Saturday night in the big city. Geri is not feeling so well today but still excited about the overall situation, except for the fact that Alabama lost. Her shoulder still hurts and she is feeling jittery, which is probably caused by the epidural drug. Her hematocrit level is low and the Dr. said they may give her some blood tomorrow if it is still low. Syd was here during the day today and Cindy is here now and will stay the night with Geri.
Th.. th.. th.. thats all folks.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
The Day After
By now you know about my good news. I'll will be so glad to heal from this surgery and get back to a normal life. I had pain in my shoulder last night and didn't sleep much; I don't know if it was the pain or the excitement. The pain is still there today but the "pain management team" have been working on it. I still have a IV in one arm, two central IV lines in my neck, the epidural in my back (with an "on-demand" button), two chest drain lines and a catheter, and oxygen tubes up my nose. With all these tubes I look like a plumbers nightmare. They won't let me have sleeping pills but I can have Benedryl which will help me sleep tonight, I hope.
Cindy has been here with me today and Bob joined us his evening. Syd is coming during the day tomorrow to play backgammon and I will watch some football (maybe). I will be here until at least Tuesday. The chest tubes will be coming out on the fourth day and the epidural, so I expect I will feel more pain then.
Many thanks to all of you for your prayers, best wishes, love and support. That is what has got me through all this. Wherever we spend Thanksgiving this year I know we have a lot for which to be thankful.
(Back to Bob) Yesterday, when Dr. O. told the entourage the good news the distaff side of the group let out such squeals of delight and whoops of joy that the policeman stationed in the lobby came rushing up the escalator to the mezzanine level where we were to quell the riot. Forty five minutes later Dr. Miller spoke with us to confirm that all went well and said that in 20 year of lung surgery on sarcoma patients this was probably only the second time the lesions had not been cancerous. He was surprised, but delighted, with the outcome. He also was concerned about flying in an unpressurized airplane so soon after lung surgery so, if we go, we will drive to the beach on Wednesday. It all depends on how Geri feels next week. Have a great weekend.
Cindy has been here with me today and Bob joined us his evening. Syd is coming during the day tomorrow to play backgammon and I will watch some football (maybe). I will be here until at least Tuesday. The chest tubes will be coming out on the fourth day and the epidural, so I expect I will feel more pain then.
Many thanks to all of you for your prayers, best wishes, love and support. That is what has got me through all this. Wherever we spend Thanksgiving this year I know we have a lot for which to be thankful.
(Back to Bob) Yesterday, when Dr. O. told the entourage the good news the distaff side of the group let out such squeals of delight and whoops of joy that the policeman stationed in the lobby came rushing up the escalator to the mezzanine level where we were to quell the riot. Forty five minutes later Dr. Miller spoke with us to confirm that all went well and said that in 20 year of lung surgery on sarcoma patients this was probably only the second time the lesions had not been cancerous. He was surprised, but delighted, with the outcome. He also was concerned about flying in an unpressurized airplane so soon after lung surgery so, if we go, we will drive to the beach on Wednesday. It all depends on how Geri feels next week. Have a great weekend.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Operation Day
Its 11:40am. Geri is still in pre-op waiting her turn. She is number 3 for the day and they have just taken No. 2 from pre-op so it will be 1:00pm before she goes to surgery. They have installed IV lines and an epidural line, the latter will remain in for a couple of days as long as she has the chest tubes. More later.
3:15pm Geri went to the operating theater at 2:40pm and will be there for about 2 hours. Will update after the surgery. The entourage is hanging out at the hospital after lunching in style on hot dogs from "The Varsity" (the infamous fast food joint near the hospital).
3.48pm Geri is still in surgery but the news is very good. Dr.O. (the leg surgeon) has just told us he had just looked at the sections from the lung and both areas are clear of cancer. The thoracic surgeon is still closing Geri up and will be out to tell us officially the results but Dr. O. knew we would be anxious. More later
3:15pm Geri went to the operating theater at 2:40pm and will be there for about 2 hours. Will update after the surgery. The entourage is hanging out at the hospital after lunching in style on hot dogs from "The Varsity" (the infamous fast food joint near the hospital).
