Karen is doing good and is awake and starting to be a bit bored being confined to the bed.
We watched a movie and TV.
We expect that the doctors will come some time in the morning and hopefully she will be able to come home in the afternoon.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Update - Karen is out of the recovery room and into her regular hospital room
As the title says Karen is not back in her room and I got to see her.
She was awake and talking but just very tired.
She is currently sleeping a little so I am just posting and using the computer while I wait for her to wake up.
If everything goes according to plan she will be sent home tomorrow at some point.
The two doctors will check in on her tomorrow to make sure that everything is going to their liking.
She then has to check back in with the plastic surgeon on Friday as a follow up.
So hopefully I only have a few more hospital cafeteria meals to go before we can close this chapter :-)
I am sure Karen is ready to not have the nausea and discomfort she gets from the anesthesia too.
She was awake and talking but just very tired.
She is currently sleeping a little so I am just posting and using the computer while I wait for her to wake up.
If everything goes according to plan she will be sent home tomorrow at some point.
The two doctors will check in on her tomorrow to make sure that everything is going to their liking.
She then has to check back in with the plastic surgeon on Friday as a follow up.
So hopefully I only have a few more hospital cafeteria meals to go before we can close this chapter :-)
I am sure Karen is ready to not have the nausea and discomfort she gets from the anesthesia too.
Surgery complete update
Just talked to the surgeon and was told that everything went as planned. He was actually done faster than I expected so it must have gone smoothly.
It will be about 1 hour before she wakes up and I can go see her.
More updates to come.
It will be about 1 hour before she wakes up and I can go see her.
More updates to come.
Surgery update - first part complete
Sitting in the waiting room - again.
As an extra feature I will do a local hospital cafeteria review - seems like I have tried them all :-)
Just talked to the Plastic Surgeon. His part is complete and went very well. He also removed the port that was used for the Chemo medication - I know Karen will be glad to have that one gone.
Now the next surgeon is taking over for the hysterectomy. That surgery will likely take 2 hours minimum. It is performed with a "robot" so they don't have to open her up completely. Rather there will be multiple small incisions in the abdomen where they can operate through.
I will keep the blog updated as I get further information.
As an extra feature I will do a local hospital cafeteria review - seems like I have tried them all :-)
Just talked to the Plastic Surgeon. His part is complete and went very well. He also removed the port that was used for the Chemo medication - I know Karen will be glad to have that one gone.
Now the next surgeon is taking over for the hysterectomy. That surgery will likely take 2 hours minimum. It is performed with a "robot" so they don't have to open her up completely. Rather there will be multiple small incisions in the abdomen where they can operate through.
I will keep the blog updated as I get further information.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Next step
It's been a while since I blogged, so I thought I'd give a quick update. I've got lots of cute pictures to post, and I'm hoping to get to it soon. I'll be at home for a while anyway...
I'm going in for surgery on Monday. The plastic surgeon is putting the permanent implants in (and taking the expanders out), and he will be taking out my port that was used for chemo (Yay!). Then the gynecological surgeon will be removing my uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Better get rid of all the spare parts I don't need anymore... That last part will be done laparoscopically using a robot, so it'll be minimally invasive. They'll only keep me in the hospital for one night.
I'm expected to be out from work for four weeks, so I'm hoping to have lots of time to post those cute pictures! Stay tuned...
I'm going in for surgery on Monday. The plastic surgeon is putting the permanent implants in (and taking the expanders out), and he will be taking out my port that was used for chemo (Yay!). Then the gynecological surgeon will be removing my uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Better get rid of all the spare parts I don't need anymore... That last part will be done laparoscopically using a robot, so it'll be minimally invasive. They'll only keep me in the hospital for one night.
I'm expected to be out from work for four weeks, so I'm hoping to have lots of time to post those cute pictures! Stay tuned...
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A little chemo scare - but everything is okay
So, yesterday was supposed to be my last chemo treatment. Turned out, it got postponed to today. Don't worry, everything's okay.
