Just a quick update on Steve - the operation went well, he did great and had no complications. They ended up having to remove the whole lower lobe of the lung, but we had sort of expected that's what they were going to have to do.
He is still mostly sleeping a lot, but they've got him on an epidural to manage the pain for the next couple of days, so he is really feeling pretty well. The drug they're giving him in the epidural makes him itchy, so they're giving him something else to combat that which makes him pretty drowsy. They were about to move him from the ICU to a regular room when I was visiting earlier this evening, which is great.
I'm doing great myself, not worrying about him nearly as much as last time. I had to pick him and my dad up at 5:30 a.m. yesterday to be at the hospital by 6. Was a really long day yesterday, and I spent a lot of time at the hospital today, so I've just now finished up working for the day. I'm wiped. Otherwise, we're all good. That's pretty much it for now, so far so good. Keep us in your thoughts!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Another brother update...
As I previously mentioned, my brother Steve has to have surgery again. He’s scheduled to have the tumor in his right lung removed on Tuesday, March 18th at 8 a.m. He’ll be at PSL for 4-5 days, then at home for 2-3 weeks.
The surgery will involve a large incision on his right side that goes from front to back. They are hoping to only have to do a wedge-resection, where they take a pie-shaped piece containing the tumor out, but if it’s in a difficult location, they may have to do an entire lobectomy. If they have to do that, the good news is that the right lung has three lobes (as opposed to two on the left) and most people never miss it if they have to have one lobe removed from the right. Because of the way they have to do the operation, he'll be unable to use his right arm for a while, but other than that, he should be up and about as soon as he gets home. Hopefully even before then!
As always, please keep him in your thoughts.
The surgery will involve a large incision on his right side that goes from front to back. They are hoping to only have to do a wedge-resection, where they take a pie-shaped piece containing the tumor out, but if it’s in a difficult location, they may have to do an entire lobectomy. If they have to do that, the good news is that the right lung has three lobes (as opposed to two on the left) and most people never miss it if they have to have one lobe removed from the right. Because of the way they have to do the operation, he'll be unable to use his right arm for a while, but other than that, he should be up and about as soon as he gets home. Hopefully even before then!
As always, please keep him in your thoughts.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Vacation! All I ever wanted...
So, little after-misadventure notwithstanding, our vacation to Mexico was lovely. We went to Puerto Vallarta and the hotel was beautiful (if under construction, and believe you me, our travel agent and everyone else in the world that I can think of is going to hear about that) and the weather...oh, the weather. Was fabulous. Beautiful, beautiful mid-70s, warm breezes and so humid. I had the softest skin ever there. Of course, now we're back to Colorado, I have turned into a raisin. I may have to flee back to more humid climes in self-defense.
Anyhoo, it was all very romantic and warm and I wore a big floppy fabulous hat a lot of the time and no makeup and felt very beautiful. And it really was so wonderful to spend so much time with Mr. Fantastic, just doing whatever, wandering on the beach and frolicking and whatnot. We did a lot of laying around - at the pool, on the beach, in the hot tub, etc, although I did force him into a Canopy Tour one day and a "Snorkel Adventure" another day, both of which wore us out and made us decide that while they were fun, next vacation we're literally doing nothing.
The first night we were there we walked on the beach at night like sappy romantic fools and listened to the waves and looked at the stars - oh, the stars. Well, aside from them being all wonky and backwards and upside down (took us three days to find the big dipper!) the stars were so close and huge and bright. That first night, we sat tangled up on an abandoned beach chair and drank our Corona Lights with lime (because we are ever mindful of our figures, damn the taste) and snuggled and kissed and talked softly and I wanted to cry it was so damn sweet. And as we were sitting there, all by ourselves in the night, out of nowhere there came fireworks. Fireworks! I - well, I have no words. Fireworks, just for us! I am a huge sucker for fireworks - god you should see me on the 4th of July, I'm such a patriotic sap for things that go boom - so you can imagine the look of childlike glee on my face as I sat there on a warm beach in Mexico, snuggled up with my honey watching our own fireworks display reflect off the water. It was like my own personal Say Anything moment. I nearly cried, you should ask Mr. F. God, I'm such a girl but it was awesome. I think my favorite moment from the whole trip. And well, of course you know I fell a little bit more in love with Mr. F right then, like he's the one who made the fireworks. Maybe he did.