3.48pm Geri is still in surgery but the news is very good. Dr.O. (the leg surgeon) has just told us he had just looked at the sections from the lung and both areas are clear of cancer. The thoracic surgeon is still closing Geri up and will be out to tell us officially the results but Dr. O. knew we would be anxious. More later
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Thursday's the day
I went for my pre-op testing today, and it was an all day affair. I got there at 10:30am and did not leave until 3:45pm -- and no time for lunch. As I learned when I had my leg surgery, there is a lot of sitting around and waiting with all this pre-admissions stuff. I was smarter this time and brought my laptop and got a lot of work done while I was just sitting around. Once I got to see a nurse all they did was ask a lot of questions, take a little blood and a chest x-ray. I got to forgo the EKG (after a lot of phone calls) because of one of the heart test I had a couple of weeks ago that included an EKG.
After that, I had to go to Dr. Miller's office (in the same building) and meet with Jim his Physician's Assistant, sign a lot of papers and go over the surgical procedure. While Jim acted as if the procedure was "run of the mill", I have to admit it is has me pretty scared. There is always one thing that throws me it seems, and this time it was the fact that I have to be in ICU at least the first night. I know it is good to know those folks will be watching me, but the seriousness of that kind of shook me up a little. They keep telling me it is "easier" than my leg surgery -- but I don't know if it is "easier" for the doctor to do, "easier" from a pain standpoint, or "easier" from an overall recovery standpoint (since I am still recovering from the leg surgery so I hope this one is better!). I think anything is "easier" as long as it is not happening to you!
Dr. Miller does not assign a surgical time till the day before surgery as things seem to change a lot. I am to call around 4pm tomorrow to find out when I need to be there. They told me if we did not connect to just be at the hospital at 5:45am. Of course I have an entourage coming for surgery -Bob, Cindy, Michael, Syd, Aunt Rhoda, Uncle Marvin and Cousin Gladys, but still I do not have a time to tell them to come. The procedure, a Thorocotomy, should take a couple of hours. I should be in a regular room on Friday. I don't know what the rules are about guests in ICU. I know last time after surgery they did let everyone come up for a little while once I had gotten into my room. Cindy was planning on staying all night with me, but I am not sure they will let her stay in ICU.
I have a few last minute work things I need to take care of tomorrow, as well as some personal stuff --including getting my nails done late in the day. No self-respecting princess checks into a hospital without first having a manicure and pedicure. Since I still have no hair (a little 5 o'clock shadow) I do not need to have that done now. Eyebrows and eyelashes are coming back like crazy -- and in the most inappropriate places!
I should be in the hospital till Tuesday or Wednesday. If I am out by Tues we have a flight on a private plane to take us to Destin on Tuesday night. If it is Wednesday, we either drive or stay home. We'll just have to take that one day at a time. I can't worry about that yet -- but I will go ahead and pack for the beach in case we need to make a quick get-away. I figure I am mostly just going to be lounging around so I will not need much in the way of fancy clothes -- gym shorts, sweats, and pjs.
Bob will blog with all the news as soon as he can on Thursday after surgery. We should know right away if any of the lesions are malignant or not, but will not know course of treatment till I meet with the oncologist (if they are malignant) in a couple of weeks. I am going with the plan that they are not right now. Then I will deal with whatever I have to in a couple of weeks.
Well it has been a long day --really a long week with everything I am trying to cram in. Maybe I will get some rest after surgery! Just as long as they keep the pain meds coming ahead of the pain.
Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes! Have a great Thanksgiving!
After that, I had to go to Dr. Miller's office (in the same building) and meet with Jim his Physician's Assistant, sign a lot of papers and go over the surgical procedure. While Jim acted as if the procedure was "run of the mill", I have to admit it is has me pretty scared. There is always one thing that throws me it seems, and this time it was the fact that I have to be in ICU at least the first night. I know it is good to know those folks will be watching me, but the seriousness of that kind of shook me up a little. They keep telling me it is "easier" than my leg surgery -- but I don't know if it is "easier" for the doctor to do, "easier" from a pain standpoint, or "easier" from an overall recovery standpoint (since I am still recovering from the leg surgery so I hope this one is better!). I think anything is "easier" as long as it is not happening to you!
Dr. Miller does not assign a surgical time till the day before surgery as things seem to change a lot. I am to call around 4pm tomorrow to find out when I need to be there. They told me if we did not connect to just be at the hospital at 5:45am. Of course I have an entourage coming for surgery -Bob, Cindy, Michael, Syd, Aunt Rhoda, Uncle Marvin and Cousin Gladys, but still I do not have a time to tell them to come. The procedure, a Thorocotomy, should take a couple of hours. I should be in a regular room on Friday. I don't know what the rules are about guests in ICU. I know last time after surgery they did let everyone come up for a little while once I had gotten into my room. Cindy was planning on staying all night with me, but I am not sure they will let her stay in ICU.
