December 25, 2014
 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

We hope your holidays are merry and bright like ours! Everything is nice and pleasant. A little nip in the air, no really! Come on, it's hit the mid 40's some nights! Kaylie's been in her shirts some days because of the cooler temps. She opened a Christmas Eve present that Santa sent early. The little bugger found its weak spot and killed it in 25 minutes.

We'll be spending our Christmas with dear friends. I hope everyone will be with their family and friends too!

I'm doing well since the amputation. I have an appointment for my first casting to start my series of prosthesis. I go on 1/6 and if my stump is where it needs to be, they do my first fitting!

I'll keep you posted! Remember, no news is good news. January is a busy month for me. Lots of Dr visits, fittings, testing to see how things are doing since the last tests, 3 months ago.

Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers!
Happy holidays to all!!

 

December 15, 2014

 

Ho Ho Ho!

Things have been going very well lately! I'm so glad I got my leg amputated. Even though I'm still on pain meds, I'm not in as much pain at all. Well, with the exception that I helped Bill decorate the house a little for Christmas. Now I'm also achy and both of our backs are sore. Even though I got a flu shot, I started running a temp and the aches are much like a flu ache. If it is the flu, hopefully; this is as far as it goes.

We did visit the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee for their ICE! festival. It's where they carve ice into figures. This year's theme was The Nutcracker. It was excellent. The only downside is its 9 degrees in there! You want to linger but it's just so cold. They give you parkas and we put these on top of jackets, socks (2 pairs), sweaters, sweatshirts etc but it's what you can't cover that hurts by the time you get out of there. Your face, nose, ears, even your eyes hurt. I had wool gloves but next year I'll need a pair of leather or Isotoner gloves! I'll ask Santa for a pair! Here are just a few of the pictures that we took during our visit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

November 26, 2014

 

Monday ½ my stitches came out, the others are staying in until next Monday. All looks good. Pain is, overall, better than before the surgery. I still have plenty of healing, recovery, and prosthetic training. Every day is a little better.

I will be getting a smaller sized shrinker for the area by my knee to tighten that extra skin and pull it in so when I get the prosthesis we're ready to go. Extra loose skin will cause a poor fit. Squeezing that skin tight will cause excess fat and skin to squeeze it higher into what is left of my right thigh. In time it should be harder/leaner for my leg to slip into the prosthetic like a machine part fitting into a bracket.

I'm having issues with loss of appetite. One medication was discontinued a few weeks back hoping to fix that but it didn't work. I guess I'll have to eat more!

Otherwise, I'm at least a few weeks out from getting my prosthetic.

Keep you posted! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

 

November 17, 2014

 

I saw the eye doctor on Friday.  Things did not clear up and the tangle of blood vessels around my optic nerve are still there. She wants me to see a Neuro-Ophthalmologist at USF (across the street from Moffitt!) but the earliest appointment I got was 12/23. The good news is my eyesight is great in that eye. She isn't a specialist, so wants me to see the specialist to make sure there's nothing serious causing this that might lead to me losing my eyesight in that eye. It could be from something like one of my medications.

I don't think it's due to my diabetes. My A1C was 5.2 and my daily readings are under 110 for the last few months, even considering my surgery, which always makes a diabetic's numbers go up for a few days/weeks.

I'll keep you posted...
 

 

November 13, 2014

 

Went to my appointment to my surgeon. My leg is healing as expected. Dr. Benitie removed my staples, but I'll see him again in ten days, right before Thanksgiving, to have the stitches removed. We're on track to the prosthetic fitting, then learning to walk again ;-)

 

And for those wonder what the mug said...

 

November 12, 2014

 

"Promise Yourself"

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but great deeds. To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

― Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them (thank you Jean)

 

November 10, 2014

 

I'm doing ok. I was in a lot of pain at the end of last week and was in a funk because of it. I know my pain issues are a daily/hourly problem and its to be expected. I was in a funk because I am ok one day, then sleep around the clock for three days. It's perfectly normal. My body sleeps to heal. It will get better as time goes by. I remember it all too well with all my past surgeries. The more in-depth the surgery and the more physical therapy needed, the longer I'll sleep. If I remember correctly, this will take a year to overcome. It was like that for the hysterectomy and for the rod placement. I was out a lot for this surgery and did receive a transfusion. They now have me on iron pills daily. Otherwise same old stuff. Oh, I might be getting my stitches and staples out on Thursday when I see my surgeon. I'm not sure what's worse, touching and seeing the stitches and hardware, or feeling and seeing it when all that stuff comes out!!

