Just a quick note to all, Happy New Year. Key word being NEW! Shed the negative and don the positive. I wish everyone Peace, Prosperity and most important HEALTH!!!!!!! Talk to you in '09!
Trace
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
the 12 days of Christmas...Ytown Style.......
On the 12th day of Christmas (the 15th) My father said to me.."I'm going in for hernia surgery"
On the 11th day of Christmas ..not feeling so well, full of air pockets and drugs that dont work
On the 10th day of Chrismas..still the same but good news is still no roomate!!!
On the 9th day of Christams.....bad pain.. Mom's alone and I feel I should come up!
On the 8th day of Christmas (friday)reschedule surgery for Saturday 12/20....Here I come!
On the 7th day of Christmas.I arrive at 7:30am and we head up to Northside. surgery went fine!
On the 6th day of Christmas.Not feeling well in pain and in ICU. Heart is A fib and bp is ok
On the 5th day of Christmas.still in ICU slooooooowly feeling a bit better. Heart still in A fib.
On the 4th day of Christmas.Moving from ICU to CCU .Told by Drs he can go home...........lol
On the 3rd day of Christmas (24th) still in CCU, still in A fib, numbers arent good to go home. :(
On the 2nd day of Christmas (25th)looking better feeling better,,,,,,just waiting for Dr to say yes!
On the 1st day of Christmas (26th) after getting there at noon and 'barking' for almost 7 hours.......we finally get Dad home.
I still have the Christmas Spirit in me so this blog has been very 'nice'.....but to tell ya the truth...It's been a long time for everyone involved. I learned alot about hospital "politics", health in general (look around folks.....there is someone worse off than you!) And just being home and my Dad not being there. It just wasnt the same.
But I can say, that my sisters and I celebrated Christmas for/with him on Saturday 12/27. Approx, 24 hours after he got home. Its amazing once you get out of that 'designer' hospital gown, ditch your roomie, oh and get a shower , brush your tooth and dont get your vitals taken every 90 min........it's amazing how one can look and feel like a new human being! Mentally and Physically. We're all glad he's home and hope he NEVER has to enter that 'place' again.
It was nice to rekindle my relationship with my mother. Just the 2 of us. Laughing 90pct of the time when we were doing things around the house or at a store. Like I said, it's the best medicine. It was also nice not to talk about my cancer. Kinda give that subject a break for a while and focus on other things.
But now that Im back in Columbus, ( I just drove home yesterday morn. 28th)and I sit at my desk this morning......my haunting awaits me! I have lots of phone calls to make and meet with a my plastic surgeon next week. I'll blog when I have an update!!!
On the 11th day of Christmas ..not feeling so well, full of air pockets and drugs that dont work
On the 10th day of Chrismas..still the same but good news is still no roomate!!!
On the 9th day of Christams.....bad pain.. Mom's alone and I feel I should come up!
On the 8th day of Christmas (friday)reschedule surgery for Saturday 12/20....Here I come!
On the 7th day of Christmas.I arrive at 7:30am and we head up to Northside. surgery went fine!
On the 6th day of Christmas.Not feeling well in pain and in ICU. Heart is A fib and bp is ok
On the 5th day of Christmas.still in ICU slooooooowly feeling a bit better. Heart still in A fib.
On the 4th day of Christmas.Moving from ICU to CCU .Told by Drs he can go home...........lol
On the 3rd day of Christmas (24th) still in CCU, still in A fib, numbers arent good to go home. :(
On the 2nd day of Christmas (25th)looking better feeling better,,,,,,just waiting for Dr to say yes!
On the 1st day of Christmas (26th) after getting there at noon and 'barking' for almost 7 hours.......we finally get Dad home.
I still have the Christmas Spirit in me so this blog has been very 'nice'.....but to tell ya the truth...It's been a long time for everyone involved. I learned alot about hospital "politics", health in general (look around folks.....there is someone worse off than you!) And just being home and my Dad not being there. It just wasnt the same.
But I can say, that my sisters and I celebrated Christmas for/with him on Saturday 12/27. Approx, 24 hours after he got home. Its amazing once you get out of that 'designer' hospital gown, ditch your roomie, oh and get a shower , brush your tooth and dont get your vitals taken every 90 min........it's amazing how one can look and feel like a new human being! Mentally and Physically. We're all glad he's home and hope he NEVER has to enter that 'place' again.
