Dear Bloggy,
Well, just a quickie post this morning because the next couple of days are probably going to be quite busy and I'm not sure if I'll get to the blog or not (watch, I'll end up posting lots of posts! hahahaha!).
Wow, yesterday Steve and I went to his parents for dinner and the rain was unbelievable!! We aren't just talking rain, but more like sheets of water. When we made it to Maple Ridge, we could see that there was going to be some problems with flooding because the ditches were alread overflowing up to the roads... and the fields looked like lakes. We had a great time with the family for birthday dinner.. total chaos with 7 adults and 3 kids, plus 1 dog and 8 rabbits (grin). I loved it! But coming home, what an adventure! We couldn't get out to the highway because all the roads to the highway were closed due to flooding. So we took the uh.. er.. scenic route. Yes, we did make it home, but it was definitely a roundabout way of getting there! LOL!
When I got home, there was an email waiting for me from Bonnie, my friend from Seattle who was going to take the Amtrak train up to Vancouver today to spend a few days here. Well, Amtrak called her to say the train was cancelled because of mudslides on the tracks (all this rain!!!). So, she is driving up instead. She just called me about half an hour ago to say that she has made it through the border and is on Canadian soil (grin). She should be arriving any time now.
She is going to show me how to scrapbook, both the traditional way with paper, stickers, fabric, etc. and the online way with software and my digital pictures. We are also going to make a tour of various scrapbooking stores, shopping in general and taking the dog out for walkies (thank goodness the rain has stopped and the sun is actually out today!)
Ok, on Wednesday we will also have to go to the medical lab on Burrard so they can take a kajillion vials of blood and do the bloodwork and have the results to my oncologist for our Friday visit. She needs to see the bloodwork results before chemo starts on Monday. This bloodwork will be the base foundation of what they will be comparing future blood work results too (white blood cell count, red blood cell count, etc).
So, I reckon we will have to throw some medical stuff in with the important stuff... like shopping and scrapbooking (grin). The only problem is Bonnie won't be up here long enough to get everything done that we want to do!! Hmmmm... this might mean she will have to come up for another trip in the near future (grin).
Ok, ta ta for now!
Cheryl
Monday, March 12, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Chit Chat
Dear Blog,
Well, it does seem that I am slipping as I've noticed Tuesday was my last entry and it's now Saturday. Yikes! Where does the time go??
Let's see if I can remember back a few days... you know the memory is the first to go!! LOL! Wednesday was a shopping day... Mimi and I went out to Ikea in Richmond and (sigh) that's a very dangerous store!! I picked up some lovely cranberry material to make some new bedroom curtains. The curtains I had were a light, pale blue and, well, let's just say they had served their time. Also, because they were so light, it meant during the day the bedroom was always very bright. This normall is not a problem since I'd be at work and who spends time in the bedroom during the day, anyways?? But, I'm looking at the foreseeable future and IF I should need some quiet time for napping, then I would like one room in the apartment to be able to be darker and quiet... and that room will be the bedroom :) I also bought two gorgeous duvet covers with matching pillowcases. I don't know when I last bought a duvet cover, so the two or three I have are getting a little long in the tooth. It's soooo nice to have new ones... and soooo pretty!
Thursday, I had a meeting with some of the Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) gang. TUTS is going to be doing Oklahoma! and Grease this summer... and they have a new board and staff with lots of ideas. It could be just what TUTS has needed... energy and new blood.
Friday, Steve O. and I went out to Richmond to Chapters early before we went to a play that evening. Oh oh.. more shopping! Thank goodness I had some gift certificates that I had received at Christmas, but even so, I spent more money that I really meant to. I am reading a terrific book right now... "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon. It is the first in a series of about 6 books, so I picked up the second and third one, as well as one of the Shopaholic books by Sophia Kinsella. Hahaha... I still have books that I had bought before going into the hospital that I haven't read, so now I have LOTS of reading material that should keep me going for a few months!! I also picked up two kits of lovely scrapbooking paper... even though I promised myself I wouldn't by any scrapbooking supplies until my friend, Bonnie, comes up here on Monday from Seattle. Hahaha... and I picked up more Suduko... just to drive myself crazy.
After doing sufficient damage at Chapters (Steve got away with buying only two books, but he had been at Chapters earlier in the week so that all counts as sufficient damage too), we then headed out to Cambie Secondary High School. The drama department, headed by our friend Patty Silver, was putting on the show "The Dining Room". It was directed by another friend (our friendship goes way back to high school), Karen Kelm. The play is a fabulous script! There are approx. 60 characters in it which makes it a really good script for a high school production, but it normally would be cast with 3 females and 3 males and they would do all the parts. After the play, we went out for something to eat, just like the old days!
Today, the weather people, unfortunately, were accurate with their forecast. RAIN!! But Bridget and I managed to get out on our morning walkies before the monsoons hit. We got a nice 2 mile walk in... we walked to Second Beach in Stanley Park and back. It was wonderful because there were not that many people out and about at that time of the morning and because of the threatening weather. We got about 2 blocks from home and it started to rain. Talk about good timing! It has been raining ever since. This afternoon I went to the seamstress and picked up my new bedroom curtains (yes, I took the lazy way out and had her cut and hem them) ... then came home and hung them... all by myself!! I was going to get Mimi to come down and help since it meant standing on the bed to hang them and my balance isn't the best.. but I got going and managed to take the old blue ones down and then got the new cranberry ones put up.
I've been puttering about in the apartment ever since and am thinking of heading to bed soon. But first... time to change all the clocks to an hour ahead! Don't forget... Daylight Savings Time hits at 2am :)
Tomorrow, Steve, Jo and I will be heading out to his parents' in Maple Ridge for Turkey Dinner!! It is the March birthdays for their family so big family din-dins! Now let's just hope this rain stops!
Cheryl
Well, it does seem that I am slipping as I've noticed Tuesday was my last entry and it's now Saturday. Yikes! Where does the time go??
Let's see if I can remember back a few days... you know the memory is the first to go!! LOL! Wednesday was a shopping day... Mimi and I went out to Ikea in Richmond and (sigh) that's a very dangerous store!! I picked up some lovely cranberry material to make some new bedroom curtains. The curtains I had were a light, pale blue and, well, let's just say they had served their time. Also, because they were so light, it meant during the day the bedroom was always very bright. This normall is not a problem since I'd be at work and who spends time in the bedroom during the day, anyways?? But, I'm looking at the foreseeable future and IF I should need some quiet time for napping, then I would like one room in the apartment to be able to be darker and quiet... and that room will be the bedroom :) I also bought two gorgeous duvet covers with matching pillowcases. I don't know when I last bought a duvet cover, so the two or three I have are getting a little long in the tooth. It's soooo nice to have new ones... and soooo pretty!