Attention, make up hoarders!! Check out a site a friend suggested (Thanks Nancy!). It's called Ipsy. Their website is www.ipsy.com. For a mere $10 a month you get a glam bag with several new products to try. Looks like fun and will easily solve my addiction to moisturizers, lipsticks and other beauty stuff and the best part is that it comes to me. Along with excellent customer service! A special shout out to Jean! Thanks Jean!

P.S. If you're not into ipsy stuff and glam bags, I bet your daughters or daughters-in-law will love it!! You can cancel anytime!

Thanks for the good thoughts and get well blessings. I'm definitely working on it!!

 

Thank you's for Carol (going as soon as I can stand ;-), Lynn (my Halloween Mavin, who always says she's not doing it again next year) and Lisa, for recognizing Bill's sacrifice! He is a wonderful husband and I'm lucky to have him in my life. The mug says it all!

 

November 3, 2014

 

Have I mentioned the limb has a new name?? Before, with the cancer, the tumor was referred to as PITA (for Pain In The Ass). The Tumor is gone (good riddance)! What is leftover was renamed Hope!!!! For the hope that she brings that the cancer will never return! I believe my prognosis was 2-5 years, but unfortunately, that's no guarantee either!

 

Bill is doing OK except for a bad sinus infection.  He went to the doc-in-a-box on Friday and is starting to feel better.  He was able to take me out to the mall for a little while on Saturday.  Yay!!! 

 

 

For anyone curious enough to look at the surgical site, click here.  Parental Guidance Suggested!!!

Love you all for fighting this battle with me. If it wasn't for my family and friends pushing me forward, I'd be in a corner, under a rock, denying everything!

 

October 28, 2014

 

I know I'm long overdue in answering emails. I'm in pain and sleeping between pain meds. If an email doesn't require a reply then it might not be forthcoming. Sorry, I have trouble concentrating.

Doing okay. I've been home for less than 48 hours. If at this point you don't hear anything or see something posted, Bill and I are ok we're busy. Between doctors calls and appoints, I do physical therapy three times a week for 3-4 weeks, then they reevaluate me. It was good to come home and have PT at home, but this is where my energy will be going for quite a while so I'm not able to keep up with my emails. The good news is I was well enough to not need inpatient PT therapy. The bad news too is Bill has me full time. It's a tough job with wrapping my leg with bandages and following and supporting me when I walk anywhere. Just try hopping on one leg from your bedroom to your bathroom. Now take in mind I had back surgery in August and amputation a week ago. I did much better than they expected. I did better than I expected.

Oh, I'm getting a fair share of phantom pain. It's weird. Most of the time it's burning from nerve issues. Some pain from other issues and then just weird pains. Like right now I have a blister on my heal on the leg that's gone. It's a pretty bad blister too lol!

Thanks to Lynn and Moy for watching Kaylie. We miss her! We get her back tomorrow and will have to make sure that if I'm in the same room with her while I'm standing, Bill has to hold her or tie her to "place". Or she must be in another room. She cannot get under my feet and cause a fall or my recovery may not be completed. In time, we hope she gets the message that if mommy is walking, I just admire her from afar lol!!!

Thanks to Ellen too. Loved the soup!!! I think I thanked Ricardo?! Thanks again if I forgot. Thanks Isaiah for running stuff back and forth!

I'll be talking to everyone sooner or later ;-)

 

October 26, 2014

 

I'm home! Exhausted, but home. Not a long story. Lots of meds for pain. Bill is beyond exhaustion.

PLAN: 3-4 weeks of healing, then stitches removed, then prosthetic, then physical therapy. Thanks for all the thoughts, concerns, good wishes, etc. I wish I had time to thank everyone individually but we're fried.

I'm getting around with a walker and hopping. We have to find someone who fits handicapped rails around the house, so that is our next step.

Took more meds and already feel the effects so I'm going to bed. Probably the extent of the rest of my day.

A special shout out to the following for their kind gestures. We're very appreciative!

Thank you Lynn and Moy!

