Update, downdate?

Had my balls removed on Thursday - actually, JP drains -and it was VERY interesting. If you have never seen these things, they are fascinating. These squeezable clear hollow rubber balls are attached to a tube that ends in a long (8 or so inch) foam? soakerhose (it has little holes) strip that is placed inside the body. The "balls" are compressed and then stoppered to make continuous gentle suction which draws fluid into the balls. As they fill up they can easily be emptied and the liquid measured. Ingenious! I didn't know until Thursday how much was inside me and when I saw it/them it kind of freaked me out. But I can't help being impressed with the technology. Dr. Silva removed them by cutting the stitches, asking me to take a deep breath and yanking. NOT FUN! It was not as painful as it sounds because much of that area is numb, but.

Dr. Silva also made sure we had all the stuff to do the packing on my abdominal wound, which was great because the home health people never contacted me. I won't go into details on the process for this, since I've already grossed you out enough today, but Chris is doing his best not to hurt me. It is really fortunate that I have a personal doctor to do this for me. Turns out that the home health people had a problem with the insurance, so the Oncology people had to find a home health group that would accept me. They told me about the problem on Friday at the Dr. Hatch appointment (more on that later) AND said that the new agency would be contacting me on Monday! Now, this dressing/packing is supposed to be changed and the wound cleaned daily, so if I had to depend on the home health people instead of my fantastic husband, I would have ended up with a SERIOUS infection. The kind that puts you in the hospital. Our health system is so broken.

Met with Dr. Hatch (radiation oncology) on Friday and she examined me and told me basically that I needed to manage my pain better - I had been trying to take myself off the pain meds. She convinced me that I was trying to be too brave, too soon. OK, OK, so now I'm back on a regular schedule for meds. We also planned a March 11th "intake appointment" to prepare to begin my radiation on March 16th. I will need 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments. I am told that each treatment takes about 15 minutes. A big consideration is that the location for this treatment is St. Josephs in downtown Houston, which is a 1 and 1/2 hour drive each way. My math puts that at 3.5 hours, daily!!! We had asked about the possibility of getting treated out of the "network" at a place a little closer, but I'd have to go with a new doctor and the drive wouldn't be that much shorter. At least that is what we think, we'll have to do a test drive to the alternate site. Anyway, after I explained my work situation (need money, used up more than my allowed FMLA leave) to Dr. Hatch she arranged early morning treatments - 7:30(someone is coming in early for me!). This means, since I have 1st period off each day and don't even see students until 9:15, that I won't miss much work. So driving to St Jo's might be doable.

Small complication..

Went to see Dr. Arristea (OBGYN surgeon) today and almost everything went perfectly. She is really happy with my surgery and the results. I do have a little infection around one of my (3) incisions and it needed to be poked at (Ouch) irrigated and packed. I will need to have the dressing/packing changed daily. She hooked me up with a home health agency that is supposed to come and do this at home. Chis would, or will do it, once we have the supplies. Turns out that they didn't have everything in stock at the office today. Chris and I are wondering what this sort of thing costs... Should we just go buy the stuff? Dr. Arristea showed him what she wants done and how to do it.

I will see Dr. Silva tomorrow to have my balls (JP drains) removed. I actually had been hoping to go back to work tomorrow, but I guess it isn't time yet. I have been taking myself off the pain pills, and only need them sporadically and at a lower dose -yay.

Dropped Mum off at the airport. First, we went for Honduran food, yum. It is the closest thing to Panamanian food I have found around here - Arroz con pollo and fried yucca! She is eager to get home, but I sure am going to miss her. I had, at one point convinced her to move here, but the plan was Ike'd. We just might have to re-visit the idea.

Great News

I went to see Dr. Silva (breast surgeon) today and got some great news. During the operation they removed 15 lymph nodes- the one I had biopsied and 14 more in a clear margin. The only node that tested positive for cancer is the one we already knew about. There was no spread. The big lump had shrunk to 1/2 its original size and the smaller lump had shrunk to 1/3 its original size. They didn't say -and maybe they don't test this- how much of each was scar tissue vs living(cancerous) cells. She did say that they got a good margin. She removed my steri strips. Underneath the steri strips is mostly invisible suturing that will be absorbed by my body. The only stitches I will need to have removed are those holding the JP drains in. I am - well, Mum and Chris are - carefully measuring the fluid and it has not sufficiently reduced to remove the drains. Dr. Silva says they come out once they each produce less than 30 cc's in a 24 hour period, or February 26, whichever comes first.

Wednesday's trip to Dr. Weaver about my cough got me put back on an antibiotic. I have bronchitis, again. She also changed my allergy medicine and referred me to a pulmanologist. She doesn't think I have a fungal infection, but wants to get to the bottom of this neverending cough.