Thursday, I had a meeting with some of the Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) gang. TUTS is going to be doing Oklahoma! and Grease this summer... and they have a new board and staff with lots of ideas. It could be just what TUTS has needed... energy and new blood.
Friday, Steve O. and I went out to Richmond to Chapters early before we went to a play that evening. Oh oh.. more shopping! Thank goodness I had some gift certificates that I had received at Christmas, but even so, I spent more money that I really meant to. I am reading a terrific book right now... "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon. It is the first in a series of about 6 books, so I picked up the second and third one, as well as one of the Shopaholic books by Sophia Kinsella. Hahaha... I still have books that I had bought before going into the hospital that I haven't read, so now I have LOTS of reading material that should keep me going for a few months!! I also picked up two kits of lovely scrapbooking paper... even though I promised myself I wouldn't by any scrapbooking supplies until my friend, Bonnie, comes up here on Monday from Seattle. Hahaha... and I picked up more Suduko... just to drive myself crazy.
After doing sufficient damage at Chapters (Steve got away with buying only two books, but he had been at Chapters earlier in the week so that all counts as sufficient damage too), we then headed out to Cambie Secondary High School. The drama department, headed by our friend Patty Silver, was putting on the show "The Dining Room". It was directed by another friend (our friendship goes way back to high school), Karen Kelm. The play is a fabulous script! There are approx. 60 characters in it which makes it a really good script for a high school production, but it normally would be cast with 3 females and 3 males and they would do all the parts. After the play, we went out for something to eat, just like the old days!
Today, the weather people, unfortunately, were accurate with their forecast. RAIN!! But Bridget and I managed to get out on our morning walkies before the monsoons hit. We got a nice 2 mile walk in... we walked to Second Beach in Stanley Park and back. It was wonderful because there were not that many people out and about at that time of the morning and because of the threatening weather. We got about 2 blocks from home and it started to rain. Talk about good timing! It has been raining ever since. This afternoon I went to the seamstress and picked up my new bedroom curtains (yes, I took the lazy way out and had her cut and hem them) ... then came home and hung them... all by myself!! I was going to get Mimi to come down and help since it meant standing on the bed to hang them and my balance isn't the best.. but I got going and managed to take the old blue ones down and then got the new cranberry ones put up.
I've been puttering about in the apartment ever since and am thinking of heading to bed soon. But first... time to change all the clocks to an hour ahead! Don't forget... Daylight Savings Time hits at 2am :)
Tomorrow, Steve, Jo and I will be heading out to his parents' in Maple Ridge for Turkey Dinner!! It is the March birthdays for their family so big family din-dins! Now let's just hope this rain stops!
Cheryl
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Tuesday, March 6, 2007 -- Colonoscopy
Dear Bloggy,
Yes, today was the day... the day of the dreaded colonoscopy. Not only was I a tad bit anxious because of the past two experiences with the sigmoidoscopies (read: PAIN during the prepping and PAIN during the procedures... not to mention after the second one, that's when there was the start of the strong suspicion of cancer), but this would be the first full colonoscopy that I had and it would reveal if there were any more tumours throughout the intestine and/or polyps (pre-cancerous growths). Now, I have been putting my power of thought and visualization to work since we found out that I DID have that large cancerous tumour and kept visualizing and thinking that once Dr. Brown did the surgery, then there was no doubt in my mind that he got the nasty cancer and the rest of my intestine would prove to be clear, fine, and healthy. Of course, we had to wait at least 8 weeks from the surgery before we could do this procedure because the surgical area needed a good headstart on healing... hence, we had it scheduled for today.
Well, for starters, the prep of drinking the phosphate soda last night was not nearly as traumatic as it had been the last two times. No pain, no fuss, nothing. I was just fine... sure makes a huge difference not having a tumour and infection in your intestine to make things difficult :) The worst part of the prep is having to be on a clear liquid diet, no solid food. I didn't notice that as being a problem last time, but then I wasn't eating at the time. Now I'm back to having a healthy appetite, so going without food is hard!
It was a gorgeous, sunny, warm day today, but I decided to play it safe and took the bus up the hill 9 blocks to the hospital. Normally, I would walk it, but after having had the phosphate soda last night and this morning, I decided not to push it (grin). That's all I'd need is to be 5 blocks from the hospital with no loo in sight and that's when I'd need one (grin).
They were running a tad bit behind time, so luckily I brought a book with me. I was content to sit in the waiting room with my book and while away the time. I was still feeling great... totally different from the last two times I was there. Those times, I was in so much pain, was dehydrated and by then, malnutritioned.
Finally they call my name and in I go to get changed, then the nurse took me to the room. She was busy trying to find a vein for my IV, when Dr. Brown came in. Have I mentioned how much of a hero this man is to me?? He is not like any other surgeon I've ever met... other surgeons have been good at their job but have absolutely no bedside manner, which can really make a patient feel uncomfortable. Dr. Brown was genuinely happy to see me again and couldn't get over how good I looked, my colouring, and overall signs of health. He then checked my surgical incision and said that he was super pleased with how well it is now healing. He told me not to worry... that stubborn two inches that has done a lot better but still isn't closed up yet, not only will it close up nicely, but with time it will end up being a very thin scar (hahaha... as if I am ever going to be wearing a bikini or anything to show off my gut!) LOL!!!
He had such a big smile on his face and told me that, without a doubt, I'm the strongest/toughest woman he has ever met to have overcome the pain, surgery and complications I had thrown at me... and my attitude was beyond anything he ever expected from a patient who has gone through what I went through (do you see why I love this man??) He said that he wasn't sure I realized just how sick I was back in December, that even he was surprised at how large the tumour was and that I was still walking and functioning. I questioned that the surgery was longer than he had planned, wasn't it, and he said "Oh yes... much longer! There were some challenges that we hadn't counted on and we certainly put you through the wringer." Hahaha... I told him I had thought so because I can really remember the agony I felt when I woke up in recovery... and then the next day. He apologized and said he was concerned about that, but that I did handle it like a champ... and blew the whole team away when I was up and walking within 48 hours of the surgery and able to go home a week after the surgery. He thought I might be at the hospital for 3-4 weeks after the surgery. Now, seeing me walk in, even though it is two months later, he says I'm a whole different person from the person he met when I was so deathly ill. I asked about a few pains I feel now and again deep inside my gut and if those are normal for this long after surgery and he said that he's amazed I don't feel more... that it will take some months for the insides to heal totally... so that was reassuring.