Sunday we went to a restaurant called PiPi's, recommended by my friend Kathy, whose daughter lives in PV (that's what they call it, don't'cha know). Great food - they make the guacamole at your table to your taste and my god, it was good. I didn't even need to eat anything else. And Mr. F and I shared the world's largest margarita, although I think Mr. F got the lion's share by dint of it being too heavy for me to hold. Oh, and then on the way home, we missed our bus stop or something and it resulted in me using my high school Spanish to rescue us. I think Mr. F was suitably impressed at how much Spanish I've actually retained. Good on you, Senora Palabra!
On Monday we went on a Canopy Tour, otherwise known as the Zip Line, which is something I've wanted to do for ages. (Okay, something I've wanted to do ever since I saw it on The Amazing Race, shut up.) Anyway, it was totally cool! And kind of funny, since I'm afraid of heights - but I was so psyched to do this, I never even thought twice about the heights. There was more hiking involved than I had thought about but made sense once we got started. You'd hike up a little trail, clip on the the line and zzzzipp across the way, then hike a little trail to the next platform. Eventually we started going downhill to the next platform so it got easier toward the end. It was absolutely beautiful and exhilarating and I'm thrilled we did it. Plus, a year ago, this is something I physically wouldn't have been able to do - wouldn't have been able to take the hiking, would've been too heavy for the zip line - so it was really kind of a milestone for me.
Monday night we went to our "fancy" dinner - got all dressed up and everything. Had absolutely excellent food at the hotel next door. Mr. F and I decided we should just always share filet mignon and scallops and never eat anything else. Yum.
On Tuesday, we went on what we thought was going to be a snorkeling trip but which turned out to be more of a booze cruise. Eh. It was fun, once we realized that the 20 minutes of snorkeling in cloudy water was all the snorkeling there was going to be. We'd really love to actually snorkel some time, but I guess the Pacific side of Mexico isn't known for that - you're better off on the Gulf side. It was a really great boat ride, and we even saw some whales and dolphins while we were out. The boat - I have no idea what kind it was - had these little net thingies at the front where you could sit and sort of ride over the water, and Mr. F was eventually able to convince me to sit in it with him. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get back out of it once I got in! Well, I got out, but not gracefully. It was a long day in the sun and Mr. F's shins got pretty badly sunburned but it was a good time. I think next time, we'll skip that one. Also, when I jumped off the boat, I hit my big toe on something and it chipped my pedicure and is still a nasty black-and-blue.
Wednesday we spent mostly at the pool and ate lunch at the swim up bar, which I had been dying to do. I enjoyed it, although eating while sitting waist-deep in warm water mostly just made me have to pee. That was a really nice, relaxing day and I think next vacation, we plan to do more of that sort of thing as opposed to booze-cruising and zipping through the jungle. Mr. Fantastic lived up to his name and was fantastic about doing whatever I wanted. Tottenham was playing in the FA cup Sunday night and he went out to dinner with no complaint even though he would have a thousand times rather stayed at the hotel and watch the game. I still feel kind of bad about that, especially since they won and he had to miss it.
In all, it was a really great time and I'm so glad we got to spend it together, just the two of us. So often our vacations involve a whole bunch of other people and we don't get time to be sappy and romantic and walk on the beach and make me feel twenty again. And I forget that it's not just me that's the sappy romantic one. That it's Mr. F who wants to sit in the hot tub together and watch the sun set. Do you know, everywhere we went, people asked us if we were on our honeymoon? They kept saying how happy I looked. Maybe that's just a thing they say there to all the couples, but I felt like we were on our honeymoon. All giggly and hand-holdy and just...you know.
Oh, here. Stop rolling your eyes at me and go look at the pictures.
Anyhoo, it was all very romantic and warm and I wore a big floppy fabulous hat a lot of the time and no makeup and felt very beautiful. And it really was so wonderful to spend so much time with Mr. Fantastic, just doing whatever, wandering on the beach and frolicking and whatnot. We did a lot of laying around - at the pool, on the beach, in the hot tub, etc, although I did force him into a Canopy Tour one day and a "Snorkel Adventure" another day, both of which wore us out and made us decide that while they were fun, next vacation we're literally doing nothing.
