Finally, today I feel much better. I can breath deeper without it hurting and say more than two sentences with having to stop and rest and catch my breath. I really took it easy this weekend only leaving home to run a couple of errands on Saturday. I thought I would feel great as soon as they drained the litre of fluid off my lung Wednesday, but it really took me a few days to bounce back. I think I am there now!
I have not heard anything about lab work on the fluid they drained. If I do not hear anything by Wednesday, I will call. Unless there is something unusual there, I do not see the doctor again until my next scans Dec 1. I do have several more days of antibiotics to take in case there is an infection.
Whew! So now Bob and I are just getting on life. I am hoping to try to hit some tennis balls soon and hope to play on my team this spring. One day at a time!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Procedure OK
I thought I had blogged last night, but either I forgot to save it or the anti-anxiety medicine made me a little loopier than I thought. The procedure went fine and really did not hurt. They deadened the area and with a needle and tube drained out over a liter of fluid which was close to 2 lbs. I actually lost 3 lbs yesterday, most of it lung fluid I have been carrying around for a while. I think my back and chest do feel better, but and I am tired and my breathlessness seems worse. I could breath a little deeper without pain before, and if I hiccup or belch it hurts. We believe the procedure just probably irrated everything. If I still have problems tomorrow I will give the doc a call. At this point, I am just thrilled there were no tumors to be seen. I will have scans in the same areas on Dec 1, and MRI on my leg Dec 11.
Yesterday the whole process seemed to take forever. They took an xray about 20 minutes after they drained my lung. Then I had to wait 2 hours so they could xray again. I assume they were waiting to see if the lung filled back up again. Both xrays looked identical so that was good news, and they let me go home. We were there from 845 till about 230 and were there even longer the day before. But it is over now, and I hope this will help me heal faster!
Hopefully, we will head over to England for Christmas my scans, with Bob probably going a week or so earlier. Michael and Michelle are having a baby boy no later than Dec 10, and I am not going to miss that. I don't get the chance to be an aunt again every day! I will fly over a few days before Christmas.
I will check in with you in a few days and let you know how this lung thing is doing. I am ready for it to be over so I can start playing tennis before it gets too cold!
Yesterday the whole process seemed to take forever. They took an xray about 20 minutes after they drained my lung. Then I had to wait 2 hours so they could xray again. I assume they were waiting to see if the lung filled back up again. Both xrays looked identical so that was good news, and they let me go home. We were there from 845 till about 230 and were there even longer the day before. But it is over now, and I hope this will help me heal faster!
Hopefully, we will head over to England for Christmas my scans, with Bob probably going a week or so earlier. Michael and Michelle are having a baby boy no later than Dec 10, and I am not going to miss that. I don't get the chance to be an aunt again every day! I will fly over a few days before Christmas.
I will check in with you in a few days and let you know how this lung thing is doing. I am ready for it to be over so I can start playing tennis before it gets too cold!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Good news with a little hiccup
Scans today free of tumors in my chest, abdomin and pelvic are so thta is great news. I do have a lot of fluid in my left lung. It is probably a post surgery infection. I was running fever at night after surgery but this fluid did not show up in xrays when I saw Dr. Miller earlier in the month. I will have a simple procedure in the morning to drain the fluid off. They will not even need to put me to sleep, but they did give me a little anti anxiety medicine to take the edge off. Something about someone putting a needle and chest tube in your lung to drain fluid cause my heart to flutter a little. Sister Cindy has had this done to her before and she and Michael assure me it is not a big deal. The doctor promises I will feel a 1000 times better after. I have been very tired and not comfortable, but I thought was just normal post surgical pain to be expected. I think that is a problem with many of us. We are used to dealing with some amount of discomfort and it is hard to tell when it is something else Now that this has been discovered I am sure they will check me to make sure I am all taken care off. They have given me an antibiotic to take for 2 weeks - Cipro. I think that is what they give for Anthrax too so if we have a problem with that I am covered. They will send the fluid to the lab to make sure they have the right antibiotic to treat me, and to check for cancerous cells. However, no tumors so I am pretty certain it will be an infection.
