tired, but that is because when I went to bed tired, I couldn't fall asleep till 1:30, sat up asking myself why I that some days. Then I got up at 5:30.
You see, this was one of those days that was planned as a "long" day. Jasmine's dog Riley had an appointment at 7 AM to be groomed. (OK, now you are asking why I got up at 5:30. Well, I had a head ache, so I got to sit and have coffee and Ibuprofen, then take a shower and get dressed. Hey! My eyelashes grew back!! Woo HOO!). So we decided that after we dropped her off we would go out to breakfast, then stop at Lowe's. (Had a coupon for Ihop, buy one get one free, can't beat that.)
So Riley got dropped off, Jasmine and I had a leisurely breakfast, then went over to Lowe's and I found an umbrella for the patio table that was marked down, and two chairs that matched. So we get two chairs, the umbrella and base. (Yes, it all fit in the car.)
We finish putting it in the car and Riley is done, go pick her up, get home unload the car, put the umbrella up on the table set the chairs up and before we know it, time to go to get my chest xray done before my doctor's appointment today.
The clerk at the imaging center said they were running an hour behind. Great, I need to be at my doctor's at 11:00, it is 10. Well, I need the xray before I go see him so we wait. About 10:40 I call and tell them I am still waiting for the xray, then all of a sudden I am next. Get the xray walk to the doctors office in the next building, and I am on time. All I could think of was I hope the doctor is close to on time because they were having a picnic at work today and I'd like to stop by to see everyone.
The appointment went great. He said he was amazed and thrilled at how well I am doing and I look great. Much better than he thought I would. He asked if I was getting a lot of pain from where the chest was cracked open, and I told him no, it is the incision where you spread my ribs that aches at times, I take Ibuprofen for it. He wanted to be sure I had pain pills. Yes, I have them, just don't like taking them unless I really need them. That seemed to make him happier. (I figure narcotics make you tired and slow you down, so why take them if you can solve the problem with Ibuprofen.) AND THE BEST NEWS, he gave me the go ahead to go back to work part time until the abdominal surgery with Dr. Flynn. It'll be probably two weeks, but hey I'll take it.
We even made the picnic and I got to see some of the folks I work with daily, got lots of hugs too. A couple that were a little tight (tender ribs remember) but that is OK, they were genuinely happy to see me and know I am going to be back to work.
Tomorrow I get to go to the local Goodyear early and have them check the front end of the car again, and get tires. So I'll be up early, make a swing by Starbucks and get a blueberry muffin, and go sit and wait for my car.
Nothing thrilling, didn't win the lottery, just everyday stuff, simple stuff that reminds me how wonderful life can be if you look for the simple things.
Now take a step back, look at your day and pick one small thing that was simple and good.
Monday was a quiet day, that is it. Yeah, I get bored, but then I get over it, yes I get cabin fever, but at least I can get cabin fever.
Tuesday was my birthday. Just surviving the surgeries and being alive was a great gift. My co workers sent our Bosses (yes, plural) Warrant Officer, Branch Head, and Outside Plant Manager to my house with two birthday cards and and Edible Arrangements arrangement. And it had chocolate covered strawberries. It was yummy!!
Then Jasmine and I spent the afternoon walking through the Torpedo Factory. It was a torpedo factory in the day, then it was converted into Artist Studios, lots of talented people with studios there. Indian for dinner and home. Great day. No big party, don't need that simple enjoyable. Those are the best.
Wednesday we stopped at Starbucks and had ice coffee with a blueberry muffin. Nothing fancy, sat outside for a while, and talked. Then we took a ride to Town Center so I could get my eyebrows threaded (they finally grew back and looked very Sicilian). We stopped in a couple of stores and we saw some outfits I could really rock, but then I looked at the price, and went I don't think so. And they were suppose to be on sale. Leftovers for lunch, Jasmine went to work, and I had the last of my leftovers for dinner.
No exciting adventure, just a simple day.
I'm tired, but that is because when I went to bed tired, I couldn't fall asleep till 1:30, sat up asking myself why I that some days. Then I got up at 5:30.
