Sunday again

It's been a little over 3 weeks since I had surgery now. I am slowly adjusting to all the changes in my life. I guess I should start out with the good news, the surgeon got the pathology report back and there was no sign that the cancer had spread and it appears that they were able to get all of the cancer out. Some days I have trouble remembering the good news, but overall I'm doing fine.

I can't believe how weak I am, but then I've never had major surgery before and didn't quite realize what to expect. I am working on getting some strength back by walking every morning. I started out walking 10 laps around my pool and I am now up to 25 laps. I also try to get out of the house at least once a day to do something.

I have home health nurses visiting me 3 times a week. The abdominal incision started pulling apart very slightly shortly after they took the staples out. There were three little spots that had to be repacked to make sure that they healed correctly. As of last Thursday, I only had one spot that was still slightly open.

One of the nurses that visits me one of those days each week is a WOC nurse (Wound Ostomy Continence). She is wonderful and has provided me with a ton of resources. I have to admit that when I awoke from surgery to find that I had a temporary colostomy I was devastated. I have struggled to keep it in my head that it is only temporary (6 months), and I am trying to see the positive in this. I know that it will have a positive effect on my future nursing practice for sure.

Tomorrow I start chemo again. I have to go in 5 times a week for one week out of each of the next four months. This is to kill any of the stray cancer cells that may still be floating around in my body before they have a chance to take hold or form a new tumor. I'm not too worried about the chemo because it is the same drug that I had last time when I did the chemo and radiation and I don't think that it caused me any major problems. I'll probably just have some slight nausea and a little tiredness, but that's okay. It's more of an inconvenience than anything else, having to go to the hospital and wait while they infuse it.

I have returned to school for the fall semester, but I am not doing the same nursing classes and clinicals that the rest of my classmates are doing. I have 2 upper division GE classes that I need to get out of the way in order to graduate, and a critical thinking nursing class. One of the classes is online, and the other two only meet on Mondays so my schedule is quite manageable. I am still planning on being able to graduate in May of 2009 with a few of my classmates that did not consolidate their last 2 semesters.

I guess I had a lot to say since I haven't been on to update my friends in quite some time. Okay now it is time for me to get serious about studying and stop procrastinating. Have a great week everyone and I will do my best to do the same.

I'm Home.....

.....and in record time. Surgery went very well. My doctor said that the chemo and radiation had worked very well and that the tumor had been shrunk to about a half inch. I was up walking the day after surgery, and I had the IV out and was eating solid foods by the third day. The only restrictions I have now are not to lift more than 20 pounds. I am still tired though and will have to update more later when I am up to it.

It's Surgery Day!

I'm all ready to go to the hospital and get this tumor removed. Everything is packed up and now I'm just waiting for it to be time to leave. Surgery is scheduled for 10:30 AM PDT but I have to be there at 8:30. They say it's a 2 hour surgery and I should be up and walking around soon. Only problem is I can't eat solid food for 3 days. Darn! I haven't had solid food already since Wednesday.

Wish me luck, say a prayer, or keep me in your thoughts today.....whichever works for you.

Last Day before Surgery

Well surgery will be tomorrow in the morning so I've been finishing up all sorts of odds and ends today. I've calmed down a bit since Tuesday but now I'm beginning to get a little nervous again. So much to do and so little time.

Tuesday was a really bad day for me between all the doctor appointments and then hearing the news that Matt Garcia was shot. Matt Garcia was one of Fairfield's city council members, and the youngest ever at 21. He spoke at the Relay for Life event that we had here in Fairfield. Not only that, but he is the son of a very good friend of mine.

My niece is here with me today. We've already been out to Rush Ranch for a carriage ride, to the mall for school supplies, and then to the gym for our workouts.

Surgery should begin about 10:30 tomorrow morning.