I'm here at Mom and Dad's in Oklahoma this Sunday night.
Mom had her mastectomy on Wednesday afternoon. The waiting room was really full with many families represented and her surgery was pushed back several hours. But once she was taken back for surgery, I think our family group was the only one who received regular updates directly from the operating room. What a blessing to be kept in the loop during those long hours!
Her doctor has been so conscientious all along and surgical day was no exception.
He even made a point of having the nurse call us the moment they had the results of the sentinel node biopsy - all clear. I was so excited by that call that everyone was telling me I was almost yelling into the phone when I started calling other family members. Sorry - couldn't help being thrilled by such wonderful news in the midst of difficult circumstances.
After surgery, Mom went into post-op recovery which was supposed to last from 45 minutes to an hour.
We waited.
And waited.
Time seemed to slow as the hours dragged on. That was the only time throughout the entire day that I lost that sense of peace momentarily. Just wanted to see Mom and know that she'd come through it all okay.
Because of nausea and a blood sugar spike we were kept apart for three more hours. Finally around 8:00 that evening we were notified that she was assigned a room and being prepped to come down the hallway. I waited by the doors at the end of the hall until I heard the wheels of the bed hit the linoleum.
Her face was a glorious sight to behold.
Even though her eyes were still closed, I told her hi and that the nodes had come back clear. She responded with a groggy but thankful "good", as I knew that would be the first thing she'd want to know.
Tomorrow we should hear back on the post-surgical pathology report from microscopic testing of the node. It's just the final follow-up to ensure there is absolutely no possibility of any cancer still present in the body.
We are all praying it comes back clean too.
Then we'll decide where we go from here. So far so good, I have to say.
Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Painful Memories - Not Precious
Finally beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel today.
Had the first decent night's sleep in a week. Had more energy this afternoon. Got a few chores completed around the house. My kitchen was in dire need.
Let me tell you - when one is down that bad for that long, the house begins to get creepy. Know what I mean?
I'm just glad I can't smell anything yet.
Still can't hear anything out of the left ear either, which means I'll probably need to steer clear of the choir loft tomorrow.
Drat!
Haven't been able to sing for a stinking entire week. Sure was hoping that these antibiotics would've kicked in faster so I could partake in the lofty skies. My fault though. I let things get waaaay out of hand before going to the doctor.
In my defense, I'm not one of those who run to the doctor the moment they get a sniffle or a fever. Usually it plays out and I'm all better shortly. I mean who'd thunk it that I'd get such a bad ear infection? Haven't had one since I was fourteen.
Wow! Twenty-five years ago. I remember it well because we were driving down to Florida and making a big two week vacation of it that turned into four. Never will be able to forget how that disastrous trip started for me.
I only hope that if there is ever another ear infection in store for my future that it takes another twenty-five years or more to get there again.
It'll take at least that long for me to forget about the pain.
Had the first decent night's sleep in a week. Had more energy this afternoon. Got a few chores completed around the house. My kitchen was in dire need.
Let me tell you - when one is down that bad for that long, the house begins to get creepy. Know what I mean?
I'm just glad I can't smell anything yet.
Still can't hear anything out of the left ear either, which means I'll probably need to steer clear of the choir loft tomorrow.
Drat!
Haven't been able to sing for a stinking entire week. Sure was hoping that these antibiotics would've kicked in faster so I could partake in the lofty skies. My fault though. I let things get waaaay out of hand before going to the doctor.
In my defense, I'm not one of those who run to the doctor the moment they get a sniffle or a fever. Usually it plays out and I'm all better shortly. I mean who'd thunk it that I'd get such a bad ear infection? Haven't had one since I was fourteen.
Wow! Twenty-five years ago. I remember it well because we were driving down to Florida and making a big two week vacation of it that turned into four. Never will be able to forget how that disastrous trip started for me.
I only hope that if there is ever another ear infection in store for my future that it takes another twenty-five years or more to get there again.
It'll take at least that long for me to forget about the pain.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Going To The Doctor
I'm trying to break back in gradually. Been a grueling week.
Don't know about you, but I sure do hate getting sick. Really gets in the way of living life. Plus when I miss work, I know I'm going to go back to a load waiting for me on my desk and less energy available to play catch-up. But I guess it could be worse.
I could be dead!
A good thing has happened in all of this. Went to the doctor yesterday morning. Now I've had the same doctor since my son was an infant. She knew me when I never got sick. She's seen how the last eight years or so I catch everything under the sun.
One thing I've always said - I do things either full-tilt or not at all. That's the way I do illnesses too, I guess.