Thank you Ricardo and Ellen! A-ha, very tricky thinking Bill wasn't home but we caught you lol!!

 

October 24, 2014

 

Terri had another rough night, although not as bad as the first.  They tried adding an anti-inflammatory, which she usually avoids, but it helped a lot.  She had her first PT session, getting out of bed and short trip to the bathroom and then sitting in a recliner.  Considering the previous nights, she did surprisingly well.  More updates tomorrow, but we think she's turned a corner.

 

October 23, 2014

 

Terri had a rough night.  While everything went well, the length of time and level of issues with the rod removal led to a lot of pain.  It really wasn't well managed overnight, so there wasn't a lot of sleeping going on.  They've been playing catch-up all day.  She's starting to see some improvement, but it is slow.  Her surgeon is working with pain management.  More updates tomorrow.

 

October 22, 2014 - Update

 

Just saw the doctor.  The surgery went well.  It took longer than expected because the rod they had to remove was more embedded into the bone than originally thought.  Terri is in recovery and they'll be moving her to her room in about an hour.

 

More updates tomorrow or Friday.

 

Thank you all for the warm wishes and good thoughts.

 

October 22, 2014

 

I'm sitting here waiting for my name to be called. I now understand that except for minor physical therapy, occupational therapy, learning how to change bandages etc., nothing much happens with me other than watching a scar heal for 4-6 weeks, then I'm given a prosthesis and learn how to walk with it.

I'm ready and psyched up for it all. As before, most of the crap and stress falls on Bill, but we're as set as we can be at this point. He took today and the rest of the week off. He's even staying over tonight. He'll be around tomorrow and Friday with me in PT so he learns things with me.

I got my pedicure yesterday.

 

 

Guess what leg stays and which one goes lol! I also have markers to write stuff on my legs. Like Never give up, Never surrender.

 

And keeper/garbage.

 

By the way, the marks on my left foot are fire ant bites from weeks ago.  Those are nasty buggers...

October 19, 2014

 

The surgery was scheduled and postponed once due to an abnormal EKG but after a stress test that turned out negative, my surgery is once again scheduled! It's Wednesday, October 22th around 10 am! Bill will post something as soon as I'm out of recovery and in a room.

We took my leg for a ride yesterday ;-) For lack of anything better we took it for a ride around the mall on my scooter. I went into a few shoe stores. It's hard to look for shoes other than flip flops lol! Hopefully, that will be the toughest decision I have to deal with through recovery!

I'm ready, I think lol! I know it's the right decision. The tumor will continue to grow and cause more pain and more difficulty walking. It would also reach a point where I can't walk at all without it throwing me off my gait and causing falls. It might even cause a vein blockage in time which will be life-threatening, so it's better to address this now. The tumor´s name has been P.I.T.A. for Pain In The Ass. After the surgery, I'm naming my stump Hope! Hope that my cancer never settles anywhere else and it never returns!

Thank you for all the best wishes, happy thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery! I hope to do my best and work my butt off so I'm much more mobile! I'm looking forward to that and being in less pain and getting around better than sitting with my leg elevated all the time.

Hugs and kisses!

 

A special shout out to Heather, Lil and Chanda, Bill's co-workers.  They participated in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, in Tampa, as Team Yavit.

 

 

October 10, 2014

 

Some of you may have already heard; I had a date scheduled for the amputation for next Wednesday.  I have tons of emails in my inbox from everybody wishing me well with the surgery and now it's postponed. That didn't take long now did it? Probably by a week, maybe two.

I saw my cardiologist this am. The visit from last weekend at the ER showed nothing but a known problem with my T wave on an EKG. The cardiologist would like to do a chemical stress test before the leg surgery, but it's my choice. Rather than worry over any pain I feel through physical therapy, and trust me, there will be a lot of pain on this unconditioned body, I prefer to get the stress test and not defer that until after the leg surgery. I'm nervous enough about the leg and although they consider the leg amputation a minor surgery I'd rather be safe than sorry.

So, my leg surgery is postponed for now, hopefully no more than a week or two and they find nothing serious with the stress test.

 

To add insult to injury my last eye check after my cataract removal was yesterday and the doctor saw something. It's a twisted blood vessel near the retina and should I experience any issues with my vision, pain, etc I have to contact her right away. I'm so tired of every Dr appt having another "crisis" with it! I'll see her again next week and should nothing happen further I guess it becomes re-absorbed or something.

