Nadine's surgery began at 8:30 am and was finished at noon. I spoke with her doctor, who said it went very well. I've just been told that she's ready to be moved up to her hospital room, and will be brought up as soon as they have an orderly available. The room is small, so we have to clear out of it so that they can bring her in.
More later.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Nadine surgery update 1
Not being a morning person, Nadine was asked to report to the hospital at 5:45 am this morning. She was brought to pre-op at about 7 am, and the surgery began at 8:30 am. We have somewhat conflicting information regarding how long the surgery will take - it may take 2 hours, or it may take 3 - 4 hours. She'll then be in recovery for a couple of hours before being brought to her room.
Nadine was in great spirits this morning, until they told her she couldn't bring her pen and paper down to the pre-op to take notes!
Nadine was in great spirits this morning, until they told her she couldn't bring her pen and paper down to the pre-op to take notes!
Monday, October 27, 2008
At the Mayo again
I have to report for surgery at 5:45am tomorrow. (I bet they scheduled the morning people for noon....) Tonight I ate dinner with Alan and Mom and Zack and Lynn, and it was great, like a party! Lynn looks like a million bucks, boobless and with this great short haircut. (She says she looks a lot like her brother, now.) I had to remind myself that she used to have breasts. She looked good then, but she may well look better, now.
And the thing I was the most worried about Barry seems to be taking good care of.... apparently my kids have been helping!
I met everyone today except for the anesthesiologist, who I meet in the morning. And when I asked my surgeon today if she was going to write something on my breast to make sure she got the right one, she wrote her initials on my breast. It cracks me up, as though my breast is hers, now.
It will all be over before I celebrate my birthday on Wednesday (yeah, in the hospital -- but hopefully cancer free....) That works for me. Actually, I'm goign to get my knee scanned on my b-day -- if I remember! Even if I'm still in the hospital -- the scan is in the same building. It's my right knee -- because when they scanned my right hip last summer at G-town, when I was having that right butt pain like when I drive for a long time, they saw something they have to make sure is normal. (It's something my onc wanted done and I didn't get done, and suddenly realized that if it's NOT normal I want it known while I'm here.)
Anyway I should go to bed for a bit -- or at least shut this off so Alan and Mom can sleep. (I'm sharing a hotel room with them -- and then after surgery I'm sharing a hospital room with someone I don't know. I could have asked for a private roomfor $50 more -- but I honestly don't know if I will need it. I don't sleep through light and noise -- but I brought earplugs and my favorite ripped shirt to put over my eyes.....
Alan will update tomorrow, he says. Good night and thanks everyone for all your wonderful support. I don't always answer all the emails but I love them.
And the thing I was the most worried about Barry seems to be taking good care of.... apparently my kids have been helping!
I met everyone today except for the anesthesiologist, who I meet in the morning. And when I asked my surgeon today if she was going to write something on my breast to make sure she got the right one, she wrote her initials on my breast. It cracks me up, as though my breast is hers, now.
It will all be over before I celebrate my birthday on Wednesday (yeah, in the hospital -- but hopefully cancer free....) That works for me. Actually, I'm goign to get my knee scanned on my b-day -- if I remember! Even if I'm still in the hospital -- the scan is in the same building. It's my right knee -- because when they scanned my right hip last summer at G-town, when I was having that right butt pain like when I drive for a long time, they saw something they have to make sure is normal. (It's something my onc wanted done and I didn't get done, and suddenly realized that if it's NOT normal I want it known while I'm here.)
Anyway I should go to bed for a bit -- or at least shut this off so Alan and Mom can sleep. (I'm sharing a hotel room with them -- and then after surgery I'm sharing a hospital room with someone I don't know. I could have asked for a private roomfor $50 more -- but I honestly don't know if I will need it. I don't sleep through light and noise -- but I brought earplugs and my favorite ripped shirt to put over my eyes.....
