Thursday, December 03, 2009

Happy Birthday, Jim


December 3, 1950...you were born.

December 3, 1969...the first of what was to be 32 birthdays together...age 19 to age 51.

December 3, 2009...the 8th one without you.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart...you will be forever 51.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

December 3, 1950 ~ May 24, 2002


Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Update

Today is 14 days since surgery.

It's been an up and down number of days since the allergy to the percocet showed itself Tuesday a week ago. Going cold turkey with nothing but ibuprofen for pain relieve was a little daunting, but it and the heating pad got me through the worst of it. Ridding myself of the allergy effects was something else. It finally took mega doses of benadryl assisted by the ibuprofen for me to quit scratching like a mangy dog. Still a few itchies if I get too warm, but since I'm mostly cold these days that doesn't happen too often.

The surgical staples came out yesterday and the results of ALL of the pathology tests were negative. What a relief. I didn't realize until the Doc said the words how much I had been dreading the test results.

His only area of concern had to do with the fact the cancer was more than halfway through the uterine muscle. There is no evidence that it breached the muscle to go elsewhere, but he gave me the option to have preventative radiation in the pelvic area. He recommended that I do some online research and talk to people who have and have not had the additional radiation; both for possible side effects and reasons to or not to do so myself. I go back in 2 weeks for a follow-up pelvic exam and we will talk some more about my thoughts on preventative radiation.

All in all I am feeling much better, particularly since I'm not being pinched by the darn staples every time I move. Yay...freedom.

Now I can begin walking more than just around the house and work to rebuild my muscle strength. I'm starting slow, so nobunny worry that I'm gonna do too much. Besides I have 4 watch dogs right here in the house making sure I behave.

Come spring we'll be camping and kayaking again.

2 months after diagnosis I am officially a cancer survivor...I stand amazed and grateful.