Ugh, I'm so tired of the ups and downs and ins and outs of surgeries and procedures. But at least I'm still here so I'm thankful for that.

 

September 29, 2014

 

Pain management is making progress in managing my pain. I'm able to sit up, walk, and stand much more, but the downside is I'm unstable on my leg. The whole leg is swollen and the tumor knocks me off balance when I walk. There is a 5" difference between my left thigh and right thigh and that's with a tightening compression stocking on that leg! I have to be careful and not fall. I see my neurologist tomorrow so maybe he'll have some suggestions.

My eye is almost completely healed. I would love to get the other one done but she can't schedule me before October 21, and by then I hope to be healing with my leg surgery. Maybe I can get it done before Christmas!

Otherwise, it's been extremely wet in Florida! A little warmer than usual though too.

Kaylie listens and behaves better for Lynn than she does for us! No big surprise I guess! Typical kid! She looks at us and immediately looks for mischief. She looks at Lynn and immediately thinks what can I do to make Lynn's life easier and extra special.

Bill is hanging in there. I don't know how he does it, but he does. His back is giving him trouble again lately but he's using ice packs and his TENS machine to get some, however short, pain relief.

Ok, another Dr appt in am. Time for bed!

 

September 22, 2014

 

The Dr´s will meet again to discuss the plans on whether to leave part of rod in or not, along with discussions with anesthesiologist, oncologist, neurologist etc. My surgery should be middle of October! I'm sooo ready!

 

September 10, 2014

 

I was going at a good clip feeling really good, until I coughed the day before yesterday, then Hello back pain! Dammit! The cough wasn't even severe. Just a little throat clear from allergies. Had to increase my meds and ice my back. It's almost two days now. It's better than it was, but still hurts when walking or sitting. Went for eye measurements yesterday and waiting over an hour did not help. I was in a lot of pain afterward and overnight.

Otherwise I'm doing fine. I go to pain management for the first time on Friday. Maybe they can help me other than monitor my narcotics. I guess I'll be having both good days and bad days with my back forever now.

Kaylie is being good! My little protector! She sleeps under my bed when she's not in my bed and watches over me lol. Little ankle biter! Don't know what she expects to do if someone approaches but she does stand between the bedroom door and me. She always knows my good and bad days.

Bill is exhausted but hanging in. I'm not sure if I'm ready for the leg surgery with my back the way it is, but I hope to be ok so they can proceed with the leg. I just want it over with so I can heal and move forward. I also hope it's the right thing to do but if it decreases my pain by a third it would be a great improvement.

I'll keep you posted!

September 3, 2014

 

OK! Great news!!! I finally turned the corner! I thought it would never happen. Between the steroid shot in my hip last week and more time, I'm now able to sit up longer and move about with less pain. I was starting to lose hope. I'm not able to do much of anything else, but that will come in time.

I still can't lift or bend without pain, but that is certainly expected. I still have tumor pain but that is no surprise. The surgery wasn't for that pain. The next surgery will address that.

I am now able to sit up in front seat of the car instead of laying down in back seat, and am able to shower longer than 2 minutes and not squirm in pain.

Meanwhile, over the past 4-5 months I noticed my eyes becoming blurry. I knew we where both due for exams and it was on our health list, but pushed to the bottom due to my long list of other doctor visits. I was supposed to go three weeks ago but that was cancelled because I couldn't sit at the time.

So, long story short...I could barely make out the E on the chart!!!! Problem? A damn cataract!!! Diffuse, which means it's not a foggy dot or area, but clouding up the whole lens. So bad that my left eye is doing all the work. Probably due to steroids. I got steroids before each chemo treatment to keep my body from reacting to chemo as severe as it could. I also get steroids when in some surgeries (back, rod in leg). Plus the steroid I got In my hip last month, along with when I'm not healing fast enough from infections. So yes, I've had lots of steroids thru the years. I knew my right eye was deteriorating, but never in my wildest dreams did I think cataracts! At least it's one eye, but another surgery. I just can't get ahead of these surgeries! At least this is out-patient. I'll call ophthalmologists tomorrow and see when I can squeeze that into my medical calendar lol!

 

With all these steroids, can someone tell me where my 6-pack of abs are???