The first night we were there we walked on the beach at night like sappy romantic fools and listened to the waves and looked at the stars - oh, the stars. Well, aside from them being all wonky and backwards and upside down (took us three days to find the big dipper!) the stars were so close and huge and bright. That first night, we sat tangled up on an abandoned beach chair and drank our Corona Lights with lime (because we are ever mindful of our figures, damn the taste) and snuggled and kissed and talked softly and I wanted to cry it was so damn sweet. And as we were sitting there, all by ourselves in the night, out of nowhere there came fireworks. Fireworks! I - well, I have no words. Fireworks, just for us! I am a huge sucker for fireworks - god you should see me on the 4th of July, I'm such a patriotic sap for things that go boom - so you can imagine the look of childlike glee on my face as I sat there on a warm beach in Mexico, snuggled up with my honey watching our own fireworks display reflect off the water. It was like my own personal Say Anything moment. I nearly cried, you should ask Mr. F. God, I'm such a girl but it was awesome. I think my favorite moment from the whole trip. And well, of course you know I fell a little bit more in love with Mr. F right then, like he's the one who made the fireworks. Maybe he did.
Sunday we went to a restaurant called PiPi's, recommended by my friend Kathy, whose daughter lives in PV (that's what they call it, don't'cha know). Great food - they make the guacamole at your table to your taste and my god, it was good. I didn't even need to eat anything else. And Mr. F and I shared the world's largest margarita, although I think Mr. F got the lion's share by dint of it being too heavy for me to hold. Oh, and then on the way home, we missed our bus stop or something and it resulted in me using my high school Spanish to rescue us. I think Mr. F was suitably impressed at how much Spanish I've actually retained. Good on you, Senora Palabra!
On Monday we went on a Canopy Tour, otherwise known as the Zip Line, which is something I've wanted to do for ages. (Okay, something I've wanted to do ever since I saw it on The Amazing Race, shut up.) Anyway, it was totally cool! And kind of funny, since I'm afraid of heights - but I was so psyched to do this, I never even thought twice about the heights. There was more hiking involved than I had thought about but made sense once we got started. You'd hike up a little trail, clip on the the line and zzzzipp across the way, then hike a little trail to the next platform. Eventually we started going downhill to the next platform so it got easier toward the end. It was absolutely beautiful and exhilarating and I'm thrilled we did it. Plus, a year ago, this is something I physically wouldn't have been able to do - wouldn't have been able to take the hiking, would've been too heavy for the zip line - so it was really kind of a milestone for me.
Monday night we went to our "fancy" dinner - got all dressed up and everything. Had absolutely excellent food at the hotel next door. Mr. F and I decided we should just always share filet mignon and scallops and never eat anything else. Yum.
On Tuesday, we went on what we thought was going to be a snorkeling trip but which turned out to be more of a booze cruise. Eh. It was fun, once we realized that the 20 minutes of snorkeling in cloudy water was all the snorkeling there was going to be. We'd really love to actually snorkel some time, but I guess the Pacific side of Mexico isn't known for that - you're better off on the Gulf side. It was a really great boat ride, and we even saw some whales and dolphins while we were out. The boat - I have no idea what kind it was - had these little net thingies at the front where you could sit and sort of ride over the water, and Mr. F was eventually able to convince me to sit in it with him. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get back out of it once I got in! Well, I got out, but not gracefully. It was a long day in the sun and Mr. F's shins got pretty badly sunburned but it was a good time. I think next time, we'll skip that one. Also, when I jumped off the boat, I hit my big toe on something and it chipped my pedicure and is still a nasty black-and-blue.
Wednesday we spent mostly at the pool and ate lunch at the swim up bar, which I had been dying to do. I enjoyed it, although eating while sitting waist-deep in warm water mostly just made me have to pee. That was a really nice, relaxing day and I think next vacation, we plan to do more of that sort of thing as opposed to booze-cruising and zipping through the jungle. Mr. Fantastic lived up to his name and was fantastic about doing whatever I wanted. Tottenham was playing in the FA cup Sunday night and he went out to dinner with no complaint even though he would have a thousand times rather stayed at the hotel and watch the game. I still feel kind of bad about that, especially since they won and he had to miss it.