I had a few spot on my liver but at least one of them I have had for years and it has not changed. This is the first time in a long time they have scanned me with contrast, so they are probably seeing things that have always been there. Both Cindy and Michael have these spots so I think it is just a genetic thing.
I really feel good about all this and am not worried. In fact, I am elated there is no sign of additional tumors, so please don't let this worry you either. I will blog tomorrow after it is over and I am not too loopy.
I had myself scheduled out the rest of the week for a business trip. In fact, I was to leave just after my doctor's appmt and head to Milledgeville for the night and then to the Vidalia area until Friday. I tried to get them to at least schedule the procedure for Thursday, so I could go to Milledgeville today and come back tomorrow but they would not do it. Funny, I feel a lot worse now that I know something is wrong, so I guess I am glad I did not go! I am sure it will be a more fun and productive trip when I get this fluid out of my lung.
All in all, pretty good news with a very minor setback. I should be fine and feeling good on Thursday!
I had a few spot on my liver but at least one of them I have had for years and it has not changed. This is the first time in a long time they have scanned me with contrast, so they are probably seeing things that have always been there. Both Cindy and Michael have these spots so I think it is just a genetic thing.
I really feel good about all this and am not worried. In fact, I am elated there is no sign of additional tumors, so please don't let this worry you either. I will blog tomorrow after it is over and I am not too loopy.
I had myself scheduled out the rest of the week for a business trip. In fact, I was to leave just after my doctor's appmt and head to Milledgeville for the night and then to the Vidalia area until Friday. I tried to get them to at least schedule the procedure for Thursday, so I could go to Milledgeville today and come back tomorrow but they would not do it. Funny, I feel a lot worse now that I know something is wrong, so I guess I am glad I did not go! I am sure it will be a more fun and productive trip when I get this fluid out of my lung.
All in all, pretty good news with a very minor setback. I should be fine and feeling good on Thursday!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A good week
I just wanted to let you know I made it though my first week back at work okay. I had a few long days, but managed to hold up pretty well and am very glad to be back. I did have a pretty lazy weekend and got a good bit of rest, so I should be ready to go Monday morning. I am trying to not overdue it, which I have a bad habit of doing. I won't travel out of town overnight until next week, so I mainly will have local or day trips which is not too bad. Fortuantely, my car seats are pretty comfortable so driving is usually not too much of a problem for me.
I have scans next Tuesday, Sept 29. They will do a CT on my chest, abdomin and pelvic areas, with contrast, so I have to drink something next Monday night and again on Tuesday morning before the scan. I don't recall doing that before. Also, the CT's I have had in the last couple of years they just looked at my chest, and not pelvic and abdomin. I am not sure what that is all about, but am assuming they just want to be thorough, and I am all for that! I will get a preliminary report from Dr. D'Amato shortly after the scans Tuesday afternoon, and a more in depth report a few days later from radiology. If all is well, I think we will start looking at airline schedules to make plans to go to England for Christmas. I will have two more scans (MRI on leg Dec 11 and CT's again in late November) before our trip, but we really cannot wait till after those to get plane tickets.
Keep your fingers crossed for a good report next week!
I have scans next Tuesday, Sept 29. They will do a CT on my chest, abdomin and pelvic areas, with contrast, so I have to drink something next Monday night and again on Tuesday morning before the scan. I don't recall doing that before. Also, the CT's I have had in the last couple of years they just looked at my chest, and not pelvic and abdomin. I am not sure what that is all about, but am assuming they just want to be thorough, and I am all for that! I will get a preliminary report from Dr. D'Amato shortly after the scans Tuesday afternoon, and a more in depth report a few days later from radiology. If all is well, I think we will start looking at airline schedules to make plans to go to England for Christmas. I will have two more scans (MRI on leg Dec 11 and CT's again in late November) before our trip, but we really cannot wait till after those to get plane tickets.