Alan will update tomorrow, he says. Good night and thanks everyone for all your wonderful support. I don't always answer all the emails but I love them.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
2nd chemo party and more getting ready
Today was the end-of-chemo pyjama party for BOnnie, CHristine, & Nancy -- though Nancy's chemo ends next week -- and Barb's is ongoing. I went up there after my appt with the radiation oncologist and was pointed immediately to the far corner, where they were curtained off! They WERE wearing PJs! Bonnie wore mismatched flannel pjs (which she'd worn to her doctor visit beforehand -- and you guys think i'm shameless!) Barb wore baby blue ones and a cap, CHristine wore something slinky and revealing (as BOnnie had predicted) and Nancy wore shimmery pink pjs with a matching pink wig!
Kelly didn't have pjs on and I didn't either. I couldn't wear jammies to bike there in the morning (too cold) and my backpack was full with the scans I needed to bring the RadOncs, the fruit for the party, and a dry top to ride home in ..... but actually I don't wear pjs. I wear a favorite old comfy oversized shirt and torn long undies to bed. They aren't pretty but they feel yummy. That's when it's cold -- and then in the middle of the night I get a hot flash and off they all come!
I don't see how anyone could wear pjs with tops that button, to bed. I like to sleep on my tummy and the buttons would get in the way. (I know, I know -- I am worried about how I'm going to sleep after the mastectomy with the scar and the drains in my chest....... I still have the body pillow I used when I was pregnant -- maybe I could use pillows for this somehow? I should just go to bed now and get a head start on all the sleep I'll have trouble getting later.... yeah right.
I took pictures of the party -- soon as some talented kid helps me upload them I'll share them.
I've now seen both RadOncs in the same dept and will have some trouble choosing between them -- it didn't help that they work well together so they kinda tag teamed..... He answered all my questions last Monday and she agreed with his answers so we didn't do that again, and she did the physical exam so he didn't need to. I mean it was great, but it seems I should see both of them, since they work so well together! But it would be just one, and they would cover for one another -- so I have to choose, tomorrow.
Also tomorrow I'm going on my last bikeride before surgery. I'm leading it. I figure it's neat to go out with a bit of a bang, and anyway I owe the Babes for all the support -- they got me through my chemo on my bike!!! Especially Joan. It's her birthday tomorrow but she can't come on the ride. Luckily I've had lots of rides with her, including Wednesday's. No time to get anyone presents for any reason now -- birthday, end of chemo..... it will have to be later -- maybe at that little artesan shop by the mayo..... if I feel well enough after surgery. At least I'm not celebrating my own birthday, so it shouldn't feel too personal...... (My birthday is on Wed 10/29, the day after my surgery.) Of course you could argue that I AM celebrating my birthday, but getting the cancer cut out once and for all! (we hope.) I did mean to celebrate this week with the kids (I was so overdue when I was supposed to be born that I figure it's my birthday almost all month) but of course the # of things to do multiplied and I have hardly been home in the afernoons. (I got both kids flu vaccines, brought Matthew to PT for his baseball shins, and tomorrow I take Em to the orthodontist. Alan has to get the flu shot at the Mayo, as do I, if I am allowed to -- jury's still out on that.)
Kelly didn't have pjs on and I didn't either. I couldn't wear jammies to bike there in the morning (too cold) and my backpack was full with the scans I needed to bring the RadOncs, the fruit for the party, and a dry top to ride home in ..... but actually I don't wear pjs. I wear a favorite old comfy oversized shirt and torn long undies to bed. They aren't pretty but they feel yummy. That's when it's cold -- and then in the middle of the night I get a hot flash and off they all come!
I don't see how anyone could wear pjs with tops that button, to bed. I like to sleep on my tummy and the buttons would get in the way. (I know, I know -- I am worried about how I'm going to sleep after the mastectomy with the scar and the drains in my chest....... I still have the body pillow I used when I was pregnant -- maybe I could use pillows for this somehow? I should just go to bed now and get a head start on all the sleep I'll have trouble getting later.... yeah right.