In all, it was a really great time and I'm so glad we got to spend it together, just the two of us. So often our vacations involve a whole bunch of other people and we don't get time to be sappy and romantic and walk on the beach and make me feel twenty again. And I forget that it's not just me that's the sappy romantic one. That it's Mr. F who wants to sit in the hot tub together and watch the sun set. Do you know, everywhere we went, people asked us if we were on our honeymoon? They kept saying how happy I looked. Maybe that's just a thing they say there to all the couples, but I felt like we were on our honeymoon. All giggly and hand-holdy and just...you know.
Oh, here. Stop rolling your eyes at me and go look at the pictures.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Adventures in Medicine, or; Eat at the Airport the Last Day of your Trip
I will tell you about my vacation soon, but first I have to tell you about the adventure after my vacation.
The day we left Mexico (Thursday), Mr. Fantastic and I shared a sandwich for lunch that made us sick. Like, we both spent the plane ride home feeling like we had food poisoning. Although his was more typical food posoning symptoms, mine was basically just this really, really awful pain in the middle of my belly. It would come and go in waves. At one point, I almost passed out in the airport - just standing in line, I started pouring buckets of sweat and feeling dizzy and had to sit down before I fell down. At that point, even taking a sip of water would cause a wave of this horrible pain.
We finally got home Thursday night and went to bed. On Friday, Mr. F was also having an earache so he went to the doctor. I tried to eat some lunch but literally minutes after I put something in my mouth, I got waves of that awful pain. I put a call in to my surgeon and by the time Mr. F got back with magical eardrops, I was feeling much worse, and his tummy wasn't any better either. I got a call back from Amanda, the nurse at my surgeon's office, and she told me to go to the ER and that she would let Dr. Snyder know. She was really worried about dehydration since I pretty much hadn't had anything for almost 24 hours. It's really easy for a gastric bypass patient such as myself to get dehydrated and really hard to get caught back up without medical intervention. So at the very least, she wanted to make sure I was hydrated.
Since Mr. F was spending so much time running to the bathroom, I told him not to come with me, and I drove to the ER at Rose Hospital about 3:45. I had to wait a long time for them to have a bed for me. And I was sitting there in the waiting room just feeling worse and worse. The pain I was having became a constant pain, with these excruciating waves that would spike every few minutes. Let me tell you, I can handle pain. Ask Mr. F. But this was seriously the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life - and it just kept getting worse with each passing hour. I was sitting in that waiting room just sobbing from the pain.
Eventually they got me back to a bed, took some blood, had me pee in a cup, took some XRays and a CT scan and got me started on an IV. I couldn't take the pain sitting down, so I was pacing around the little room, stopping to bend over the bed when the wave of pain would hit. Finally they decided to give me some pain meds which meant I had to call and have Mr. F come in and also they made me sit down in the bed which sucked because it meant I had to try and curl in a little ball when the pain came.
The CT scan was apparently very scarily abnormal and made them think I had a twisted loop of bowel. Which, turns out, feels just like it sounds. It felt like my intestines were going to pop. And I guess the pain was coming in waves due to the peristalsis motion of digestion. Anyway, the pain meds helped a lot - first it was fentanyl, then later something that lasted longer. As the night wore on and the pain got worse, I started getting nauseous and dry heaving, which just made things hurt worse.
Then Dr. Snyder got there and he and his resident decided they needed to do surgery. They couldn't confirm for sure from the XRay and CT scan that I really did have a bowel obstruction but I was in so much pain that they wanted to be safe and make sure. So about 10 pm they whisked me off to surgery. Three of my incisions from my gastric bypass have been re-incised so they could put in a camera and tools and look around and fix anything that might need fixing. Thankfully, Mr. F and Steve were both there to see me off and help me calm down a bit. By the time I was getting ready for surgery, I was nearly hysterical with the dry heaving, pain and being scared of such hurried surgery.