You see, this was one of those days that was planned as a "long" day. Jasmine's dog Riley had an appointment at 7 AM to be groomed. (OK, now you are asking why I got up at 5:30. Well, I had a head ache, so I got to sit and have coffee and Ibuprofen, then take a shower and get dressed. Hey! My eyelashes grew back!! Woo HOO!). So we decided that after we dropped her off we would go out to breakfast, then stop at Lowe's. (Had a coupon for Ihop, buy one get one free, can't beat that.)
So Riley got dropped off, Jasmine and I had a leisurely breakfast, then went over to Lowe's and I found an umbrella for the patio table that was marked down, and two chairs that matched. So we get two chairs, the umbrella and base. (Yes, it all fit in the car.)
We finish putting it in the car and Riley is done, go pick her up, get home unload the car, put the umbrella up on the table set the chairs up and before we know it, time to go to get my chest xray done before my doctor's appointment today.
The clerk at the imaging center said they were running an hour behind. Great, I need to be at my doctor's at 11:00, it is 10. Well, I need the xray before I go see him so we wait. About 10:40 I call and tell them I am still waiting for the xray, then all of a sudden I am next. Get the xray walk to the doctors office in the next building, and I am on time. All I could think of was I hope the doctor is close to on time because they were having a picnic at work today and I'd like to stop by to see everyone.
The appointment went great. He said he was amazed and thrilled at how well I am doing and I look great. Much better than he thought I would. He asked if I was getting a lot of pain from where the chest was cracked open, and I told him no, it is the incision where you spread my ribs that aches at times, I take Ibuprofen for it. He wanted to be sure I had pain pills. Yes, I have them, just don't like taking them unless I really need them. That seemed to make him happier. (I figure narcotics make you tired and slow you down, so why take them if you can solve the problem with Ibuprofen.) AND THE BEST NEWS, he gave me the go ahead to go back to work part time until the abdominal surgery with Dr. Flynn. It'll be probably two weeks, but hey I'll take it.
We even made the picnic and I got to see some of the folks I work with daily, got lots of hugs too. A couple that were a little tight (tender ribs remember) but that is OK, they were genuinely happy to see me and know I am going to be back to work.
Tomorrow I get to go to the local Goodyear early and have them check the front end of the car again, and get tires. So I'll be up early, make a swing by Starbucks and get a blueberry muffin, and go sit and wait for my car.
Nothing thrilling, didn't win the lottery, just everyday stuff, simple stuff that reminds me how wonderful life can be if you look for the simple things.
Now take a step back, look at your day and pick one small thing that was simple and good.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Roller Coaster of Life Continues
Not whining today, although I will admit to being a bit tired. Sleep hasn't been the easiest thing to get. I'll be tired when going to bed, get comfortable and then someone flips a switch and I am wide awake. Two hours later I'll be asleep, then up again in a couple of hours. Never mind the getting up to pee. Did you know that staying hydrated you pee a lot? ALL flipping day and night?
Well there is a third tumor. Found out about it last week. I was stunned to say the least. I could have cried, but didn't. It is on the right side in between the pectoral muscles. Major and minor I think. Kind of tuned that out.
I am a bit apprehensive about this one, in 2003 the sarcoma was on my left hamstring muscle. They removed the hamstring to get the tumor, granted the tumor was larger than a basket ball, but it was attached to the muscle, and I am just not up to maybe losing the pec muscle, major or minor.
But at the moment it is small and doc says he can get it going through the right arm pit, but that will have to wait until after the abdominal surgery, which will be in about two to three weeks.
LOL! A third tumor, my body's birthday present to me.
Life continues and I still deal with day to day things like having the sway bar on the car replaced, and having to get tires. Dealing with the IRS. Arguing with the mechanic that they still haven't taken care of the clunk when you turn the wheel. Oh and getting the plates renewed, and the yearly safety inspection. The repair shop wants me to drop the car off for the clunk and tires, I told them no, it is the only transportation I have and I am not walking back home, so one day I'll show up when they open, and wait. have no choice. Not to mention paying bills, medical and the normal life bills. Digging through past payments to one of the medical places and getting copies of the payments made to prove they are wrong.
