My dad has been fighting liver cancer for over a year and today he had an appointment with his oncologist. The doctor said his numbers were up a little bit but he wasn't going to put him back on chemo this time. Dad has another appointment next month and will probably have to do another round of chemo then. The cancer doc said the cancer is not going to go away, but they could keep it under control. Dad will be 80 this October, both his parent lived into their 80's so he has a few more years left, statistically anyway.
Friday, July 30, 2004
Friday, July 23, 2004
Last Visit to Iowa City
I had my first post-op check up in Iowa City today. My staples were removed and I was given the final pathology report on what they found from my surgery. Everything was benign. There was a fibroid in my uterus and the cysts were 15 cm around and 8 cm around. I lost 14 pounds from pre-op to post-op today. I think most of it was from the cysts that were removed.
I asked about the driving restriction of 6 weeks and Dr. Maasen said I could drive when I can step on the brakes hard and not worry about pain. Hopefully that will be in about 2 weeks. Right now I can't even sneeze all the way because of the pain. I'm figuring that when I can sneeze all the way I can drive. I also asked about going to the state fair next month and she said I should be fine; just pay attention to my body and rest when I need to and stay hydrated. I do that already so it shouldn't be too hard.
Dr. Maasen said that because I was doing so well I don't need to come back for any more follow-up appointments. Whoo-hoo!
I asked about the driving restriction of 6 weeks and Dr. Maasen said I could drive when I can step on the brakes hard and not worry about pain. Hopefully that will be in about 2 weeks. Right now I can't even sneeze all the way because of the pain. I'm figuring that when I can sneeze all the way I can drive. I also asked about going to the state fair next month and she said I should be fine; just pay attention to my body and rest when I need to and stay hydrated. I do that already so it shouldn't be too hard.
Dr. Maasen said that because I was doing so well I don't need to come back for any more follow-up appointments. Whoo-hoo!
Friday, July 16, 2004
Home From Iowa City
I had surgery on Monday to remove my ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and uterus; a total hysterectomy. The cysts on my ovaries were as big as a cantaloupe and a grapefruit. I was released from the hospital this afternoon and got home around 5:40 after a 2 hour trip home. I have a follow-up appointment next Friday, July 23 at 1:15 pm. My sister has agreed to drive me to this appointment to have my staples removed. The doctors say it doesn't hurt to take them out, but my dad has had 2 abdominal surgeries and he says "oh, yes they do hurt."
The last couple of mornings I have been dizzy and nauseous while I was in the hospital. Yesterday they even did a CT scan on my chest to check for a possible blood clot in my lungs, the scan showed nothing, Praise God!
I am not allowed to drive for 6 weeks and especially while taking oxycodone which is a narcotic pain killer.
The last couple of mornings I have been dizzy and nauseous while I was in the hospital. Yesterday they even did a CT scan on my chest to check for a possible blood clot in my lungs, the scan showed nothing, Praise God!
I am not allowed to drive for 6 weeks and especially while taking oxycodone which is a narcotic pain killer.
Friday, July 09, 2004
Starfleet Promotion
My promotion came through yesterday. I am now a lieutenant, junior grade in Starfleet.
Iowa City Details
My ovarian masses are 16 and 8 centimeters across. That is about 6 and 3 inches. Yesterday I got 3 new prescription, the pain killer they gave me is morphine, I got something for nausea, a stool softener because they used barium for contrast for the CT scan and they say it can be constipating. So far all of my bowel movements have been very loose so I don't know about it. But, I figure it's better to be safe than sorry.
The Continuing Adventures
After spending 10 hours at the hospital in Iowa City I am having surgery on Monday, July 12 at 8 am. The Surgeon said it would be in the afternoon. He said it would be either early or late afternoon because mine was an add on surgery. I just called to get my arrival and surgery times and, after double checking, she said it's 8 am.
