Just Me LMJ

Just a quick update…last week I met with the plastic surgeon and have scheduled my TRAM flap reconstruction surgery for June 22nd. I recently met with a woman who had the same surgeon and surgery last June. She gave me so much valuable information about what to expect and tips to help me through it. I very much appreciated all her time. The surgeon was upfront about how hard this surgery is….and how painful….the whole process does intimidate me. I am already dreading the IV’s, especially afer I learned the IVs will be in my leg. They like to keep the upper half of the body clear of any obstacles.  I will be in the hospital for 4 to 5 days, in a room that will be 85 degrees.  Evidently they like to keep the room warm to increase blood flow.  At least I won’t have a roommate but for that matter I won’t have many visitors either.  As scary and intimidating as this seems to me, it is something I do want to do.  I believe it will help me feel whole again and help me put this cancer journey behind me.  I so want life to be normal again.

Tomorrow I see my cancer doctor, my ear doctor and have a hearing test.  I don’t think my hearing has improved at all.  Maybe in time my hearing will come back just as quickly as it disappeared.  On Thursday, I will finally have my thyroid biospy.  I am hoping everything is okay…as nervous as I am about the reconstruction surgery, I don’t want anything to prevent it from happening.

I’ll post again after my biopsy.  Thanks for all the support and encouragement.

Love ya, Lori

Well I loved to write that I am A-OK but that wouldn’t quite be the truth. I have had a busy month since I last wrote. I mentioned before that I was having ears issues and finally got in to my ENT doctor. I have a significant hearing loss in my left ear (DUH….I didn’t need to go to the doctor to tell me that) but he isn’t sure it is chemo related since it is just in one ear. Although I think it is strange it began shortly after my chemo ended. Anyway, he put me on my favorite (ha) drug, a steroid, for 5 days. Other than my skin turned red, I was a Chatty Cathy, and sleep eluded me, I don’t think the steroid helped. I returned to the doctor last week and my hearing did improve minimally on paper so I am now taking my favorite drug, a steroid, for another 16 days. I just started it yesterday. The only good thing with Jaylyn graduating in a few weeks, and sleep will be hard to get I might get some things done. If no improvement, then he is doing an MRI of my head just to be sure nothing is going on. If that is negative, then I may have to go to a hearing aid.
My other health issue is that I had a thyroid ultrasound (the genetic doctor ordered it as a baseline)….anyway, wouldn’t you know, I have a little solid nodule that is almost 1 centimeter. I was sent to an endocrinologist and he has recommended a biopsy. Unfortunately, since I am taking a steroid of significant dose I can’t get the biopsy until after I am done with the steroid (something about the steroid causes bleeding). I already take thyroid medicine so I’m not overly concerned with a nodule in my thyroid. Worst case scenario is they would remove my thyroid, which isn’t great but is doable.

Right now I have appointments with my cancer doctor and ENT doctor on May 30th and I also have appointments with the plastic surgeon and thyroid biopsy for May 31st. I am trying to have my reconstruction surgery done in June (around June 19th) but my cancer doctor has to release me before it can be scheduled. Now some of that will depend on the results of the thyroid biopsy.

I was interviewed by WICD which will air Tuesday, May 15th during the 6:00 news. They were doing a story on Clinical Trials and interviewed my doctor and myself. Jaylyn has a softball game that night so I’ll have to tape it. I hope it turned out good.

We made it through Jaylyn’s prom…I am a little biased but I thought she looked absolutlely beautiful, one of the prettiest girls there. Jaylyn’s softball season is winding down this month. Senior Day at softball is this Friday and Jaylyn has told me to not wear a hat. For Volleyball Senior Day, I wore my wig, for Basketball Senior Day I wore a hat so now it will be me with a little hair.

Jaylyn will be graduating May 25th. It is so hard to believe! Jason has offered his house for a party and I think we will do an Open House during the day on May 26th to celebrate her Graduation, Jason’s new home, and us happy to have the last few months behind us.

My life seems to be filled with doctor appointments, but I am hoping I will be cleared to have my surgery next month. I am anxious for my cancer bump in the road to come to an end.

I’ll post again later this month. As always, thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and support.

Love, Lori