Saturday, September 17, 2011
Good times
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Update time
I left off with my lung surgery -- well, not even a month later, my gallbladder decided it needed some attention. So, back to the O.R. it was. The staff was like "you look familiar..." And a month after that, I had to go in for the day for a CT myelogram, when I walked in, this time the staff was "you're back!"
Copays have been taking a huge bite out of my budget! I'm so ready for all of this stuff to be over. Alas, I have a couple of MRIs scheduled for next week. And then, I'm going to hang it up with the doctors for a while unless I get some news that I can't ignore.
I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that some things, I'm just going to have to learn to live with. And, to that end, I've been living with them for a while, so I kind of have a head start huh?
Gabby has had a couple of issues herself - we've been assigned the fun job of wiping her hiney with an antibiotic cloth, and you can rest assured that she likes it even less than we do.
A week after she was at the vet for that, she started limping. I thought she'd hurt her paw, but couldn't tell anything, so I took her in again. I had to leave her. They called me that afternoon and asked if they could sedate her to examine her, because she was a really unhappy little girl. I said sure. Turns out, she had hurt her shoulder. Poor girl.
I won't so quickly say yes when they ask me if they can sedate her again. She must have had some horrible hallucinations - she howled and hissed and growled for 24 hours! All I wanted to do was hold her and all she wanted was for me to get out of her sight. I felt so bad! I called the vet, and they promised me it would wear off. I was very happy when I got home from work the next day and sweet Gabby greeted me!
So, now, not only are we wiping her hiney, I have to spice up her food with some "kitty cat yogurt", a medication for her shoulder, and her preventative L-lysine. She gets so impatient with me while I'm mixing it all up every morning.
Her tummy issue is better, but not resolved.
She has started playing again!! She must have been hurting for a while, but I didn't pick up on it. She would be interested in playing, and would make a half-hearted effort - I just thought she was bored with our games. She makes up games, and I play along. She's been very snuggly lately, so I'm glad about that.
We are building a storage building in the back yard. Well, let me clarify that, CHRIS is building the building. His Dad is first assistant, and I am the 2nd assistant.
They are doing a great job. I'm excited to see it come together. And now, I want a gazebo...
My friend in need of a liver transplant is now on the transplant list. We are now just waiting on that phone call.
My friend battling breast cancer is dealing with a spread of the cancer to her spinal fluid. She's a fighter, cancer's a loser.
I have a friend coming from Phoenix in a few days to stay a week, I'm really excited to get to see her again!
Copays have been taking a huge bite out of my budget! I'm so ready for all of this stuff to be over. Alas, I have a couple of MRIs scheduled for next week. And then, I'm going to hang it up with the doctors for a while unless I get some news that I can't ignore.
I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that some things, I'm just going to have to learn to live with. And, to that end, I've been living with them for a while, so I kind of have a head start huh?
Gabby has had a couple of issues herself - we've been assigned the fun job of wiping her hiney with an antibiotic cloth, and you can rest assured that she likes it even less than we do.
A week after she was at the vet for that, she started limping. I thought she'd hurt her paw, but couldn't tell anything, so I took her in again. I had to leave her. They called me that afternoon and asked if they could sedate her to examine her, because she was a really unhappy little girl. I said sure. Turns out, she had hurt her shoulder. Poor girl.
I won't so quickly say yes when they ask me if they can sedate her again. She must have had some horrible hallucinations - she howled and hissed and growled for 24 hours! All I wanted to do was hold her and all she wanted was for me to get out of her sight. I felt so bad! I called the vet, and they promised me it would wear off. I was very happy when I got home from work the next day and sweet Gabby greeted me!
So, now, not only are we wiping her hiney, I have to spice up her food with some "kitty cat yogurt", a medication for her shoulder, and her preventative L-lysine. She gets so impatient with me while I'm mixing it all up every morning.
Her tummy issue is better, but not resolved.
She has started playing again!! She must have been hurting for a while, but I didn't pick up on it. She would be interested in playing, and would make a half-hearted effort - I just thought she was bored with our games. She makes up games, and I play along. She's been very snuggly lately, so I'm glad about that.