Six months ago all that with the car would have been stressing me out more than anyone could imagine, add the IRS to it and I would have needed Valium or something. Now, I just deal with it.
Funny how some things get put into a different light by other things that are happening in life.
So take sometime today, take a deep breath, relax and spend an hour or so doing something you enjoy or find relaxing.
It all boils down to this, shit happens. Sometimes it is a little shit, sometimes it is a lot of shit, sometimes it seems like unending shit, but if you let it the shit will have you ripping your hair out and send you to an early grave.
So vent get it out, let it go, and find time for yourself to recharge. And right now I am going to recharge by sitting on the deck, listening to the birds and sounds of the neighborhood, including the sounds of a functional base doing practice maneuvers. (Yep, the boys on base are playing with the boom booms.)
Well there is a third tumor. Found out about it last week. I was stunned to say the least. I could have cried, but didn't. It is on the right side in between the pectoral muscles. Major and minor I think. Kind of tuned that out.
I am a bit apprehensive about this one, in 2003 the sarcoma was on my left hamstring muscle. They removed the hamstring to get the tumor, granted the tumor was larger than a basket ball, but it was attached to the muscle, and I am just not up to maybe losing the pec muscle, major or minor.
But at the moment it is small and doc says he can get it going through the right arm pit, but that will have to wait until after the abdominal surgery, which will be in about two to three weeks.
LOL! A third tumor, my body's birthday present to me.
Life continues and I still deal with day to day things like having the sway bar on the car replaced, and having to get tires. Dealing with the IRS. Arguing with the mechanic that they still haven't taken care of the clunk when you turn the wheel. Oh and getting the plates renewed, and the yearly safety inspection. The repair shop wants me to drop the car off for the clunk and tires, I told them no, it is the only transportation I have and I am not walking back home, so one day I'll show up when they open, and wait. have no choice. Not to mention paying bills, medical and the normal life bills. Digging through past payments to one of the medical places and getting copies of the payments made to prove they are wrong.
Six months ago all that with the car would have been stressing me out more than anyone could imagine, add the IRS to it and I would have needed Valium or something. Now, I just deal with it.
Funny how some things get put into a different light by other things that are happening in life.
So take sometime today, take a deep breath, relax and spend an hour or so doing something you enjoy or find relaxing.
It all boils down to this, shit happens. Sometimes it is a little shit, sometimes it is a lot of shit, sometimes it seems like unending shit, but if you let it the shit will have you ripping your hair out and send you to an early grave.
So vent get it out, let it go, and find time for yourself to recharge. And right now I am going to recharge by sitting on the deck, listening to the birds and sounds of the neighborhood, including the sounds of a functional base doing practice maneuvers. (Yep, the boys on base are playing with the boom booms.)
Monday, June 13, 2011
TIred, and Please Pass the Cheese to go with the Whine
I'm not sure this post will make it out or not, I'm not sure what to even title it. What I am sure about is I am tired. So very tired of , hospitals, doctors, medicine, pain. Days like today I can feel the tendrils of depression wanting to sink into my head/emotions. Most of it is because I am tired I think.
I don't write these posts to hear how strong I am or how great I am. Or to have people feel sorry for me because of the pain. Pain is a relative thing in reality. You go through the worst pain you have ever felt in your life, and the peg is raised for the next time. Anyone can deal with it and survive. You have to, better to feel pain, fight and triumph than to give up and roll over.
Today I had a visit with my radiation doctor, nice guy. A one month follow up. He is really happy with how I look, and glad that there wasn't a radiation burn. Me too, back in 2003 I had one hell of a radiation burn, turned the back of the leg all purplish and oozed. Burnt all the time too. Oh, here is something I learned then, never use Solarcane or any other sunburn product on a radiation burn. Just bad, bad business.
He acknowledges that I have been through a hell of a lot in the past three weeks, but he said the worst is yet to come. Yes, having 2/3 of a lung removed and going through Thoracic Duct repair was hard, but the main tumor they are still and have been majorly worried about is the one in the abdomen. It is going to be a harder surgery and recovery.
