Recovery Mode

I kills me to stay still.  I feel fine.  I have a zillion things I could be doing.  From previous experience, not taking the time causes scar tissue that takes years to soften.  So I'm using the manuka honey and paying attention to the pulling stitches.  There is no pain otherwise.  Just the stitches.  That are getting itchy now.

I did turn my ringer off on the phone for the whole weekend.  It was SOOO nice.  I'm definitely going to do that more often.

I have a few things to get done today at my desk.  For now though, it's early, I hit the couch and I have about an hour left of book one of Bridgerton to listen to.  The show was better then the book so far.  It's rare I say that.  There just isn't much eye candy in the book ;)

Home from the surgery.

  The surgery went well today.  I was checked in at 7.  Then the 2nd to go in of the day.  1st was a sweet 15 year old girl having her nail bed removed for cancer.  It won't grow back.  She needs a skin graft now.  Cancer sucks.

There were 8 different things to accomplish today, a 9th added in that she did find the cervix, was able to get inside the uterus and did the d&c, pap and biopsy and also removed several benign looking polyps that were unexpected as they didn't show on mri, ct, pet or ultrasound.  I have had a growth in a very unfortunate spot on the remaining tiny bit of labia left after the labia removal done many years ago.  It was removed today as well.  Yay.  So there are stitches externally.  

I don't have any pain internally although considerably more blood than I was expecting.  Poor Eric came running when I called from the bathroom needing supplies.  The poor guy is going through a lot taking care of me.  I'm a lot.  So extra.  Sigh.  Anyways...

I can already feel the stitches and I suspect that will be the bulk of discomfort.  Right now it feels like it's pulling and starting to sting.

Is this all too much information?  Too bad.  Women should be allowed to talk about women's health.  It's largely mistreated and we have to complain too loud to get help.  Soap box lecture of the day.

I was awakened at 9:30 and allowed to sleep for another 15 minutes while they unhooked everything.  I did have a breathing tube.  So my throat is raspy and feels thick. There were 8 people in the surgery.  Naked in front of 8 people. Oy.  My stress was high.  Blood pressure went up to 126/79, down to 110/69 when I left.  Sugars leaped up to 14! The anesthesiologist gave me insulin and they are dropping finally.  Also caused by stress. I thought I had medical trauma before, these back to back surgeries are definitely adding to the trauma base.  

The little note from Dr. Dennie said everything looked good, all went well and she will call with biopsy results in a few weeks.

While I was waiting to go into surgery I heard nurses talking about Dr Zafarulla and I thought it must be about me, what were the odds someone else there would have the same family Dr.  He apparently called Eric too.  He was flustered.  Obviously finally realizing there have been issues ;)  and he's supposed to be the center point of contact.  I'll call Monday and make an appointment.  Eric needs to go back for his next biopsy mole removal anyways.  And what we both need is another trip to Victoria for an appointment!

Check out this home ownership pride from our locals.

Kai won the whole school closest guess contest.  He was so excited that his resource room teachers could hear him screaming "I won! I won!" from down the hall.  He was offered a different prize but he said it was ok because he wanted to share with the family.  So sweet.  We're letting him have four with each snack.  He's delighted.

In other, other distraction news.  I told Eric if I was stage 3 or 4 that I would use Onyx on the trails.  Then we joked that we should get me a little beater to take out.  When we picked up Oscar from our mechanic friend he asked why Onyx doesn't go out.  I said "Princess but I think I need a 2 door I can take out".  He grinned and said follow me.

Haha.  It's been sitting for two years, it's a mess.  It needs a lot of beautification.  No rust.  He has done the mechanical things needed.  It starts up beautifully. It is ready to run trails tomorrow.  It's too tall for me, I can't get in.  It's too dirty to even contemplate getting in.  Haha.  I thought they were both joking.  The idea is growing on me.  Eric is excited about the project.  It has the motor he would prefer for Oscar.  He is already putting things in the Amazon cart.  It has new tires and a new soft top in the back.  I've only driven Oscar twice on the trails and I did love it.  This one is 35 years old.  Sought after in general.  We would have zero problem selling it if I don't love wheeling.  My other current thought is that it would be fabulously cool for Luk in a couple years.  Luk can't see that yet.  I suggested we could share, he looked horrified.  

Now....this is how great distractions are for me.  Instead of fussing with panic about being knocked out again  Eric and I discussed paint colors, themes and names instead on the way to tje hospital this morning.

Right now it is spray bombed black.  We want to keep it spray bombed so that it is easily touched up since it will get marked up.  If we actually pretty it up too much then I'd hate using it.  