We are building a storage building in the back yard. Well, let me clarify that, CHRIS is building the building. His Dad is first assistant, and I am the 2nd assistant.
They are doing a great job. I'm excited to see it come together. And now, I want a gazebo...
My friend in need of a liver transplant is now on the transplant list. We are now just waiting on that phone call.
My friend battling breast cancer is dealing with a spread of the cancer to her spinal fluid. She's a fighter, cancer's a loser.
I have a friend coming from Phoenix in a few days to stay a week, I'm really excited to get to see her again!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Puzzle solved
So, I had the biopsy last week, spent a lovely night in the hospital with a tube sticking out of my chest. I've been through a lot of surgery and experienced a lot of pain in my life. I will say that lung surgery is like no other pain I've ever felt before. Imagine a fire spreading across your chest while someone is repeatedly stabbing you and not being able to catch a breath at the same time. h.u.r.t.s.
They did a frozen section during the surgery and found out it was not cancer. :)
The final pathology has come back, it is nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. Apparently nothing to worry about.
My incisions are healing. Skin is very sensitive and the left side of my chest feels numb, and now it is starting to itch. A small price to pay for finally KNOWING.
So - day before yesterday, I had to go to a different doctor and ended up having a minor procedure. I ended up in respiratory distress and being put on an ambulance and taken to the emergency room. It was such a scary experience. Part of me knew that it was going to be okay, I was surrounded by medical personnel, and part of me was terrified, because when it first started happening, I could not breathe at all. I couldn't speak. The PA was very attentive and realized that something had gone really wrong. They all responded promptly and very professionally.
I've been a little weepy this past week - maybe part of it is from being put on a ventilator during the surgery, and part of it going into respiratory distress, and relief, and worry, and pain, and the stress of things piling up on my desk at the office. The little ambulance ride cost me a couple more days at home taking it easy while things at work kept piling on. I think of how differently things could have gone on so many accounts.
Today I find out I have 4 leaky heart valves. What's the saying "getting old ain't for sissies"? And then this afternoon, I had a to have a medical test that was by far the most mortifying thing I've ever had to do. I won't go into the details of it, but I sure hope they got the information they need! I won't voluntarily do that again!
I do wish all of my body systems would start playing together nicely.
The main thing is that the question mark about what was in my lung has been removed, and me and Chris and my family and friends have been able to breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you God for answering our prayers.
They did a frozen section during the surgery and found out it was not cancer. :)
The final pathology has come back, it is nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. Apparently nothing to worry about.
My incisions are healing. Skin is very sensitive and the left side of my chest feels numb, and now it is starting to itch. A small price to pay for finally KNOWING.
So - day before yesterday, I had to go to a different doctor and ended up having a minor procedure. I ended up in respiratory distress and being put on an ambulance and taken to the emergency room. It was such a scary experience. Part of me knew that it was going to be okay, I was surrounded by medical personnel, and part of me was terrified, because when it first started happening, I could not breathe at all. I couldn't speak. The PA was very attentive and realized that something had gone really wrong. They all responded promptly and very professionally.
I've been a little weepy this past week - maybe part of it is from being put on a ventilator during the surgery, and part of it going into respiratory distress, and relief, and worry, and pain, and the stress of things piling up on my desk at the office. The little ambulance ride cost me a couple more days at home taking it easy while things at work kept piling on. I think of how differently things could have gone on so many accounts.
Today I find out I have 4 leaky heart valves. What's the saying "getting old ain't for sissies"? And then this afternoon, I had a to have a medical test that was by far the most mortifying thing I've ever had to do. I won't go into the details of it, but I sure hope they got the information they need! I won't voluntarily do that again!
I do wish all of my body systems would start playing together nicely.
The main thing is that the question mark about what was in my lung has been removed, and me and Chris and my family and friends have been able to breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you God for answering our prayers.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The question has been answered
So, referring back to my post To bx or not to bx in August of 2009 - after a lot of consideration, I decided to not do the lung biopsy and just follow the protocol of having CT scans of my chest for 2 years. They stretched the frequency back from 3 months to 6 months, and then out to a year.