I was hoping for a go in scoop it out and be done with it, not something worse than what has been.
It is going to get worse? I can't sleep laying flat, it hurts to try to get out of bed, hurts to sneeze, cough, I have a right boob so swollen it isn't funny, but the boob is going to apply for it's own zip code. My arms are swollen like kielbasi cooked on a grill and the skin is so stretched that it can't stretch any more, the hands are puff pastries with little fat sausages attached that are suppose to be fingers.
I am tired and achy, so today isn't such a good day, slept like crude last night too, even after taking pain pills, they lasted two hours.
So today I am having an off day because I am tired, and I whined and vented. It helps. Now I will go rot my brain with some TV, and hopefully get some sleep tonight so I can be a wise ass bitch tomorrow.
If you remember anything at all from this, remember cancer is harder on the family and friends, they have to watch, all we patients have to do is survive.
I don't write these posts to hear how strong I am or how great I am. Or to have people feel sorry for me because of the pain. Pain is a relative thing in reality. You go through the worst pain you have ever felt in your life, and the peg is raised for the next time. Anyone can deal with it and survive. You have to, better to feel pain, fight and triumph than to give up and roll over.
Today I had a visit with my radiation doctor, nice guy. A one month follow up. He is really happy with how I look, and glad that there wasn't a radiation burn. Me too, back in 2003 I had one hell of a radiation burn, turned the back of the leg all purplish and oozed. Burnt all the time too. Oh, here is something I learned then, never use Solarcane or any other sunburn product on a radiation burn. Just bad, bad business.
He acknowledges that I have been through a hell of a lot in the past three weeks, but he said the worst is yet to come. Yes, having 2/3 of a lung removed and going through Thoracic Duct repair was hard, but the main tumor they are still and have been majorly worried about is the one in the abdomen. It is going to be a harder surgery and recovery.
I was hoping for a go in scoop it out and be done with it, not something worse than what has been.
It is going to get worse? I can't sleep laying flat, it hurts to try to get out of bed, hurts to sneeze, cough, I have a right boob so swollen it isn't funny, but the boob is going to apply for it's own zip code. My arms are swollen like kielbasi cooked on a grill and the skin is so stretched that it can't stretch any more, the hands are puff pastries with little fat sausages attached that are suppose to be fingers.
I am tired and achy, so today isn't such a good day, slept like crude last night too, even after taking pain pills, they lasted two hours.
So today I am having an off day because I am tired, and I whined and vented. It helps. Now I will go rot my brain with some TV, and hopefully get some sleep tonight so I can be a wise ass bitch tomorrow.
If you remember anything at all from this, remember cancer is harder on the family and friends, they have to watch, all we patients have to do is survive.
Cancer is Harder on Family and Friends
Yes you read that right. Cancer is harder on family and friends. Well think about it, and remember this is MY blog and My point of view, some think I am a bit warped.
But as the Cancer patient all I have to do is deal with the treatment, side effects and surgeries. I can put my energy in to the fight.
Friends and family watch what the cancer does to the patient. The chemo, the poison that is pumped into your body causes nausea, your hair to fall out, immune system to crash, surgeries. They watch that, they want to do something, but really don't know what. I mean, come on, all I got to do is puke, they watch and worry.
They want to do something, but don't know what, they are scared, frightened and don't want to think about the possible negative outcome. No one wants to think about the negative outcome. No one wants to be accepting of death.
So what can they do? Well, one thing is they can find support groups from the various cancer organizations out there, it does help to vent. Ask the doctor's office if they know of any groups, ask the hospitals social worker what is offered for the family support group of the patient.
This shit plays havoc with the patients emotions, it plays even more havoc on the family and friends.
But the most important thing that they can do is be honest with the cancer patient. Don't always try to put on that brave happy face. We see through it. Talk, express your concerns, how you feel, ask them how they feel. You will end up crying together and end up laughing. Expression of those emotions are exhausting, but it does help. Trust me. Try it.