Anywho... once the nurse finally got the IV in (it was being difficult of course), our little chit chat had to change to the procedure at hand. I asked if there'd be some sort of sedation... after all, it's not like I invite pain or discomfort. And he said of course... and put two syringes of meds into the IV. Ha! Here I thought I was going to get a free trip to lala-land, compliments of the government... but darn ding it... just like when I had the PortaCath put in, the sedation did absolutely nothing for me (grin). I wasn't anxious so maybe it helped there, but while I was talking with Dr. Brown any anxiety went away anyways... so, yes, I was wide, wide awake and totally coherent for the whole procedure.
Well, I guess that's a good thing because I got to see the whole thing for myself and ask questions. Not a polyp in sight... and not a tumour to be found!!! YAYAYAYAYA!!! The whole large intestine was totally clear and all healthy tissue!! This is the big relief I have been waiting for... and what I've been visualizing since I was told I had cancer. I know a lot of you out there have been praying and visualizing the same thing and this just goes to show it does work!
After the procedure, I had to go back to the "recovery" room... normally it would be the assistant nurse who would roll the bed from the scopy room to the recovery room where the nurses' station is. But, I had my own personal chauffeur, Dr. Brown! We had a good laugh over that. I thanked him for all he's done for me and he held my hand and said that it was his pleasure to help such a wonderful patient and he'd be more than happy to do any of my followup work. I won't need a colonoscopy for 3 years now (yayayayaya) but will need a smaller procedure in 6 months. Where the intestine was rejoined is a vulnerable area with this kind of cancer. If it is going to recur, then this would be a high risk area, so he will check it in 6 months (and probably every 6 months for a few years). We had a good chuckle over, although it would be nice to see each other often, in reality, let's not plan on it!! LOL!!! I love a doctor with a great sense of humour!!
Anywho... all the other patients around me, who had the same procedure, really looked out of it. Some were still out of it, others were feeling sick, some moaning... one would almost think that we were in a sick ward or something!! The nurse came over to me and said, "Well, you are bright eyed and wide awake... did you have sedation for your procedure?" I said yes, but I don't think it took (grin). She said, "Oh well, policy is policy... you are going to have to stay in our care for half an hour for it to start wearing off, even though it looks like you haven't had any, and then you can have a snack before you can go home. Do you have someone coming to pick you up?" I told her that my friend, Mimi, would come, but that I told her someone or I would call her when I was ready to go. Mimi and I had already decided that she would walk up since it was a beautiful day and then we'd take a cab home. This was when I thought I'd be groggy and out of it. Ha!! I was totally fine... and it was so mild outside, when Mimi got there, the two of us walked home. I laughed and told her that, just like after the PortaCath insertion, I thought I could drive myself home and now after this procedure, I could definitely have walked home on my own. I just don't seem to be able to respond to drugs/meds the way others do (grin).
Anywho... I'm home now and have been since about 3pm. I cancelled my neighbours taking Bridget out for her afternoon walkie, because I was doing just fine. I told them that I'm not going to abuse the privilege and I'm sure there will be many days in the future when I might need their Bridget walkie help... so I took the little Diva myself.
Now, tonight is a night of American Idol and House... and I can enjoy them knowing that I'm off to a good start before we start the chemo and radiation therapies. The way I am looking at it... if I am just not responding to meds like the "average expectation" I visualize being the same with the chemo and radiation. Oh sure, I'm not being unrealistic... there will be some rough days but I plan on there being way more GOOD days than bad days. I just refuse to be one of the average stats :)
Cheryl
Yes, today was the day... the day of the dreaded colonoscopy. Not only was I a tad bit anxious because of the past two experiences with the sigmoidoscopies (read: PAIN during the prepping and PAIN during the procedures... not to mention after the second one, that's when there was the start of the strong suspicion of cancer), but this would be the first full colonoscopy that I had and it would reveal if there were any more tumours throughout the intestine and/or polyps (pre-cancerous growths). Now, I have been putting my power of thought and visualization to work since we found out that I DID have that large cancerous tumour and kept visualizing and thinking that once Dr. Brown did the surgery, then there was no doubt in my mind that he got the nasty cancer and the rest of my intestine would prove to be clear, fine, and healthy. Of course, we had to wait at least 8 weeks from the surgery before we could do this procedure because the surgical area needed a good headstart on healing... hence, we had it scheduled for today.
Well, for starters, the prep of drinking the phosphate soda last night was not nearly as traumatic as it had been the last two times. No pain, no fuss, nothing. I was just fine... sure makes a huge difference not having a tumour and infection in your intestine to make things difficult :) The worst part of the prep is having to be on a clear liquid diet, no solid food. I didn't notice that as being a problem last time, but then I wasn't eating at the time. Now I'm back to having a healthy appetite, so going without food is hard!
It was a gorgeous, sunny, warm day today, but I decided to play it safe and took the bus up the hill 9 blocks to the hospital. Normally, I would walk it, but after having had the phosphate soda last night and this morning, I decided not to push it (grin). That's all I'd need is to be 5 blocks from the hospital with no loo in sight and that's when I'd need one (grin).
They were running a tad bit behind time, so luckily I brought a book with me. I was content to sit in the waiting room with my book and while away the time. I was still feeling great... totally different from the last two times I was there. Those times, I was in so much pain, was dehydrated and by then, malnutritioned.
Finally they call my name and in I go to get changed, then the nurse took me to the room. She was busy trying to find a vein for my IV, when Dr. Brown came in. Have I mentioned how much of a hero this man is to me?? He is not like any other surgeon I've ever met... other surgeons have been good at their job but have absolutely no bedside manner, which can really make a patient feel uncomfortable. Dr. Brown was genuinely happy to see me again and couldn't get over how good I looked, my colouring, and overall signs of health. He then checked my surgical incision and said that he was super pleased with how well it is now healing. He told me not to worry... that stubborn two inches that has done a lot better but still isn't closed up yet, not only will it close up nicely, but with time it will end up being a very thin scar (hahaha... as if I am ever going to be wearing a bikini or anything to show off my gut!) LOL!!!
