SURGERY!!! TUESDAY SEPT 15

I have only 6 days until my surgery! Dr. Bahador managed to bump his schedule around. He said considering my daily life limitations currently, it was necessary to move it up from Sept 29.
He is performing a surgery that is much more complex than the total hysterectomies he typically does. My surgery will be 4-6 hrs long. I will have an incision from just below the sternum to about to the top of the pubic bone. He will be removing lymph nodes (where the torso meets abdomen, and upper abdomen), uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, etc. He will have to see what else is going on inside. The incisions will have to have what he referred to as "clear margins." In other words, he may take some healthy tissue along with the cancer to be sure he took out as much cancer.
A possible side effect of the surgery is a condition called "lyphedema." Because he is removing some of my lymph nodes my circulation will be affected. Depending on my reaction to the surgery I could be required to wear compression stockings for this condition on a long-term basis. The stockings provide support on the legs and prevent fluid from accumulating, thereby avoiding looking "puffy." I will be going to a "lyphedema clinic" a little while after the surgery for some education of the condition and preventive care instructions.
Tomorrow I will get my pre-operative tests - EKG, chest x-ray, blood tests. On the day of surgery I will check in at 6 a.m. and surgery is due to start at 8 a.m.
I also called my work supervisor today and advised that I will not be coming into work for a conference re: changes to my leave of absence. (This is before I found out about my surgery date). She is aware that it will be quite sometime before I will be in contact with her.
The immediate family is in the works to see how they can help with my care when I come home.
It is possible that I will have visits from a home health nurse after I get home.

Finally...sleep!

I was prescribed an aid to help me sleep. I managed to get a nap this afternoon. I expect to feel better within the next few days. Feeling better rested and staying off my feet more is helping deal with the pain. My doctor also advised on a change in my current pain medication routine.
My mom is going to be over tomorrow and bring an aerobed mattress. My plan is to stay off my feet as much as possible. I can stay downstairs by day (for now) - I'll have access to a restroom, kitchen & T.V. I won't have to move quite as far. I also plan to have plenty of pillows around me. If the pain gets to be too much, then I will stay downstairs until the surgery. Hubby understands that I can't help around the house as much as I have been previous to the pain escalating. Driving is out of the question. All we can do at this point is to make me as comfortable as possible. After speaking w/ Dr. Bahador late this afternoon and pain medication adjustments things seem to be starting to improve. I was able to sleep for about 4 hours. This evening I did manage to eat a little more for dinner than I have in the past few days. I think with less movement and a slight change in pain/sleep management I should be more comfortable for awhile.

Surgery? WHEN????

My M.D. doesn't have me scheduled for surgery until Sept 29. In the meantime, I'm stuck bed ridden during that time with great pain. I am so angry with him! He has his schedule so booked up that he can't even squeeze in an urgent case. I was told I could go to the ER to be admitted. However, he would end up doing the 4-6 hour surgery starting at 10 p.m. - which according to him would be dangerous due to the fact that he would be tired at the end of the day. I was also told that I could be admitted to the hospital for pain management. I really don't want to do that if I can help it. My hospital bill for a 3 week stay would be beyond staggering. I got my last hospital bill for the 4 1/2 days I was in last time. I will be bedridden and sleeping a lot to control the pain for at least the next several weeks.
My husband may take over this blog to let everyone know what is going on. I'm trying to stay off my feet as much as possible...

8/5/09 picture of me dressed up...

This is what I look like most of the time when out in public. It has been so roasty hot outside that I've ventured out with just a head scarf and a hat during the day. Typically I try to wear the wig in public places where I think the stares would be too much to take. I'm trying to look as presentable as possible. I think I look and feel better.

Good Times

Hubby's entire immediate family (spouse, girlfriend) drove from Redlands and Monterey to visit. I had a great time. I was able to see the new addition, too! Our townhouse barely could hold that large of a group! Dad B. took us to a nearby Greek restaurant. Again, I could only eat a small meal. Afterwards we went back to our townhouse. It was such a hot day. The best part of the visit was watching everybody start dozing off once the airconditioning was turned up and cold ice-cream bars were eaten. Thanks everyone!

Rest and fatigue...

This week I have been sleeping a lot more. It may be from some pain medication or the pain itself. I have to take several hours and lounge or sleep to help control the pain. I move really slow. My mom took me by the grocery store - and once again, I am riding the old people scooter...maybe to stand apart from the old people I should paint flames down the side of the scooter, and wear leather all over.
Hubby & I are trying to arrange to see some friends before I go to surgery. I won't be socializing very much after surgery.
Not much else to say right now. For once, having a quiet evening w/ hubby...

Change of plans....

I visited Dr Bahador today. I also did get a copy of the CT scan final report just in time for the appt (so did the medical office!).
After reading the report I was a little concerned by what it said - even though I know it requires a doctor to really interpret it.
During the dr's visit I was advised that the mass inside my uterus is indeed getting bigger. But what we are looking at is dead tissue being pushed against my pelvis (which explains the pain). The mass is getting bigger, but not necessarily by the live cancer. There is a strong possibility that there is fluid build up inside it. According to the doctor that although the blood test (CA125) that measures the presence of cancer cells w/in the body has reduced dramatically once since the first round of chemo, I had a "mixed result" to the chemo. My lymph nodes have shrunk dramatically. The uterine mass was affected only in the beginning. A few new nodules have appeared in the uterus though. But they are small enough to remove surgically...and yes, I will be in surgery w/in the next 3 weeks! And no more chemo until after the surgery. The CT scan was a very useful tool for the doctor after-all. (Waiting 6 hours on Sunday in Urgent Care was not fun!)
For now, the plan is that I will not be returning to work until after surgery. Hubby & I will be seeing the doctor on Wed for a more in depth discussion re: surgery.
If for some reason I have excessive bleeding or intolerable pain the doctor advised me to go to the ER for hospital admission. Surgery would then follow immediately. That is not the preferable route of care - preferably planned as scheduled.
I will be having a meeting or some type of discussion w/ HR and my bosses re: currently needing time off.