But as the Cancer patient all I have to do is deal with the treatment, side effects and surgeries. I can put my energy in to the fight.
Friends and family watch what the cancer does to the patient. The chemo, the poison that is pumped into your body causes nausea, your hair to fall out, immune system to crash, surgeries. They watch that, they want to do something, but really don't know what. I mean, come on, all I got to do is puke, they watch and worry.
They want to do something, but don't know what, they are scared, frightened and don't want to think about the possible negative outcome. No one wants to think about the negative outcome. No one wants to be accepting of death.
So what can they do? Well, one thing is they can find support groups from the various cancer organizations out there, it does help to vent. Ask the doctor's office if they know of any groups, ask the hospitals social worker what is offered for the family support group of the patient.
This shit plays havoc with the patients emotions, it plays even more havoc on the family and friends.
But the most important thing that they can do is be honest with the cancer patient. Don't always try to put on that brave happy face. We see through it. Talk, express your concerns, how you feel, ask them how they feel. You will end up crying together and end up laughing. Expression of those emotions are exhausting, but it does help. Trust me. Try it.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Second Surgery, Musings and Comfort Food
Well the surgery to fix the Thoracic Duct Leaks went well, it seems they are fixed and I am breathing a bit better, but I never want to go through that pain again. Let me take you on the adventure.
Got a call saying that a surgery was put in front of mine so rather than be at the hospital at 11 AM be there at 12:30. Sure no problem. All the while thinking, sure no problem no water, or food after midnight Tuesday, which means also no tea or coffee so from a minimum time of midnight I can't have anything, and it is those days you always want.
Then I get a call my surgery is back to the "normal" time be at the hospital at 11 AM. Me, I'm still thinking about what I can't have starting at midnight. But 11 is better than 12:30.
I get up Wednesday morning early, but stayed in bed an extra hour or so watching TV, because there really wasn't anything else to do. Got up took a shower, wanted to drink the water coming out of the shower, I felt dry pipes like I hadn't had water in days. Get dressed walk out into the kitchen. I sit down, all I can think of is I feel like I am starving, I want eggs, I want toast, hash browns, all I know is I am starving and I want to eat.
We end up leaving a half hour earlier than we needed to, good thing too as we pull up to the hospital and I am getting out of the car the doctor's office calls, where am I? Out side the hospital you said my time went back to the normal time. I hear, good they are looking for you your time got moved up. Great.
Get to patient admitting, tell her the name is Lee, she looks for the last name of Leek. Can't find it. I say Lee, LEE, she looks for Leek. Let's try this one more time, and I spell it very slowly, L E E. Wow, she finds my paper work and I am escorted to the surgical waiting are, within 3 minutes I am called bad to the area to be weighed and change into the "paper" gown, yep it is paper.
Got to see Jasmine, then the anaesthesiologist came in and told me that Dr. Sherwood wants to do this with an epidural. Thoracic surgery one of the if not the most painful. Have I had them before? Yeah two weeks ago, I was given a drug so I wouldn't remember it, but I remember it because it didn't kick in till after he was done, I remember the scrapping, crunchy noises as the catheter passed through the spine. He promised I wouldn't remember this one, and he was right I don't.
What I DO remember was coming to in the recovery room for a minute feeling OK, and passing back out, came to later and was in intense pain. Seems I had some "issues" with the epidural during surgery. The pain I cam to and felt was indeed the worse pain I had ever felt in my life, topping the labor I had with Jim, and topping the pain I felt back in 2003 while I had to spend a week on my stomach.
While in surgery they used and and when the anaesthesiologist used a small dose of the drug my blood pressure dropped. Now it is normal for a persons blood pressure dropping during the use of an epidural, but mine dropped to systolic rates, so bad they turned it off, pumped me full of fluids, and put me on a drug to raise my blood pressure. (My blood pressure normally runs a bit low but not that low). They started using a drug called duloted on me (not spelled right) it would knock me out for 20 minutes and I'd wake up in intense pain. Jasmine was there trying to talk me through the pain. All I could think of was concentrate on my breathing, keep breathing, but even with that I would ask for help because it hurt so bad.
