We were told to arrive at 1pm at the "Admission" office, then a few minutes of waiting inside the Radiation department and then an escort to the back where the Interventional Radiology department was located. This is where my surgery would take place. My honey was with me waiting for the first 2 (they were behind) and half hours and we just sat there nervously talking about our love for one another and our plans once the piss bag is removed. Oh GOD do we have plans for living with out the piss bag!
My honey just sat there so handsomely as I wondered why this wonderful man is standing by my side every step of the way. "GOD am I so turned on by this wonderful man!". Check out his handsomeness!) He is more handsome than any George Clooney, Johny Depp, or even Brad Pitt could ever be. As far as I'm concerned, he is the best kind of man there is; one with compassion and most of all Love.
What really got me today is how he told that one of his best friends was working on writing a song about me and how the first few lines made him tear up. How romantic!)
Anyway this is a photo of him talking to the doctor who would then be performing my "Internalization of N. Stint". (That's how I saw it on the big surgery board schedule) He asked just the right questions and even stressed how I just turned 39 on Sunday and that I haven't taken a shower in over 2 months. It was cool how he got to the doctor that way in putting a face and compassion for me. I think the doctor was determined to get that stint through my ureter at this point.
At just past 3:30pm, I was wheeled into surgery as he kissed me on the lips and then the forehead, confessed all of love for me and me for him. We always do this no matter what for any surgery I have. I was so worried during the entire 3 hour surgery (it was supposed to only take 1 hour) that I might have to come home with the stupid bag. I was so thankful to have such a determined team of professionals working to make my dream a reality!) I kept thanking them and telling them sorry every time that I jumped in pain (I tried so hard not to). They were all so nice, attentive, and very compassionate towards me. They knew my battle well and knew I was so deserving of somewhat of normal life (with out a bag).
I was in pretty bad pain through out and almost got sick from the pain. The nice lady kept trying to give me worthless medication for the pain which would last maybe 1-2 minutes and then the pain would come back with a vengeance. I would bite my left hand (right hand had the IV) just to deal with the pain. I just wanted so bad to get rid of the piss bag and was more than willing to go through extreme pain just for this to happen! It was not an easy surgery and I was in pain and still am in a little amount of pain even with pain medications (Percocet, Benadryl).
I was in pretty bad pain through out and almost got sick from the pain. The nice lady kept trying to give me worthless medication for the pain which would last maybe 1-2 minutes and then the pain would come back with a vengeance. I would bite my left hand (right hand had the IV) just to deal with the pain. I just wanted so bad to get rid of the piss bag and was more than willing to go through extreme pain just for this to happen! It was not an easy surgery and I was in pain and still am in a little amount of pain even with pain medications (Percocet, Benadryl).
I was so happy when the surgery was finally a success! What a freaking relief! Check me out with my legs and arms up to show no more leg bag!) My honey was there waiting when I got out of that surgery room with a camera in hand!) NO MORE PISS BAG!) No more tubes in my back irritating the living shit out of me!) I was so incredibly happy despite the pain I was feeling in my back and that feeling of having to go pee; hell some of the pain I was feeling was that I really needed to go pee. My pee hole just ached!
Once the IV was removed, I sat for a few minutes and then I was helped into a wheelchair just 10-15 minutes after the surgery. My honey and I were so happy as he wheeled me out to the hospital entrance, ran and got the truck and then helped me inside. I was still in a great deal of pain, but it didn't matter at all!) I no longer have a piss bag to deal with!) I called as many friends as I could and of course my father to tell him the good news. It was too late to call my mother and my brother who no longer has a cell phone (can't contact him unless he's at work).
Once I got home, I raced for the toilet to let out my first pee!) It was good long burning one (like having a bladder infection), was pretty bloody but at least I am peeing just one way. It will clear up and I have plenty of cranberry juice to boot!) The pain in my back and of course pee hole was a bit too much for me to bear so my honey ran downstairs and grabbed me 2 Percocets since the pain level was at 9. I could barely lie down or even sit up. I was confused as I couldn't find any comfortable way to lie down, stand up, or even sit up.
Finally the pain subsided enough for me to lie down and rest for a few hours before posting this entry. Now our Adventures in healing really begin!) What an awesome day!)
Once the IV was removed, I sat for a few minutes and then I was helped into a wheelchair just 10-15 minutes after the surgery. My honey and I were so happy as he wheeled me out to the hospital entrance, ran and got the truck and then helped me inside. I was still in a great deal of pain, but it didn't matter at all!) I no longer have a piss bag to deal with!) I called as many friends as I could and of course my father to tell him the good news. It was too late to call my mother and my brother who no longer has a cell phone (can't contact him unless he's at work).
Once I got home, I raced for the toilet to let out my first pee!) It was good long burning one (like having a bladder infection), was pretty bloody but at least I am peeing just one way. It will clear up and I have plenty of cranberry juice to boot!) The pain in my back and of course pee hole was a bit too much for me to bear so my honey ran downstairs and grabbed me 2 Percocets since the pain level was at 9. I could barely lie down or even sit up. I was confused as I couldn't find any comfortable way to lie down, stand up, or even sit up.
Finally the pain subsided enough for me to lie down and rest for a few hours before posting this entry. Now our Adventures in healing really begin!) What an awesome day!)
7 comments:
I am SO THRILLED for you!! Make sure you rest up and let everything heal before you start biking or snowboarding :)
Isn't it funny how things change - my husband used to be intimidated by the doctors (when this first started). Now he is my research guy, and always asks the best questions at my appointments. He is invaluable to me - and I know that is how yours is to you too!
CJ - heal well. I can't stop smiling for you!