Unfortunately, they couldn't find anything wrong. Or, fortunately, I guess. Once they got in there, they couldn't find an obstruction or anything. They guessed I had some kind of twist or obstruction that resolved itself but can't really say for sure what the hell was happening. What I think happened is that I got the same food poisoning that Mr. F did but because I was seriously dehydrated, I didn't get the, er, runs. Instead, I got my body trying to expel the nastiness but being unable. Each wave of pain was one that would've sent me running to the bathroom.
Anyway, spent the night in the hospital and got to come home late Saturday afternoon. I'm sure you will be happy to know I have pooed, and the pain I was having is gone. Unfortunately, it's been replaced by the pain from my healing incisions. It pretty much sucks that they decided to do surgery and it basically was unnecessary, but it's better safe than sorry, especially with the amount of pain I was having.
Mr. F is still feeling a bit wonky in the belly but he seems to be on the mend. It sucks when we're both sick because then there's nobody to be the mom!
So. Lessons learned. When on vacation, I need to be super vigilant about keeping hydrated. And eat at the airport the last day of the trip.
The day we left Mexico (Thursday), Mr. Fantastic and I shared a sandwich for lunch that made us sick. Like, we both spent the plane ride home feeling like we had food poisoning. Although his was more typical food posoning symptoms, mine was basically just this really, really awful pain in the middle of my belly. It would come and go in waves. At one point, I almost passed out in the airport - just standing in line, I started pouring buckets of sweat and feeling dizzy and had to sit down before I fell down. At that point, even taking a sip of water would cause a wave of this horrible pain.
We finally got home Thursday night and went to bed. On Friday, Mr. F was also having an earache so he went to the doctor. I tried to eat some lunch but literally minutes after I put something in my mouth, I got waves of that awful pain. I put a call in to my surgeon and by the time Mr. F got back with magical eardrops, I was feeling much worse, and his tummy wasn't any better either. I got a call back from Amanda, the nurse at my surgeon's office, and she told me to go to the ER and that she would let Dr. Snyder know. She was really worried about dehydration since I pretty much hadn't had anything for almost 24 hours. It's really easy for a gastric bypass patient such as myself to get dehydrated and really hard to get caught back up without medical intervention. So at the very least, she wanted to make sure I was hydrated.
Since Mr. F was spending so much time running to the bathroom, I told him not to come with me, and I drove to the ER at Rose Hospital about 3:45. I had to wait a long time for them to have a bed for me. And I was sitting there in the waiting room just feeling worse and worse. The pain I was having became a constant pain, with these excruciating waves that would spike every few minutes. Let me tell you, I can handle pain. Ask Mr. F. But this was seriously the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life - and it just kept getting worse with each passing hour. I was sitting in that waiting room just sobbing from the pain.
Eventually they got me back to a bed, took some blood, had me pee in a cup, took some XRays and a CT scan and got me started on an IV. I couldn't take the pain sitting down, so I was pacing around the little room, stopping to bend over the bed when the wave of pain would hit. Finally they decided to give me some pain meds which meant I had to call and have Mr. F come in and also they made me sit down in the bed which sucked because it meant I had to try and curl in a little ball when the pain came.
The CT scan was apparently very scarily abnormal and made them think I had a twisted loop of bowel. Which, turns out, feels just like it sounds. It felt like my intestines were going to pop. And I guess the pain was coming in waves due to the peristalsis motion of digestion. Anyway, the pain meds helped a lot - first it was fentanyl, then later something that lasted longer. As the night wore on and the pain got worse, I started getting nauseous and dry heaving, which just made things hurt worse.
Then Dr. Snyder got there and he and his resident decided they needed to do surgery. They couldn't confirm for sure from the XRay and CT scan that I really did have a bowel obstruction but I was in so much pain that they wanted to be safe and make sure. So about 10 pm they whisked me off to surgery. Three of my incisions from my gastric bypass have been re-incised so they could put in a camera and tools and look around and fix anything that might need fixing. Thankfully, Mr. F and Steve were both there to see me off and help me calm down a bit. By the time I was getting ready for surgery, I was nearly hysterical with the dry heaving, pain and being scared of such hurried surgery.