I had my last CT about two weeks ago and went for the results on Thursday. I got a little nervous just from the doctor's mannerism, and then his statement "this was supposed to have been your last CT", and I felt my stomach flip. I told myself to concentrate on what he was saying. He said there are changes on the CT, the nodule has enlarged and is irregular in shape. He told me I need to have it excised, but that I need to have a PET scan first.
I associate PET scans with cancer.
I managed to ask some semi-intelligent questions. I managed not to fall apart. I did start shaking as soon as the doctor left the room to get the PET scan scheduled. I texted Chris, then we talked. He is concerned of course, and now we are both ready to move on, get it done, but as with all things medical, you have to WAIT. I have to wait a week to have the PET scan, then wait a week to see the doctor for the results, and then I have to wait for the surgery to be scheduled and then I have to wait for biopsy results.
My parents and family and friends are all obviously concerned.
Even though I have to wait - I do have some things on my side, other than God who has me in his hands, I work for 3 wonderful cardiothoracic surgeons. 2 of them went to the hospital that same day and personally reviewed my CT scans, and discussed them with the radiologist and the pulmonologist. All 4 agree that the nodule has to come out.
I feel so much better though now knowing what their line of thought is - the edges of the nodule are ill defined and it is very difficult to compare and say with certainty that it has remained stable. They are unable to feel confident that they are comparing the same slices. So, their recommendation is biopsy. The question has been answered - yes I will biopsy. They also all four feel that it has a very low chance that it is malignant - but we need to have an answer one way or another.
The Queen of Lungs is doing my surgery. That's what my friend who is the director of the cardiac services line at the hospital where I will have my surgery calls her. She's called the Queen because SHE.IS.THE.BEST. I'm so blessed to have her as a boss, and as my surgeon. I feel totally confident and comfortable.
The pulmonologist had told me that I would need to have a thoracotomy which is open lung surgery and a couple of days in the hospital. After reviewing the CT, my boss says she can do a VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) with a wedge resection. It's less invasive and should only need one night in the hospital.
So, that's the plan. I have an answer to the question about whether or not to biopsy, so now it's just going through the motions to get to the final answer to the puzzle.
I had my last CT about two weeks ago and went for the results on Thursday. I got a little nervous just from the doctor's mannerism, and then his statement "this was supposed to have been your last CT", and I felt my stomach flip. I told myself to concentrate on what he was saying. He said there are changes on the CT, the nodule has enlarged and is irregular in shape. He told me I need to have it excised, but that I need to have a PET scan first.
I associate PET scans with cancer.
I managed to ask some semi-intelligent questions. I managed not to fall apart. I did start shaking as soon as the doctor left the room to get the PET scan scheduled. I texted Chris, then we talked. He is concerned of course, and now we are both ready to move on, get it done, but as with all things medical, you have to WAIT. I have to wait a week to have the PET scan, then wait a week to see the doctor for the results, and then I have to wait for the surgery to be scheduled and then I have to wait for biopsy results.
My parents and family and friends are all obviously concerned.
Even though I have to wait - I do have some things on my side, other than God who has me in his hands, I work for 3 wonderful cardiothoracic surgeons. 2 of them went to the hospital that same day and personally reviewed my CT scans, and discussed them with the radiologist and the pulmonologist. All 4 agree that the nodule has to come out.
I feel so much better though now knowing what their line of thought is - the edges of the nodule are ill defined and it is very difficult to compare and say with certainty that it has remained stable. They are unable to feel confident that they are comparing the same slices. So, their recommendation is biopsy. The question has been answered - yes I will biopsy. They also all four feel that it has a very low chance that it is malignant - but we need to have an answer one way or another.
The Queen of Lungs is doing my surgery. That's what my friend who is the director of the cardiac services line at the hospital where I will have my surgery calls her. She's called the Queen because SHE.IS.THE.BEST. I'm so blessed to have her as a boss, and as my surgeon. I feel totally confident and comfortable.