He had such a big smile on his face and told me that, without a doubt, I'm the strongest/toughest woman he has ever met to have overcome the pain, surgery and complications I had thrown at me... and my attitude was beyond anything he ever expected from a patient who has gone through what I went through (do you see why I love this man??) He said that he wasn't sure I realized just how sick I was back in December, that even he was surprised at how large the tumour was and that I was still walking and functioning. I questioned that the surgery was longer than he had planned, wasn't it, and he said "Oh yes... much longer! There were some challenges that we hadn't counted on and we certainly put you through the wringer." Hahaha... I told him I had thought so because I can really remember the agony I felt when I woke up in recovery... and then the next day. He apologized and said he was concerned about that, but that I did handle it like a champ... and blew the whole team away when I was up and walking within 48 hours of the surgery and able to go home a week after the surgery. He thought I might be at the hospital for 3-4 weeks after the surgery. Now, seeing me walk in, even though it is two months later, he says I'm a whole different person from the person he met when I was so deathly ill. I asked about a few pains I feel now and again deep inside my gut and if those are normal for this long after surgery and he said that he's amazed I don't feel more... that it will take some months for the insides to heal totally... so that was reassuring.
Anywho... once the nurse finally got the IV in (it was being difficult of course), our little chit chat had to change to the procedure at hand. I asked if there'd be some sort of sedation... after all, it's not like I invite pain or discomfort. And he said of course... and put two syringes of meds into the IV. Ha! Here I thought I was going to get a free trip to lala-land, compliments of the government... but darn ding it... just like when I had the PortaCath put in, the sedation did absolutely nothing for me (grin). I wasn't anxious so maybe it helped there, but while I was talking with Dr. Brown any anxiety went away anyways... so, yes, I was wide, wide awake and totally coherent for the whole procedure.
Well, I guess that's a good thing because I got to see the whole thing for myself and ask questions. Not a polyp in sight... and not a tumour to be found!!! YAYAYAYAYA!!! The whole large intestine was totally clear and all healthy tissue!! This is the big relief I have been waiting for... and what I've been visualizing since I was told I had cancer. I know a lot of you out there have been praying and visualizing the same thing and this just goes to show it does work!
After the procedure, I had to go back to the "recovery" room... normally it would be the assistant nurse who would roll the bed from the scopy room to the recovery room where the nurses' station is. But, I had my own personal chauffeur, Dr. Brown! We had a good laugh over that. I thanked him for all he's done for me and he held my hand and said that it was his pleasure to help such a wonderful patient and he'd be more than happy to do any of my followup work. I won't need a colonoscopy for 3 years now (yayayayaya) but will need a smaller procedure in 6 months. Where the intestine was rejoined is a vulnerable area with this kind of cancer. If it is going to recur, then this would be a high risk area, so he will check it in 6 months (and probably every 6 months for a few years). We had a good chuckle over, although it would be nice to see each other often, in reality, let's not plan on it!! LOL!!! I love a doctor with a great sense of humour!!
Anywho... all the other patients around me, who had the same procedure, really looked out of it. Some were still out of it, others were feeling sick, some moaning... one would almost think that we were in a sick ward or something!! The nurse came over to me and said, "Well, you are bright eyed and wide awake... did you have sedation for your procedure?" I said yes, but I don't think it took (grin). She said, "Oh well, policy is policy... you are going to have to stay in our care for half an hour for it to start wearing off, even though it looks like you haven't had any, and then you can have a snack before you can go home. Do you have someone coming to pick you up?" I told her that my friend, Mimi, would come, but that I told her someone or I would call her when I was ready to go. Mimi and I had already decided that she would walk up since it was a beautiful day and then we'd take a cab home. This was when I thought I'd be groggy and out of it. Ha!! I was totally fine... and it was so mild outside, when Mimi got there, the two of us walked home. I laughed and told her that, just like after the PortaCath insertion, I thought I could drive myself home and now after this procedure, I could definitely have walked home on my own. I just don't seem to be able to respond to drugs/meds the way others do (grin).
Anywho... I'm home now and have been since about 3pm. I cancelled my neighbours taking Bridget out for her afternoon walkie, because I was doing just fine. I told them that I'm not going to abuse the privilege and I'm sure there will be many days in the future when I might need their Bridget walkie help... so I took the little Diva myself.
Now, tonight is a night of American Idol and House... and I can enjoy them knowing that I'm off to a good start before we start the chemo and radiation therapies. The way I am looking at it... if I am just not responding to meds like the "average expectation" I visualize being the same with the chemo and radiation. Oh sure, I'm not being unrealistic... there will be some rough days but I plan on there being way more GOOD days than bad days. I just refuse to be one of the average stats :)
Cheryl
Monday, March 5, 2007
Monday, March 5th, 2007 - Broken Loo
Dear Bloggy,
It's Monday... the beginning of a new week! Well, I've alwys considered Monday to be the beginning of the week but is it? Or is Sunday the beginning of a week? Such a deep thought to contemplate (grin). I leave it with you, the reader to determine what is really the first day of the week and why you think so :)
Hahaha... well, this is kind of a funny story, but only funny in hindsight (grin). This morning, my toilet, the loo, decided to go on the fritz! Now, that is not a world disaster by any stretch of the imagination, so how do you think I'm going to make you believe that this is such a monumental event?? Welllll... let's just put it this way. Tomorrow (Tuesday), I have to go to St. Paul's Hospital for a colonoscopy... today is the prep day which means I am on a clear liquid diet all day (let me tell you, this is NOT as easy as it was before when I had no appetite!) and then this evening I do the intestinal cleanse. Does it now make sense why I need to be near a working loo tonight??? (grin)
Soooo... I call the landlord, but first I have to empty the bathroom vanity because it sits over top of the back of the loo, so it has to be emptied and then dismantled. Ron, the landlord, comes over to replace some kind of little pipe thingie that has rusted out... but finds he can't do it. Yikes! So he calls the plumber and we are told that they will try to get the plumber over today, but since they are really busy, it might not be until tomorrow. Uh.. but, but, but!!! (eeek!)
I do put my SECRET concept to work and I picture a plumber coming to the apartment today, either before I head out to my doctor's, or else after, when I get home. With that, I put on my coat, set up the walkman, grab my umbrella and I walk the 9 blocks to my doctor's. Today I get the staples removed from the PortaCath incision :)
It does feel good to get those staples out! It was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable because the skin was folded and stapled. But Dr. Fay is pleased with how well the incision has healed... no signs of wound issues at all :) We then discussed a few pains I've been feeling and he explained that with this surgery there are many, many layers that have to heal, so a sharp pain, especially when I do certain movements (like getting into bed, or into the car) is actually a good sign that the healing on the inside is doing just fine. Yayayaya!
