Nurses with Breast Cancer
Comments
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Rita,
Congrats on test results! I see my plastics on Tuesday, to touch base and talk about Spring boobs! Maybe they are planting them in the ground like bulbs and they will come up like tulips in the spring?
I am a huge fan of the need to normalize mental health. I roll up to the chair (no longer a couch) for my weekly visits, and I started back after I was diagnosed. I was part of their pilot program for survivorship (counseling for BC patients, with the Psychiatry Residency Program.) I'm like, sign me up! I also had an eating disorder in late teens, early 20's that stemmed from lack of help when one of my parents became seriously disabled when I was 14. I was not allowed to seek help, and so I just got sick instead. It's been a long road.
So bless you for the work you do!
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Hi all,
Just popping in to let everyone know that I'm pretty much healed up. I've been on oral Cipro for the past week after 11 days of Clyindamycin switched to Cipro while getting Rocephin for the whole 11 days. I'm only packing on spot with a guaze that is 1 cm x .25 cms. Trying to keep from having a crater on that spot so I'm keeping it moist and packing 2 x daily.
I get a port on wednesday and 1st round of FEC on thursday. So the next mountain to climb is before me. I've got hats, scarves and wigs ready to go and all my Rx's. Here we goooo.........
Also...
Psych was never my fav clinical area, but I'm so happy there are nurses out there that LOVE it. My areas are perinatal and palliative...just not at the same time! I love helping families do the emotional transitioning through these two areas.
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Give me the kiddies any day--the littler the better! The smallest one I ever took care of was 13 ounces, hand bagged her for over an hour during transfer from our NICU to a level 1 NICU.
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Native,
all I can say is YIKES! and God Bless You....I like em old as dirt
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There's a place for all of us!
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Seen surgeon Monday. Lumpectomy planned for Dec.14th.It is going to be a long haul! I am planning a short trip with a friend to reward myself getting through 4 months of chemo before surgery. Surgeon was pleased to see tumor was gone on mamogram. Hope it goes as well as expected.
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(re-post from November chemo board, too tired to create a new post)
Hey gals! Reading your journeys is always great. gives me a new normal to relate to. (which it does reading on this board too, the more support the better)
now on the second morning post-chemo. first evening after chemo was okay. I'm used to being tired all the time from surgical and infection recovery. So going into this whole thing tired seems my normal
i had a headache and nausea the first night that I dealt with using my zofran first off, but break through nauesa required gravol and the head ache at 4 am was a 5-6 out of 10 and not leaving. Tylenol #4 plus the gravol put me back to sleep.
Yesterday was an okay day and I was up to help get the kids to school after hubby left for work (first day back after a two week leave) i went back to bed and slept till noon. the afternoon was good. Appetite was okay. Evening falls and I get a headache (this is 1st post-chemo day) and I can feel the nausea begin to rise after eating canalonni for supper...not good). took meds (dex and zofran as scheduled and the pills make my tummy even more upset, so i just lie back and watch TV. by 10 pm I decide to get a upper hand on the headache that is now brewing and the nausea, I repeat my gravol/Tylenol with codiene treatment and I'm asleep from midnight to 8 am.
So now I'm two day out of chemo and going to see how it goes. Light foods (chicken broth sound the best) and stay on my meds. I'm picking up stemitil today.
I've sea salt and backing soda set up in m bathroom and have a standing Rx for Nilstat (Nystatin) oral swish and swallow (thinking of you Carole). I'll be vigilaent with oral care becuase the ABx did after 4 weeks give me terrible vaginal thrush. Doc gave me a nice health dose of fluconazole at chemo which seems to have nipped it in the bud.
I'm scheduled for my first neupogen shot tomorrow and home care nursing is set up to come and give it to me daily (I hate needles)
Thanks for listening. -
Namaste!
Hi everyone. I haven't posted for a while. I am just so discouraged. I was in the hospital for 6 days in October for SIRS related to the pocket of infection lateral to my right TE. They put in a tunneled internal jugular power port the day I was discharged -10/26. I am on home IV antibiotics twice daily. The drain is still in and I go for another drain check at interventional radiology on 11/17. They have been doing weekly labs and this week my WBC was finally down to normal at 10.1. The CRP is still elevated, sed rate went up a smidge. My creatine went up to a high normal so I guess I need to drink more water with this Vancomycin. I will be on IV antibiotic for several days after they decide to pull the drain.
