I wrote some of this on Friday and Saturday....
So...on Thursday I was imagining that I was having Chemo side effects but as of Friday afternoon I think I know what they are now. They are actually not that bad. The most annoying is the nausea. It's hard to get a handle on so far. When I am hungry I am nauseous. If I eat too quickly I am nauseous. If I wait too long to take my anti nausea pill I am nauseous. If I try to watch TV or talk to people when I am nauseous I get more nauseous. You get the idea.
I have a better handle on it today though. Not eating as fast. Taking little bites often throughout the day. Sitting up for a while after eating. Although I am getting the hang of it I feel like there is not much "feeling good" time. I am either eating to not feel nauseous or resting to not feel nauseous.
Now it is Thursday and I am pretty much back to myself. Saturday ended up being a really hard day. I did not have a good handle on the nausea. I ended up paging the doctor on Saturday night for help and he told me to take another pill. I was instructed to only take two per day but the doctor said that on my bad days that I could take up to four. I think that will help next time.
So, my week looked like this:
Wednesday - Chemo. Felt fine.
Thursday - felt fine.
Friday afternoon I started feeling nauseous.
Saturday - felt awful. I would like to forget about Saturday.
Sunday - felt like Friday which was way better than Saturday.
Monday - felt even better. Food still didn't settle well but was able to work my way up to noodles instead of crackers. Any other foods upset my stomach. I was tired and weak.
Tuesday - was the same way.
Wednesday - I was exhausted but I could finally eat whatever I wanted without upsetting my stomach. The problem was that nothing sounded good. The chemo has left a metallic taste in my mouth making everything taste off and bland.
Today is the same way. I get hungry but I don't feel like eating because so far nothing tastes good. Actually, what tastes good are either really salty or really sweet foods. I make myself eat even though I don't want to and I try to make myself eat something healthy to make up for the chemo days.
So, far my side effects have been: loss of appetite, bloody nose, night sweats and as of today hot flashes. That freaked me out. My face was bright red and I felt like it was on fire. My students kept asking me why my face was so red.
My next cycle will be on Wednesday, Feb. 18th. They say I will start loosing my hair a few days before then. I will be shaving my head in one week so that the hair loss will not be too drastic.
Thanks for reading.
Judy
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Second expansion
This past Monday I went in for my second breast expansion. It was super quick. I am about half way there! The more they fill it the more tender it gets. It is funny to see the results immediately. I get to watch it grow before my eyes. My next expansion will be in two weeks.
Judy
Judy
My first Chemo treatment!
Yikes. I don't recall being this nervous in a long time. I was nervous and scared about not knowing what was to come. I was thinking the other day about how I liked having a schedule and knowing what my days were going to look like ie: wake up, play with Daphne, go to work, etc.
Today on the other hand was different. At 10:30am I met with the Oncologist to ask some final questions and get a little bit more info. I asked him what the percentage was of recurrence of breast cancer once Chemo is done. He said 25%. With Chemo that percentage goes to 20%. After taking Tamoxifen for five years he said that we can talk about "throwing me into early menopause" to decrease my risk of getting breast cancer again.
After meeting with him I went to the back of the office to have my labs done. I realized today that I really do not like being poked with needles. They drew my blood and in less than five minutes had the results. They tested my blood counts. The doc said they were good. I found out that I will NOT have to go back weekly to do labs. I will do labs before each Chemo treatment. I was very pleased with this info!
From there I walked over to Ambulatory Care. It was one large room with lots of mini rooms divided by curtains. Very noisy! My plan was to sleep the whole time but there was lots of people coming and going and lots of tv noises from the other mini rooms. You could even hear the doctor talking to the patient in the next mini room and the nurses gabbing away across from the mini rooms.
Chemo took forever today! I guess the Pharmacy can not start mixing the Chemo until the doctor signs off on it and he can only do that once he sees the lab results. So, I sat around with an IV in my hand for three hours waiting for the Pharmacy to mix the Chemo. Since I was nervous this really bothered me. And I guess it bothered me because my appointment was at 11:30 and they didn't start the Chemo until 2:30pm! I was done by 4:30pm.