The pulmonologist had told me that I would need to have a thoracotomy which is open lung surgery and a couple of days in the hospital. After reviewing the CT, my boss says she can do a VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) with a wedge resection. It's less invasive and should only need one night in the hospital.
So, that's the plan. I have an answer to the question about whether or not to biopsy, so now it's just going through the motions to get to the final answer to the puzzle.
I'm feelin' groovy
I'm feelin' groovy, come on get happy!
Yesterday afternnon, I went to my Goddaughter's 10th birthday party. I hadn't seen her, nor the rest of her family, since May of 2010. We all lead busy lives, and there is the occasional text or email. I had not told any of them about my weight loss efforts.
As the day of the party grew near and I got more excited about seeing all of them because I miss them since life changed because I moved to a different city and my job took me literally in a different direction.
I shopped and found Ella just the perfect gift. Her favorite thing right now is Vera Bradley. Luckily I found a store nearby my office that sells her product line.
The way the afternoon unfolded, and each person arrived - I got to see the reactions to my weight loss - talk about NSV's! I'm at 41 pounds loss right now, and feeling so good about that.
I think the best one was when Karina did a double take - her jaw dropped, and I could see it registering with her. She told me that she was trying to figure out which mom I was and which kid I was there to pick up, and then she realized it was me.
All of the reactions were great, and it is such a positive reinforcement - so yeah, I'm feelin' groovy.
Yesterday afternnon, I went to my Goddaughter's 10th birthday party. I hadn't seen her, nor the rest of her family, since May of 2010. We all lead busy lives, and there is the occasional text or email. I had not told any of them about my weight loss efforts.
As the day of the party grew near and I got more excited about seeing all of them because I miss them since life changed because I moved to a different city and my job took me literally in a different direction.
I shopped and found Ella just the perfect gift. Her favorite thing right now is Vera Bradley. Luckily I found a store nearby my office that sells her product line.
The way the afternoon unfolded, and each person arrived - I got to see the reactions to my weight loss - talk about NSV's! I'm at 41 pounds loss right now, and feeling so good about that.
I think the best one was when Karina did a double take - her jaw dropped, and I could see it registering with her. She told me that she was trying to figure out which mom I was and which kid I was there to pick up, and then she realized it was me.
All of the reactions were great, and it is such a positive reinforcement - so yeah, I'm feelin' groovy.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
NSV
I just learned what an NSV is. It's a "Non Scale Victory" on Weight Watchers. And, I was happy to learn that I have had a NSV. My rings are too big. They keep slipping around and I have to constantly straighten them up. Irritating? Yes. Annoying? Yes. Do I mind? That's a big ole NO! Because as of this morning, I've lost 28 pounds since November 1, 2010.
I have to say that I am proud of myself. My sister inspired me - she's lost 57 lbs, maybe even more than that since the last time I asked her. I watched her having so much success and because I am so proud of her, I thought I'd give it a try.
I'm so glad I did. It's been one of the easiest things I've ever done. I've learned some good habits. I'm accountable to myself - something I never took seriously before, but I do now. I have loved watching the scale go down and the number of lost pounds go up. I feel confident that I can maintain. I don't want to gain it all back. I think about everything I put into my mouth - is it really worth it? I find that it has been easy to avoid things. I've found new snacks that I look forward to. And, if I want a piece of cake, if my points for the day will allow it, I let myself have a piece, albeit a smaller piece that I would have gotten pre-WW.
I started out quietly, I didn't make it known that I was on WW. I didn't want to fail. As the pounds starting falling off, and it started showing in my face and the comments about my weight loss started, I started letting people know that it was WW. 2 other women I work with have now joined, and are having success. One of our bosses lost 50 pounds (I didn't know it was WW while he was on it, just saw him saying no to all of the goodies in the office and exercising like a fiend.).