1st idea paint blue camo and name her Clever Girl for a Blue from Jurassic theme.  The YJ was the Jeep used in the movie.

Paint her red, black trim, name it Minnie.

Paint it red name him Elmo.

Paint it black, put blue retro stripes and the colorectal blue ribbon and name it Sapphire.

Eric's idea's:

Leave it black, paint fern leaves all along the bottom and keep the Blue/Jurassic theme minus the camo.

Leave it black, add the dragon scales and eyes like Onyx and name it Baby.

I have to admit although I was leaning to going blue and calling her Sapphire I thought Onyx having a baby mini me is the cutest idea of all.

Feel free to add more for me to ponder.  

It's not a done deal.  It has no papers.  Eric went today to figure out how to get it registered.  I'm ignoring that until Monday.

Still too cute.

 

Facebook memories.

Soooo cute.

I started my day early.  Up at 5:30, drank my liter of water and off to the the hospital for an internal ultrasound.  The hospital it so quiet that early.  I can see why Fei doesn't mind night shifts.

The mass appeared cystic to her.  Although I haven't had vaginal bleeding, I am now after the wand camera.

Eric has taken Oscar to his mechanic.  Something Eric did with seals is leaking so the professional has to redo it.  I'm picking him up and then off to town to find the prep supplies for the two up coming procedures.

I get to have tea with a friend I haven't seen for a while this afternoon.  Little joys.

Update.  I got the intake call from the Sannich Hospital while we were in London Drugs looking for the surgical cleaning sponges.  We bought the last two.  So we're on the hunt for two more.  They didn't have the enemas there either but they did have bags of Panda licorice for 3.99.  Anyways...all sorted with intake.  I was given five page instruction sheets yesterday and the intake person had to go over all of it.  Sigh.

I of course appreciate the help but at the same time I am feeling super over all the medical stuff.

Then I got a message from the secretary for the 1st surgeon.  They all leave so much unsaid and we're left guessing.  So, I was right.  New surgeon isn't checking out the lay of the land (my garden).  He is redoing the biopsy.  Because: “fragmentation and cautery artifact in the sample which hinder the interpretation”. 

Basically not clear margins.  Which is totally normal so why not just tell me?  Frustrating.  So we're still waiting for results.  His redo is on the 26th and my guess is that he will also be attempting to remove the two small tumors (not cancer) but that's just a guess because so little information is shared in the beforehand land.

Gyno Update

 

We saw lots of reports of snow.  Luckily for us we just saw it trying to snow.  Nothing sticking.  Driving in snow isn't scary for Jeepers but other people on the road with us are very scary.

I saw Dr Dennie today.  Gynecologist in Victoria.  There was a long history to discuss in quick point style.

A uterus is typically 4mm thick.  Mine is 7.  A biopsy isn't normally ordered unless it's 11 AND there is vaginal bleeding.  I don't present as needing a biopsy.

However, because of previous cervical cancer and current anal cancer I qualify.  We discussed sedation in a hospital or just take a deep breath and get it done today.  So of course I opted for just get it done.  She gave me a cool fidget to grip.  I was ready to endure.  It was a struggle, she couldn't find my cervix and finally gave up saying I'd earned myself a Hysteroscopy, d&c, biopsies, pap test and general scan.  Yay me.  

Once again.  Complicated.  Sigh.

The uterus is tipped.  This isn't the 1st time I've been told this.  She did tell me she has seen my situation once before.  Once.  

The surgery date is this Friday.  4 - 6 hours.  This includes intake and recovery this time, so a shorter day for Eric.  Sannich Peninsula again. Guess how much he loves hospitals.

The ovary mass is shown on an old ct and has only grown 2cm in the last few years so not a concern.  

I have an ultrasound tomorrow morning at cdh for the ovary mass that I'm to have sent to her anyways.

I told her I didn't have the last Biopsy back that it still shows as canceled on the gateway.  She was able to see it.  She listed off a different cancer name than we were told as a guess.  It doesn't go through the membrane!!  So early stages confirmed.  That's all we know for now.

I emailed Dr. Clements secretary to request a copy.

There was a cancelation today, so lucky, lucky me gets to have the procedure this Friday.  Fully knocked out and told the pain will be high afterwards.  That means serious down time this weekend.  

Oscar Playdates

We started with four and added a fifth during the day.  He found us by calling for Epic Off Road on the radio.  That was entertaining.  

We were on local hills and trails.

All the gorgeous sites.

A crap ton of 'oh shytes'.  We did a whole bunch of trails.  Started off strong with 'fuc# my mirrors' and 'x-trail' then onto new ones for us that we weren't ready for. 'Boobie Bouncer' and 'Broken Gear'.  Oscar got some scuffs.  Everyone there got some stuffs.  It was very tight and technical.