Keep your fingers crossed for a good report next week!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
A tribute to a wonderful friend
A million years ago when I was in college, I did a summer internship in the US Senate for Jim Allen of Alabama and befriended a woman, Jackie, whose was sort of my supervisor then. When I got out of college, and the Senator had an openning on his staff, Jackie told them I was the only one she wanted to work for her and she got me back to Washington for a real job (if there is such a thing on Capitol Hill). When Senator Allen died in office, and we both had to look for jobs, Jackie worked much harder helping me find a new position, than she did securing one for herself. Jackie had children my age and was more like a mother to me. In fact, she and her husband Mack, always referred to me as their "step daughter", and I really was their 5th child.
I probably have not seen Jackie in 25 years, but we've stayed in touch all this time. Jackie was one of the first people I contacted, when I found out I had sarcoma in 2006. She provided me the same loving support as she had years earlier. Less than a year ago, she told me her constant backache was lung cancer. We had lots of conversations about chemo, radiation, losing hair (although I don't think she ever did) and the hard task of letting someone else take care of you. No one was more independent, more "take charge" than Jackie, so this whole cancer thing was going to be a major change for her. She seemed to be handling things okay, happy with the life she'd led, no regrets, and willing to let her children and friends help her. When we talked several weeks ago, her voice did not seem as strong. When I found out about my reoccurance in June, I did not call and tell her, because I knew she would worry more about me than herself. That is just the kind of person she is.
Today, I learned from her daughters, that Jackie's illness has gotten much worse all of the sudden, and the doctors are stopping all treatment exept pain and anxiety medicine. Hospice has been called in, signaling that these are her last days. I always had "plans" to visit Jackie this summer, but somehow I never got around to it. Then I got scheduled for surgery and decided to put my visit off a few months. Much too late, I am afraid. I learned so much from Jackie - about life, friendship, loyalty, and work ethic, just to name a few. I was feeling pretty crappy today that I never took the time to time to go and visit her. Then I realized that was making this "all about me" and not about her. Jackie has had life a wonderfully full life and is surrounded by family and friends who love, adore, and respect her. When I called today, she had had 18 visitors. And although she was not conscious enough to acknowledge them, at some level she knew they were there for her. I sent her an email tonight, and her daughter Donna is reading it to her now. Even before that, I know she knew how much I loved her and how important she is to me. While I can't be there in person for her now, she is always in my heart.
I probably have not seen Jackie in 25 years, but we've stayed in touch all this time. Jackie was one of the first people I contacted, when I found out I had sarcoma in 2006. She provided me the same loving support as she had years earlier. Less than a year ago, she told me her constant backache was lung cancer. We had lots of conversations about chemo, radiation, losing hair (although I don't think she ever did) and the hard task of letting someone else take care of you. No one was more independent, more "take charge" than Jackie, so this whole cancer thing was going to be a major change for her. She seemed to be handling things okay, happy with the life she'd led, no regrets, and willing to let her children and friends help her. When we talked several weeks ago, her voice did not seem as strong. When I found out about my reoccurance in June, I did not call and tell her, because I knew she would worry more about me than herself. That is just the kind of person she is.
Today, I learned from her daughters, that Jackie's illness has gotten much worse all of the sudden, and the doctors are stopping all treatment exept pain and anxiety medicine. Hospice has been called in, signaling that these are her last days. I always had "plans" to visit Jackie this summer, but somehow I never got around to it. Then I got scheduled for surgery and decided to put my visit off a few months. Much too late, I am afraid. I learned so much from Jackie - about life, friendship, loyalty, and work ethic, just to name a few. I was feeling pretty crappy today that I never took the time to time to go and visit her. Then I realized that was making this "all about me" and not about her. Jackie has had life a wonderfully full life and is surrounded by family and friends who love, adore, and respect her. When I called today, she had had 18 visitors. And although she was not conscious enough to acknowledge them, at some level she knew they were there for her. I sent her an email tonight, and her daughter Donna is reading it to her now. Even before that, I know she knew how much I loved her and how important she is to me. While I can't be there in person for her now, she is always in my heart.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Ready to go!