The only side effects I am feeling so far are: Metallic taste in my mouth and my feet feel a little bit swollen. The nurses told me to take my anti nausea meds starting tonight to be on the safe side. About five of them stood around my mini room telling me how important this was...so I will take their advice! They also reminded me to complain, complain, complain. I have been become very good at this over the last three months and promised them that I would continue.
The best part of the day was my box lunch! The steroids make me hungry. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, milk and vanilla pudding. They surprised me with a diet coke, too. Very exciting. Yes. I still love hospital food.
My next Chemo date is set for Wednesday, Feb. 18th at 10am. I am going to request that they do the labs first so that the doc. can sign off on it so that the Pharmacy can start mixing away so that I don't have to wait three hours again!
Thanks for reading.
Love,
Judy
Today on the other hand was different. At 10:30am I met with the Oncologist to ask some final questions and get a little bit more info. I asked him what the percentage was of recurrence of breast cancer once Chemo is done. He said 25%. With Chemo that percentage goes to 20%. After taking Tamoxifen for five years he said that we can talk about "throwing me into early menopause" to decrease my risk of getting breast cancer again.
After meeting with him I went to the back of the office to have my labs done. I realized today that I really do not like being poked with needles. They drew my blood and in less than five minutes had the results. They tested my blood counts. The doc said they were good. I found out that I will NOT have to go back weekly to do labs. I will do labs before each Chemo treatment. I was very pleased with this info!
From there I walked over to Ambulatory Care. It was one large room with lots of mini rooms divided by curtains. Very noisy! My plan was to sleep the whole time but there was lots of people coming and going and lots of tv noises from the other mini rooms. You could even hear the doctor talking to the patient in the next mini room and the nurses gabbing away across from the mini rooms.
Chemo took forever today! I guess the Pharmacy can not start mixing the Chemo until the doctor signs off on it and he can only do that once he sees the lab results. So, I sat around with an IV in my hand for three hours waiting for the Pharmacy to mix the Chemo. Since I was nervous this really bothered me. And I guess it bothered me because my appointment was at 11:30 and they didn't start the Chemo until 2:30pm! I was done by 4:30pm.
The only side effects I am feeling so far are: Metallic taste in my mouth and my feet feel a little bit swollen. The nurses told me to take my anti nausea meds starting tonight to be on the safe side. About five of them stood around my mini room telling me how important this was...so I will take their advice! They also reminded me to complain, complain, complain. I have been become very good at this over the last three months and promised them that I would continue.
The best part of the day was my box lunch! The steroids make me hungry. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, milk and vanilla pudding. They surprised me with a diet coke, too. Very exciting. Yes. I still love hospital food.
My next Chemo date is set for Wednesday, Feb. 18th at 10am. I am going to request that they do the labs first so that the doc. can sign off on it so that the Pharmacy can start mixing away so that I don't have to wait three hours again!
Thanks for reading.
Love,
Judy
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Chemo is set
My 1st round of chemo is set for Wednesday, Jan. 28th at 11:30am. Ugh. I meet with the Oncologist at 10:30am that morning then get chemo after that.
I will take steroids Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to protect against allergic reaction to the chemo, it will also help with the side effect of swelling of feet and hands.
The Nurse Practitioner said that usually women feel good the day of and day after Chemo, and that any symptoms they are going to have will start two to three days after Chemo. The side effects of this chemo are: swelling of the hands and feet, mouth sores, nausea (hopefully no vomiting), numbness and tingling in fingertips and toes, hair loss (which she said I will lose my hair right around the start of my second cycle of chemo), joint pain, missed cycles and decreased blood counts (white blood cells, hemoglobin & platelets). She said that a little bit of these symptoms are ok but that I should basically call them when I have more than a littler bit of any symptoms to tell them how much and how long it has been going on because they can give me a pill or shot to help with most of these symptoms.
She said the most important thing to get out of this meeting was that if my temperature is 100.5 or above to call them immediately and they would then send me to the Emergency Room, check my blood counts, start IV fluids and give me antibiotics.
Another thing she said was important was to CALL THEM. She said not to wait to see how bad any one symptom gets. She said if I try to wait to see if I can get it under control on my own then that might result in being admitted into the hospital.
The third thing she said was important was that I eat even when I don't feel like it. She said that the first week after chemo I might not feel like eating. Although they would like me to have a healthy diet she said that the first week they don't care what I eat as long as I can eat (shakes, soup, crackers, etc.).