Anyway, she has followed all the aspects of my health for the last several years. She's the one who originally sent me to see the endocrinologist back in 2000 and supported my decision to go see another one this year. She listens to me. She suggests things to me.
This week she asked if I would like to try a thyroid support hormone. I've told her all the research I've done. She knows I'm not a whiner or hypochondriac. My symptoms earlier this year after I went off the estrogen rang in her head a bit loudly too.
I have that effect on people.
I took the opportunity to tell her about how it affected my voice, how I'd accepted that I'd never have my voice back, but that it came back again for a little while after I went off of the estrogen. Now that I know it is still there but hidden somewhere between hormones, I want it back more than anything.
I thought I was going to jump up and sing (or more likely croak) the Hallelujah Chorus. Just picked up my temporary prescription this evening and will try the first one on for size tomorrow morning.
You'll be some of the first to know the results - but it may take a couple of weeks to show any effects. Stay tuned!
Don't know about you, but I sure do hate getting sick. Really gets in the way of living life. Plus when I miss work, I know I'm going to go back to a load waiting for me on my desk and less energy available to play catch-up. But I guess it could be worse.
I could be dead!
A good thing has happened in all of this. Went to the doctor yesterday morning. Now I've had the same doctor since my son was an infant. She knew me when I never got sick. She's seen how the last eight years or so I catch everything under the sun.
One thing I've always said - I do things either full-tilt or not at all. That's the way I do illnesses too, I guess.
Anyway, she has followed all the aspects of my health for the last several years. She's the one who originally sent me to see the endocrinologist back in 2000 and supported my decision to go see another one this year. She listens to me. She suggests things to me.
This week she asked if I would like to try a thyroid support hormone. I've told her all the research I've done. She knows I'm not a whiner or hypochondriac. My symptoms earlier this year after I went off the estrogen rang in her head a bit loudly too.
I have that effect on people.
I took the opportunity to tell her about how it affected my voice, how I'd accepted that I'd never have my voice back, but that it came back again for a little while after I went off of the estrogen. Now that I know it is still there but hidden somewhere between hormones, I want it back more than anything.
I thought I was going to jump up and sing (or more likely croak) the Hallelujah Chorus. Just picked up my temporary prescription this evening and will try the first one on for size tomorrow morning.
You'll be some of the first to know the results - but it may take a couple of weeks to show any effects. Stay tuned!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Ready To Rumble
Well, I got my results from the endocrinologist back. Everything's normal.
He recommends no more testing.
Funny though - all of the trials I've read in regard to thyroid issues all say that they throw out certain results if a test subject is on estrogen. Hmmm - makes me wonder if that somehow skews the results. Up front I told the doctor I was taking estrogen. You'd think he would have perhaps recommended doing a baseline test and then have me go off of the estrogen (something I wasn't really looking forward to going through again) and test at least every month to see what happens with the thyroid hormone levels.
Guess he didn't want to be bothered. First doctor in 2000 told me I was just getting older (at 31?). This one blamed it on my "sex hormones" and alluded to the possibility that it was all in my mind.
Gosh, sometimes I wish it was.
In 2000, I let that idiot convince me that everything must be the result of peri-menopause. I lived for three years without sleep. Didn't realize that was a symptom of menopause. My family doctor finally took pity on me in 2003 and suggested perhaps seeing if a round of estrogen might help. It did for some of the symptoms and after being on it for several years finally started sleeping more regularly. However, I still continue to deal with other symptoms that have never gone away, and every single one of them in on the thyroid hormone list, NOT the adrenal or sex hormone list.
One symptom I continue to live with is the hoarse voice. I'm a singer - I live to sing and haven't been able to very well since 2000. I've realized that I want that ability back more than anything, and I'm going to fight to get it back if at all possible.
I've come across some infomation on additional doctors, doctors who listen AND hear their patients. Doctors who don't just use a test as their only litmus for diagnosis. In my research, apparently there's quite a bit of controvery surrounding what actually constitutes a "normal" thyroid reading anyway. These doctors I come across treat the symptoms and not just if you get a positive reading on a test.
That's all I've been asking - for someone to just hear what I'm saying and at least TRY something to see if it will help. The fight is on. I'm not giving up. I did that in 2000 essentially, but not now.
Let's get ready to rumble!
He recommends no more testing.
Funny though - all of the trials I've read in regard to thyroid issues all say that they throw out certain results if a test subject is on estrogen. Hmmm - makes me wonder if that somehow skews the results. Up front I told the doctor I was taking estrogen. You'd think he would have perhaps recommended doing a baseline test and then have me go off of the estrogen (something I wasn't really looking forward to going through again) and test at least every month to see what happens with the thyroid hormone levels.