I had a chest xray and saw Dr. Miller yesterday. He said everything looked good. There was a lot of scar tissue but he said that was to be expected. Otherwise I am healing nicely, and he said I could go back to work Monday. I asked him about restrictions and tried to get him to agree to no cooking, cleaning or heavy lifting (physical or mental) but he did not go for that all. I can do anything I want to do -including playing tennis. Now I just have to get my energy back. I have not been walking as much as I should, and I am paying for it now. I went to the bank and grocery store today and was exhausted when I came home. I would have thought all the tennis and football I have been watching would have rubbed off but it looks like I am going to have to quit being a coach potato. Before I started playing tennis, I used to say the most exercise I got was jumping to conclusions. I have to get on a different track now so I can last through a long day without taking a nap. Too bad we don't get nap time anymore like in nursery school! I am so mentally ready to go back to work, that I am sure the physical part will kick in too - but maybe a tad more slowly. So we are off for a walk after dinner.
Dr. Miller wants to see me for scans in 3 months. I told him Dr. D'Amato was scanning me every 60 days so hopefully he will just review her scans. I am to call him after she scans me so he can review them. That is the great thing about all my doctors being part of the Emory system. All my visits, xrays, CT, MRI's are all on line and anybody within Emory can access them at anytime. I never have to get reports from one place to another and it saves alot of time. When I have my CT scans for Dr. D'Amato on Sept 29 at the hospital, I will be able to go straight to her office for a preliminary report. She will be able to look at it them immediately and give me some idea of what she sees. Then she will get an official report from the radiologist a day or so later. I have never had the doctor call back to tell me radiology saw anything different, so I assume their initial assessment is generally pretty good.
Someone asked me if I was concerned about having all these scans and what they can do to you -- like cause cancer. Well, duh! I know that is an issue, but I really need to be having these frequently so they can stay on top of anything that grows. When Dr. Oskouei saw the spot on my lungs June 12, I think that was almost a blessing. That was my 2 year mark, and had I been clean, I think they would have moved my scans to every 6 months instead of every three. While I was happy to not have to go to the doc as much. it did worry me that something would pop up and have 6 whole months to grow before we would catch it. I know that is a backwards way to look at it, but there is a great deal of relief knowing I will be reviewed every 60 days. Hopefully, I can't have too much growth before someone catches it!
The US Open (tennis) is over Sunday, so Monday is the perfect day to go back to work! I am so ready! We have changed seasons since I last worked, so I guess I need to check into a work fall wardrobe. I am not sure what fits anymore. My weight has fluctuated so much in the last 2 years, I think I have clothes in multiple sizes for different season. I am not sure what size went with what season, so I may have to do some shopping this weekend. I did not realize till today, I am walking around with a white purse, and it is after Labor Day! My mother would be horrified!
I will post again soon, but certainly after Sept 29 when I have my chest, abdomin and pelvic CT. That generally just CT my lungs but they want a more thorough look this time, which is fine. I would go for a full body scan every afternoon if that is what they want!
Many thanks to all of your for your prayers, good wishes, cards, emails, etc. and for hanging in there once again for me. Hopefully, we will never have to do this again, but I know having you all there cheering me on will help me get through anything!
Love,
Geri
Dr. Miller wants to see me for scans in 3 months. I told him Dr. D'Amato was scanning me every 60 days so hopefully he will just review her scans. I am to call him after she scans me so he can review them. That is the great thing about all my doctors being part of the Emory system. All my visits, xrays, CT, MRI's are all on line and anybody within Emory can access them at anytime. I never have to get reports from one place to another and it saves alot of time. When I have my CT scans for Dr. D'Amato on Sept 29 at the hospital, I will be able to go straight to her office for a preliminary report. She will be able to look at it them immediately and give me some idea of what she sees. Then she will get an official report from the radiologist a day or so later. I have never had the doctor call back to tell me radiology saw anything different, so I assume their initial assessment is generally pretty good.