I have a few last minute work things I need to take care of tomorrow, as well as some personal stuff --including getting my nails done late in the day. No self-respecting princess checks into a hospital without first having a manicure and pedicure. Since I still have no hair (a little 5 o'clock shadow) I do not need to have that done now. Eyebrows and eyelashes are coming back like crazy -- and in the most inappropriate places!
I should be in the hospital till Tuesday or Wednesday. If I am out by Tues we have a flight on a private plane to take us to Destin on Tuesday night. If it is Wednesday, we either drive or stay home. We'll just have to take that one day at a time. I can't worry about that yet -- but I will go ahead and pack for the beach in case we need to make a quick get-away. I figure I am mostly just going to be lounging around so I will not need much in the way of fancy clothes -- gym shorts, sweats, and pjs.
Bob will blog with all the news as soon as he can on Thursday after surgery. We should know right away if any of the lesions are malignant or not, but will not know course of treatment till I meet with the oncologist (if they are malignant) in a couple of weeks. I am going with the plan that they are not right now. Then I will deal with whatever I have to in a couple of weeks.
Well it has been a long day --really a long week with everything I am trying to cram in. Maybe I will get some rest after surgery! Just as long as they keep the pain meds coming ahead of the pain.
Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes! Have a great Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Finally heard from the surgeon
Of course, just as I walked into an agent's office today, my phone rang and it was Dr. Miller (Doc M -the lung surgeon) who I have been waiting for a week to call me. He pretty much said the same thing that Dr. Saba said-- I could wait 3 months and do another scan, but the smart thing was to go ahead and take the lesions out and not take any chances. He did say he would be able to make a smaller incision than planned, but I am not sure why. He said he would take the lower one (easier to reach) out first biopsy it first, and if it was malignant he would make the incision bigger to get the upper one out -- which is more difficult. Regardless, he will take them both out, but I am not sure why the incision size changes.
He said the risk factor for the surgery itself was about 1%. Before he had told me he felt there was about a 95% chance that the lesions were cancer. When I repeated that today and asked if he felt the same, he indicated we still needed to be concerned, but since I had beem immuno-supressed from chemo, that it could be an infection or inflamation. So, I am a lot more hopeful that this is not cancer. At any rate, if it is, then the chemo has been effective since the lesions are smaller.
So we are going ahead with surgery on the 15th. He said I would be in the hospital 4 or 5 days. Again he said it would not be a problem for me to travel by car or plane (not me driving) to a nearby state even the day I left the hospital, but full recovery will not be for about 3 weeks. That gets me out of a lot of things --carrying suitcases, groceries, vaccuuming (not that I do a lot that mind you), maybe even laundry. That may be pushing it a bit!
Today was a good day. I left the house at 7am for work and did not get home till about 6:30. I am tired, but it was so good to be out visiting my agents. I have full days the rest of the week with local travel and am just waiting to see when I have a pre-op appointment next week to book those days. I have a whole lot of work that needs to be done by the 15th so I am a little panicked, but I think it will take my mind off things.
I don't expect much will change between now and surgery date so if I don't blog for a couple of days, don't worry. I expect between now and then my life will be pretty boring -- mostly work (but not boring to me), trying to get household things taken care of, and having a little fun. My friend Jill from Tn as well as sister-in-law Michelle and niece Elise may all be here Sunday night. I have my tennis team's "end of season" dinner tomorrow night and that is about it. I will surely blog before surgery, and I know Bob will take over and update you all after surgery for a couple of days till I am able!
It has been a long but fun day. I am going to check a few work emails and then just watch TV and crash early. I have a conference call at 7:30 am and then Nurse Kathy comes just after that is over. Have a good evening!
He said the risk factor for the surgery itself was about 1%. Before he had told me he felt there was about a 95% chance that the lesions were cancer. When I repeated that today and asked if he felt the same, he indicated we still needed to be concerned, but since I had beem immuno-supressed from chemo, that it could be an infection or inflamation. So, I am a lot more hopeful that this is not cancer. At any rate, if it is, then the chemo has been effective since the lesions are smaller.