I took pictures of the party -- soon as some talented kid helps me upload them I'll share them.
I've now seen both RadOncs in the same dept and will have some trouble choosing between them -- it didn't help that they work well together so they kinda tag teamed..... He answered all my questions last Monday and she agreed with his answers so we didn't do that again, and she did the physical exam so he didn't need to. I mean it was great, but it seems I should see both of them, since they work so well together! But it would be just one, and they would cover for one another -- so I have to choose, tomorrow.
Also tomorrow I'm going on my last bikeride before surgery. I'm leading it. I figure it's neat to go out with a bit of a bang, and anyway I owe the Babes for all the support -- they got me through my chemo on my bike!!! Especially Joan. It's her birthday tomorrow but she can't come on the ride. Luckily I've had lots of rides with her, including Wednesday's. No time to get anyone presents for any reason now -- birthday, end of chemo..... it will have to be later -- maybe at that little artesan shop by the mayo..... if I feel well enough after surgery. At least I'm not celebrating my own birthday, so it shouldn't feel too personal...... (My birthday is on Wed 10/29, the day after my surgery.) Of course you could argue that I AM celebrating my birthday, but getting the cancer cut out once and for all! (we hope.) I did mean to celebrate this week with the kids (I was so overdue when I was supposed to be born that I figure it's my birthday almost all month) but of course the # of things to do multiplied and I have hardly been home in the afernoons. (I got both kids flu vaccines, brought Matthew to PT for his baseball shins, and tomorrow I take Em to the orthodontist. Alan has to get the flu shot at the Mayo, as do I, if I am allowed to -- jury's still out on that.)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
last weekend and getting ready for surgery
The driving was fine last weekend (I was surprised!) and the wedding was well worth it. And the water tasted good! I knew it would -- and brought empty jugs and filled them -- marvelling at the fact that the water from the bathroom sink in the Catskills is better than the stuff from our expensive filter here. It was nice to be able to drink lots of water and be able to trust it.
Joan loaned me electronics for the car, which helped with the kids in the car -- and that may be what tires me more than the driving, actually. They only used them on the way out, not back -- but still they helped.
Today instead of biking I voted, went to three grocery stores (ugh, but we were out of so much food, and I need to leave the house stocked for my kids and Barry, who will be staying with them.) I also went to the bank and went swimming. (I got a mile and 2 lengths in in 42 mins, so I'm speeding up again -- or at least I'm once again able to speed up when I'm late.) Now I can ride tomorrow, and Friday. ON Thursday I have to go to G-town to see the 2nd radiation oncologist (saw the first on MOnday) and afterwards I go upstairs to the chemo party -- it's BOnnie and Christine's last chemo day, and Nancy's 2nd last. I will bring the fruit, but I don't know what to do about the pyjamas. Maybe they will give me a pass -- I wouldn't be able to fit them in my backpack on top of my scans and slides (for the Rad Onc) and fruit salad. That oughtta get me out of it.... in fact the real problem is that I don't really wear pyjamas; I usually wear old comfortable tops and long undies and socks to bed, when it's cold -- and nothing, when it's warm. (Birthday suit is not always the same as party clothes....)
I still have lists of things to do before I leave for Minnesota -- flu vaccines, take Matthew to physical therapy, Emily to the orthodontist, make copious lists for Barry, who has known them since forever but never taken care of them. (My in laws would have been easier that way, but Kathy is still not well enough to travel after her surgery on 10/1.) I am already making lists for after we get back, because I won't get it all done.... Maybe after I get there I will get nervous about the surgery itself -- at the moment I can't get past the thought of leaving the kids for a week. I find myself hoping it has something to do with her tylenol-only pain management, because I don't think I'm going to have time to be laid up for anything like that long....
Meanwhile, the trip is coming together. We will fly on Sunday, Mom will come on Monday, and we get a bonus -- Zack and Lynn will come from Chicago!
