Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi Gals,

I'm off to Detroit tomorrow morning, the first time in nearly 2 years that I have stepped outside of Canada.  I am really looking forward to it.

Rebecca - glad you are home and it is OVER!!  Rest up.  I hope you made it to Frances' grad.

Tina - Please don't overdo the shlepping - be careful.  Sad story about the boys at the camp.

Skye - mowing the lawn without a motor - OY!!! What has gotten into everyone? 

Cassie got home from Israel, she had a great time, the wedding was beautiful, I'll try to post some pictures next week.

Mel - hugs to you.  I hope you are doing well. 

xo

Skye, you are toooooooo funny (rigor mortis).  That's what I feel like w/my back when I get up from the PC.

Looking forward to Battistas, Caya!  Glad your daughter had such a good time in Israel/Greece.  I bet it was the trip of a lifetime.  Have you been over there?  Enjoy the Bar Mitzvah and drive safe.

Viddie, so glad you are getting the updates on Mel.  I CANNOT believe she is still in the hospital.  OMG!

Rebecca, glad your dr. killed two, well maybe more, birds w/one stone.  It's nice to get that skin stuff done simultaneously.  I need to have a mole looked at on my upper leg, just about at the groin.  It developed very suddenly after my cardiac catherization and about in the same area.  I thought it was a broken blood vessel but my dermatologist said no, it was an assymetrical mole and to check it out.  It's on my list.

Nancy, are you still reading posts?  I'm wondering how you made out w/getting your house back in order, how Jeff is making out on the job search and if you are still considering moving out of Dayton.  Hope you are doing well.

DH testified in Sen. Yee's office today in San Francisco on organized retail crime.  He lovvvvvved it.  He said there about 400 people there, C-SPAN filmed it.  He ran into tons of retail colleagues and really felt back in the "game".  I'm glad for him.  Of course, I chose this as a very appropriate time to suggest to him that we buy the office wall unit.   He is on board.  Gotta strike when the fire's hot, ladies!

Julie, I am still dying about my sudden realization today that my "way more than usual" appetite completely coincides w/my stopping effexor.  I just can't believe that didn't occur to me.  I am def. not feeling as sharp as I did pre-chemo...

Hi Mel & Robbin,

Mel, I feel for you having to stay in a hospital that long let alone all the things that you've had to endure.  It sounds like you had a total nightmare.  Viddie has been giving us updates, but we'll be waiting for your report.  Gentle hugs coming your way.

Robbin, I read the clippings that you attached.  What a frightening experience with all those fires. 

Cindy, that was so sad about those little boy scouts.  That flooding looks terrible.

We've had terrible weather here since May 21st long weekend.  I've never seen this much rain.  Today we had a little bit of sunshine intermixed with Thunder storms and hail storms.

Only  40 more sleeps.

Hugs to all....Joni

Hi girls,

I have been keeping up with Mel's progress by reading your posts.

Thanks for the information.

Mel, so glad to see you posting again.  I didn't want to call for fear you would be sleeping and since you have limited mobility, didn't want you reaching for the phone.

What an ordeal you have been through.  My boobies don't match at all.  They are implants, supposedly the same size.  But, funny thing is they don't look alike at all.  I am to have more surgery after he gets back from his hip replacement surgery.  That will be around September.  He is going to put in a bigger implant.

I just never expected recon. surgery to be so difficult, did you?

We just got back from a 3 day sailing trip.  You can read the "gory details on Feb. board.  Too long to retype here.  I didn't mention, but we have a 26ft MacGreagor sailboat.

There is a funny/awful story about me getting to the head to pee.  I will tell that one in person. LOL

Take care of yourself and keep posting.  Love to hear how you ae doing.  {{{{{{{{{{{{Mel}}}}}}}}}}}}}  Love, Sammie Kay

Caya I am glad your DD had such a great trip…it TRULY is the trip of a lifetime!  I can not wait to see the pictures.   Have fun in Detroit!