I will come in weekly to get labs done to check my blood counts and make sure they are good.
I keep telling these Doctors and Nurses that this Chemo and cancer business doesn't fit into my schedule but they are making me move forward anyway. It's hard to think of this as a bump in the road (as my doctor and other survivors keep telling me) when it consumes and halts my whole life right now. When I can, I try to take a step back and realize how lucky I am to have discovered this when I did. My general surgeon said that many doctors if they did not feel the lump would have said to come back in six months (he said he did not agree with this but he said some doctors would say that). Which reminds me. I still need to send that doctor at Howard Brown a card!
More to come in the near future. Thanks for reading and for the continued love and support. It means the world to me.
Judy
I will take steroids Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to protect against allergic reaction to the chemo, it will also help with the side effect of swelling of feet and hands.
The Nurse Practitioner said that usually women feel good the day of and day after Chemo, and that any symptoms they are going to have will start two to three days after Chemo. The side effects of this chemo are: swelling of the hands and feet, mouth sores, nausea (hopefully no vomiting), numbness and tingling in fingertips and toes, hair loss (which she said I will lose my hair right around the start of my second cycle of chemo), joint pain, missed cycles and decreased blood counts (white blood cells, hemoglobin & platelets). She said that a little bit of these symptoms are ok but that I should basically call them when I have more than a littler bit of any symptoms to tell them how much and how long it has been going on because they can give me a pill or shot to help with most of these symptoms.
She said the most important thing to get out of this meeting was that if my temperature is 100.5 or above to call them immediately and they would then send me to the Emergency Room, check my blood counts, start IV fluids and give me antibiotics.
Another thing she said was important was to CALL THEM. She said not to wait to see how bad any one symptom gets. She said if I try to wait to see if I can get it under control on my own then that might result in being admitted into the hospital.
The third thing she said was important was that I eat even when I don't feel like it. She said that the first week after chemo I might not feel like eating. Although they would like me to have a healthy diet she said that the first week they don't care what I eat as long as I can eat (shakes, soup, crackers, etc.).
I will come in weekly to get labs done to check my blood counts and make sure they are good.
I keep telling these Doctors and Nurses that this Chemo and cancer business doesn't fit into my schedule but they are making me move forward anyway. It's hard to think of this as a bump in the road (as my doctor and other survivors keep telling me) when it consumes and halts my whole life right now. When I can, I try to take a step back and realize how lucky I am to have discovered this when I did. My general surgeon said that many doctors if they did not feel the lump would have said to come back in six months (he said he did not agree with this but he said some doctors would say that). Which reminds me. I still need to send that doctor at Howard Brown a card!
More to come in the near future. Thanks for reading and for the continued love and support. It means the world to me.
Judy
Daphne is so sweet
So, Friday night while I was trying to get Daphne to bed for 45 minutes she was in and out of bed every few minutes. I was sleepy and ready for bed myself. She couldn't relax. Even when she was laying down she was squirming. While laying down she ended up bumping her head lightly (but since she has had a cold all week this was very sad to her and she cried about it). She said, "Daphne hurt (gesturing to her head). Mommy kiss it." So I gave her lots of kisses on her head then she pushed me away a little bit and said, "Mommy hurt (gesturing to my surgical breast). Daphne kiss it." Then she leaned over and kissed it. It was very sweet. She had such a proud look on her face. I thanked her and told her that she was helping to make it all better and she was smiling so big. She said, "Daphne helps Mommy." and I told her that she was very sweet and that she helps Mommy a lot. Then she went on to name everyone who helps Mommy.
Heather and I were both in the bathroom during Daphne's bath on Saturday and when I was telling Heather this story Daphne was just beaming listening to it.
Heather and I were both in the bathroom during Daphne's bath on Saturday and when I was telling Heather this story Daphne was just beaming listening to it.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Genetic Testing Results
Great News! Judy got her genetic testing results back today . . . she tested negative for the breast cancer gene. No mutation was found which means that she does not carry the breast cancer gene. So her cancer was as Judy says "just a fluke and I get to keep my other breast and my ovaries" . . . she is obviously very excited!!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
MISCELLANEOUS UPDATES FROM MOM AND JUDY
Since last update, Judy has been back to the General Surgeon, Plastic Surgeon, Oncologist, Genetic Counselor, back to school with Daphne as an observer, and started back to work.
