Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Doctor switching one of my meds
Apparently, antidepressants provide pain relief. Or affect some receptor in tbe brain so that one doesn't feel pain as badly. The doctor has decided to try a different one out. Now, when they ask you, when you are at the hospital, to put a number to your pain, do they factor in antidepressants, such that a 9 automatically becomes a diff number? And what about the poor guy who is drug-free and in pain? Does he get a different scale than me, altogether? I wonder about these things.
Monday, January 11, 2010
I have Biceps!!!!
and boy do they hurt! The massage therapist was working them today, and I am in pain tonight, but they are working, and that is a good thing. Lots of work ahead, to get these muscles up and working and strong. Still not to do anything weight bearing, but am to start to stretch out muscles and re-oxygenate them.
Long overdue post
Sorry, gang. Its just been so hard for some reason, to sit down and write this post.
Surgery date was Dec 4th. All went very well, I was admitted into the hospital for four days to adjust pain meds and get the pain under control. I have to tell you that the pain that I experienced, post surgically, was unlike any pain ever experienced before. It all seemed to be focused in my elbow, which they didn;t even touch. Apparently the spot in the brain that translates elbow pain is right beside the spot for the humorous and the humorous pain was so overwhelming that it just wasn't communicating at all. So it was sort of like walking around with the worst funny bone ever, that wouldn't stop!
Once we got the pain under control, and I got home, I basically stayed at home for the two weeks, mostly lying down with my arm propped. Meds made me nauseous , so it was hard to eat anything. The kids were with their dad, which was hard, but good too, because I was able to do basically nothing to take care of them. I had restricted movement this time due to stitches into my rotator cuff. That was annoying as I wanted to prop my arm away, but the stitches kept the arm tight to my body.
At the end of the two weeks, I saw the ortho surgeon and got to see pics of my new arm. it looks just like a big dogbone with a long rod in it and two screws, one at te top and one at the bottom. but the dr was pleased. I was sent home to carry on.
The kids came home on the 27th of dec and that is when we celebrated Christmas. My mom and dad came down as well, so it was really nice. Our friends, Sarah and Bill were away at that time and had offered us their house, so mom and dad had some opportunity for quiet time. I think it worked out really nice for them. The kids got spoiled, getting both ds and wii, but it was a good year for that, because I was still not able to do much. Kept them busy!
They are back at school, and I am still taking it very easy. I have started a passive physio program, with the therapist moving my arm for me, and massage therapy to get the oxygen moving better thru the arm and shoulder. They are both pleased with where I am at, and feel that I will make fast progress once I am able to move again.
All specimens that were taking from teh arm when they debrided it this time came back negative for cancer cells. Supposedly, because they were specifically testing for breast cancer, they would have easily found the cells, if they were there. So, we say woohoo, but remain confused as to what we are dealing with. I am to see the oncologist at some point over the next couple weeks. Its kind of funny, one arm, but I need to check in with 5 drs to find out how I am doing. General consensus is that I am doing well, for where I am in the healing process.
Because we are at what is basically the half way point of the post surgical "don't do anything with that arm" stage, I feel that I have lost ground, and am grumpy and frustrated with it all. There is very little that I can do, and energy levels are very low. I finished up another long run of antibiotics, orally, after the surgery, and they seem to hang in the body for a long time. As well, I still take percocet a lot of nights. Both can make one feel run down. And just generally sitting around and unable to do much is a tiring thing!
That is the basic update. I will try to post more later on as I think of it.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming!
Surgery date was Dec 4th. All went very well, I was admitted into the hospital for four days to adjust pain meds and get the pain under control. I have to tell you that the pain that I experienced, post surgically, was unlike any pain ever experienced before. It all seemed to be focused in my elbow, which they didn;t even touch. Apparently the spot in the brain that translates elbow pain is right beside the spot for the humorous and the humorous pain was so overwhelming that it just wasn't communicating at all. So it was sort of like walking around with the worst funny bone ever, that wouldn't stop!
Once we got the pain under control, and I got home, I basically stayed at home for the two weeks, mostly lying down with my arm propped. Meds made me nauseous , so it was hard to eat anything. The kids were with their dad, which was hard, but good too, because I was able to do basically nothing to take care of them. I had restricted movement this time due to stitches into my rotator cuff. That was annoying as I wanted to prop my arm away, but the stitches kept the arm tight to my body.
At the end of the two weeks, I saw the ortho surgeon and got to see pics of my new arm. it looks just like a big dogbone with a long rod in it and two screws, one at te top and one at the bottom. but the dr was pleased. I was sent home to carry on.
The kids came home on the 27th of dec and that is when we celebrated Christmas. My mom and dad came down as well, so it was really nice. Our friends, Sarah and Bill were away at that time and had offered us their house, so mom and dad had some opportunity for quiet time. I think it worked out really nice for them. The kids got spoiled, getting both ds and wii, but it was a good year for that, because I was still not able to do much. Kept them busy!
They are back at school, and I am still taking it very easy. I have started a passive physio program, with the therapist moving my arm for me, and massage therapy to get the oxygen moving better thru the arm and shoulder. They are both pleased with where I am at, and feel that I will make fast progress once I am able to move again.