I breathed a sigh of relief and told him that every now and again, when I get too much information from all the various specialists, I have to come see him so that he can reassure me that I'm just being paranoid. He gave me a big smile and said, "No problem! Anytime you need reassurance or an explanation of some procedure, you know where my door is."
EDIT: I forgot to finish the Loo story. When I got home from the doctor's, the plumber showed up about an hour later. He had some real problems getting the broken piece of pipe out and then decided that all of the innards (including the handle on the outside of the tank) had to be replaced. So I guess he was here close to 2 hours, but he got the loo fixed! Yayayayaya!! Alls well that ends well :)
Soooo, tomorrow is the colonoscopy that Dr. Brown (surgeon) will be doing. Let me tell you, I'll be real glad when this procedure is over and I'm at home! Hahaha.. first thing I'm going to do is eat something solid (grin)... and not a liquid beverage!! Mimi will be coming to the hospital to pick me up and we'll be coming straight home... in time for a nap and then getting ready to watch American Idol and House! (grin)
Talked to Steve tonight. His back has gone out on him, so luckily he doesn't have to work right now. I sure feel sorry for people who have bad backs, or back injuries. Back pain has got to be the worst!
Okey dokey... that's it for now! I'm not even sure what's on tv tonight... it may be a good night to just read!
Cheryl
It's Monday... the beginning of a new week! Well, I've alwys considered Monday to be the beginning of the week but is it? Or is Sunday the beginning of a week? Such a deep thought to contemplate (grin). I leave it with you, the reader to determine what is really the first day of the week and why you think so :)
Hahaha... well, this is kind of a funny story, but only funny in hindsight (grin). This morning, my toilet, the loo, decided to go on the fritz! Now, that is not a world disaster by any stretch of the imagination, so how do you think I'm going to make you believe that this is such a monumental event?? Welllll... let's just put it this way. Tomorrow (Tuesday), I have to go to St. Paul's Hospital for a colonoscopy... today is the prep day which means I am on a clear liquid diet all day (let me tell you, this is NOT as easy as it was before when I had no appetite!) and then this evening I do the intestinal cleanse. Does it now make sense why I need to be near a working loo tonight??? (grin)
Soooo... I call the landlord, but first I have to empty the bathroom vanity because it sits over top of the back of the loo, so it has to be emptied and then dismantled. Ron, the landlord, comes over to replace some kind of little pipe thingie that has rusted out... but finds he can't do it. Yikes! So he calls the plumber and we are told that they will try to get the plumber over today, but since they are really busy, it might not be until tomorrow. Uh.. but, but, but!!! (eeek!)
I do put my SECRET concept to work and I picture a plumber coming to the apartment today, either before I head out to my doctor's, or else after, when I get home. With that, I put on my coat, set up the walkman, grab my umbrella and I walk the 9 blocks to my doctor's. Today I get the staples removed from the PortaCath incision :)
It does feel good to get those staples out! It was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable because the skin was folded and stapled. But Dr. Fay is pleased with how well the incision has healed... no signs of wound issues at all :) We then discussed a few pains I've been feeling and he explained that with this surgery there are many, many layers that have to heal, so a sharp pain, especially when I do certain movements (like getting into bed, or into the car) is actually a good sign that the healing on the inside is doing just fine. Yayayaya!
I breathed a sigh of relief and told him that every now and again, when I get too much information from all the various specialists, I have to come see him so that he can reassure me that I'm just being paranoid. He gave me a big smile and said, "No problem! Anytime you need reassurance or an explanation of some procedure, you know where my door is."
EDIT: I forgot to finish the Loo story. When I got home from the doctor's, the plumber showed up about an hour later. He had some real problems getting the broken piece of pipe out and then decided that all of the innards (including the handle on the outside of the tank) had to be replaced. So I guess he was here close to 2 hours, but he got the loo fixed! Yayayayaya!! Alls well that ends well :)
Soooo, tomorrow is the colonoscopy that Dr. Brown (surgeon) will be doing. Let me tell you, I'll be real glad when this procedure is over and I'm at home! Hahaha.. first thing I'm going to do is eat something solid (grin)... and not a liquid beverage!! Mimi will be coming to the hospital to pick me up and we'll be coming straight home... in time for a nap and then getting ready to watch American Idol and House! (grin)
Talked to Steve tonight. His back has gone out on him, so luckily he doesn't have to work right now. I sure feel sorry for people who have bad backs, or back injuries. Back pain has got to be the worst!
Okey dokey... that's it for now! I'm not even sure what's on tv tonight... it may be a good night to just read!
Cheryl
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Thursday, March 1, 2007 - CAT Scan day
Dear Thursday Blog,
Well, I guess I haven't been here for a few days... funny that, huh? And now I'm trying to remember what all I've accomplished or done over the last couple of days, but of course my mind is blank! :)
I do know that last night (Wed) I went out for dinner with 3 co-workers.. well, co-workers that all used to work together but now work for different areas in the government. We try to get together every couple of months and lately, it's been every couple of weeks (grin). It's great! We have so many laughs... and just when we think we've used up all the laughter we find something else to laugh at. Too bad I can't imbed a sound file in here... there's this ringtone sound clip that has us in stitches whenever we think of it! Anywho, the four of us went just down the street from my place to Milestones for dinner and had a wonderful time... one that we will repeat again ;)
Today (Thurs), I went to the Cancer Agency this morning to have a CAT scan done. This will be the "base" scan. From what I understand, over the course of the treatments I will be monitored with CAT scans and chest xrays. The reason being... if the cancer was to reappear, it would either recur where it originated, in the large intestine OR if it were to spread and start somewhere else, the two common areas are in the lung or the liver. Also, Dr. Brown had put clips in the abdominal wall where the tumour/abscess was attached, and that is where they will be focusing the radiation. So this base CAT scan will be used for a few reasons... and for a comparison for every future CAT scan.