I've gone down one size, and really 2 if you count the fact that I was occasionally having to buy up a size because the scale had been going up. I'm between sizes actually and can fit into the next smaller size, but right now, I wouldn't be seen in public wearing them just yet. The NSV of being able to actually put them on and zip them up without difficulty is a great feeling. I had to buy a new pair of blue jeans yesterday and I was able to buy them in the regular section of the store, not in the "Plus Sizes", and they weren't "Women's" Now, that is a great feeling. Clothes are so much cuter in the regular sizes. I've lost 9 1/2 inches total.
I joined the gym, and have gone once. I can't do a lot of the exercises because of the back surgery I had last summer. I'm still having problems, and actually don't feel like the surgery made any difference other than the peace of mind to know that it won't get worse - it is locked in place with the rods and screws. I am hopeful that it will get better as I get stronger. So, my main plan is to swim, I did that the one time I was there, and swam for about 45 minutes, and really enjoyed it. I've never actually been in a pool to swim seriously, and let me tell you, it was hard. An Olympic size pool is huge! I was really working out. I'm walking 30 minutes on the treadmill three times a week now which I just started recently. I just finished 4 weeks of PT, and the Physical Therapist gave me a list of exercises that were okay and a list of things to avoid. I accidentally washed that list when I did laundry that night, oops. So Chris, who is also going to PT for a knee injury, is going to get me a new list next time he goes.
We are quiet the gimped up couple! He's got at least 8 more weeks of PT to go.
I think adding the exercise is going to help a lot. It's nice to have the energy to be able to exercise.
So, yes, this was totally a bragging post, but I think I deserve it.
I have to say that I am proud of myself. My sister inspired me - she's lost 57 lbs, maybe even more than that since the last time I asked her. I watched her having so much success and because I am so proud of her, I thought I'd give it a try.
I'm so glad I did. It's been one of the easiest things I've ever done. I've learned some good habits. I'm accountable to myself - something I never took seriously before, but I do now. I have loved watching the scale go down and the number of lost pounds go up. I feel confident that I can maintain. I don't want to gain it all back. I think about everything I put into my mouth - is it really worth it? I find that it has been easy to avoid things. I've found new snacks that I look forward to. And, if I want a piece of cake, if my points for the day will allow it, I let myself have a piece, albeit a smaller piece that I would have gotten pre-WW.
I started out quietly, I didn't make it known that I was on WW. I didn't want to fail. As the pounds starting falling off, and it started showing in my face and the comments about my weight loss started, I started letting people know that it was WW. 2 other women I work with have now joined, and are having success. One of our bosses lost 50 pounds (I didn't know it was WW while he was on it, just saw him saying no to all of the goodies in the office and exercising like a fiend.).
I've gone down one size, and really 2 if you count the fact that I was occasionally having to buy up a size because the scale had been going up. I'm between sizes actually and can fit into the next smaller size, but right now, I wouldn't be seen in public wearing them just yet. The NSV of being able to actually put them on and zip them up without difficulty is a great feeling. I had to buy a new pair of blue jeans yesterday and I was able to buy them in the regular section of the store, not in the "Plus Sizes", and they weren't "Women's" Now, that is a great feeling. Clothes are so much cuter in the regular sizes. I've lost 9 1/2 inches total.
I joined the gym, and have gone once. I can't do a lot of the exercises because of the back surgery I had last summer. I'm still having problems, and actually don't feel like the surgery made any difference other than the peace of mind to know that it won't get worse - it is locked in place with the rods and screws. I am hopeful that it will get better as I get stronger. So, my main plan is to swim, I did that the one time I was there, and swam for about 45 minutes, and really enjoyed it. I've never actually been in a pool to swim seriously, and let me tell you, it was hard. An Olympic size pool is huge! I was really working out. I'm walking 30 minutes on the treadmill three times a week now which I just started recently. I just finished 4 weeks of PT, and the Physical Therapist gave me a list of exercises that were okay and a list of things to avoid. I accidentally washed that list when I did laundry that night, oops. So Chris, who is also going to PT for a knee injury, is going to get me a new list next time he goes.
We are quiet the gimped up couple! He's got at least 8 more weeks of PT to go.
I think adding the exercise is going to help a lot. It's nice to have the energy to be able to exercise.
So, yes, this was totally a bragging post, but I think I deserve it.
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