Unfortunately, they couldn't find anything wrong. Or, fortunately, I guess. Once they got in there, they couldn't find an obstruction or anything. They guessed I had some kind of twist or obstruction that resolved itself but can't really say for sure what the hell was happening. What I think happened is that I got the same food poisoning that Mr. F did but because I was seriously dehydrated, I didn't get the, er, runs. Instead, I got my body trying to expel the nastiness but being unable. Each wave of pain was one that would've sent me running to the bathroom.
Anyway, spent the night in the hospital and got to come home late Saturday afternoon. I'm sure you will be happy to know I have pooed, and the pain I was having is gone. Unfortunately, it's been replaced by the pain from my healing incisions. It pretty much sucks that they decided to do surgery and it basically was unnecessary, but it's better safe than sorry, especially with the amount of pain I was having.
Mr. F is still feeling a bit wonky in the belly but he seems to be on the mend. It sucks when we're both sick because then there's nobody to be the mom!
So. Lessons learned. When on vacation, I need to be super vigilant about keeping hydrated. And eat at the airport the last day of the trip.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Brother Update
Had a couple of doctor's appointments with my brother recently and we got some not-fabulous news.
Steve had a PET scan in the last couple of weeks and we saw the oncologist on Friday to go over it. The results of the PET scan were mixed. The tumor in his lung originally started at 1.8 mm. When we saw Dr. J for the previous PET scan results, he told us it had shrunk to 1 mm and we were thrilled. On Friday he said the tumor measured 1.7 mm. As opposed to it shrinking and growing again, Dr. J explained that it had probably never shrunk as much as they had initially thought. Apparently the PET scan is only accurate to within a centimeter or so, so this tumor is really too small for them to measure accurately with the PET. He also explained the reason for the apparent shrinkage from last time. Basically he likened it to comparing slices of a tennis ball. If you take a slice from the middle and compare it to a slice from the very top, they're not going to appear to be the same size, even though the tennis ball hasn't changed size.
So, all that said, Steve has completed 6 months of chemo with not a lot of response and Dr. J's next step is to have the tumor removed surgically, which was always the plan. While I'm left feeling sort of like the chemo has been a waste of time, Dr. J reminded us that the chemo most likely has eradicated any other hot spots that might have been undetectable.
We met with the surgeon yesterday. Dr. M seems very nice and competent and has scheduled Steve for a CT scan for next Monday to get a better idea of size and placement of the tumor. It will also help to detect if there are any other nodules inside the lung that will need to be removed. We were hoping they could do a video-assisted thorascopic surgery, but due to his weight, the surgeon is doubtful that will be possible. That means instead a surgery requiring a large incision under his right armpit. Also, depending on the results of the CT scan, which will show them where exactly the tumor is located, it might be necessary to do a more major surgery than just a biopsy of the tumor or removing only the wedge where it's located. If it's placed too far inside, as opposed to on the surface of the lung, it might actually be necessary to remove the entire lobe of the lung where it's located. Dr. M reassured us that most people who have a lobe removed fully recover and never even notice they're missing it. Recovery time should be anywhere from 3-6 weeks. (Interesting fact I did not know: your right lung has three lobes while the left lung only has two.)
Steve'll have the CT while I'm out on vacation and the follow-up with Dr. M and surgery will be scheduled for the next few weeks after I'm back. That's all the news for now, but please keep sending your good karma our way. ♥
Steve had a PET scan in the last couple of weeks and we saw the oncologist on Friday to go over it. The results of the PET scan were mixed. The tumor in his lung originally started at 1.8 mm. When we saw Dr. J for the previous PET scan results, he told us it had shrunk to 1 mm and we were thrilled. On Friday he said the tumor measured 1.7 mm. As opposed to it shrinking and growing again, Dr. J explained that it had probably never shrunk as much as they had initially thought. Apparently the PET scan is only accurate to within a centimeter or so, so this tumor is really too small for them to measure accurately with the PET. He also explained the reason for the apparent shrinkage from last time. Basically he likened it to comparing slices of a tennis ball. If you take a slice from the middle and compare it to a slice from the very top, they're not going to appear to be the same size, even though the tennis ball hasn't changed size.
