It's a miracle!

I had my two week post surgery visit with my oncologist today.

We got great news! At this time, I don't require any additional treatment. That's right. No chemo, no radiation. I believe it's a miracle!

He said a lot of doctor speak that Jared could probably recite verbatim, but essentially removing the tumor was enough. My oncologist said that at this time, based on what he can see & the pathology reports that going through radiation would do more harm than good.

Our next step is observation. I'll meet with him again at the end of September, and then follow up with a visit every few months just to watch and see how things are going. If cancer springs up again, then we can address chemo/radiation as a treatment option down the road. As far as today, I don't need it!

For now I just keep recovering from surgery and enjoying my family!

A week after surgery

Well it's been a week.

I spent 2 days in the hospital and have been able to continue recuperating at home. Jared stayed home a couple of days taking care of my every whim as well as helping me walk/hobble around. I meet with the oncologist next Wednesday and we should have a better idea of treatment for round 2. I will have 4-8 weeks of recovery before having to do chemo & radiation.

Overall, I'm doing well for someone who just had surgery 7 days ago. I do get tired easily, and need several naps during the day. There have been several occasions recently where I have just fallen asleep while I was sitting on the couch. Other than that I've gotten my appetite back, I can walk around for short distances, and have my post-operative pain under control. I still have pain, but it's very manageable, especially with medicine.

My mom was here the last couple of days until we both realized that recovery and young kids don't mix. As much as Adam loves his legos, there are only so many hours he can stay in his room playing with them. I know he's bored out of his mind since we can't go anywhere and there is no way I can sit on the floor and play with him for hours. He's been very understanding & gentle with me. He's been very careful not to be rough or jump on me. But being cooped up inside at home is wearing on him as well, as he has increased his tantrums.

Hadley on the other hand does not understand how to be gentle with me. Her favorite things are to climb on the couch, then onto me and bounce, bounce, bounce, hop off and climb back on again. Then she will fetch her toys and THROW them onto my head just as I'm dozing off on the couch. She does this repeatedly with great joy.

My mom offered this morning to take the kids back to her house for a couple of days. As much as I want to have them around, I am physically not up being mom. At Grandma Cherrie's they can have a lot more fun, and I can get a lot more rest. I figured I'd better take her up on it. On Monday Adam starts kindergarten and we will be more on a schedule.

So I'm doing pretty good, trying to take it easy.

I love this man!

Image courtesy of Jenna Marie Studios

I love this man! He has been great at taking care of me this week. I've been laid up and he has been at my service. He had to work on Wednesday, but before work he stopped by and brought me blueberry muffins and a bouquet of flowers. He came and spent the evenings with me and got me everything I needed and tried to make me as comfortable as possible. Even when that involved, move my pillow, scratch my back, walk with me down the hall, listen to me complain, get me medicine, and then do it all over again. I love you Jared, I'd be a total mess without you!

Amnesia & The Big Cookie

On my last evening in the hospital my dad brought me a big cookie. I thanked him, but I was curious about why he brought it. He told me I had asked for it. After surgery, when I was coming out of anesthesia, my dad asked if he could do anything for me. Apparently, in all my loopiness, I asked him to bring me a big cookie. I don't remember this at all.

Friday, August 13, 2010

I was released from the hospital about 10:30 am on Thursday. I have never been so glad to leave a place.

I'm still hurting, and my body is working hard on re-learning the basics. At home is better though. I can get more comfortable, and control my own pain management much better.

I'm definitely shuffling around here, but I know things will get easier and easier. It's still hard now, but we are just taking one day at time.

Rough Night - Aug 12, 2010

This has been a rough night. I don't think I've ever been in this much pain in my entire life. I'm hurting in a bad way.

Earlier in the day the nurse wanted to phase me out of my morphine drip, and started giving me a pill instead. Which I was fine with. The pill took the edge off for about 3 hours, but I start hurting the last hour I have to wait to get a new pill. It never took my pain completely away.

I wasn't due a pill until 10:30 pm last night. So I waited up to get it so I could go to sleep. After falling asleep, I was woken up at 11:30 pm to have my vitals checked, and to remove the tape over my incision (seriously could this not wait until morning?) At 1 am I was checked on again. At 2 am I woke up in a lot of pain, and had to wait until 2:30 am for my pain pill.

This time the pill just didn't seem to work or even take the edge off. The pain got more and more severe. My entire body ached down to my kneecaps. Luckily from the kneecaps down I'm 100 percent. I've got a terrible headache and backache. I've got a sore throat and I feel like someone has punched me in the sides of my jaw. I could not find a comfortable position in bed, so I started slowly walking the halls. It helped knock down my pain level one point, but I was still in quite a bit of pain.

I got the feeling the night nurses don't like patients to just go wandering the halls. I felt a little bit like a child that gets up in the night and is sent back to bed. Finally, at 3:45 am the nurse gave me a shot of morphine in my IV port which is finally helping dull the pain. I still hurt, but it's not as severe.

I finally fell asleep to be woken up at 5 am for blood to be drawn. I fell asleep again, to be woken up at 6:20 am to remove my catheter. I fell asleep again, only to be woken up at 7:15 am to choose what I wanted for lunch and dinner. What do I want for lunch and dinner, how about a nap? This is getting ridiculous.

I'm hoping I still get to come home today and sleep in my own bed without someone waking me up hour of the nigth. I hope my night time pain won't delay me going home. I think I'll do better without all the interruptions and hoses stuck to me.

Hospital Humor

The hospital's policy is for the medical staff to repeatedly verify your full name, birthdate, and reason for hospital stay.

I decided to tell George, my male nurse that I was here for a boob job.

He replied, as professionally as possible, "Let's pump those puppies up."

Then he followed that his wife had a hysterectomy at 30, and she loves it. Apparently she calls this surgery "getting your period taken out."