I hope this first full day with out the "piss bag" goes so good, and you enjoy every minute of your day !!
That is exciting ... I'm so happy for you.
All the best to you,
Daria
Congratulations!! And baby steps, hope the pain goes away soon I know you want to get out and get doing!!cal
You certainly are brave to write about all your problems. I admire you a lot. I have breast cancer and so not nearly as bad as yours. I wish you all the luck in the world and will say lots of prayers for you. I am a firm believer in miracles.
I just found this blog from my "Link Referral" acct. The administrator there wrote about you on their blog, have you seen it? It's here: http://linkreferral.blogspot.com/
I started reading about your new floor, then went on to read about your lovely dogs, the visit from your brother and father, and up to getting your "pee bag" removed. (I'm so glad they were able to take it out btw!:) I hope you are feeling much better now! :)
Your story really affected me to the heart - so I am sorry if this is a really long comment, but I just have to say: What a positive and genuine person you are! I wish I lived in CA so I could meet you! You seem to be such a fun person and have such a good sense of humor and dauntless and loving spirit - I know we would be best friends!
Cancer is a very scary thing. I am so sorry that you have it. There are so many toxins and carcinogens all around us everywhere. I'm kind of scared I'll end up with the same thing you have.
You are so right to use "natural remedies" if they work for you. How can a plant be illegal? I don't know... it is crazy. Did you know that they have THC pills? Yep, they are called Marinol pills, they give them to terminally ill cancer and AIDS patients. I know because I am an RN and worked on an AIDS floor sometimes, and many of them were on those pills for appetite stimulation. Why is it ok to make marijuana into pills for Drs. to prescribe, but illegal to smoke it? The "War on Drugs" is nothing but a racket for the CIA and the private prison corporations to make money - end of story - and it needs to be stopped now! The US is the leading prison nation in the world, with only 5% of the world's population, but a whopping 25% of the world's PRISON population, and all because of the "War on Drugs".
I am a firm believer in natural, herbal and organic medicine.
Being an RN, one who rebels against the current medical system which does not heal, but treats symptoms and keeps people sick and treats them like slabs of meat... I do know a few things:
1) Essiac Tea (You can google "essiac tea recipe" - it contains several herbs, roots, etc, can't remember them right now.) I will try to look it up for you and send it to you.
2) Alkaline Diet! You can google that, too. This is the diet you should be on. What we eat, and what is in our food, is killing us. You should be eating natural, organic, fresh raw fruits, veggies, and grains, nuts, seeds, etc. No refined sugars, no refined flours, and NO processed foods or meat whatsoever. The typical American diet is full of garbage that overloads and overtaxes your system and weakens your immune system and sets you up for all kinds of diseases and health problems. Please learn about "Alkaline Diets" and please, if you are not already doing so, please get yourself as close to it as you can, you will be amazed at how much better you will really feel. Also: do you have a juicer? If not, consider getting one and juicing your fruits and veggies.
There is a tea for digestive system health. You can find it at http://traditionalmedicinals.com
You can truly help your body heal itself, friend. And I hope that you will heal completely, because I really want to sit up here in KY thinking of you eating carrot cake and grooming that beautiful puppy dog,(the gray and white one is so pretty!), and walking on your new floor, smiling at your wonderful husband, and going out to eat at that organic restaurant.
You can find me at:
http://hubpages.com/profile/MagicStarER
and at:
http://myspace.com/MagicStarER
(among others... links to more on those 2 sites)
I will look for that essiac tea recipe for you, and meantime I am sending a big hug from Kentucky to you and I will be praying for you real hard tonight.
love and light from your friend:
MagicStarER
As promised, here is the url for the recipe and the story of "Essiac Tea": "The Truth About Essiac - Rene Caisse and her Herbal Cancer Treatment, ESSIAC" is at:
http://www.healthfreedom.info/Cancer%20Essiac.htm
I hope you will read it - it's an interesting story, and I hope you will try that tea! :) I believe it will work!
And here is info about "Alkaline Diet":
Excellent article:
"Alkaline / Alkalinity Treatment For Cancer"
http://clem.mscd.edu/~boettner/CancerTutor/Cancer/Alkaline.html
Here is a video:
"Cancer Alkaline Diet Is The Natural Cure"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttm3q7kweL4
"Transitioning Your Diet To Alkaline Foods"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nOqnQ5fyAw
"On CBS - Alkaline Diet"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4s6cTQtK_E
Here is the "Alkaline Diet Group on Care2":
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/alkaline_diet
Alkaline Acid Food Charts:
http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/acidalkfoods.html
Acid-Alkaline Food Chart & Recipes - This 28 page report includes a complete list of foods categorized by how acidic or how alkalizing they are + recipes - (free download, excellent!):
http://www.phionbalance.com/App_UI/site/pHion/Public/Acid-Alkaline-Foods-Chart-And-Recipes-Book.aspx
Blog for a Cure: http://bleunote.blogforacure.com/weblog/2009/06/09/0002
This site has a good article, disregard products for sale:
http://www.naturallydirect.net/alkaline-cancer-natural-healing.htm
"What is an Alkaline Diet":
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-alkaline-diet.htm
Good article about alkaline/acid:
http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/saliva-ph-test.htm
"Alkalize for Health":
http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/cancerselftreatment.htm
This should be enough for now.
I hope that you can get any good from any of this. I always try to put myself in the other person's shoes - this is what I would do if I were in yours. :)
Much love to you, dear friend! God I wish you didn't have to do the chemo. What would happen if you waited 7 weeks to try the Essiac and the Alkaline diet? They say it takes 7 weeks to see noticeable results...
I am praying for you bunches!
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