Guess he didn't want to be bothered. First doctor in 2000 told me I was just getting older (at 31?). This one blamed it on my "sex hormones" and alluded to the possibility that it was all in my mind.
Gosh, sometimes I wish it was.
In 2000, I let that idiot convince me that everything must be the result of peri-menopause. I lived for three years without sleep. Didn't realize that was a symptom of menopause. My family doctor finally took pity on me in 2003 and suggested perhaps seeing if a round of estrogen might help. It did for some of the symptoms and after being on it for several years finally started sleeping more regularly. However, I still continue to deal with other symptoms that have never gone away, and every single one of them in on the thyroid hormone list, NOT the adrenal or sex hormone list.
One symptom I continue to live with is the hoarse voice. I'm a singer - I live to sing and haven't been able to very well since 2000. I've realized that I want that ability back more than anything, and I'm going to fight to get it back if at all possible.
I've come across some infomation on additional doctors, doctors who listen AND hear their patients. Doctors who don't just use a test as their only litmus for diagnosis. In my research, apparently there's quite a bit of controvery surrounding what actually constitutes a "normal" thyroid reading anyway. These doctors I come across treat the symptoms and not just if you get a positive reading on a test.
That's all I've been asking - for someone to just hear what I'm saying and at least TRY something to see if it will help. The fight is on. I'm not giving up. I did that in 2000 essentially, but not now.
Let's get ready to rumble!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tomorrow's The Day
Tomorrow's the day. I'm feeling a bit nervous. Well truth be told, ALOT nervous.
When our little family went through the stressful events of 1999, I started having health problems. My doctor sent me to an endocrinologist to have my thyroid checked after a year or so of various symptoms, but the doc said I was in the "normal" range (low, but normal) and was just getting old at the age of 31. I accepted that at the time.
For several years now I've taken estrogen hormone therapy. It's helped me function and lead a bit more of a normal life, but I still miss "me" - the highly energetic, bouncing off the walls, clear singing voice, into everything person I once was. Been to counselors to insure I'm not holding onto residuals from the difficult years, and been told I'm in good mental health (well, some of my friends might deem that incorrect :-), knowing my propensity for orneriness). But my physical health is still not where it should be at this stage in my life. My trip to and from Chicago screamed it loud and clear all over again.
So earlier this year I went off my hormones to see what would happen. First month went fine. Second month all my old symptoms came on in a massive rush. I couldn't get back on my estrogen fast enough.
In reading about thyroid problems, everyone mentions that the problem progresses over a period of years with gradually increasing and worsening symptoms. So after my experiment, I picked up the phone and called my doctor to get in to see a different endocrinoligist. He was backed up for three months.
So finally tomorrow I will get to see him. I hope he listens. I hope he hears me. I hope he doesn't just base his decision on one test result. I hope he's willing to try and help and not write me off as a hypochondriac or just pre-menopausal. I think that's why I'm so nervous. This time I won't accept the pat or easy answer again.
This time I will fight for myself until taken seriously - for myself, for my son, for my life.
It's too precious to waste.
When our little family went through the stressful events of 1999, I started having health problems. My doctor sent me to an endocrinologist to have my thyroid checked after a year or so of various symptoms, but the doc said I was in the "normal" range (low, but normal) and was just getting old at the age of 31. I accepted that at the time.
For several years now I've taken estrogen hormone therapy. It's helped me function and lead a bit more of a normal life, but I still miss "me" - the highly energetic, bouncing off the walls, clear singing voice, into everything person I once was. Been to counselors to insure I'm not holding onto residuals from the difficult years, and been told I'm in good mental health (well, some of my friends might deem that incorrect :-), knowing my propensity for orneriness). But my physical health is still not where it should be at this stage in my life. My trip to and from Chicago screamed it loud and clear all over again.
So earlier this year I went off my hormones to see what would happen. First month went fine. Second month all my old symptoms came on in a massive rush. I couldn't get back on my estrogen fast enough.
In reading about thyroid problems, everyone mentions that the problem progresses over a period of years with gradually increasing and worsening symptoms. So after my experiment, I picked up the phone and called my doctor to get in to see a different endocrinoligist. He was backed up for three months.
So finally tomorrow I will get to see him. I hope he listens. I hope he hears me. I hope he doesn't just base his decision on one test result. I hope he's willing to try and help and not write me off as a hypochondriac or just pre-menopausal. I think that's why I'm so nervous. This time I won't accept the pat or easy answer again.
This time I will fight for myself until taken seriously - for myself, for my son, for my life.
It's too precious to waste.
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