I can see the light

 It's been a bit since I have written. I haven't really had to much to say and then once I realized that I did the ball started moving so fast that I have just kind of waited until everything has settled down. Figured I would write everything down in one decent sized entry. 

I finished my 6 weeks of chemo/radiation. It wasn't awful but it wasn't a breeze either. I know that I am very lucky that I don't have it as bad as some other people do. Even with my oncologist hitting my cancer aggressively. I ended up being pretty nauseous throughout the treatment and really sick that final week. I was praying to the porcelain gods several times a day. That was probably the roughest of it all. It's obviously not something that I would ever want to go through again but I can be thankful that it wasn't worse. 

I did the chemo/radiation and then had my 3 week wait period before I went for my next pet scan. Waiting is hard. It's hard because so many things go through your mind at that time. Did it work? What if it didn't work? What if I need more chemo/radiation? God please don't let me need anymore. Then you go for the scan and have to wait for the results. That can be brutal. Again I am lucky though because my oncologist rushes the results and I get them the next day. There are some places that you have to wait a week or so. I am not sure how I would do having to wait that long. The results came back really good with pretty much me being in remission. Once I have the surgery and the pathology comes back they can officially confirm that. 

Now the surgery...

I've met with both of my surgeons this past week. Both have gone over everything with me once again to make sure that I understand everything that I am going to be going through. All the complications, and there is a list of them, everything about the recovery process and how my life will be affected. It's not an easy walk in the park kind of surgery. It's a very complicated, complex one. But this surgery is going to be my best option for not having to deal with this cancer again. I am waiting on final word from the surgeons for the date. Since it's a two surgeon deal they have to talk with each other and look over their schedules and see what days they have but it is looking like it'll be pretty soon. The surgery itself does make me very nervous. I suppose it would make anyone nervous. I try to stay and remain positive and think happy thoughts. I'll be in the hospital 7-10 days. I guess I have to look at the bright side and know that once I have this surgery that I can finally say that this is almost all over with. 

Recovery time will be about a month. I'll have to learn to swallow all over again. I'll be on a clear liquid diet for a while and I'll probably lose a bunch of weight.( Not that I mind that part.) I'll have a feeding tube again. I do mind that part but I also understand the reason for it. They think they will be able to remove it after about a month. The biggest downside to all of this is that I won't ever be able to lay down flat when sleeping again. I think that might actually be the hardest part of all of this. I'm not an overly big fan of being propped up. I looked at adjustable beds but I nixed that idea because while I'm not warming my bed with anyone right now down the road I might and they aren't going to want to be propped up. I've been looking at the wedge pillows and so far I haven't seen any that I really like. There are a lot of designs so I'll have to keep looking. I am a firm believer in the fact that when it's right it'll happen so I think when I find the one that I really like and feel it'll make this transition easier for me then it'll just kind of pop up. 

There is still a lot for me to do to get ready for this surgery. I have my bag to pack with all of my stuff to keep my occupied. I really hope I get a private room or don't have to share a room with anyone. Especially now during this whole covid thing. I have to do all my little things to get the dogs all set and situated with my being away. I should hopefully have a surgery date tomorrow so I am sure that I will be making another post before I head off for surgery. 

Comments

  1. jackieAugust 25, 2020 at 6:37 PM

    You got this...then the next countdown we have is Christmas 2021!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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