It was nice to rekindle my relationship with my mother. Just the 2 of us. Laughing 90pct of the time when we were doing things around the house or at a store. Like I said, it's the best medicine. It was also nice not to talk about my cancer. Kinda give that subject a break for a while and focus on other things.
But now that Im back in Columbus, ( I just drove home yesterday morn. 28th)and I sit at my desk this morning......my haunting awaits me! I have lots of phone calls to make and meet with a my plastic surgeon next week. I'll blog when I have an update!!!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Long Road to Ruin
Hello All,
I hope this blog finds you all well. I have had a very busy week meeting with Dr's and dealing with my Father's surgery. It's Friday today and I have received alot of news and phone calls. First off, my father must go in for more urgent surgery for an obstruction. So needless to say, I will be driving to Youngstown to stay with my mother till Dec. 25th. Dan and Mallori will come up to Y-town on 12/24, since they have to work.
I received a phone call today from my 2nd opinion breast surgeon. I had an MRI done yesterday and she was calling me up regarding the results of this. The MRI shows that my left side is good. However, the right side is not so good. The right side shows a residual tumor and said it was marked more than usual. The MRI also picked up 2 abnormal lymph nodes (in the axillary nodes) that will need to be removed and biopsied. All in all, I need to have a mastectomy.
It's not something I really wanted to have done, however, like many things in life, you think you have it bad till you look around and see someone else in a much worse case than you.
I really have to count my blessings that this cancer is where it's at, how it's at (stage and type) and that it is a slow moving invasive cancer. I have a lot of 'goods' with this cancer. Its just that in order to basically be cancer free and hopefully for life, I must have a mastectomy.
On a lighter note, I am wishing all of you who I know and those of you whom I don't a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May you all live with peace, harmony, love and health for the new year! And don't forget about our Troops, you may not agree with the USA being over 'there', but at least support our Troops in defending us! God Bless them all!
I hope this blog finds you all well. I have had a very busy week meeting with Dr's and dealing with my Father's surgery. It's Friday today and I have received alot of news and phone calls. First off, my father must go in for more urgent surgery for an obstruction. So needless to say, I will be driving to Youngstown to stay with my mother till Dec. 25th. Dan and Mallori will come up to Y-town on 12/24, since they have to work.
I received a phone call today from my 2nd opinion breast surgeon. I had an MRI done yesterday and she was calling me up regarding the results of this. The MRI shows that my left side is good. However, the right side is not so good. The right side shows a residual tumor and said it was marked more than usual. The MRI also picked up 2 abnormal lymph nodes (in the axillary nodes) that will need to be removed and biopsied. All in all, I need to have a mastectomy.
It's not something I really wanted to have done, however, like many things in life, you think you have it bad till you look around and see someone else in a much worse case than you.
I really have to count my blessings that this cancer is where it's at, how it's at (stage and type) and that it is a slow moving invasive cancer. I have a lot of 'goods' with this cancer. Its just that in order to basically be cancer free and hopefully for life, I must have a mastectomy.
On a lighter note, I am wishing all of you who I know and those of you whom I don't a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May you all live with peace, harmony, love and health for the new year! And don't forget about our Troops, you may not agree with the USA being over 'there', but at least support our Troops in defending us! God Bless them all!
Monday, December 15, 2008
2nd opinion and cleveland
going for a 2nd opinion with Patty Harris today. I hope it turns out good. Then weather permitting I am driving up to Cleveland to see my Dad (he just had hernia surgery) and stay with my mom till THursday. I'll blog when i can. Wish me luck and drive safe this evening due to the ice!!
Trace
Trace
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
News at 11
Well folks, I met with my Medical Oncologist yesterday. She was very good at answering my questions, explaining to me my options and did not make me feel rushed. I think I'm going to keep her!!!!
I get a 2nd opinion on Monday 12/15 and if all goes well I wont be having a mastectomy. I have this gut feeling that I have explained to Dr. Ramaswami that would just include me having radiation treatment followed by 5 years of tamoxifen. I am having an MRI scheduled in January for my entire chest just so I can rule out any could be/would be problems.