This whole thing has been a circus. The only reason I am going to Iowa City is because I don't have any health insurance and the state has program that will pay for everything, assuming I qualify. Knowing my luck I won't and I'll end up having to pay for it just like if I had stayed in Des Moines, like I originally wanted. If I had stayed here the surgery would have been done already. Dr. Sager said on Wednesday that he could do it on Thursday or Friday.
With Iowa City being 2 hours away, I'll be sitting up there for a week by myself with no visitors or anything. It's even long distance to call home so I won't be doing that either. But this is what my parents wanted and, by God, what they want is the most important thing in anything that happens to me. My opinion has never meant anything about anything. As long as it doesn't cost my dad any money he doesn't care what I do but as soon as it might cost him a cent it's his way or the highway.
At this point I really don't care what happens to me. If I died from this it would certainly solve my problems and save my dad some money too. My mom isn't even coming on Monday because, apparently, we said something to hurt her feelings yesterday. Her feelings are the most important thing after all, you know.
I am just so fed up with the whole situation. My parents haven't even acknowledged the fact that this might be ovarian cancer. The doctors don't think it is but they can't rule it out yet either.
Whatever happens will happen, nothing I do can change it. Worry is just a waste of time and energy. God doesn't give us more than we can handle.
Stay tuned for more.
This whole thing has been a circus. The only reason I am going to Iowa City is because I don't have any health insurance and the state has program that will pay for everything, assuming I qualify. Knowing my luck I won't and I'll end up having to pay for it just like if I had stayed in Des Moines, like I originally wanted. If I had stayed here the surgery would have been done already. Dr. Sager said on Wednesday that he could do it on Thursday or Friday.
With Iowa City being 2 hours away, I'll be sitting up there for a week by myself with no visitors or anything. It's even long distance to call home so I won't be doing that either. But this is what my parents wanted and, by God, what they want is the most important thing in anything that happens to me. My opinion has never meant anything about anything. As long as it doesn't cost my dad any money he doesn't care what I do but as soon as it might cost him a cent it's his way or the highway.
At this point I really don't care what happens to me. If I died from this it would certainly solve my problems and save my dad some money too. My mom isn't even coming on Monday because, apparently, we said something to hurt her feelings yesterday. Her feelings are the most important thing after all, you know.
I am just so fed up with the whole situation. My parents haven't even acknowledged the fact that this might be ovarian cancer. The doctors don't think it is but they can't rule it out yet either.
Whatever happens will happen, nothing I do can change it. Worry is just a waste of time and energy. God doesn't give us more than we can handle.
Stay tuned for more.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Hospital Stay
I finally returned home this evening after being in the hospital since Monday morning. Around 4:30 Saturday morning I had pain in my abdomen that I, once again, assumed was a UTI. I called my doctor for an antibiotic prescription. I took it for two days and Monday morning the pain was almost as bad as it was on Saturday so I went to the emergency room. They did x-rays and an ultrasound to diagnose the problem. Turns out I have bi-lateral ovarian masses that are fairly huge. I don't know exact sizes. Tomorrow I have an appointment in Iowa City for a consultation and CT scan. Surgery will be scheduled after that for, probably, a complete hysterectomy; which is not a big deal because I have already gone through menopause.
Stay tuned for the continuing saga.
Stay tuned for the continuing saga.
Friday, July 02, 2004
Shopping
I gave blood today and because they had their annual "Blood Donor Day" yesterday and had T-shirts left over I got one.
I went shopping this afternoon hoping to find a top with a flag but found nothing. I also got my jewelry cleaned. It's all sparkly again. The mall is really not doing well. It seems like half the stores are empty. I think the biggest problem is that the housing developments in the area are not as big as expected and they are smaller than those on the west side of town. With the new mall being built on the west side that gives them two and the south side one and the east side none.
I went shopping this afternoon hoping to find a top with a flag but found nothing. I also got my jewelry cleaned. It's all sparkly again. The mall is really not doing well. It seems like half the stores are empty. I think the biggest problem is that the housing developments in the area are not as big as expected and they are smaller than those on the west side of town. With the new mall being built on the west side that gives them two and the south side one and the east side none.
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