Mary I would go with the results you got in the mail too…I bet the Dr did not leave a message because of  “office policy”.  I am glad you got all clear results….those tests are such torture now UGH.  Be careful…you seem to be hurting yourself a lot…do not overdo, and remember that you are different now than you were “before”.  I have had a hard time adjusting to that as well.

Tina, definitely get the mole checked out…I have LOTS of moles, spots and marks of various types.  Many of them are irregularly shaped, and I have been assured that they are fine (including the mark on my thigh that my Dr removed on wed) on the other hand, I had a very small mark appear suddenly on my left side, just above my waist and I wound up having it removed and it turned out to be a precancerous condition of some sort (not sure what it was, just know that it had atypical cells) so I am glad that it came off.  As far as two birds with one stone….LOL!!!  I think my pockmark count is up around 16 now…every time I look in the mirror I find another scab.  I have this feeling that he just started zapping them with the cauterizer for kicks.  I am strangely disturbed by the loss of the mark on my thigh…not sure why it bothers me so much, but it was a very distinctive mark and I was actually BORN with it I found out from my mom yesterday.  There is another mark on my chest that I know he removed but can not see yet, and I think I will find that upsetting too.  The human psyche is a strange thing…I lost a breast, I lost my reconstruction and I am upset about a mole.  Sigh.  Someone slap me please!!!!

Tina LOL about the wall unit!  Glad Paul had a good time testifying…definitely strikes close to home for him, seeing as he was wrongfully accused of that garbage!!!!  We are going to need some pics of the inside of your house soon, Tina now that you have been doing your thing.

OMG MEL!!!!! I just read your post.  HUGE HUGE HUGS to you.  What an ordeal you had.  I am so glad you are home, I think you will heal faster in your own home than anywhere else.  I am sure your frankenboob will be fine…I think the PS knows what will turn out ok. 

Not quite done reading posts…but DH is pacing and is ready to go (not that he is an A-type person or anything LOL) I will get back on later. XOXO

Back…

Robbin I am sorry you had to evacuate…I hope that all goes well for you and you return to find your  home in good order.  On the other hand….you are SAFE and that is what matters.  Keep us posted.

Ok…I guess I was closer to the end of the posts than I thought when I had to sign off LOL!  My DH is as bad as Owen with the “I want to GOOOOOO somewhere DOOOOOOO something”.  They deserve each other for sure.

Good news from Edison is that I think the worst may be over for me for this go round.  I woke up yesterday feeling much, much better and today I feel almost normal except for the sting in my side from the drain, a bad case of the itchies and the incision on my leg is pretty sore (I have a inch long incision with three stitches!  Go figure).  I have not taken any pain medication since last night, and I feel fine, so I think I am done with that.  I am going to clear myself to drive as of Monday (darn that Dr! He is going to be pissed at me for sure when I drive myself to my appointment on Tuesday LOL).  The only think is that the drain is not collecting very much fluid, which I hope is good, but I can not shake the suspicion that maybe it is not working properly…the tube is full of stuff, but only a little comes out into the bulb.  I wish there was a way to check it.

Well anyway…I guess that is all for me.  Hugs and love to all, and a happy Father’s day to all the dads!

Oh Mel, I can't believe you got bedsores on top of that! I feel terrible that you had to suffer so; it doesn't seem right in this day and age. You have been through such a wringer, but it seems you are now over the worst and can focus on healing and regaining your strength. You're still on top of my prayer list.



Caya, I enjoyed those Detroit burbs too when I was there researching my Michigan books. Of course, I was looking for things like Jimmy Hoffa's grave and weird artists but the homes really were lovely. I like Nordstrom's and Chico's too.



Robbin, wow, you had to evacuate? You have fires and we have too much water, seems like there should be a happy medium. Please keep us posted on how you do with that.



And Nancy I'm also wondering if you are still there. Sharon too. Say hey and let us know!



Joni, how is your hip feeling these days?



Rebecca, glad you are feeling better; I think itching is a SE of healing. I'd wonder about that tube too. Are you sure you can really drive to the doc Tuesday?