I have such a meticulous surgical oncologist that based on what she's scooped out of my right side is just not to her comfort level. Even though I do have a clear margin as stated by my pathologist reports.
I'm going to hear out my 2nd opinion and see how this developing story unfolds, back to you Bill!
I get a 2nd opinion on Monday 12/15 and if all goes well I wont be having a mastectomy. I have this gut feeling that I have explained to Dr. Ramaswami that would just include me having radiation treatment followed by 5 years of tamoxifen. I am having an MRI scheduled in January for my entire chest just so I can rule out any could be/would be problems.
I have such a meticulous surgical oncologist that based on what she's scooped out of my right side is just not to her comfort level. Even though I do have a clear margin as stated by my pathologist reports.
I'm going to hear out my 2nd opinion and see how this developing story unfolds, back to you Bill!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Busy busy busy
Hello Everyone, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday. The time has gone by fast since I last blogged. I met with my surgeon yesterday to discuss my option. I swear I walked out of there asking more questions than I did going in there to get answered. Needless to say, I am going to meet a Dr. Linda Han for a 2nd opinion.. After my last blog, I had about 3 friends all whom do NOT know each other, tell me her name and needless to say, she came highly recommended by all 3.
So I meet with her on the 15th. I got a new medical oncologist, since the last one didn't seem to know diddly squat. I guess the reason for our 'break up' was because she used the word "guess"......for some strange reason.......the word 'guess' and the subject cancer are the equivalent of oil and water to me. No Doctor should 'guess' when it comes time for cancer. So I 'nixed' her. I got a new medical oncologist who I'm looking forward to meeting. Her first name..... well let's just say if I had a nickel for every letter, I wouldn't have to go to work, EVER! And her last name is Ramaswami.
Back to the 2nd opinion, I feel jipped, jaded, short end of the stick, raw deal...you name it. I am willing to take chemo and radiation if it means saving my breast. I mean with the few itsy bitsy cancer cells floating around in my right side, I just have a very hard time believing that a mastectomy is my only choice.
Since, I work for the airlines, I am lining up a 3 rd opinion at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. I'm still researching Doctors and verifying with our insurance that its covered. It is one of the top 10 breast cancer hospitals in the good ole USA. Avon and Komen have a huge partnership with this facility and their website is just awesome.
I guess you could call me bullheaded, or you could call me a fighter, that's your choice. But whatever I'm called it certainly won't be a quiter. I'm on a mission to destroy these pain in the butt cancer cells that are left in me. I will not let them control or destroy my life.
(wow......I feel like eating a fried green tomato and yelling "Tawanda!!!")
Anyhow, Applebees happy hour is calling me out with my girls in a few. I will blog soon. And remember.............Pick battle big enough to matter, but small enough to win!!!!
So I meet with her on the 15th. I got a new medical oncologist, since the last one didn't seem to know diddly squat. I guess the reason for our 'break up' was because she used the word "guess"......for some strange reason.......the word 'guess' and the subject cancer are the equivalent of oil and water to me. No Doctor should 'guess' when it comes time for cancer. So I 'nixed' her. I got a new medical oncologist who I'm looking forward to meeting. Her first name..... well let's just say if I had a nickel for every letter, I wouldn't have to go to work, EVER! And her last name is Ramaswami.
Back to the 2nd opinion, I feel jipped, jaded, short end of the stick, raw deal...you name it. I am willing to take chemo and radiation if it means saving my breast. I mean with the few itsy bitsy cancer cells floating around in my right side, I just have a very hard time believing that a mastectomy is my only choice.
Since, I work for the airlines, I am lining up a 3 rd opinion at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. I'm still researching Doctors and verifying with our insurance that its covered. It is one of the top 10 breast cancer hospitals in the good ole USA. Avon and Komen have a huge partnership with this facility and their website is just awesome.
I guess you could call me bullheaded, or you could call me a fighter, that's your choice. But whatever I'm called it certainly won't be a quiter. I'm on a mission to destroy these pain in the butt cancer cells that are left in me. I will not let them control or destroy my life.
(wow......I feel like eating a fried green tomato and yelling "Tawanda!!!")
Anyhow, Applebees happy hour is calling me out with my girls in a few. I will blog soon. And remember.............Pick battle big enough to matter, but small enough to win!!!!
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