It was great! Because of the snow we had last night/this morning, it was not busy at the CT Scan department. I got there early because I am always leary about what the parking will be like. No problem with parking in the parkade and no backlog of appts. There was one gal ahead of me and she was in getting her scan while the nurse was putting the IV in my arm for the scan dye. They can't use the PortaCath for dye... and I don't really think the PortaCath is quite ready to be used yet anyways (I still have the 8 staples holding the incision closed and there is still sufficient bruising, although it is starting to go away now). Hehehe... the nurse had to wrap my arm in a heating pad to coax the veins to the surface. She did manage to get one finally, so once the IV was in, I went in to have the scan done. That only took about 5 minutes, then they took the IV out and I was able to leave.
So... looking at my handy dandy date book, my next medical appt. is not until Monday... when I get to pop in to see my GP, Dr. Fay, who will take these 8 staples out. I'll be glad to get them out because I think they are ready :)
Oh, and I heard from my friend, Bonnie K. who lives in the Seattle area! We have been online friends for, gee, 4 years maybe?? Anywho, she is going to come up to Vancouver March 12-14th so we can hang out and catch up in person!! How fun is that??? And she is going to show me how to do some scrapbooking... both digital (on the computer) and the manual way... which means (grin) we are going to have to go SHOPPING!! How sad!! (NOT!) (grin)
I just have to jot down this Question/Answer part of an interview of Ellen Degeneres. I really admire that lady... her humour cracks me right up and, even more important, I like how she is just a really together lady who is so positive. Her outlook on life is fantastic and I never could quite pinpoint what it is that I admired so much, but it is how she views her life and life in general (and it doesn't hurt that she is a serial animal lover!) Anyone who is an animal lover has major brownie points in my books!! :)
Anywho, I just loved her answer to this question and it's how I try to see/live my life... but it's still a work in progress for me. The interviewer was talking to her about her hosting the Oscars. This interview took place before the Oscars, so the event had not happened yet. Here's one of the questions:
Question: Any good luck charm?
Answer: No, my good luck charm is my gratitude. Every night I go to sleep and I'm grateful for my life, and I wake up and I feel the same thing. I just accept everything as it is -- whatever happens is what I'm supposed to deal with.
What a wonderful attitude! To be grateful for everything in your life (which I feel I am) and when things are thrown at you that you weren't expecting, or that are challenging, then know in your heart it is being handed to you and you know you are suppose to deal with it.. it's all part of the experience of your life.
So, on that note, I will sign off. Tomorrow I will tackle another small corner of my apartment. Hahaha... I'm trying to get into "Spring Cleaning" mode but it's too overwhelming to think of doing the whole apartment... so I'm doing a corner at a time, a small area at a time and by the time Spring rolls around, I may actually have a good start on it!! LOL!!
Well, I guess I haven't been here for a few days... funny that, huh? And now I'm trying to remember what all I've accomplished or done over the last couple of days, but of course my mind is blank! :)
I do know that last night (Wed) I went out for dinner with 3 co-workers.. well, co-workers that all used to work together but now work for different areas in the government. We try to get together every couple of months and lately, it's been every couple of weeks (grin). It's great! We have so many laughs... and just when we think we've used up all the laughter we find something else to laugh at. Too bad I can't imbed a sound file in here... there's this ringtone sound clip that has us in stitches whenever we think of it! Anywho, the four of us went just down the street from my place to Milestones for dinner and had a wonderful time... one that we will repeat again ;)
Today (Thurs), I went to the Cancer Agency this morning to have a CAT scan done. This will be the "base" scan. From what I understand, over the course of the treatments I will be monitored with CAT scans and chest xrays. The reason being... if the cancer was to reappear, it would either recur where it originated, in the large intestine OR if it were to spread and start somewhere else, the two common areas are in the lung or the liver. Also, Dr. Brown had put clips in the abdominal wall where the tumour/abscess was attached, and that is where they will be focusing the radiation. So this base CAT scan will be used for a few reasons... and for a comparison for every future CAT scan.
It was great! Because of the snow we had last night/this morning, it was not busy at the CT Scan department. I got there early because I am always leary about what the parking will be like. No problem with parking in the parkade and no backlog of appts. There was one gal ahead of me and she was in getting her scan while the nurse was putting the IV in my arm for the scan dye. They can't use the PortaCath for dye... and I don't really think the PortaCath is quite ready to be used yet anyways (I still have the 8 staples holding the incision closed and there is still sufficient bruising, although it is starting to go away now). Hehehe... the nurse had to wrap my arm in a heating pad to coax the veins to the surface. She did manage to get one finally, so once the IV was in, I went in to have the scan done. That only took about 5 minutes, then they took the IV out and I was able to leave.
So... looking at my handy dandy date book, my next medical appt. is not until Monday... when I get to pop in to see my GP, Dr. Fay, who will take these 8 staples out. I'll be glad to get them out because I think they are ready :)
Oh, and I heard from my friend, Bonnie K. who lives in the Seattle area! We have been online friends for, gee, 4 years maybe?? Anywho, she is going to come up to Vancouver March 12-14th so we can hang out and catch up in person!! How fun is that??? And she is going to show me how to do some scrapbooking... both digital (on the computer) and the manual way... which means (grin) we are going to have to go SHOPPING!! How sad!! (NOT!) (grin)
I just have to jot down this Question/Answer part of an interview of Ellen Degeneres. I really admire that lady... her humour cracks me right up and, even more important, I like how she is just a really together lady who is so positive. Her outlook on life is fantastic and I never could quite pinpoint what it is that I admired so much, but it is how she views her life and life in general (and it doesn't hurt that she is a serial animal lover!) Anyone who is an animal lover has major brownie points in my books!! :)
Anywho, I just loved her answer to this question and it's how I try to see/live my life... but it's still a work in progress for me. The interviewer was talking to her about her hosting the Oscars. This interview took place before the Oscars, so the event had not happened yet. Here's one of the questions:
Question: Any good luck charm?
Answer: No, my good luck charm is my gratitude. Every night I go to sleep and I'm grateful for my life, and I wake up and I feel the same thing. I just accept everything as it is -- whatever happens is what I'm supposed to deal with.
What a wonderful attitude! To be grateful for everything in your life (which I feel I am) and when things are thrown at you that you weren't expecting, or that are challenging, then know in your heart it is being handed to you and you know you are suppose to deal with it.. it's all part of the experience of your life.