And now I should probably sleep..... this IS recovery month, after all. Sleep is my weak link, I know..... I did a good job at dinner, though -- I had venison. (I had all month to work on boosting my iron, so in typical Nadine fashion I'm cramming it in in the last week......)
:-D
Joan loaned me electronics for the car, which helped with the kids in the car -- and that may be what tires me more than the driving, actually. They only used them on the way out, not back -- but still they helped.
Today instead of biking I voted, went to three grocery stores (ugh, but we were out of so much food, and I need to leave the house stocked for my kids and Barry, who will be staying with them.) I also went to the bank and went swimming. (I got a mile and 2 lengths in in 42 mins, so I'm speeding up again -- or at least I'm once again able to speed up when I'm late.) Now I can ride tomorrow, and Friday. ON Thursday I have to go to G-town to see the 2nd radiation oncologist (saw the first on MOnday) and afterwards I go upstairs to the chemo party -- it's BOnnie and Christine's last chemo day, and Nancy's 2nd last. I will bring the fruit, but I don't know what to do about the pyjamas. Maybe they will give me a pass -- I wouldn't be able to fit them in my backpack on top of my scans and slides (for the Rad Onc) and fruit salad. That oughtta get me out of it.... in fact the real problem is that I don't really wear pyjamas; I usually wear old comfortable tops and long undies and socks to bed, when it's cold -- and nothing, when it's warm. (Birthday suit is not always the same as party clothes....)
I still have lists of things to do before I leave for Minnesota -- flu vaccines, take Matthew to physical therapy, Emily to the orthodontist, make copious lists for Barry, who has known them since forever but never taken care of them. (My in laws would have been easier that way, but Kathy is still not well enough to travel after her surgery on 10/1.) I am already making lists for after we get back, because I won't get it all done.... Maybe after I get there I will get nervous about the surgery itself -- at the moment I can't get past the thought of leaving the kids for a week. I find myself hoping it has something to do with her tylenol-only pain management, because I don't think I'm going to have time to be laid up for anything like that long....
Meanwhile, the trip is coming together. We will fly on Sunday, Mom will come on Monday, and we get a bonus -- Zack and Lynn will come from Chicago!
And now I should probably sleep..... this IS recovery month, after all. Sleep is my weak link, I know..... I did a good job at dinner, though -- I had venison. (I had all month to work on boosting my iron, so in typical Nadine fashion I'm cramming it in in the last week......)
:-D
Thursday, October 16, 2008
chemo fatigue
I so wanted to make it to georgetown to see my chemo buddies today -- but I had so much trouble getting myself up and awake that the day is too much gone for me to do that AND get the car to the mechanic, which is important given the drive to the Catskills tomorrow.
I'm worried about that too -- we're psyched to go to Steve and Liz's wedding!! (Steve is ALan's cousin.) However, I don't love driving, and 6.5 hrs each way is a long time, and there really isn't another reasonable way to get to the Catskills. Steve hooked us up with some other people around here to try to carpool with, and we were going to rent a minivan -- but it fell through because they wanted to leave early and Matthew needs to go to school first. At least he has a half day so we can leave at 12:30..... It makes sense -- the wedding weekend starts with a barbecue on Friday night, which we will probably miss (We might have made half of it with other drivers for me to trade off with -- but they have a shot at making the whole thing.) AND schools around here are uptight about missed days --especially high school. (Em would have missed the day happily -- but she's in 6th grade. Matthew's in 10th, and has 2 tests on Friday....)
ANyway. I have to get going so I can at least get the car to the mechanic. I guess I'm not surprised to be tired -- I did bike 70 miles in the past 2 days -- however, it feels like the deep exhaustion of chemo fatigue, when I get up from a nap with effort and an alarm.
I did all that biking because the weather's been perfect, and the biking has been wonderful -- and I knew I wouldn't have a lot more chances before the trip this weekend, the weather changes, and I go to MInnesota for surgery -- after which I definitely won't be recovered until it's cold. I will still bike in the cold (as long as it's not icy) but it's a whole different thing then. I'll have to dress carefully or I will be cold. (Too few layers and I'm cold -- too many layers and I sweat and the sweat freezes and I'm also cold. It's tricky!) Meanwhile I have been icing my knee -- though it has been fine -- so it won't go out again like it did last Wednesday.