So we are going ahead with surgery on the 15th. He said I would be in the hospital 4 or 5 days. Again he said it would not be a problem for me to travel by car or plane (not me driving) to a nearby state even the day I left the hospital, but full recovery will not be for about 3 weeks. That gets me out of a lot of things --carrying suitcases, groceries, vaccuuming (not that I do a lot that mind you), maybe even laundry. That may be pushing it a bit!
Today was a good day. I left the house at 7am for work and did not get home till about 6:30. I am tired, but it was so good to be out visiting my agents. I have full days the rest of the week with local travel and am just waiting to see when I have a pre-op appointment next week to book those days. I have a whole lot of work that needs to be done by the 15th so I am a little panicked, but I think it will take my mind off things.
I don't expect much will change between now and surgery date so if I don't blog for a couple of days, don't worry. I expect between now and then my life will be pretty boring -- mostly work (but not boring to me), trying to get household things taken care of, and having a little fun. My friend Jill from Tn as well as sister-in-law Michelle and niece Elise may all be here Sunday night. I have my tennis team's "end of season" dinner tomorrow night and that is about it. I will surely blog before surgery, and I know Bob will take over and update you all after surgery for a couple of days till I am able!
It has been a long but fun day. I am going to check a few work emails and then just watch TV and crash early. I have a conference call at 7:30 am and then Nurse Kathy comes just after that is over. Have a good evening!
Monday, November 5, 2007
My choice
We met with Dr. Saba, my chemo doctor today. We still have not talked to the surgeon, Doc M. Dr. Saba said we could wait 3 months, have CT scans and see what the lesions do or go ahead and et them taken out. The only way we are going to know what is in my lungs is to have surgery and remove them. Whatever is there could be smaller because it is nothing, or it is the cancer that shrunk because of the chemo I just had. Bob and I discussed it and decided to go with the surgery. The tumor in my leg grew so fast, it scares me to let the unknown linger in my lungs. Also, I think I would just be a basket case for 3 months waiting to see the next scan. So unless Dr. Miller weighs in with something totally different, we will proceed with surgery Nov 15. It gives me time to heal during Thanksgiving, and I am anxious to get this overwith. Not sure about treatment after surgery. Dr. Saba said for me to come see him a week after surgery, and if it is cancer, we will discuss treatment then. I still feel really good about this. I either have nothing, or I have another cancer that responds to the chemo. It could be a whole lot worse.
Except for the outcome of the AL vs LSU game we had a good trip to Birmingham. I got to see some cousins, aunt and uncle in the afternoon, and all of Michael's family the rest of the time. It was a quick trip, but it was nice to see everyone and get out of town for a day. When Bob and I got back we went for a walk -- a little over 2 miles -- down by the river close to our house.
And now it is time to get some work done!
Except for the outcome of the AL vs LSU game we had a good trip to Birmingham. I got to see some cousins, aunt and uncle in the afternoon, and all of Michael's family the rest of the time. It was a quick trip, but it was nice to see everyone and get out of town for a day. When Bob and I got back we went for a walk -- a little over 2 miles -- down by the river close to our house.
And now it is time to get some work done!
Friday, November 2, 2007
No news
I called Doc M's (lung surgeon) office this morning to find out when I might hear from him regarding the PET scan. His secretary told me she had printed it off and put it on his desk and she "hoped" he'd have time to come up (from surgery, I suppose) sometime today to review and call me. But it is 5:30 and I have not heard from him. I know he has surgery 4 days a week (all but Tues I think), and he did not get my report till late Wednesday. Hopefully I will get his interpretation early next week.
For this first time this year we are actually going out of town for a night. Tomorrow Bob and I are going to go to Birmingham to see Michael, Michelle and the kids just to get away for a night. It is an easy drive, and we will get their in time to watch the Alabama vs LSU game. No bit plans -- just a quick getaway before surgery.
So everything is pretty much status quo. I am working and getting out as much as I can, and that is about it. Have a good weekend. I will probably not blog this weekend unless I hear from Doc M --which I doubt at this point.
For this first time this year we are actually going out of town for a night. Tomorrow Bob and I are going to go to Birmingham to see Michael, Michelle and the kids just to get away for a night. It is an easy drive, and we will get their in time to watch the Alabama vs LSU game. No bit plans -- just a quick getaway before surgery.
So everything is pretty much status quo. I am working and getting out as much as I can, and that is about it. Have a good weekend. I will probably not blog this weekend unless I hear from Doc M --which I doubt at this point.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