We spent yesterday evening with DH's folks, took them out to eat and gave FIL his presents. Today dh and I went to church then had both boys and DIL2B here for a cookout, they did the grilling, then they took him to a driving range while Holly and I hung out and walked Grendel. I'm so lucky to be getting such a sweet, enthusiastic and caring DIL. They decided to make CD's of their favorite music for a wedding favor, with a picture of themselves on the front that looks like a cheesy 70s album cover. So funny they are.



Hope everyone is gearing up for a good week - Skye

Hi Ta Ta's,

Joni, good one on how many sleeps...found a countdown counter!  

It is 37 days, 20 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds until Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 10:00:00 AM (Las Vegas time)

I can't wait!

Rebecca - here's hoping that drain is out ASAP. I hate those things!

Skye - All of my baithing suits have skirts. 

Good morning everyone!  This is the first 6:30 morning I have managed in quite some time...lately after I drop Matt at the station I crawl back into bed and sleep for another 90 minutes before waking the kids.  Of course I probably feel alert NOW because I fell asleep at 7:30 last night!  What a waste of an evening, but I guess I must have needed it.  I think I overdid it a little bit yesterday...but it is sooooooo hard to "take it easy" when you are in charge of running a household.  On the other hand, I did have enough restraint to wait until Frances and Ana came home from school before I went to the supermarket...Frances pushed the cart, and loaded the car and all three kids brought the bags into the house from the car.  They were so cute trooping in with bags looped over their arms.  Owen was just about staggering because he HAD to prove to the girls that he was just as strong as they are. 

In truth I really feel fine...a few twinges from my chest once and while, but the drain is the more irritating thing.  Part of me is hoping that he will pull it today, and the other part of me is thinking it should stay in for a while longer...I am VERY afraid of fluid buildup, since that is what I think caused me to "pop" last time (sorry for the graphic image YECK).  Dratted thing does not drain very much, but it is a steady stream which worries me. My appointment is at 11:30, I will post an update when I get home.  I do not expect to hear anything dramatic...the only slightly scary thing is the pathology on my (now removed) birthmark.  I am confident that the rest of the spots he removed are fine.  I am kind of excited to see what my scar looks like now...judging from the extent of bandages, he overhauled it from one end to the other, which is good because it needed it.  LOL...I have come a long way I guess...from being excited to see my new breasts to being excited to see my new scar on my flat chest. 

Viddie glad you are all moved in!

I got a new bathing suit also...scored it from the Overstock section of Lands End...does not have a skirt, although I was tempted.  It is very retro looking, I can not wait to try it!  I also got my swim-boob so I am ready to go.  I am getting sooooo excited for LV...this is a big adventure for me, as I do not travel much outside car trips.  The last time I was on the West Coast was when i was 17! 

Skye and Cindy I hope that the storms are leaving you both unscathed...stay dry and safe.  Sending good thoughts out to Robbin... and of course huge (but gentle) hugs to our (very) lucky mel who needs some extra tlc now as she heals from her ordeal. 

Back from the Dr...

Everything went well, and he seems to really have tried in good faith to give me a neat scar and a flat(er) chest to accomidate my prosthesis.  Unfortunately, my radiated skin does not like to lie flat, so it is wrinkling and puckering already.  It may yet smooth out...there was a huge hematoma in there as well.  We decided to leave the drain for another week even though it is only draining 10ml per day...only because it is steady and not decreasing.  10ml per day can add up to a nasty seroma FAST I think!  I can take a shower though, so I figure it is better to have it in another week than to get another seroma and risk my incision opening again.

Other than that, the moles from my neck and chest came back benign as expected, but the one on my thigh came back as a precancerous condition.  Go figure.  I guess it is good that it is gone.

Well, half day at school for the girls, have to head out and get them....hugs to all!  Glad you are staying dry Skye...and feel better. 

Rebecca - I'm sure that you made the right decision on the drain. It must have been a hard choice since those things are so miserable. I hope that you get it out soon.

Skye - hope you are feeling better soon!

Mel - thinking about you and hoping you are feeling stronger.  