At the General Surgeon's, staples were removed (he actually used a staple remover). She doesn't return there for 3 months (told Dr W. that she will miss him, he told her that he's not going anywhere and that she knows where to find him). He told her that she could start her arm exercises now. Although they are painful she is very happy with the results from doing the exercises and notices more movement in her arm each day!
At the Plastic Surgeon's she had her tissue expander expanded with 60cc of saline (that's 210cc of the required 450cc until the tissue expander is fully expanded and ready for replacement with the actual implant). She returns there every two weeks for more expansion. This didn't hurt the day of but the following day her skin felt tight and bruised. The doctor uses a magnet to locate the metallic port under her skin into which he injects the saline. Such high tech equipment (magnets, staple removers, Geiger counters)!
As far as the genetic testing, I'm not sure where that stands, apparently they still have her blood sample which was drawn earlier, they are just doing a re-check with the insurance company to come up with the amount of deposit required before they run the test. We do not expect to have results from this test for about a month.
At the Oncologists, he discussed 3 different options for chemo and based on his recommendation, she selected a protocol called TC (Taxotere & Cytoxan). She will require 4 treatments, each one will be 3 weeks apart. Side effects of chemo are hair loss, fatigue, decreased blood counts which will place her at risk of infection (so she will need to avoid sick contacts), fatigue, nausea & vomiting. TC causes less nausea & vomiting than the other 2 options. She will be given medications prior to chemo to prevent nausea & afterwards will be given a prescription for medication to decrease it if it occurs. The rationale for chemo is as a precautionary measure to destroy any microscopic cancer cells which might have escaped into the blood stream or into any lymph nodes which were not removed. After chemo she will be on an oral medication called Tamoxiphen for 5 years. This is the medication which blocks estrogen from binding to any remaining cancer cells & prevents further growth. She will require follow up visits to the Oncologist every 3 months for 2 years. She meets Thursday 1/ 22 with the Nurse Practitioner at the Oncologists office for chemo education, planning, scheduling, etc. Chemo will likely start the following week.
At Daphne's school, Judy will continue as an observer for the rest of January and hopefully will be back as a full fledged participant in February.
Her first day back to work teaching an improv class at Second City was on 1/10 and was more than she had bargained for. She had over estimated her readiness and was overwhelmed with fatigue, pain and nausea. She ended up telling her class what was going on (this was a new class). She did make it through the class; they were very supportive and actually applauded her at the end of class.
Her second work day, also another new improv class at Second City was on 1/14 and was a much better experience. She felt much stronger and much more ready to be back at work. She still tires quickly and she struggles with pain issues, some from the tissue expanders, but mostly nerve pain above her elbow in her right arm to her right shoulder blade. Apparently when they do the axillary node dissection they dissect a nerve in your arm , leaving you with numbness and nerve pain that feels like burning. She has been told that this will eventually decrease and that she will get used to it, but no one has said how long "eventually" is. So, as a result it bothers to have anything touching her arm or upper back.
(This is Judy now...the stuff above is from my mom)... With all of this I have gotten back on the positive side. I had a really rough week last week where I was really angry and frustrated and sad and could not sleep. Most nights I was up until at least four am and one time seven. After sharing this with the Breast Care Specialist who is a close family friend and also works with my mom at the hospital, she said that this was completely normal. She said she would be worried about me if I wasn't feeling this way. Then when I contacted Mary Jane from Gilda's club (who is wonderful btw) and told her my frustrations I apologized for being a bummer and she said that I did not sound like I was a bummer. I sound like I have cancer. So, it was refreshing to hear that from those two. I do plan on going to meetings and support groups in the near future. The breast care specialist said that many women end up going at the end of their treatment due to the fact that they are so busy with doctor appointments and recovering. So, that also made me feel better because I was wondering if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.
Being able to spend more time with Daphne has been wonderful for my recovery. I miss her so much when I am at my parents recovering. I have been able to drive so that means more time in the city and much more time visiting Daphne. I get worn out so quickly though. She has gotten used to me taking a three hour nap after just one or two hours of playing. Sometimes she suggests a nap for me and shows me where I should nap.
Teaching and getting back to life has been a wonderful feeling, too.