Someone asked me if I was concerned about having all these scans and what they can do to you -- like cause cancer. Well, duh! I know that is an issue, but I really need to be having these frequently so they can stay on top of anything that grows. When Dr. Oskouei saw the spot on my lungs June 12, I think that was almost a blessing. That was my 2 year mark, and had I been clean, I think they would have moved my scans to every 6 months instead of every three. While I was happy to not have to go to the doc as much. it did worry me that something would pop up and have 6 whole months to grow before we would catch it. I know that is a backwards way to look at it, but there is a great deal of relief knowing I will be reviewed every 60 days. Hopefully, I can't have too much growth before someone catches it!
The US Open (tennis) is over Sunday, so Monday is the perfect day to go back to work! I am so ready! We have changed seasons since I last worked, so I guess I need to check into a work fall wardrobe. I am not sure what fits anymore. My weight has fluctuated so much in the last 2 years, I think I have clothes in multiple sizes for different season. I am not sure what size went with what season, so I may have to do some shopping this weekend. I did not realize till today, I am walking around with a white purse, and it is after Labor Day! My mother would be horrified!
I will post again soon, but certainly after Sept 29 when I have my chest, abdomin and pelvic CT. That generally just CT my lungs but they want a more thorough look this time, which is fine. I would go for a full body scan every afternoon if that is what they want!
Many thanks to all of your for your prayers, good wishes, cards, emails, etc. and for hanging in there once again for me. Hopefully, we will never have to do this again, but I know having you all there cheering me on will help me get through anything!
Love,
Geri
Monday, August 31, 2009
Ready to start moving
In the last week I have really been able to get my pain under control. In fact, I am not taking any more pain medication than I was before surgery. I had been taking some very light non-narcotic pain medicine since my leg/lung surgery in 2007. It is almost nominal, but just enough to keep me pretty comfortable most of the time. Now I just have to work on stamina. I am going to try to go for walks every day, so if you are in the area drop by for a little stroll. I will be back at work in two weeks and want to be able to easily last the day. In fact, a couple days after I get back, we are having meetings for all our agents, and I am doing part of the presentation (at my request). I need to get my breathing up to par, so they are not having to bring in oxygen to get me through the presentation. Just kidding really. Steps and hills make me a little breathless, so I have to work on that. And of course, I need all that to work if I want to get back on a tennis court soon!
I am getting out a little bit most days. I have gone to lunch and dinner a good bit with friends and work related friends. I actually cooked dinner this week, and my old boss who lives in California was in town and came over. That was a bit of an undertaking but fun. I would do one process, and rest for 20 minutes, and start another - but it got done. I am way past that now, and Bob is pretty much officially off meal duty. I still can't drive, so if he wants to eat he still has to get me to the store unless we have other volunteers - which often we do.
I am starting to do some online training this week, so when I do go back to work I will be up to speed and be able to hit the ground running. I think I may have to go to HGTV Anonymous meetings since I am totally addicted to that. Now that the U.S. Open (tennis) started today, I will be able to wean myself away from HGTV some. And now there is football starting! I am pretty distraught that I will not be able to go to the Bama vs VA Tech game here at the dome on Saturday and will have to watch it from my own 50 yard line seat in our den. Oh well! At least that is closer to the fridge and bathroom!
It is fun to feel almost normal again! I still have a good excuse when chores pop up that I don't want to do since I can't life or bend certain ways, and get tired easily. But I can always "try" the things I do want to be doing! And I can nap whenever I want! One habit that is going to be hard to break - I have been staying up till 1:30am watching TV and sleeping until 9:55am or just a few minutes before any conference call I might have. My real work schedule will not accomodate those hours so I am going to have to make some adjustments pretty soon. I feel like a kid who has been off for the summer, and now has to get back in to school bedtime hours! But I cannot wait to get back to work, and hopefully back to tennis in a couple of months.
I still have not received a list of donars from the Southeastern Sarcoma Foundation Sarcoma Walk yet. So please know, whoever you are, I really am so appreciative for your contribution. I just cannot identify you just yet.