As of right now the earliest I would get released to return to work would be 11/26, however I was informed today that I will be put on medical furlough as of 11/18. It has no benifits except if I am able to be rehired within 12 months my seniority (for PTO rate accural) will be reinstated. However, I can not bank any of my current PTOs to use when I am rehired. I will have about 200 hours unused. I can cash them out at a 40% tax rate but if I am able to get another job there (after having 22 years with the system) I will have to work a long time to accumulate enough for any type of vacation. Also, when I return, instead of them continuing with my current 11% employer contribution to my pension plan, it will be reduced to 2%. The absolutely worst news though is that they are eliminating my position and will not be posting it for rehire. I asked if I could apply for a casual/on call position when I get released and I was told they are not hiring for those at this time.
The good news (sort of) is that the bladder tumor work up (CT urogram and cysto) that my primary MD has been trying to get set up since July and in which I keep having to cancel because of other issues is finally going to get done tomorrow morning. The Infectious Disease doc wanted me to accomplish this either while I am on the IV antibiotics or wait 3-6 months and luckily the urology center had an open spot that they were happy to fill. I will know the preliminary results by noon tomorrow. I am not very concerned but there is always that bit of worry. I am going by myself. My husband has taken off way too much work this year and we can't afford for him to loose his job too.
It is really hard not to lay in bed all day and feel sorry for myself. I would like to start walking but am so afraid it will increase the drain amounts. Except for 2 days I have had 6 countinuous weeks of drains.
Karla
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Karla,
Bless your heart! I feel for everything you are going through. I just wish I could make this all better for you. I had something horrible happen to me too in the ever forgiving, Nurse centered hospital system. (sarcasm) I'll share another time, but suffice to say, one would think there would be more compassion. God sees all, and I have seen and experienced some very ugly behavior by Nursing Administration/Managers against Nurses, To this day I am unsettled by the ugliness. I pray for those of us that have suffered at the hands of these people. I do find that those in administration usually worked about one year as a Nurse, and really have no clue about the profession.
That aside, I am so sorry for all of your medical complications. I have to take the four legged out, but will f/u more tomorrow.
Rita, are you done with your chemo then, or finishing and then trip before lumpectomy? Congrats on your mammo! Wonderful.
And Pat,
I will write more too, as you have a lot going on I want to acknowledge. You are in the hardest part....the neupogen can give you some bone pain, do you have any pain meds on hand (not trying to scare you, my MD said no to ibuprofen, but I did use percocet.) I hate needles too! Isn't that funny? well, I am fine with IV's, blood draws, SQ, but not a fan of IM. I feel like I am stabbing the person, well, we are LOL, but actually like the challenge of IV's and hard sticks. My nurse after my mastectomy (she was a cancer patient herself) and I were laughing hysterically b/c she hated giving shots too....and had to give my I.M. phenergan (my IV was out.) she said she clenches her butt cheeks together as a reflex. Hee!
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Oh, my, Karla, I am so sorry for everything you are going through. It's really not fair! And to lose your job on top if it all, well, just another example of the "compassion" we get from our employers, the same employers who insist we treat every patient and family member with utmost compassion and understanding. No wonder there is a nurisng shortage--no one in their right mind would go into this field if they had any viable option at all! I can imagine how hard it is to get out of bed with all that going on. I'm not sure I would be able to. Prayng for you, sister.
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Amen to that!
We are easily abused because they know at the end of the day, we will forgo food, water and bathroom breaks to care for our patients. So many times I was on my way to the BR, and would end up helping a patient to go instead, or I/O cath. Our hearts and spirits are what we practice with, besides our minds and our hands. They take advantage of this at every turn, and we do everything we can to protect our patients.
I wish I was a lawyer and a Nurse, but only for the purpose of representing the many in our Profession who get injured on the job and are not allowed to every have a sick day. Can you imagine how I had to fight NOT to take care of our neutropenic patients on days I didn't feel well due to all of the bugs we are exposed to everyday? They threaten you with your job, and there you are, under a mask, trying to trade out your neutropenic patients. And yet, Nursing is my heart. How many MD's do you know that limp around like us older Nurses? I work with someone now in the Public Health arena that is just crippled from the waist down after years standing, pulling ,lifting in the O.R. and bless her heart, she does ambulatory care like a pro. But she can't step down a flight of stairs. Alright, I'm stepping down now, but I pray that we all stick together and take care of each other. So Karla, you hang in there.
BTW, there are lawyers with The American Cancer Society.
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Namaste!