All specimens that were taking from teh arm when they debrided it this time came back negative for cancer cells. Supposedly, because they were specifically testing for breast cancer, they would have easily found the cells, if they were there. So, we say woohoo, but remain confused as to what we are dealing with. I am to see the oncologist at some point over the next couple weeks. Its kind of funny, one arm, but I need to check in with 5 drs to find out how I am doing. General consensus is that I am doing well, for where I am in the healing process.
Because we are at what is basically the half way point of the post surgical "don't do anything with that arm" stage, I feel that I have lost ground, and am grumpy and frustrated with it all. There is very little that I can do, and energy levels are very low. I finished up another long run of antibiotics, orally, after the surgery, and they seem to hang in the body for a long time. As well, I still take percocet a lot of nights. Both can make one feel run down. And just generally sitting around and unable to do much is a tiring thing!
That is the basic update. I will try to post more later on as I think of it.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming!
Friday, November 27, 2009
getting things together
It is so much less stressful when you have zero time to prepare for surgery or hospital stay! Last time round, Adam had just come home from his grandparents, and had a laundry basket full of clean clothes, and Emily was at her grandparents, same thing when she came home, so Greg just had to grab some stuff for Ryan, and he was done. This time, its midweek, (I need to have things ready Thursday night)and seems so much more complicated. Oh well, I am allowed to whine here.
Today is pajama day at the school. I meant to take pictures before they left, but will try when they come home. I made new fleece bottoms for all of them. Emily wanted cheetah, of course, so I put a cheetah pawprint on her top, Ryan designed his giraffe jammies to feature a loooooooong, neck on the t-shirt. Adam's are multicoloured, with a red t-shirt that has a pocket. This is an important feature, as he can keep his sleepmask in it, the sleepmask that he made himself.
Today is pajama day at the school. I meant to take pictures before they left, but will try when they come home. I made new fleece bottoms for all of them. Emily wanted cheetah, of course, so I put a cheetah pawprint on her top, Ryan designed his giraffe jammies to feature a loooooooong, neck on the t-shirt. Adam's are multicoloured, with a red t-shirt that has a pocket. This is an important feature, as he can keep his sleepmask in it, the sleepmask that he made himself.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
WE HAVE A DATE FOR SURGERY!!!
I am scheduled to have surgery on my arm on Dec 4th. They will be putting a rod into my arm from my shoulder and tightenning it near my elbow. because there will be stitches into the rotator cuff, i am not allowed to use the arm at all for two weeks. i feel like there is suddenly so much to do, but there really isn't. the kids will be taken care of by their father, here in kingston until they can come home or until its christmas holidays, whichever comes first.
pray that i am calm for the next week and a half. pray for wisdom for the surgeons, and for everything to go as planned, with no surprises. i will be able to start off the new year with a new arm that can get stronger and stronger.
pray that i am calm for the next week and a half. pray for wisdom for the surgeons, and for everything to go as planned, with no surprises. i will be able to start off the new year with a new arm that can get stronger and stronger.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ortho surgeon update
I saw the ortho surgeon yesterday. There is still no firm diagnosis in my situation, he lacks faith in the pathology dept, the oncologist is not convinced, etc. So, while I will continue to be treated as if I have metastitized breast cancer, the ortho doctor is pretty sure that I am going to continue on as "NORMAL" following this next surgery and some radiation. He must be some impressed with his own abilities if he thinks he can make ME normal, I have been far off of normal my entire life!!! LOL
He was able to make the surgical options more clear to me and help me to understand why we were choosing one option over another one. With a tumour that is at its point of origin, when they remove it, they would put a rod in for stability and then likely do a bone graph from the bone bank. The bone bank is, essentially, dead bones. They are a foreign substance being introduced into a site that is already upset. He prefers, when possible, and when a patient has a strong prognosis, to avoid doing this. One- because there is a strong chance of the body rejecting the graph, and more surgery being required. Two- there is cementing involved and more cutting and general mucking about.
The oncologist would prefer that the ortho was taking more samples, cutting out more bone, as he would be doing if this was the origin site. But. There is already boney regrowth happening, and the ortho dr does not want to disturb it repeatedly. He is choosing to put a rod in without disturbing the original surgery. he wants to insert the rod up near the shoulder, and tighten it further down, getting closer to my elbow. There is a risk here, that, if there are cancer cells remaining in the arm, he could, inadvertently displace them further down the arm. This is why we will be doing radiation afterwards, inthe hopes of killing off any crap cells.
So, rod goes in, and stitches are made into the rotator cuff. This means NO MOVEMENT of the arm for at least two weeks, and then very limited activity for 6 weeks. He expects that this will all happen before Christmas, so any travel at Christmas is likely to be severely curtailed. I won't be even attempting to drive myself for a few weeks. This whole rotator cuff thing has me freaked a bit, I know so many people that have never been the same once they hurt their rotator cuff, so I will be overcautious with this.