I am getting more independent! I can tie my own shoes now and can put on some shirts by myself if they are baggy enough.
Ok. Time to go dance with Daphne (which means I hold Daphne with one arm and use our maracas to shake and to sing into them like a microphone and watch ourselves in the mirror. Very fun). My left arm should be really buff from picking her up with just one arm!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the love and support. I really can't express enough how much it means to me. Love to you.
Judy (and Judy's mom)
At the General Surgeon's, staples were removed (he actually used a staple remover). She doesn't return there for 3 months (told Dr W. that she will miss him, he told her that he's not going anywhere and that she knows where to find him). He told her that she could start her arm exercises now. Although they are painful she is very happy with the results from doing the exercises and notices more movement in her arm each day!
At the Plastic Surgeon's she had her tissue expander expanded with 60cc of saline (that's 210cc of the required 450cc until the tissue expander is fully expanded and ready for replacement with the actual implant). She returns there every two weeks for more expansion. This didn't hurt the day of but the following day her skin felt tight and bruised. The doctor uses a magnet to locate the metallic port under her skin into which he injects the saline. Such high tech equipment (magnets, staple removers, Geiger counters)!
As far as the genetic testing, I'm not sure where that stands, apparently they still have her blood sample which was drawn earlier, they are just doing a re-check with the insurance company to come up with the amount of deposit required before they run the test. We do not expect to have results from this test for about a month.
At the Oncologists, he discussed 3 different options for chemo and based on his recommendation, she selected a protocol called TC (Taxotere & Cytoxan). She will require 4 treatments, each one will be 3 weeks apart. Side effects of chemo are hair loss, fatigue, decreased blood counts which will place her at risk of infection (so she will need to avoid sick contacts), fatigue, nausea & vomiting. TC causes less nausea & vomiting than the other 2 options. She will be given medications prior to chemo to prevent nausea & afterwards will be given a prescription for medication to decrease it if it occurs. The rationale for chemo is as a precautionary measure to destroy any microscopic cancer cells which might have escaped into the blood stream or into any lymph nodes which were not removed. After chemo she will be on an oral medication called Tamoxiphen for 5 years. This is the medication which blocks estrogen from binding to any remaining cancer cells & prevents further growth. She will require follow up visits to the Oncologist every 3 months for 2 years. She meets Thursday 1/ 22 with the Nurse Practitioner at the Oncologists office for chemo education, planning, scheduling, etc. Chemo will likely start the following week.
At Daphne's school, Judy will continue as an observer for the rest of January and hopefully will be back as a full fledged participant in February.
Her first day back to work teaching an improv class at Second City was on 1/10 and was more than she had bargained for. She had over estimated her readiness and was overwhelmed with fatigue, pain and nausea. She ended up telling her class what was going on (this was a new class). She did make it through the class; they were very supportive and actually applauded her at the end of class.
Her second work day, also another new improv class at Second City was on 1/14 and was a much better experience. She felt much stronger and much more ready to be back at work. She still tires quickly and she struggles with pain issues, some from the tissue expanders, but mostly nerve pain above her elbow in her right arm to her right shoulder blade. Apparently when they do the axillary node dissection they dissect a nerve in your arm , leaving you with numbness and nerve pain that feels like burning. She has been told that this will eventually decrease and that she will get used to it, but no one has said how long "eventually" is. So, as a result it bothers to have anything touching her arm or upper back.
(This is Judy now...the stuff above is from my mom)... With all of this I have gotten back on the positive side. I had a really rough week last week where I was really angry and frustrated and sad and could not sleep. Most nights I was up until at least four am and one time seven. After sharing this with the Breast Care Specialist who is a close family friend and also works with my mom at the hospital, she said that this was completely normal. She said she would be worried about me if I wasn't feeling this way. Then when I contacted Mary Jane from Gilda's club (who is wonderful btw) and told her my frustrations I apologized for being a bummer and she said that I did not sound like I was a bummer. I sound like I have cancer. So, it was refreshing to hear that from those two. I do plan on going to meetings and support groups in the near future. The breast care specialist said that many women end up going at the end of their treatment due to the fact that they are so busy with doctor appointments and recovering. So, that also made me feel better because I was wondering if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.