Winter has arrived!. We got about 5 inches of very wet heavy snow last night. We have a pin oak very near our bedroom and extending over part of the house.. It does not lose it's leaves until spring so the leaves collected a lot of this stuff and bent the limbs down (to the ground for the branches that are only about 20 feet up). Anyway, along with the wind blowing against the tree iand letting globs of snow fall on the roof it sounded like there were squirrels jumbing and rolling on our roof for hours. Kind of wierd. I almost felt like going into the attic and checking to see if the roof was intact. The power had gone out about 9PM. It was on when I got up this morning so don't know how long it was out. Snow and cold started a month earlier last year and up till yesterday we had a wonderful autumn.
I had my workup yesterday and my kidneys, ureters and bladder are all perfectly normal. No signs of any polyps or suspicious issues at all. The urologist was very nice and gentle and explained things on the screen to me as he was doing it. He didn't have any explanation for the chronic hematuria except perhaps if I had a habit of letting my bladder get overdistended then the vessels might stretch and leak some cells. He didn't say this but I am guessing he was thinking "nurses bladder". As nurses we do suppress those bladder urges when our patients need us (or when the work place system doesn't allow us timely breaks). So good news. My husband was quite worried and says a big weight has been lifted off his shoulders.
He is making plans for my activities once I get cleared by the docs for physical labor and while I don't have a job. LOL. He wants me to paint the interior of the house! He even wants to look at colors today so "I " will be ready to go immediately when cleared. I don't know if he is trying to keep me busy and less lying depressed in bed or if he is just cracking the whip with my productivity around the house. I do know that I get a lot of points for productivity for some little unexpected effort (like this week I made date bread for him, he loves dates and I had never made date bread before, he loved it).
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Karla,
I have to tell you, I only got to the first third of your post, and thought NURSES BLADDER!!! and then I saw your next post. LOLOLOLOL! I will read the rest, but this was worth stopping for
Yesterday I was 12 hours in to my day, and I'm like....oh no! -
Yay for good news, Karla!!!
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Bravo! Bravo!
There is another cartoon that takes place at an AMA conference, and there is an MD at the podium that collapses onto the floor. Another MD comes up behind him and taps the microphone, leans in and says, "Is there a Nurse in the house?"
Karla,
Congrats on your healthy kidneys, bladder and ureters! Do you think you will become an Interior Designer that makes house calls? Or a Nurse that designs interiors during house calls?
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Namaste!
Squidwitch: LOL Well, now that I know my "interior design" is healthy, and my husband is making a list for me to accomplish the same for our home, I should be ready to do either. Actually, maybe I will spend some time doing a "design for early retirement". Wouldn't that be nice. If the stocks hadn't tanked those several years ago that might have been a realistic option.
NativeMainer: I loved your cartoon.
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Tues. Will be my last chemo! 4 months(8 doses) of chemo is a long time! Pat, sticking to a liquid or bland diet got me through the first 3 days after chemo.Couldn't even stand the smell of certain foods during the first four rounds.Just keep your fliud intake up as much as you can. Karla,sorry to hear your employer wasn't there for you in your time of need. Hospital administration is all about dollars-but no sense! Glad to hear you've got some ideas about leisure time. Although we all know there are good days and bad.So keep yourself busy during those good days. My "hippie" sister was in from out west to visit. We were at a resteraunt and she gave me "bonji stones",which are suppose to have "positive healing energy". I promptly put them in my bra. The waitor got an eyeful. Ok,so I got good service after that!
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Rita,
Did the waiter give you a tip on the way out? Congratulations on tomorrow being you last chemo!! DO they ring a bell of give you a certificate? they didn't in my chemo infusion clinic, but a friend and I ended at the same time, so we had a little celebration and her friend brought petit fours sp?
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Namaste!
I had a drain check in radiology yesterday. Not much has changed. The amount of drainage is only 1/2 cc less/day the third week than it was week one. Next drain check will be Nov 29. I have to remain on the IV antibiotics until after the drain is out. Work sent me an e-mail anouncing that I am no longer working there and that a letter will be arriving in the mail about how to continue my insurance.
Interesting side note: Joint Commission was surveying the hospital sytem this week and had not one single negative observation at the hospital in the system where I worked. They said there will be some news coming up naming us (I guess it is them now) as one of the top 10 best hospitals for women in the US.