The nurse came in today to remove the picc line from my arm. I need to wait one day with a bandaid on the site, but then can remove it and start to take care of the skin that has just been wrecked where the picc line was, from the various bandaids and adhesives that they have used. The tubing was 34 inches long in case anybody is interested. Wasn't that gross to look at afterwards, though I didn't look while they were doing it. Hopefully the itching will go away soon!
I am emotionally and physically exhausted right now. I thought I would start to feel better now that I am off the antibiotics, but they hang around for a while, and there is a lot of stuff starting to happen for the next surgery. That, and a bit of poor me, and we have one tired mama. Kids are here this weekend. There will be mandatory quiet time, for certain.
He was able to make the surgical options more clear to me and help me to understand why we were choosing one option over another one. With a tumour that is at its point of origin, when they remove it, they would put a rod in for stability and then likely do a bone graph from the bone bank. The bone bank is, essentially, dead bones. They are a foreign substance being introduced into a site that is already upset. He prefers, when possible, and when a patient has a strong prognosis, to avoid doing this. One- because there is a strong chance of the body rejecting the graph, and more surgery being required. Two- there is cementing involved and more cutting and general mucking about.
The oncologist would prefer that the ortho was taking more samples, cutting out more bone, as he would be doing if this was the origin site. But. There is already boney regrowth happening, and the ortho dr does not want to disturb it repeatedly. He is choosing to put a rod in without disturbing the original surgery. he wants to insert the rod up near the shoulder, and tighten it further down, getting closer to my elbow. There is a risk here, that, if there are cancer cells remaining in the arm, he could, inadvertently displace them further down the arm. This is why we will be doing radiation afterwards, inthe hopes of killing off any crap cells.
So, rod goes in, and stitches are made into the rotator cuff. This means NO MOVEMENT of the arm for at least two weeks, and then very limited activity for 6 weeks. He expects that this will all happen before Christmas, so any travel at Christmas is likely to be severely curtailed. I won't be even attempting to drive myself for a few weeks. This whole rotator cuff thing has me freaked a bit, I know so many people that have never been the same once they hurt their rotator cuff, so I will be overcautious with this.
The nurse came in today to remove the picc line from my arm. I need to wait one day with a bandaid on the site, but then can remove it and start to take care of the skin that has just been wrecked where the picc line was, from the various bandaids and adhesives that they have used. The tubing was 34 inches long in case anybody is interested. Wasn't that gross to look at afterwards, though I didn't look while they were doing it. Hopefully the itching will go away soon!
I am emotionally and physically exhausted right now. I thought I would start to feel better now that I am off the antibiotics, but they hang around for a while, and there is a lot of stuff starting to happen for the next surgery. That, and a bit of poor me, and we have one tired mama. Kids are here this weekend. There will be mandatory quiet time, for certain.
Friday, November 6, 2009
UNPLUGGED
So, I am officially unplugged from the antibiotics. I have the picc line in for another week, or until the ortho surgeon ok's its removal. I am taped up to waterproof the picc, and it is soooooo itchy that I may have to call the nurses to get them to come un-waterproof me! ARGH. Must think un-itchy thoughts!
It was lovely to have my first shower in months! Do I smell better or what! LOL
Emily continues to rock on the basketball court, scoring at least once each game and playing an awesome defence as well. Adam loves watching the games, he gets so excited. Next year, he can join the league.
Adam and Ryan both were invested into their Beaver troop on Monday, giving mommy lots of sewing for the week (each child gets 5 new badges at investiture). Somebody remind me that I need some new hand sewing needles.
Greg is famous once again at http://www.kingstonthisweek.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2162658
We think that if you squint, he *might* be in the food lineup. He will talk your ear off about it, if you want to know more.
My oncologist called Wed night to say that she had seen the ultrasound, and was going to run routine MRIs of the breasts in six months, and again six months later. She is also going to speak to my surgeon to understand what his options for surgery are, so that she can support me through that, and I can better understand it all.
I see the surgeon on Wed, in the afternoon.
Ryan is laying a wreath at their remembrance day service. Both boys will get to wear their beaver uniforms to school.
I am going to sleep all wknd. Hope that everybody has a good wknd.
Suzette
It was lovely to have my first shower in months! Do I smell better or what! LOL
Emily continues to rock on the basketball court, scoring at least once each game and playing an awesome defence as well. Adam loves watching the games, he gets so excited. Next year, he can join the league.
Adam and Ryan both were invested into their Beaver troop on Monday, giving mommy lots of sewing for the week (each child gets 5 new badges at investiture). Somebody remind me that I need some new hand sewing needles.
Greg is famous once again at http://www.kingstonthisweek.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2162658
We think that if you squint, he *might* be in the food lineup. He will talk your ear off about it, if you want to know more.
My oncologist called Wed night to say that she had seen the ultrasound, and was going to run routine MRIs of the breasts in six months, and again six months later. She is also going to speak to my surgeon to understand what his options for surgery are, so that she can support me through that, and I can better understand it all.
I see the surgeon on Wed, in the afternoon.
Ryan is laying a wreath at their remembrance day service. Both boys will get to wear their beaver uniforms to school.
I am going to sleep all wknd. Hope that everybody has a good wknd.
Suzette
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