I ordered a stunt boob. I bought some stuff from TLC, the American Cancer Society web site/catalog. As an aside, I can't be the only one who feels this way but: Isn't it weird how exciting it is to open a package you received in the mail, even when you ordered it? Anyway, I got a couple of camisoles; one that opens down the front has removable JP drain pockets and comes with a couple of soft temporary prosthesis that you can adjust size by removing/adding batting and one that is designed to be extra soft for radiation treatments. Both have pockets for the prosthesis. I also got a medic alert bracelet and a hat. I have not taken the time yet to create the "official temporary stunt boob." I have the materials, I guess I'm waiting for the creative burst of sculptural inspiration to hit.

Chris and I had tickets to see Legally Blonde on Saturday, and although I am feeling pretty good, we both agreed that all that walking and driving wasn't a good idea. I gave the tickets to the secretary at my school. She was thrilled and I am thrilled knowing the tickets won't go to waste. This is looking to be a big weekend anyway. This will be my Mums last weekend here (until I need her again) and my brother, Steve is coming. I'm not sure, but I think we are expecting almost the entirety of the East Texas family.

Chris took his Psychiatry 'shelf exam' today and is feeling good about it. Over the next couple of weeks he has to study for his Pediatrics...

Can't sleep

It is 2:20 and I can't sleep. This is Very unusual, since I can normally sleep any time. Part of it is that I have to sleep on my back, NOT one of my preferred positions. Another part of it is that my armpit aches - not pain exactly - just an ache that I can't seem to get into a non-ache position. Yet another part is probably that I have slept A LOT of late.

I have eyelashes again! I have arm hair and eyebrows. I have fingernails that need to be cut!

I also still have a heinous cough, so I'm going back to the doctor about it tomorrow. Chris is worried that it has something to do with the mold (mold is everywhere here post IKE) and wants me referred to a pulmanologist. I was worried that coughing after the surgery would be painful, but it is fine. Yes, I'm coughing up suff... But I have my pain well managed. I'm not feeling particularly loopy, so I guess the pills are doing their thing.

My "balls" aren't filling up as fast as they were (jp DRAINS FOR LYMPHATIC FLUID) and I took another shower today. Progress is being made.

I can't say it has been fun, but I do have a weird sense of accomplishment. The cancer has been removed from my body. I freaked Chris out by saying that "I used to have cancer" My logic: The doctors took it and now I don't have it any more. It's in a dish/lab/somewhere. I guess technically I still own it...

More Pictures

Selena relaxing bed at home. 

I think the smile is drug induced.....  :)

Chris and Dr. Hope, Bunny MD taking Selena HOME!!!!

Bienvenidos a UTMB?

NO!

Gracias y adios UTMB!

Selena a casa ahora va!

Welcome to UTMB?

NO!

Thank you and goodbye UTMB!

Selena goes home now!

Selena was on fall precautions because of the 

pain medication and the hysterectomy.

I liked the way the sign looked. It made me smile. 

There was very little in the last few days that made me smile.

Yeah. Selena is awake with Dr. Hope, Bunny MD. 

She sure looks great considering less than 24 hours ago she was in 

REALLY LOOOOONNNNNGGG surgery.

Pictures

This is Selena's attending physician, Dr. Hope, MD. She is a very good doctor. My sister Lori and my two nieces Emily and Ashley hired her to take care of Selena at the Build-a-Bear Workshop in Tyler, TX. 

It was VERY, VERY sweet of them.

Selena the day after surgery with Dr. Hope. 

Selena is groggy from her pain meds.

Selena in her room the day after surgery. She had finally come out of her anesthesia haze and was starting to contemplate coming home. It never entered her mind that it would be an option to come home the day after have a mastectomy/hysterectomy surgery that lasted almost 7 hours. When they took the foley catheter out and she started to cough and had to go to the bathroom and realized her pain was managed a better than she thought and was able to walk she thought "Hmmmm. It might be possible to go home....." I was shocked at her strength, color and attitude. 

She is awesome. 

You may think I have to say this because 

I love her, but she really IS awesome. 

Selena before surgery in her day surgery room.

I wrote this on Selena's left breast with a Sharpie 

so there would be no confusion in the operating room.

I'm still, still here

Yes, it's me. I am in surprisingly good shape. The pain is managed by the meds so well that I have none most of the time! Shocked? me too! Loopy? Ohhhh Yeeesss. I am at home. In fact, I'm the only one up right now, everyone else is sleeping. Today I graduated to not having to pee in the "hat"(a thing you pee in so it can be measured) since I am doing so well. I can get in and out of bed by myself. I can also go to the bathroom by myself. Tomorrow, the dressing comes off my mastectomy incision.

Thank You. Thank you for the cards. Thank you for the calls. Thank you for the prayers. Thank you for the flowers. Thank you for the support and love.

Selena Stair Superstar!!!