Here's the story:
When I showed up for the treatment yesterday, the nurse that was going to access my port took one look at me and said "This doesn't look right". She got another nurse over for a second opinion, and she agreed. The problem was that the chemo is making me retain water - lots of it. But it wasn't even, my left side was much more swollen than the right one. And the port site seemed irritated and warm and more swollen than usual. They were concerned that there might be a blood clot in my left arm and/or in my left leg. They sent me to see my oncologist, who also agreed that it had to be checked out. He sent me to the hospital to get it checked out via ultrasound.
The plan was for me to drive there. I figured it was a good sing that they let me drive myself, they probably wouldn't do that if they thought I was about to keel over... They would send the orders over and have me checked out right away. If everything went well, I would till be getting my treatment later in the day.
I got to the hospital around noon-ish and found out that they couldn't fit me in until three thirty that afternoon. Well, another good sign, I guess, they weren't rushing to get me in. Unfortunately, that meant a lot of waiting, and no chance for me to get back to get my treatment that afteroon. Fortunately, Karsten came and met me for lunch at the hospital cafeteria, which was really nice. And I had brought my book, so time went by fairly quickly.
I got checked out, which was kinda neat. They use the ultrasound to check the arteries and veins. If they can compress them, there is no clot. They can also see/hear the blood flow in there. Apparently it works, because they found a clot in the leg of the lady that went in just before me. Which made me feel pretty bad for her, but honestly also a little better knowing that the technique works.
Anyway, no clots! Yay. So, after a long day at the hospital waiting room, I got the all clear and got re-scheduled for my (last) treatment this morning. The swelling is already coming down some, but it will re-appear over the next couple of weeks as a side-effect of the chemo. Hopefully not quite as bad, though, as they upped my dose on my diuretics ("water-pills").
So, better safe than sorry, I'm a day late on my treatment - but it was the last one!!!!!
Here's the story:
When I showed up for the treatment yesterday, the nurse that was going to access my port took one look at me and said "This doesn't look right". She got another nurse over for a second opinion, and she agreed. The problem was that the chemo is making me retain water - lots of it. But it wasn't even, my left side was much more swollen than the right one. And the port site seemed irritated and warm and more swollen than usual. They were concerned that there might be a blood clot in my left arm and/or in my left leg. They sent me to see my oncologist, who also agreed that it had to be checked out. He sent me to the hospital to get it checked out via ultrasound.
The plan was for me to drive there. I figured it was a good sing that they let me drive myself, they probably wouldn't do that if they thought I was about to keel over... They would send the orders over and have me checked out right away. If everything went well, I would till be getting my treatment later in the day.
I got to the hospital around noon-ish and found out that they couldn't fit me in until three thirty that afternoon. Well, another good sign, I guess, they weren't rushing to get me in. Unfortunately, that meant a lot of waiting, and no chance for me to get back to get my treatment that afteroon. Fortunately, Karsten came and met me for lunch at the hospital cafeteria, which was really nice. And I had brought my book, so time went by fairly quickly.
I got checked out, which was kinda neat. They use the ultrasound to check the arteries and veins. If they can compress them, there is no clot. They can also see/hear the blood flow in there. Apparently it works, because they found a clot in the leg of the lady that went in just before me. Which made me feel pretty bad for her, but honestly also a little better knowing that the technique works.
Anyway, no clots! Yay. So, after a long day at the hospital waiting room, I got the all clear and got re-scheduled for my (last) treatment this morning. The swelling is already coming down some, but it will re-appear over the next couple of weeks as a side-effect of the chemo. Hopefully not quite as bad, though, as they upped my dose on my diuretics ("water-pills").
So, better safe than sorry, I'm a day late on my treatment - but it was the last one!!!!!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Chi-chi-chi-chia pet !
On the new Chemo Karen's hair is starting to grow back. I think she would trade this for some eye lashes though.
But it is a sign that things are going in the right direction.
But it is a sign that things are going in the right direction.
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