I have an xray on my lungs and visit with Dr. Miller next week on Sept 9. I am counting on those going well and being released back to work Sept 14. Then Sept 29, I have chest, abdominal, and pelvic CT with Dr. D'Amato. She will be doing these every 60 days. Bob and I are starting to think about our trip to England for Christmas, but really cannot make any plans until we see some of these results. She will be doing tests again late Nov and DocO will be doing an MRI on my leg mid December, so scheduling is getting a little tricky. Also, very exciting news - I have a nephew going to be born in early December (Michael and Michelle), and we want to work our trip in after his arrival and Bris probably around Dec 18. It is great to have alot of things to look forward too and not scheduling chemo at this point - or maybe ever!
Please say a prayer for my friend Marion who is starting chemo this Thursday for breast cancer, and also for Janie who is having a lumpectomy on Friday for the same. You are the group who pulled me through all my issues, and I am happy to share your prayers and good wishs with Marion and Janie for the same good results.
I will get back with you after my visit with Dr. Miller next week or possibly in between if I have something to report that is not too boring! Thanks for hanging in there with me!
I am getting out a little bit most days. I have gone to lunch and dinner a good bit with friends and work related friends. I actually cooked dinner this week, and my old boss who lives in California was in town and came over. That was a bit of an undertaking but fun. I would do one process, and rest for 20 minutes, and start another - but it got done. I am way past that now, and Bob is pretty much officially off meal duty. I still can't drive, so if he wants to eat he still has to get me to the store unless we have other volunteers - which often we do.
I am starting to do some online training this week, so when I do go back to work I will be up to speed and be able to hit the ground running. I think I may have to go to HGTV Anonymous meetings since I am totally addicted to that. Now that the U.S. Open (tennis) started today, I will be able to wean myself away from HGTV some. And now there is football starting! I am pretty distraught that I will not be able to go to the Bama vs VA Tech game here at the dome on Saturday and will have to watch it from my own 50 yard line seat in our den. Oh well! At least that is closer to the fridge and bathroom!
It is fun to feel almost normal again! I still have a good excuse when chores pop up that I don't want to do since I can't life or bend certain ways, and get tired easily. But I can always "try" the things I do want to be doing! And I can nap whenever I want! One habit that is going to be hard to break - I have been staying up till 1:30am watching TV and sleeping until 9:55am or just a few minutes before any conference call I might have. My real work schedule will not accomodate those hours so I am going to have to make some adjustments pretty soon. I feel like a kid who has been off for the summer, and now has to get back in to school bedtime hours! But I cannot wait to get back to work, and hopefully back to tennis in a couple of months.
I still have not received a list of donars from the Southeastern Sarcoma Foundation Sarcoma Walk yet. So please know, whoever you are, I really am so appreciative for your contribution. I just cannot identify you just yet.
I have an xray on my lungs and visit with Dr. Miller next week on Sept 9. I am counting on those going well and being released back to work Sept 14. Then Sept 29, I have chest, abdominal, and pelvic CT with Dr. D'Amato. She will be doing these every 60 days. Bob and I are starting to think about our trip to England for Christmas, but really cannot make any plans until we see some of these results. She will be doing tests again late Nov and DocO will be doing an MRI on my leg mid December, so scheduling is getting a little tricky. Also, very exciting news - I have a nephew going to be born in early December (Michael and Michelle), and we want to work our trip in after his arrival and Bris probably around Dec 18. It is great to have alot of things to look forward too and not scheduling chemo at this point - or maybe ever!
Please say a prayer for my friend Marion who is starting chemo this Thursday for breast cancer, and also for Janie who is having a lumpectomy on Friday for the same. You are the group who pulled me through all my issues, and I am happy to share your prayers and good wishs with Marion and Janie for the same good results.
I will get back with you after my visit with Dr. Miller next week or possibly in between if I have something to report that is not too boring! Thanks for hanging in there with me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