Selena is feeling well enough that she is going home today!!! Can you imagine that! She's only been out of surgery 24 hours. I am so proud of her. She got out bed by herself at 1:10pm and sat on the toilet coughing up huge plugs of green phlegm for an hour. (I am sure she wants everyone to know this!) After that she sat in a big comfy chair for a couple of hours trying to decide if she was ready to go home. She decided at 4:30pm she would be just as well of at home with an almost doctor and a registered nurse. And she really is not feeling that bad. Of course she is in pain but it is controlled by PO (by mouth) meds as well as the IV meds and she runs less of a risk of getting a bad infection at home compared to the hospital. Hospitals are great places to get sick.

Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers and energy sent to Selena.

Chris

The Morning Report

Mum notes. Well I don't sing but you will all recognize the Lion King reference. I went in to Selena's room about 7p and stayed until 8a. Selena passed a good night, sleeping off and on, managing her pain with a self activated morphine pump. This morning she was chipper ,but hoarse and able to commence her respirometer exercises. Being a teaching hospital she was seen and examined by various residents from the two different services (and the janitor). Not really! Selena is too nice! I always snarl and kick the students out. After one student decided to listen to her chest on top of her brand new incision I thought she might become like her mother. Plan was to have her ambulate and try eating semi-real food. I left her hitting the watery oatmeal. One bite for her, one bite for the bed linen. Chris had returned and had the day shift. Selena has beer very surprised that she feels soo good, pain mostly in lower back and belly,not chest. Wait till the morphine is discontinued..... More updates as they happen. Sorry if this sound like a nursing report! That is exactly what is is! D

Resting (not so) Comfortably in Bed

Selena finally overcame the ether (and no I don't mean the ethernet Cat 5 cables you use to connect your computer to the internet!) at 6:15pm. She was transfered to her room on the 7th floor at around 7pm. She was able to scoot herself over from the recovery bed to her room bed by herself! That is a really good sign. She was complaining of pain of an 8/10 but then finally got some morphine and the pain went down to a 5/10. She got nauseated from the morphine so she also got some Zofran. She is sleeping right now so I came home for a little while and Mum is up with her. Her color is good and she really came through the marathon surgery really well. I am really proud of her. Once again she proves:

"She is strong like bull."

"Nyet. She ees strong like Russian bear."

"BULL!"

"BEAR!"

"BULL!"

"BEAR!"

"WOMAN-BULL-BEAR!"

"Yes"

"Da"

Chris

Surgery is Complete.

Selena is in recovery now. Sorry so short but this is posted from my iPhone.

Chris

Phase I Complete, Phase II in Progress

Sounds like I am giving updates on a housing development. Sorry.

Phase I, the mastectomy took about 3:30 hours. 8:45am - 12:15pm (longer than expected)

Phase II, the hysterectomy is estimated to take about 4 hours and to started at 1pm after repositioning and staff changes in the OR.

Chris

THIS IS THE MOMENT, THIS IS THE DAY

WHEN I LET ALL MY DOUBTS
AND DEMONS ON THEIR WAY... Jekyll and Hyde-The Musical

Well the day has come, finally..... Selena is in the OR getting her right breast removed at this very moment. Last night was pretty yucky because she had to drink two litres of this bowel cleansing solution to prep her for the hysterectomy. It tasted REALLLLLY gross and of course made her spend most of the evening in the bathroom. We marked her left breast with "KEEP ME! (Don't' cut off!)."

Selena and I arrived at UTMB at 7am and she got ready for surgery. She was very calm and ready. We met with lots of nice nurses and doctors and they got her ready for surgery. Dr. Silva the Breast surgeon came to see her at 8:40 and then at 8:45 I gave her a big kiss and told her I loved her and they rolled her away. I have been told to expect the surgery to last until 5pm!

I am in the Medical School library trying to study. I can feel some prayers and positive energy flying in from all over the globe into her OR! :)

More later,

Chris

We're on track...

Today I saw Dr. Silva and signed the second set of pre-op paperwork. I find it interesting and a little disconcerting that this time I have been given instructions that I wasn't given last month. I have to do a bowel cleansing thing that I wasn't asked to do last time AND I was given a packet of information on breathing/coughing and what to expect in surgery. I guess it's good that I wasn't able to have the surgery last time because I could have compromised the laperscopic surgery by not having done the bowel "thing".

While I was at the Dr. we became concerned about a pain in my neck and arm so they sent me in for another ultrasound. Turns out I am better and a few of my clots have dispersed. No worries for the surgery.

About a week...

Today I have a Pre-op appointment with Dr. Arristea (OBGYN surgery) and I have Dr. Silva (Breast Surgeon) on Friday. My cough is nearly gone! This crud has been going around and it is particularly hard to shake. For once I don't seem to be the only one hanging on to it. Surgery is scheduled for February 12th.

Chris started his psychiatric rotation - the portion that he has to drive to Houston for -this week. He is leery of driving such long distances in heavy traffic since his accident. This only lasts 3 weeks.

School continues to go well. I share a classroom with Brandon Dinklage who teaches the Weiss students, and he has been great. He is a good teacher, which makes it easier to let him drive...