They got me into ICU and started to slowly get me back on the epidural and watch the blood pressure. Trust me I was so grateful that the intense pain has easing up. But on the up side 24 hours later pain was controlled and I was sent to a regular room.
The thing about being in a regular room is you must sit up and walk, which I do understand it helps with recovery. And I really didn't mind it if it weren't for all the "accessories" I had.
Not only did I have to deal with accessories, but because of all the fluid they used to keep myblood pressure up my hands look like puffed pasteries, and my fingers are fat little sausages. AND the right bood is a D cup while the left is a b/c.
For me to walk they either got a wheel chair or a walker and hung things on them. I had two chest drains (which are the most God awful things to deal with they cause the most discomfort once the pain is controlled) two containers that are collecting the drainage from the chest, one container that is connected to the catheter, oh and let's not forget the IV, and the pain pump. All that made standing something you want to avoid. But we'd do it. And walk in a circle.
The drainage tubes seem to "scrape" and "pull" and since I could feel mine through the back it was impossible to get comfortable to really sleep. I know sleeping and getting rest in a hospital is about impossible.
Oh yeah, the epidural fell out, so they put me on a PCA that fed the pain meds through the IV, which was already burning my vein. Not fun, but with a couple of hits of the pump button the vein numbed and so did the spots where the drains were and some sleep could be found.
They removed a drain Friday, the catheter on Thursday. That helped lots. The drain they removed was the one I could feel along my right shoulder blade. Having a drain yanked out hurts. But the relief you feel afterwards is amazing.
Doc told me to eat fatty food, because it was a fatty substance that was leaking. I am in a hospital, the use I can't believe it is not butter (trust me I can believe it is not butter) so I tell my wonderful daughter to bring me a strawberry shake from Carl's. Fatty comfort food.
The fluids looked good Saturday AM, so I get to go home. The drain is yanked out, paper work is done, pain pill taken for the ride home. By lunchtime I am sitting having a cup of coffee at my dinning room table and Jasmine is making lunch.
The house is quiet, and the smell of the stir fry veggies is wonderful. She brings lunch over and surprise, there are mashed potatoes. Comfort food. Exactly what I needed. I don't know how she knew but I needed mashed potatoes. They were delish! After lunch I took a two hour nap.
I am working on going places and staying moving, Part of me wants to just stay in PJs in the house and the other keeps saying I need to go out because if I let the side that wants to stay in win, I lose.
So there is the story of the week, not well written but at least it got written. Me, I am going to make a small batch of pasta sauce, because tonight we will have baked ziti. Simple, and keeps me active.
Hope your weekend was wonderful.
Got a call saying that a surgery was put in front of mine so rather than be at the hospital at 11 AM be there at 12:30. Sure no problem. All the while thinking, sure no problem no water, or food after midnight Tuesday, which means also no tea or coffee so from a minimum time of midnight I can't have anything, and it is those days you always want.
Then I get a call my surgery is back to the "normal" time be at the hospital at 11 AM. Me, I'm still thinking about what I can't have starting at midnight. But 11 is better than 12:30.
I get up Wednesday morning early, but stayed in bed an extra hour or so watching TV, because there really wasn't anything else to do. Got up took a shower, wanted to drink the water coming out of the shower, I felt dry pipes like I hadn't had water in days. Get dressed walk out into the kitchen. I sit down, all I can think of is I feel like I am starving, I want eggs, I want toast, hash browns, all I know is I am starving and I want to eat.
We end up leaving a half hour earlier than we needed to, good thing too as we pull up to the hospital and I am getting out of the car the doctor's office calls, where am I? Out side the hospital you said my time went back to the normal time. I hear, good they are looking for you your time got moved up. Great.
Get to patient admitting, tell her the name is Lee, she looks for the last name of Leek. Can't find it. I say Lee, LEE, she looks for Leek. Let's try this one more time, and I spell it very slowly, L E E. Wow, she finds my paper work and I am escorted to the surgical waiting are, within 3 minutes I am called bad to the area to be weighed and change into the "paper" gown, yep it is paper.