Being able to spend more time with Daphne has been wonderful for my recovery. I miss her so much when I am at my parents recovering. I have been able to drive so that means more time in the city and much more time visiting Daphne. I get worn out so quickly though. She has gotten used to me taking a three hour nap after just one or two hours of playing. Sometimes she suggests a nap for me and shows me where I should nap.
Teaching and getting back to life has been a wonderful feeling, too.
I am getting more independent! I can tie my own shoes now and can put on some shirts by myself if they are baggy enough.
Ok. Time to go dance with Daphne (which means I hold Daphne with one arm and use our maracas to shake and to sing into them like a microphone and watch ourselves in the mirror. Very fun). My left arm should be really buff from picking her up with just one arm!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the love and support. I really can't express enough how much it means to me. Love to you.
Judy (and Judy's mom)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
My wonderful Second City Family
For those of you who don't know, I've been working at Second City since I was 16 (which happens to be more than half my life). From the classes to the teachers to the employees to the actors I owe a lot of who I am to this wonderful group of people, my second family. Knowing my financial situation, Kelly Leonard, Vice President Second City, President Second City Theatricals and Andrew Alexander, Proprietor, Executive Producer informed me of the Second City Alumni Fund and suggested I apply to be a recipient of assistance from this fund. I applied in the form of a letter letting them know the estimate of my out of pocket (non-reimbursed by insurance) medical costs for 2008-2009.
The Alumni Fund sprang into existence last year when a crew member of SCTV was diagnosed with Cancer and was unable to work. Eugene Levy and Martin Short wanted to help out and contacted Andrew to see what Second City could do in terms of a live benefit. On May 7th of last year Second City held a 2 night benefit in Toronto where Second City alumnus Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, Colin Mochrie, Deb McGrath, Robin Duke, Jayne Eastwood, and Teresa Pavlineck performed and raised a lot of money. The Second City Alumni Fund was born.
A few days before my first surgery, I received a phone call from Andrew telling me that I was to be a recipient of the Alumni Fund. As a recipient, I have received a most generous gift which will cover most of my out of pocket medical costs. I was overwhelmed by their generosity. My end of the phone conversation consisted of "Wow!" "Really?" and "Oh my gosh!" repeatedly and repeatedly. This phone call came in the midst of my being upset from having had to cancel the genetic testing due to lack of the $1600 advance payment required (I am now rescheduling it).
I just wanted to share this wonderful news and the generous spirit of Second City. Now, go spend your money at Second City (They didn't tell me to say that)!
Happy New Year!
Judy
The Alumni Fund sprang into existence last year when a crew member of SCTV was diagnosed with Cancer and was unable to work. Eugene Levy and Martin Short wanted to help out and contacted Andrew to see what Second City could do in terms of a live benefit. On May 7th of last year Second City held a 2 night benefit in Toronto where Second City alumnus Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, Colin Mochrie, Deb McGrath, Robin Duke, Jayne Eastwood, and Teresa Pavlineck performed and raised a lot of money. The Second City Alumni Fund was born.
A few days before my first surgery, I received a phone call from Andrew telling me that I was to be a recipient of the Alumni Fund. As a recipient, I have received a most generous gift which will cover most of my out of pocket medical costs. I was overwhelmed by their generosity. My end of the phone conversation consisted of "Wow!" "Really?" and "Oh my gosh!" repeatedly and repeatedly. This phone call came in the midst of my being upset from having had to cancel the genetic testing due to lack of the $1600 advance payment required (I am now rescheduling it).
I just wanted to share this wonderful news and the generous spirit of Second City. Now, go spend your money at Second City (They didn't tell me to say that)!
Happy New Year!
Judy
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
GREAT NEWS!
Final pathology report today shows no cancer cells in any of the additional 16 lymph nodes removed! So those cancer cells went no further than a microscopic invasion into that first lymph node (and that node no longer exists). Judy saw her surgeon today & he said that as far as an indicator of prognosis goes, this is the same as if there was no lymph node involvement at all (and that is VERY GOOD!) She had her drain removed. She will get to start exercising and moving her arm on Monday 1/12th. She has a follow up appointment with the surgeon on the 12th and an appointment with the plastic surgeon to have her first expansion of her tissue expander with 30-60cc saline (depending on what she is able to tolerate). Her next step will be to call the Oncologist to make an appointment to see him to talk about the plan for chemo. It is SO good to be able to share some good news!