Well, I'm back. Pretty much just lounged around all weekend, slept a lot, answered the phone. Every day brings a little more strength, and things get a little easier to manage. Yesterday morning we went in to see the PS, and she is happy with my big purple swollen frankenboob - it is alive, healing, bleeds when appropriate, and she thinks that in a month or so it will look fine - or at least after Stage II it will be fine. It's hard to see now, but I trust her. Today she removed five of my six drains - I have one left in my right abdomen which will come out on Thursday. That feels immensely better! She also sewed on a piece of my skin that she had saved from my abdomen, to cover the open spot where they had to release the sutures. She says that will be cut out again at stage II, but for now I have no open wounds to invite infection. She seemed happy with everything, so I guess all is well - now I just have to wait.

Without going into a lot of unnecessary detail, I will just say that to begin with, in ICU, they did not know I was a nurse. I rarely volunteer that information, but eventually they figured it out. Not only am I a nurse, but I'm a former ICU nurse, so I know what they were doing, what they should have been doing, and what was not being done, and ladies, I really received some appalling nursing care. As I awoke that first evening, I was treated to the sight of my nurse to be sighing heavily and rolling her eyes while being given report on me. She clearly didn't want to be there, and didn't want me as a patient, and when you're lying there helpless, that is a terrible feeling to have. All through the night I had to listen to her complain about how she didn't want to be working, and to her asking questions so basic that I decided that she must not normally work in that unit and had been floated there due to short staffing. That turned out not to be true, btw - she does work there. Even worse! Anyway, I was scared to death the whole time I was in ICU, because I didn't trust anybody after that. She didn't answer my call light, she waited two hours to check me instead of one, and then said she checked ever hour, lots of stuff like that. What had happened was that my PS had a PA who was her right arm, but she had recently left, so to fill in the gaps between residents and PS they specially trained a bunch of the nurses to take care of her patients - the problem was, it was a recent change, and they didn't seem to be very comfortable with what was required of them. So to me, they all sounded like a bunch of rookies.

For the most part, I had very good care and the nurses were great, especially once I got out of ICU, but the first night was so bad that I never really trusted that they would be, if that makes any sense. It was so miserable having to lie without moving for a week, feeling my skin break down, that I just pushed my PCA button to put myself to sleep every time I woke up. So I came home weak from not moving, but am getting stronger now by the day.

My mother in law came over Monday to stay for a couple of days. I am tryinhg to just relax and let her do things, and cook, etc. - but the truth is I would rather just be on my own. She is a very sweet lady, and I don't want to seem ungrateful, but she is sort of helping me on her schedule (she didn't ask, just said she was coming). A few minutes ago, my kitty bit her (he just does that, unfortunately - he bites us to get attention. Anyway, she wasn't petting him, so he reached up and took a little nip out of her arm, and you would have thought a shark had bitten off her arm! I had to get up out of my bed, twice, to get her supplies to treat her 1/8" long wound. That was when I decided I had had enough "help." She's going home in the morning, thank goodness.

Mel, it's so good to hear from you. I am sorry you had such a tough time in the hospital. I stayed with Steve all day and night (I realize you can't do that in icu) for that very reason, but we both felt he got really good care. Still, I wanted to be there, and I think he felt the same way.

You will get a bit stronger everyday, now that you are home. Harrison will take good care of you. I understand how you feel about not wanting your mil there .... sometimes it's nice to be alone, if you can't have exactly the right person there. What you need is some of us to come take care of you!

Skye, I hope you are feeling better today. You too, Rebecca. And Joni, you are always in my prayers.

Caya, how is the soreness today?

Ok, off to the gym, then home to try to dent the pile of laundry left from the weekend. My housecleaner didn't show up last week, for about the third time, so I am looking for a new one. That's hard, since I like the house done while I am at work, so I have to find someone with very good references. The house is a mess after all the kids were home last weekend .... I get so used to just us two, and we are very neat, so having a houseful, while tons of fun, does leave the house a bit beat up. It's worth it though.

Stay safe all,

Melia