So, all that said, Steve has completed 6 months of chemo with not a lot of response and Dr. J's next step is to have the tumor removed surgically, which was always the plan. While I'm left feeling sort of like the chemo has been a waste of time, Dr. J reminded us that the chemo most likely has eradicated any other hot spots that might have been undetectable.
We met with the surgeon yesterday. Dr. M seems very nice and competent and has scheduled Steve for a CT scan for next Monday to get a better idea of size and placement of the tumor. It will also help to detect if there are any other nodules inside the lung that will need to be removed. We were hoping they could do a video-assisted thorascopic surgery, but due to his weight, the surgeon is doubtful that will be possible. That means instead a surgery requiring a large incision under his right armpit. Also, depending on the results of the CT scan, which will show them where exactly the tumor is located, it might be necessary to do a more major surgery than just a biopsy of the tumor or removing only the wedge where it's located. If it's placed too far inside, as opposed to on the surface of the lung, it might actually be necessary to remove the entire lobe of the lung where it's located. Dr. M reassured us that most people who have a lobe removed fully recover and never even notice they're missing it. Recovery time should be anywhere from 3-6 weeks. (Interesting fact I did not know: your right lung has three lobes while the left lung only has two.)
Steve'll have the CT while I'm out on vacation and the follow-up with Dr. M and surgery will be scheduled for the next few weeks after I'm back. That's all the news for now, but please keep sending your good karma our way. ♥
Sunday, February 17, 2008
From the Conversations with Mr. Fantastic Files
So, Mr. F DVRs Sky Sports News for all the footie updates. While it's mostly soccer news, they always have other stuff like cricket and darts. Tonight, he was fast forwarding through the boring stuff (read = not soccer) that he doesn't want to watch.
Mr. F: *fast forwards* Tennis...gay...horse racing...gay...
Me: Hey, isn't that the sport of kings?
Mr. F: Yeah...Gay kings.
Mr. F: *fast forwards* Tennis...gay...horse racing...gay...
Me: Hey, isn't that the sport of kings?
Mr. F: Yeah...Gay kings.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Swimsuit acheived! And, VACATION!
Okay, vacation first - Mr. Fantastic and I finally got our trip planned. We're going to Puerto Vallarta from the 23rd to the 29th. YAY! I'm so excited for palm trees and ocean and beach and pina coladas. Mmm.
Speaking of the beach, I have found a swimsuit! Hallelujah!
And I actually like it, not just tolerate it as I have with so many swimsuits in the past. I gotta say, it's not half bad. Black on the bottom with an animal-print over the top. I got it at the lingerie store where I buy my special (read = honking expensive) 34H bras - Le Soutien. Suit wasn't too awfully expensive - only about $90, and I was prepared to pay $130. Got a wrap to go with that was on sale for $18, marked down from like $50. The best part is, it's sized like a bra and has adjustable straps and underwires, so it feels as good as wearing my regular bra. Lots of support and the back comes up pretty high so I don't have the back fat hanging out. I'm extremely pleased.
I can finally look forward to a vacation that requires a swimsuit instead of dreading it like usual. I'm totally psyched!
Speaking of the beach, I have found a swimsuit! Hallelujah!
And I actually like it, not just tolerate it as I have with so many swimsuits in the past. I gotta say, it's not half bad. Black on the bottom with an animal-print over the top. I got it at the lingerie store where I buy my special (read = honking expensive) 34H bras - Le Soutien. Suit wasn't too awfully expensive - only about $90, and I was prepared to pay $130. Got a wrap to go with that was on sale for $18, marked down from like $50. The best part is, it's sized like a bra and has adjustable straps and underwires, so it feels as good as wearing my regular bra. Lots of support and the back comes up pretty high so I don't have the back fat hanging out. I'm extremely pleased.
I can finally look forward to a vacation that requires a swimsuit instead of dreading it like usual. I'm totally psyched!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
I've been caucused!
I have returned from being caucused.
What I like about the caucus is that instead of going in a little booth and casting your vote in private, you actually stand up to be counted. Literally. Once everyone's all signed in, you go to where your precinct is grouped and you stand with the others who support your candidate. Based on the number of people in my precint who showed up, we were allowed a total of ten delegates. Obama got 7 and Clinton got 3. Early reports are showing Obama is leading Colorado with 65%. \o/
Apparently the caucus took longer than they anticipated because I guess about four times as many people showed up this time compared to the last caucus 4 years ago. I think Democrats are going to show up in record numbers to vote this year.