Meanwhile I am sad to miss seeing my chemo buddies. Next Thursday for sure -- it's my last chance to catch 3 of them there. And I won't miss because I have an appointment with a radiation oncologist at 9:30 just a few flights below.
I'm worried about that too -- we're psyched to go to Steve and Liz's wedding!! (Steve is ALan's cousin.) However, I don't love driving, and 6.5 hrs each way is a long time, and there really isn't another reasonable way to get to the Catskills. Steve hooked us up with some other people around here to try to carpool with, and we were going to rent a minivan -- but it fell through because they wanted to leave early and Matthew needs to go to school first. At least he has a half day so we can leave at 12:30..... It makes sense -- the wedding weekend starts with a barbecue on Friday night, which we will probably miss (We might have made half of it with other drivers for me to trade off with -- but they have a shot at making the whole thing.) AND schools around here are uptight about missed days --especially high school. (Em would have missed the day happily -- but she's in 6th grade. Matthew's in 10th, and has 2 tests on Friday....)
ANyway. I have to get going so I can at least get the car to the mechanic. I guess I'm not surprised to be tired -- I did bike 70 miles in the past 2 days -- however, it feels like the deep exhaustion of chemo fatigue, when I get up from a nap with effort and an alarm.
I did all that biking because the weather's been perfect, and the biking has been wonderful -- and I knew I wouldn't have a lot more chances before the trip this weekend, the weather changes, and I go to MInnesota for surgery -- after which I definitely won't be recovered until it's cold. I will still bike in the cold (as long as it's not icy) but it's a whole different thing then. I'll have to dress carefully or I will be cold. (Too few layers and I'm cold -- too many layers and I sweat and the sweat freezes and I'm also cold. It's tricky!) Meanwhile I have been icing my knee -- though it has been fine -- so it won't go out again like it did last Wednesday.
Meanwhile I am sad to miss seeing my chemo buddies. Next Thursday for sure -- it's my last chance to catch 3 of them there. And I won't miss because I have an appointment with a radiation oncologist at 9:30 just a few flights below.
Monday, October 13, 2008
improved energy
My body aches are still there but not so bad and I am taking medicine less and less often. The dose of advil I took yesterday pm lasted 24 hrs. It was enough that I thought i was done, but then the aches came back tonight -- and i really did feelsorta bad for a little while while I waited for the next dose to kick in. Nothing like before, though.
And the energy -- okay, this is not the way you want your energy to present, but it's how mine often does, though it hadn't in awhile, so it's telling. This is what happened:
I didn’t get the workout I usually get on Friday, because my knee started to hurt on Wednesday's bikeride. I went to the chiropractor Wed afternoon (I have a great chiropractor who fits me in.....) but it was worse than he thought because it bothered me on Thursday when I was just biking to Georgetown for transportation. The point there is that it's waaaay fewer miles. I biked 37 miles on Wednesday and 12 on Thursday, 6 each way with a break in between for hours, since after my MD appt I went upstairs to visit with my chemo buddies.....
So okay, short ride on Thursday and nothing else because I spent all my time hanging with the chemo buddies, Friday I swam, and then I only walked on the weekend, 4m each day. People make fun of me for tracking it so carefully, but keep reading..... Last night I had a harder time sleeping than I anticipated, even for a Sunday night after sleeping later hours on the weekend. I mean, I almost slept for the 3-4 hours I was in bed. I kept waking up and checking the time, and when the alarm went off I was not even upset; it was more like, Good, I can stop trying to sleep. And then I got up and after the kids went to school I made almost all of the phone calls (appointments and other medical and travel type obligations) that had been hanging over my head.(almost because I remembered later that there’s one more I have to do.) Of course I didn’t reach everyone and expect call backs (which will all come in tomorrow when I’m on my bike, no doubt.) Then I ate, went to my chiropractor, and went to the pool and swam 90 lengths, a mile and a quarter, for the first time in months….. maybe since before the chemo. I did this on I don't know what sleep -- and no caffeine or chocolate..... That's the energy I remember -- sometimes.