Got to see Jasmine, then the anaesthesiologist came in and told me that Dr. Sherwood wants to do this with an epidural. Thoracic surgery one of the if not the most painful. Have I had them before? Yeah two weeks ago, I was given a drug so I wouldn't remember it, but I remember it because it didn't kick in till after he was done, I remember the scrapping, crunchy noises as the catheter passed through the spine. He promised I wouldn't remember this one, and he was right I don't.
What I DO remember was coming to in the recovery room for a minute feeling OK, and passing back out, came to later and was in intense pain. Seems I had some "issues" with the epidural during surgery. The pain I cam to and felt was indeed the worse pain I had ever felt in my life, topping the labor I had with Jim, and topping the pain I felt back in 2003 while I had to spend a week on my stomach.
While in surgery they used and and when the anaesthesiologist used a small dose of the drug my blood pressure dropped. Now it is normal for a persons blood pressure dropping during the use of an epidural, but mine dropped to systolic rates, so bad they turned it off, pumped me full of fluids, and put me on a drug to raise my blood pressure. (My blood pressure normally runs a bit low but not that low). They started using a drug called duloted on me (not spelled right) it would knock me out for 20 minutes and I'd wake up in intense pain. Jasmine was there trying to talk me through the pain. All I could think of was concentrate on my breathing, keep breathing, but even with that I would ask for help because it hurt so bad.
They got me into ICU and started to slowly get me back on the epidural and watch the blood pressure. Trust me I was so grateful that the intense pain has easing up. But on the up side 24 hours later pain was controlled and I was sent to a regular room.
The thing about being in a regular room is you must sit up and walk, which I do understand it helps with recovery. And I really didn't mind it if it weren't for all the "accessories" I had.
Not only did I have to deal with accessories, but because of all the fluid they used to keep myblood pressure up my hands look like puffed pasteries, and my fingers are fat little sausages. AND the right bood is a D cup while the left is a b/c.
For me to walk they either got a wheel chair or a walker and hung things on them. I had two chest drains (which are the most God awful things to deal with they cause the most discomfort once the pain is controlled) two containers that are collecting the drainage from the chest, one container that is connected to the catheter, oh and let's not forget the IV, and the pain pump. All that made standing something you want to avoid. But we'd do it. And walk in a circle.
The drainage tubes seem to "scrape" and "pull" and since I could feel mine through the back it was impossible to get comfortable to really sleep. I know sleeping and getting rest in a hospital is about impossible.
Oh yeah, the epidural fell out, so they put me on a PCA that fed the pain meds through the IV, which was already burning my vein. Not fun, but with a couple of hits of the pump button the vein numbed and so did the spots where the drains were and some sleep could be found.
They removed a drain Friday, the catheter on Thursday. That helped lots. The drain they removed was the one I could feel along my right shoulder blade. Having a drain yanked out hurts. But the relief you feel afterwards is amazing.
Doc told me to eat fatty food, because it was a fatty substance that was leaking. I am in a hospital, the use I can't believe it is not butter (trust me I can believe it is not butter) so I tell my wonderful daughter to bring me a strawberry shake from Carl's. Fatty comfort food.
The fluids looked good Saturday AM, so I get to go home. The drain is yanked out, paper work is done, pain pill taken for the ride home. By lunchtime I am sitting having a cup of coffee at my dinning room table and Jasmine is making lunch.
The house is quiet, and the smell of the stir fry veggies is wonderful. She brings lunch over and surprise, there are mashed potatoes. Comfort food. Exactly what I needed. I don't know how she knew but I needed mashed potatoes. They were delish! After lunch I took a two hour nap.
I am working on going places and staying moving, Part of me wants to just stay in PJs in the house and the other keeps saying I need to go out because if I let the side that wants to stay in win, I lose.
So there is the story of the week, not well written but at least it got written. Me, I am going to make a small batch of pasta sauce, because tonight we will have baked ziti. Simple, and keeps me active.
Hope your weekend was wonderful.
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