It was really fun, educational, and inspirational to be part of the process and I'm glad I went. Looking forward to the Democratic National Convention, which comes to my hometown of Denver this year.
What I like about the caucus is that instead of going in a little booth and casting your vote in private, you actually stand up to be counted. Literally. Once everyone's all signed in, you go to where your precinct is grouped and you stand with the others who support your candidate. Based on the number of people in my precint who showed up, we were allowed a total of ten delegates. Obama got 7 and Clinton got 3. Early reports are showing Obama is leading Colorado with 65%. \o/
Apparently the caucus took longer than they anticipated because I guess about four times as many people showed up this time compared to the last caucus 4 years ago. I think Democrats are going to show up in record numbers to vote this year.
It was really fun, educational, and inspirational to be part of the process and I'm glad I went. Looking forward to the Democratic National Convention, which comes to my hometown of Denver this year.
Super Tuesday
It's Super Tuesday - if you have the opportunity, you should participate, whoever you're supporting.
As for me, well I'm heading on down to my local caucus location to stand and be counted. For once in my life, I'm actually inspired by a candidate. Barack Obama.
Yes We Can and Portrait of Obama
As for me, well I'm heading on down to my local caucus location to stand and be counted. For once in my life, I'm actually inspired by a candidate. Barack Obama.
Yes We Can and Portrait of Obama
Friday, February 1, 2008
More Open Letters
Dear Plague:
FINE. Since you insist on making yourself at home, why must you also give me this disgusting cough? I feel like a leper. NOT ON.
Dear Girl in the Cubicle Next Door:
Look, I really don't think it's just me. Your constant popping of bubble wrap is both annoying to all your fellow cube rats and also says something really disturbingly neurotic about you.
Dear People I'm STILL Trying to Work With:
Seriously. YOU'RE NOT SPECIAL. Okay? I don't care what your parents told you. You're never going to be President, you can't do anything you want and you're not a sweet and special snowflake who deserves every last iota of my attention and patience. I don't care how much you panic at me or how many e-mails you send me with that stupid little red exclamation point attached. I am doing the best I can for you and the 99 other morons who waited until the last minute.
Dear Tylenol Daytime Non-Drowsy Liquid Cold Medication (in CitrusBurst, sorry, Rodney):
Hoo boy, you're not my usual DayQuil. And while it's true, you have not made me drowsy, you have made me loopy, dizzy, and indifferent. I ain't sleepy but I sure shouldn't be operating heavy machinery. But thank you for the bonus of causing me to retreat to new levels of John Sheppard-esque laconic apathy when the People I'm STILL Trying to Work With get increasingly agitated at me. You've made my day much easier.
FINE. Since you insist on making yourself at home, why must you also give me this disgusting cough? I feel like a leper. NOT ON.
Dear Girl in the Cubicle Next Door:
Look, I really don't think it's just me. Your constant popping of bubble wrap is both annoying to all your fellow cube rats and also says something really disturbingly neurotic about you.
Dear People I'm STILL Trying to Work With:
Seriously. YOU'RE NOT SPECIAL. Okay? I don't care what your parents told you. You're never going to be President, you can't do anything you want and you're not a sweet and special snowflake who deserves every last iota of my attention and patience. I don't care how much you panic at me or how many e-mails you send me with that stupid little red exclamation point attached. I am doing the best I can for you and the 99 other morons who waited until the last minute.
Dear Tylenol Daytime Non-Drowsy Liquid Cold Medication (in CitrusBurst, sorry, Rodney):
Hoo boy, you're not my usual DayQuil. And while it's true, you have not made me drowsy, you have made me loopy, dizzy, and indifferent. I ain't sleepy but I sure shouldn't be operating heavy machinery. But thank you for the bonus of causing me to retreat to new levels of John Sheppard-esque laconic apathy when the People I'm STILL Trying to Work With get increasingly agitated at me. You've made my day much easier.
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