I had planned to go to bed early tonight to make up for it – but I haven’t. I will soon. Of course it's not early anymore. It’s nice to feel like myself again, though it includes the need for careful balancing of exercise and life to avoid the trouble sleeping. (Call it a preexisting condition. You didn't think I was so diligent about exercising all the time just because, did you? I'm thinking it's somehow related to the ADHD. The H part, especially.....)
On the other hand I have been having awful indigestion. No particular cause I can find, either – it seems like my gut would rather I had a snack at dinnertime than a big meal. (I’ve heard that works better for us.... ) THis happens to me sometimes but not all the time, and I can never figure out why -- what food, what quantity, what else to look for. Sometimes it's a bug -- and Em did complain about a stomach ache.... but we're being careful these days, and I haven't been sharing her food and bugs -- though I guess I could have caught a bug anyway.
Okay I'm off. I'm planning to ride to Bethesda tomorrow and ride with the Bethesda Babes. I need to take my knee to bed and be good to it so it lets me.....
And the energy -- okay, this is not the way you want your energy to present, but it's how mine often does, though it hadn't in awhile, so it's telling. This is what happened:
I didn’t get the workout I usually get on Friday, because my knee started to hurt on Wednesday's bikeride. I went to the chiropractor Wed afternoon (I have a great chiropractor who fits me in.....) but it was worse than he thought because it bothered me on Thursday when I was just biking to Georgetown for transportation. The point there is that it's waaaay fewer miles. I biked 37 miles on Wednesday and 12 on Thursday, 6 each way with a break in between for hours, since after my MD appt I went upstairs to visit with my chemo buddies.....
So okay, short ride on Thursday and nothing else because I spent all my time hanging with the chemo buddies, Friday I swam, and then I only walked on the weekend, 4m each day. People make fun of me for tracking it so carefully, but keep reading..... Last night I had a harder time sleeping than I anticipated, even for a Sunday night after sleeping later hours on the weekend. I mean, I almost slept for the 3-4 hours I was in bed. I kept waking up and checking the time, and when the alarm went off I was not even upset; it was more like, Good, I can stop trying to sleep. And then I got up and after the kids went to school I made almost all of the phone calls (appointments and other medical and travel type obligations) that had been hanging over my head.(almost because I remembered later that there’s one more I have to do.) Of course I didn’t reach everyone and expect call backs (which will all come in tomorrow when I’m on my bike, no doubt.) Then I ate, went to my chiropractor, and went to the pool and swam 90 lengths, a mile and a quarter, for the first time in months….. maybe since before the chemo. I did this on I don't know what sleep -- and no caffeine or chocolate..... That's the energy I remember -- sometimes.
I had planned to go to bed early tonight to make up for it – but I haven’t. I will soon. Of course it's not early anymore. It’s nice to feel like myself again, though it includes the need for careful balancing of exercise and life to avoid the trouble sleeping. (Call it a preexisting condition. You didn't think I was so diligent about exercising all the time just because, did you? I'm thinking it's somehow related to the ADHD. The H part, especially.....)
On the other hand I have been having awful indigestion. No particular cause I can find, either – it seems like my gut would rather I had a snack at dinnertime than a big meal. (I’ve heard that works better for us.... ) THis happens to me sometimes but not all the time, and I can never figure out why -- what food, what quantity, what else to look for. Sometimes it's a bug -- and Em did complain about a stomach ache.... but we're being careful these days, and I haven't been sharing her food and bugs -- though I guess I could have caught a bug anyway.
Okay I'm off. I'm planning to ride to Bethesda tomorrow and ride with the Bethesda Babes. I need to take my knee to bed and be good to it so it lets me.....
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