Karla
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They owe that honor completely to their employees. I always love how admin thinks they should take all of the credit. Sometimes I don't think it is a bad thing for us to be unionized. How are you doing emotionally and spiritually? I have full confidence there is a perfect position that waits for you when you are ready. Their loss.
so to them I say pppppfffftttttttt.
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Gotta love the way admin preaches compassion and caring but can't actually express those values to staff.
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And, unfortunately, nurses are not immune from that kind of behavior. The office admin at the university where I teach nursing told me yesterday that last summer one of my students called to complain about me, saying that I "made up" having breast cancer and going through reconstruction, and that's why she didn't get a better grade in the class. I'm her clinical instructor and clinical is pass/fail. The letter grade comes from the exam grades. Like I had anything to do with how she answers test questions! She saw the mastectomy scar. She saw the prosthesis I was wearing. But I "made up" having breast cancer???? I don't know what to think.
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Namaste!
NativeMainer: What year was that student? It appears that she needs more work in "analysis" and "acountability". Her critical thinking skills are not fully developed. Hopefully she will have major growth before beginning her professional practice. Am I being too kind?
I so wanted to be a "grayback" my final years of nursing. I hope after my recovery from this set back that I am able to find a position where I am able to fulfill that role.
My husband and I bought season tickets to a professional football team this year. We made the first game and have missed all the others because of my health. Luckily we had lots of people to give the tickets to. Tonight we were finally going to go to one and my husband is sick today with a bad sore throat and cough. I don't suppose he is going to want to sit outside in mid 30 degree temps tonight to watch it. I was looking forward to getting out of the house, but he missed so many because of me I certainly can't begrudge him for it.
Hope everyone has a nice day.
Karla
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Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow nurses.Have a healthy and happy day!
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Hanta--the student is a senior, due to graduate in May. She's going to be working with a different instructor next semester, at my request. I don't think she'll be able to manipulate a new instructor as much as she has me over the last 3 semesters. She's done some mental health work (not sure what kind, what job title) and she thinks she's an expert in that part of things. IF she passes NCLEX (which I don't see happening) she won't hold a job very long. No employer is going to put up with her needing to be catered to to learn how to do things or pay her overtime for charting on a regular basis. But as long as she pays her tuition and meets the criteria she passes. Unfortunately, there isn't any good way to measure compassion.
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Back from my trip from Fl,it was great! Now onto reality,surgery planned for Tues. Dec14th.Getting a bit nervous about it. Then for that almighty path report to come in will put me right before Christmas.Trying to stay positve and hoping for lymph node cancer free. Say a prayer for me.
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Rita,
You and I are on the same "path" so to speak. You will be in my prayers, and I am so excited for the chemo to be over for you. Congratulations, you are a Warrior!!! You said your follow up mamo the tumor was gone, Thanks be to God. It's so interesting how different the timing and treatments are between us all, which I suspect has more to do with out medical teams. You can relish in the knowledge that your chemo, and all you went through were worth it.
I am off for Friday night prayers, but I am thinking of you ALL.
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Say some prayers for me today, ladies. I'm going to be doing final clinical evals for my current group of students, which includes the one who thinks I made up all the bc stuff. I told them last week the group was being broken up and they were all be placed in other groups or precepted in other hospitals and had the satisfaction of seeing some very stunned expressions. Now I have to walk the tightrope of giving evals with usefull feedback without leaving myself open for complaints and grievances that I'm playing favorites or retaliating for their complaints. Two students truly are innocent bystanders in all this and I feel like I'm letting them down, but I am soooo looking forward to getting a new group and doing clinical in a different hospital. Gonna be a looonnngggg day.
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Namaste !
Native Mainer: I hope everything went well with the students and that you are now at home with your feet up and a glass of your favorite beverage. Glad that group is over for you.
Rita: Prayers for your safe and successful surgery tomorrow. You will be so relieved to have this surgery over with.
Things are going much better for me. I got that drain out finally on11/29, stopped the IV antibiotics on 12/2 and they removed the port on 12/3 and I was released to be able to return to work without restrictions on 12/6. They terminated me on 11/19 because I ran out of Family Medical Leave but I talked to my old supervisor and they will hire me back as casual/prn. No garanteed hours and I will have to continue on Cobra for now but it will at least get me back in the door (and out of the house) with a chance to a least get a bit of income. When a position opens up then I will be eligible to have regular hours. This is all good news, plus I am in serious love with my TEs. My expansion has been going great and today I got a fill and am up to 550 and my skin has been tolerating it great and I am not uncomfortable.
Wishing everyone the best.
Karla
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