Friday, January 2, 2009
2nd Surgery Update
Surgery went well . . . we are waiting for her to be brought up to her room. She is in a bit more pain waking up this time than the last surgery but asking for food already. She said to make sure that we mentioned that she was successful in sneaking a pair of her own socks on underneath the uncomfortable hospital socks this time . . . and it felt great!! She will be going home tomorrow and should have the results of the pathology report back by Tuesday afternoon.
Here we go again! and other random thoughts
My hospital bag is packed. Does this sound familiar. This time I packed mostly the same things minus the books. Who am I kidding? The magazines and the crossword book are mostly for visitors. I imagine that like last time I will mostly sleep...and if the Bulls game is on watch that while drifting in and out.
My New Years resolution is to ask for help. I am noticing a theme in my e-mails and blog comments. People offering to help and reminding me that I am not alone. I am not good at asking for help. For example, when I went to the Chiropractor last week for some stretching and therapy I was in too much pain to tie my shoes and put on my coat by myself when I was leaving and I looked around and everyone looked busy and I didn't want to bother them or admit that I needed help so I walked out with shoes untied, carrying my coat. I later laughed about this because anyone of the the staff members there would have helped me in a second if I would have asked. They would have even carried me to the car if that is what I needed. So, with that said I am going to ask for help and let people show me that I am not alone.
I haven't been writing lately because when I think about writing it is usually around one or two in the morning and those thoughts are best kept for my journal. I am doing great though - physically. The exercises are helping a huge amount. I feel like I can move my arm about 60%. I can put on a shirt by myself. It looks funny. With lots of pausing and breathing but I can do it and that give me more independence and I like that. Emotionally it depends on the day and time of day. All I can say is that it is like a rollar coaster. I am mostly on the fun part of a rollar coaster. I guess that was a bad anology because I hate rollar coasters. I have never been on one because they terrify me. Well, maybe that was a good analogy then.
I am more angry about this surgery. I am not nervous - yet. I was able to sleep last night unlike last time. When I woke up it was more like, "Here we go again."
By the way, I packed ankle socks to wear under my hospital socks. I told everyone that I was going to do that the next time but I just thought I was being funny because I didn't think there was going to be a next time.
So, here we go again and like last time though (no matter how frustrated or scared) the last thing I will do before the anesthesia kicks in is - I will take my surgeons hand and look up at the ceiling and look at the tile that looks like a hundred different smiling faces and think about all of you being with me through my surgery.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Judy
My New Years resolution is to ask for help. I am noticing a theme in my e-mails and blog comments. People offering to help and reminding me that I am not alone. I am not good at asking for help. For example, when I went to the Chiropractor last week for some stretching and therapy I was in too much pain to tie my shoes and put on my coat by myself when I was leaving and I looked around and everyone looked busy and I didn't want to bother them or admit that I needed help so I walked out with shoes untied, carrying my coat. I later laughed about this because anyone of the the staff members there would have helped me in a second if I would have asked. They would have even carried me to the car if that is what I needed. So, with that said I am going to ask for help and let people show me that I am not alone.
I haven't been writing lately because when I think about writing it is usually around one or two in the morning and those thoughts are best kept for my journal. I am doing great though - physically. The exercises are helping a huge amount. I feel like I can move my arm about 60%. I can put on a shirt by myself. It looks funny. With lots of pausing and breathing but I can do it and that give me more independence and I like that. Emotionally it depends on the day and time of day. All I can say is that it is like a rollar coaster. I am mostly on the fun part of a rollar coaster. I guess that was a bad anology because I hate rollar coasters. I have never been on one because they terrify me. Well, maybe that was a good analogy then.
I am more angry about this surgery. I am not nervous - yet. I was able to sleep last night unlike last time. When I woke up it was more like, "Here we go again."
By the way, I packed ankle socks to wear under my hospital socks. I told everyone that I was going to do that the next time but I just thought I was being funny because I didn't think there was going to be a next time.
So, here we go again and like last time though (no matter how frustrated or scared) the last thing I will do before the anesthesia kicks in is - I will take my surgeons hand and look up at the ceiling and look at the tile that looks like a hundred different smiling faces and think about all of you being with me through my surgery.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Judy
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