Top of the world.

Wow.

The pictures just never do it justice.

Ryan and family are stuck up a tree.  Oscar's winch to the rescue.  Nothing makes Jeepers happier than using their winches.  

It was a great day, although challenging and exhausting.

Day two, it was just Georgie and Oscar.  We opted for views rather than challenges.  Started out in Lake Cowichan, back road to Nitnat a few stops along the way.  Bamfield, Pachena Bay and dinner at Pizza Factory in Port Alberni then bypass, shortcut back roads home.  In the dark and snow where we came across a few obstacles to overcone.  So the whole day wasn't easy ;) We left at 8:30 and just made it to pick Jia up at 10.  Super long day but so worth it.

Nitnat campground.  Just gorgeous and I want to go back.  We camped there 30 years ago. They fill up in a couple hours for booking online now. There isn't much available and no water sites left for this summer. It's too hard for me to plan summer right now anyways with not knowing my surgery schedule.

Flora Lake.

It was a waterfall day.

So much water out there!

Also an incredible amount of fallen trees.

Bamfield

Pachena Bay

Molly

He actually moved this rock to gain another foot of clearance for the Jeeps.

I forget the name of these falls but the whole day was worth this moment alone.

It's Sarita Falls.

Wow.  Total awe. Soooo loud.

I think I need a ball cap to fit in.

I stayed in the car.  It was freezing out.  Yet another stupid moment by big boys.  Obstacle.  They layed down a few fallen tree pieces and rocks and just climbed over the wall with the Jeeps.   It ended up a lot easier than anticipated. I would have just turned around, I'm the killjoy, weak link in these adventures.  

More waterfalls even in the dark.

We found lots more areas to explore and Jen hasn't ever been to a drive up burger place so we need another play day in the area. 

The kids opted once again to miss all of that.  Go figure.  We went wrong somewhere in the parenting.  Luk is doing a great job of keeping Kai fed while we're off on our adventures.

Back to real life tomorrow.  School, appointments and chores.

 

Happy 24th Birthday Lili!

 

Lili is working today.  We get to have dinner together tonight.  Tomorrow she is taking the Commander and a load of friends for a Vancouver weekend adventure.  So fun.

24!!

Lili and I took the girls for a walk yesterday.  Sassy tried to hide and went to Kai for help but she is quite rotund so we made her come.  Then she walked super duper slow.  We didn't make it as far as planned ;)  

The weird part is that I can actually walk now and have no fistula issues.  It boggles the mind but I'm definitely thrilled with this quality of life improvement!  

The evening wasn't as great.  I was suddenly struck with nausea.  Hours and hours with my bucket and staying close to the bathroom.  All with a chill.  We call them total body meltdowns.  I have zero clue what causes them.  We're guessing Chrones.  I'm up today feeling great.  No issues.  I'm planning to stick close to home though.  Just in case.  

I did wake up at 3am starving and came down to find that Eric made turkey, vege, lentil, noodle soup last night.  It was sooo good.  Who doesn't get up and eat soup at 3am?

Playmobile critters at McDonald's are back.  Jia brought me a wee gift home.  He is in the playmobile house with all the other critters.  If and when I ever get a grand baby they can enjoy the zoo mansion.  Waiting for the peacock and sloth now ;) There is a killer whale too but the mansion doesn't have a pool and isn't ocean front. 

Jia was informed that he is up for another promotion to Shift Manager.  A different collared shirt with a tie, a raise and free food but it comes with opening and closing.  Eric and I are not delighted about having to drive Jia for 5am shifts!  Oy.  Meanwhile Jia is terrified to drive and still dragging his feet about taking the written test.  That he can pass easily on the practice app.  

This is funny.  It was 1 in the morning.

Jia felt like talking.  He took this picture of me with a man filter on it.  Then laughed and laughed and laughed.  I still argue he is one handsome beast.  Haha.

I did get a date for the next procedure.  March 26th.  It's another 10 day prep.  I'm not entirely sure what the plan is but we have educated guesses.  I still don't have pathology back.  Perhaps pertaining to that.  There are two small tumors that aren't cancer that should be removed.  Mostly, there is confusion and fear about moving forward with the fistulas and the likely complications.  So perhaps he really does just want to see the lay of the land before a major surgery. Although he could just look at the scope film from the other surgeon who is a colleague in the same office.

Eric and I have plans with friends for wheeling tomorrow.  So Oscar is getting a clean air filter today. He is our most spoiled child by far ;)