So, on that note, I will sign off. Tomorrow I will tackle another small corner of my apartment. Hahaha... I'm trying to get into "Spring Cleaning" mode but it's too overwhelming to think of doing the whole apartment... so I'm doing a corner at a time, a small area at a time and by the time Spring rolls around, I may actually have a good start on it!! LOL!!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Monday, February 26th, 2007
Dear Blogster,
Ok, who turned off the heat in our early spring weather?? I mean, sure, it's still February and we've been having the typical PNW drizzle and rain, but along with those clouds we had been experiencing lovely, mild temps. Today, it was downright chilly... and rumour has it that outside of the Vancouver area, municipalities were actually getting (gasp) SNOW! Now that's a scary concept!! (grin)
Of course, no snow here in the West End, just rain. My little diva, Miss Bridget, loves to go out, but definitely plays the "poor me" card when she comes home all wet. We then have to do the production number of bringing out the big fluffy towel and rubbing her dry. Oh, but it doesn't stop there... I must leave the towel on top of her so that she can snuggle under it. This is NOT a normal doglet... she is a child in a schnauzer suit!
So now, how many of you did manage to see the Oscars? I LOVE Oscar-mania every year! And I was really impressed with Ellen Degeneres as the host this year. Ok, to be fair, I must admit that Billy Crystal is the all time King of Oscar Hosts and is very, very funny. But since he has said that he won't be doing it again, it's time to move on and find a new King or Queen of Oscar hosts and I think Ellen may just be the one to fit those shoes. Her humour is much more subtle, but she had some wonderfully brilliant moments. When she told Penelope Cruz to lift her "big" dress while she vacuumed under it... classic! Of course when she had Stephen Spielberg take a digital picture of her with Clint Eastwood... and then had him do it again since he didn't centre it to her liking, that will go down in Oscar history (grin).
Ok, now those of you who know me, you know that I really enjoyed the movie Dreamgirls, and yes, I'd go see it again! I know Steve and Jo didn't care for the movie and a lot of others have said the same thing. I had to agree that when the three girls sang the three nominated songs that were up for best song in a movie category, they did a really bad job. These gals can sing, but for some reason, it just sounded like they were screeching. And this coming from me, a fan of the movie! Anywho... when it was over and Ellen was back at the mike, she had us all laughing when she said, "Well, I'd hate to follow that act", which had such a double entendre to it... she is very quick on her feet without ever making anyone feel uncomfortable.
I guess I could go on and on about the various celebs and their reactions. I don't think there were really too many surprises this year, other than everyone thought Eddy Murphy (Dreamgirls) was a shoe-in for Best Supporting Actor and he lost to Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine). That was one of the surprises. The other one was the Most Original Screenplay - Little Miss Sunshine. We all thought one of the bigger blockbuster movies would have taken it. All in all, I enjoyed the show this year... and now it's done for another year :)
Not to much to report on the personal front. The bruising from getting the PortaCath put in last Thursday is really showing up now, but at least the muscle pain is now going away. I don't need to rely on the T3s as much as I was on the weekend (phew!) I will call Dr. Fay's office in the morning and set up an appt. for next Monday to have the staples taken out. I hope the bruising has gone down by then. I can just see it now... I show up to his office all black and blue and have him ask why I didn't come in earlier... uh, cause it's just a big old bruise?? :)
Meanwhile, today I talked to Colleen from CPP Disabilities. She wanted to touch base and had a few questions, then explained that CPP has some pretty strict criteria for qualifying for a CPP benefit. I'm not exactly sure how it all works but she is going to get in touch with me in the next couple of days... not sure if that means she will be able to tell me that I've qualified for the CPP Disabilities pension or not. Meanwhile, I guess it's all just paperwork because whether or not I qualify for CPP does not affect my Long Term Disabilities plan through Great West Life (although, they still have to make a decision on whether I qualify or not). Meanwhile, I do need more copies of the medical reports and since my printer/scanner/copier does not appear to be working (grrrrr), I will have to make some extra copies at the office. Oh well, that gives me a good excuse for another visit to the office to see the work gang :) :) I'm not complaining about that!
Now if it would only warm up a little bit! Doug and I went out for dinner tonight and just went to the restaurant next door to our little park next door. So the walk was not even a block away... but we froze!! We just went to the pub downstairs at The Boathouse. I don't know why I haven't been there more often... they have a nice menu and it's never so busy you feel rushed or crowded. It sure is convenient being so close by!
Ok... time to go!
Cheryl
Ok, who turned off the heat in our early spring weather?? I mean, sure, it's still February and we've been having the typical PNW drizzle and rain, but along with those clouds we had been experiencing lovely, mild temps. Today, it was downright chilly... and rumour has it that outside of the Vancouver area, municipalities were actually getting (gasp) SNOW! Now that's a scary concept!! (grin)
Of course, no snow here in the West End, just rain. My little diva, Miss Bridget, loves to go out, but definitely plays the "poor me" card when she comes home all wet. We then have to do the production number of bringing out the big fluffy towel and rubbing her dry. Oh, but it doesn't stop there... I must leave the towel on top of her so that she can snuggle under it. This is NOT a normal doglet... she is a child in a schnauzer suit! So now, how many of you did manage to see the Oscars? I LOVE Oscar-mania every year! And I was really impressed with Ellen Degeneres as the host this year. Ok, to be fair, I must admit that Billy Crystal is the all time King of Oscar Hosts and is very, very funny. But since he has said that he won't be doing it again, it's time to move on and find a new King or Queen of Oscar hosts and I think Ellen may just be the one to fit those shoes. Her humour is much more subtle, but she had some wonderfully brilliant moments. When she told Penelope Cruz to lift her "big" dress while she vacuumed under it... classic! Of course when she had Stephen Spielberg take a digital picture of her with Clint Eastwood... and then had him do it again since he didn't centre it to her liking, that will go down in Oscar history (grin).
Ok, now those of you who know me, you know that I really enjoyed the movie Dreamgirls, and yes, I'd go see it again! I know Steve and Jo didn't care for the movie and a lot of others have said the same thing. I had to agree that when the three girls sang the three nominated songs that were up for best song in a movie category, they did a really bad job. These gals can sing, but for some reason, it just sounded like they were screeching. And this coming from me, a fan of the movie! Anywho... when it was over and Ellen was back at the mike, she had us all laughing when she said, "Well, I'd hate to follow that act", which had such a double entendre to it... she is very quick on her feet without ever making anyone feel uncomfortable.
I guess I could go on and on about the various celebs and their reactions. I don't think there were really too many surprises this year, other than everyone thought Eddy Murphy (Dreamgirls) was a shoe-in for Best Supporting Actor and he lost to Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine). That was one of the surprises. The other one was the Most Original Screenplay - Little Miss Sunshine. We all thought one of the bigger blockbuster movies would have taken it. All in all, I enjoyed the show this year... and now it's done for another year :)
Not to much to report on the personal front. The bruising from getting the PortaCath put in last Thursday is really showing up now, but at least the muscle pain is now going away. I don't need to rely on the T3s as much as I was on the weekend (phew!) I will call Dr. Fay's office in the morning and set up an appt. for next Monday to have the staples taken out. I hope the bruising has gone down by then. I can just see it now... I show up to his office all black and blue and have him ask why I didn't come in earlier... uh, cause it's just a big old bruise?? :)
Meanwhile, today I talked to Colleen from CPP Disabilities. She wanted to touch base and had a few questions, then explained that CPP has some pretty strict criteria for qualifying for a CPP benefit. I'm not exactly sure how it all works but she is going to get in touch with me in the next couple of days... not sure if that means she will be able to tell me that I've qualified for the CPP Disabilities pension or not. Meanwhile, I guess it's all just paperwork because whether or not I qualify for CPP does not affect my Long Term Disabilities plan through Great West Life (although, they still have to make a decision on whether I qualify or not). Meanwhile, I do need more copies of the medical reports and since my printer/scanner/copier does not appear to be working (grrrrr), I will have to make some extra copies at the office. Oh well, that gives me a good excuse for another visit to the office to see the work gang :) :) I'm not complaining about that!
Now if it would only warm up a little bit! Doug and I went out for dinner tonight and just went to the restaurant next door to our little park next door. So the walk was not even a block away... but we froze!! We just went to the pub downstairs at The Boathouse. I don't know why I haven't been there more often... they have a nice menu and it's never so busy you feel rushed or crowded. It sure is convenient being so close by!
Ok... time to go!
Cheryl
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007 - Oscar Sunday
Dear Oscar,
What a perfect day for Oscar Sunday! It looked like the sun was going to come out this morning, so Bridget and I managed to get in a 1 1/2 mile walkie, but just as we got home, the clouds came back. It's now a couple of hours later and surprise, surprise, it's raining :D But that's ok... today is definitely a lazy Sunday kind of day! Perfect day for watching the hours of pre-Oscar shows. STAR! (channel 88) started the "Countdown to the Oscars!" at 9am, so today is definitely the Super Bowl of Hollywood :) I'm not being too productive today and really was going to work on the theatre's newsletter which has to go out on March 1st... but instead, I'm doing not much of anything. Soon, I'll have to get dressed and take Bridget out in the rain for her afternoon walkie, then I'll be heading over to Steve and Don's for the red carpet and full Oscars :)
Hmmm... interesting... it's only 2:14pm here on the West Coast and they have overhead pictures of the red carpet from the Good Year Blimp and there are actually people going down the red carpet. No stars yet, so one has to wonder... who are these people and why are they walking down the red carpet at 2:00 in the afternoon??? That would be soooo weird, to have to dress up in your Oscar formal gowns/suits/makeup, only to be going to the theatre at 2:00pm!! Hehehe... I swear I should start up a blog on discussing why anyone would be so involved in the Hollywood scene that they get dressed up to be seen at 2pm in their evening finery ;)
Anywho.. today, the Tylenol #3s seem to be working. I'm not sure if it's the dose of tylenol or the actual codiene, but it doesn't hurt the upper chest muscles to breathe today (grin). And, I can raise my right arm higher than waist level now! Still a little hard to reach to the shelves above the sink, but at least I can do it, whereas on Friday I couldn't even lift my arm to the sink.
Here is a picture of Patti's site... Patti the PortaCath is actually right under that bit of a hump you see. The area, today, is starting to bruise and turn that funny yellow, meanwhile, my right boob (no, I am not going to put a picture of that!!) is turning purple! Why it has affected my right boob is beyond me, the line doesn't go into my boob!!! (grin)
Well, that's about it for now. I can't report on the Oscars yet because they haven't happened, but I thought I should write a little in the old blog because I may not get back to it tonight. If I do, well, I'll just add to this entry :) Meanwhile, it's now after 3pm (where did I go??) so I'd best get dressed and convince Bridget she really does want to go for a walk in the rain :)
Cheryl
What a perfect day for Oscar Sunday! It looked like the sun was going to come out this morning, so Bridget and I managed to get in a 1 1/2 mile walkie, but just as we got home, the clouds came back. It's now a couple of hours later and surprise, surprise, it's raining :D But that's ok... today is definitely a lazy Sunday kind of day! Perfect day for watching the hours of pre-Oscar shows. STAR! (channel 88) started the "Countdown to the Oscars!" at 9am, so today is definitely the Super Bowl of Hollywood :) I'm not being too productive today and really was going to work on the theatre's newsletter which has to go out on March 1st... but instead, I'm doing not much of anything. Soon, I'll have to get dressed and take Bridget out in the rain for her afternoon walkie, then I'll be heading over to Steve and Don's for the red carpet and full Oscars :)
Hmmm... interesting... it's only 2:14pm here on the West Coast and they have overhead pictures of the red carpet from the Good Year Blimp and there are actually people going down the red carpet. No stars yet, so one has to wonder... who are these people and why are they walking down the red carpet at 2:00 in the afternoon??? That would be soooo weird, to have to dress up in your Oscar formal gowns/suits/makeup, only to be going to the theatre at 2:00pm!! Hehehe... I swear I should start up a blog on discussing why anyone would be so involved in the Hollywood scene that they get dressed up to be seen at 2pm in their evening finery ;)
Anywho.. today, the Tylenol #3s seem to be working. I'm not sure if it's the dose of tylenol or the actual codiene, but it doesn't hurt the upper chest muscles to breathe today (grin). And, I can raise my right arm higher than waist level now! Still a little hard to reach to the shelves above the sink, but at least I can do it, whereas on Friday I couldn't even lift my arm to the sink.
Here is a picture of Patti's site... Patti the PortaCath is actually right under that bit of a hump you see. The area, today, is starting to bruise and turn that funny yellow, meanwhile, my right boob (no, I am not going to put a picture of that!!) is turning purple! Why it has affected my right boob is beyond me, the line doesn't go into my boob!!! (grin)
Well, that's about it for now. I can't report on the Oscars yet because they haven't happened, but I thought I should write a little in the old blog because I may not get back to it tonight. If I do, well, I'll just add to this entry :) Meanwhile, it's now after 3pm (where did I go??) so I'd best get dressed and convince Bridget she really does want to go for a walk in the rain :)
Cheryl
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