Time with Mom

I have SO enjoyed having my mother here these past 2+ weeks.  Less than one week 'til she goes home.  I'm also glad my recovery has been quick so we've been able to get out and go places.  We had a day out with the boys and a day out with the girls.  We're trying to get a day out with just the two of us.  Not eating as well as I should with all our excursions, but I'll do better next week!  I'm having virtually no pain and my stoma opening is healing VERY well.  The surgeon only stitched it from the inside, so the outside slowly pulls together and won't get infected.  I'll see him tomorrow for a check up.

I can't believe it's August already.  Our summer just hasn't gone quite the way I'd hoped.  We have gotten two camping trips in and we're hoping to get three more in before the end of October.

Home!

The surgery only took 2 hours, so the doctor must've been including all the before & after time when he said 5 hours.  I woke up well, with only a little nausea.  Recovery was a thousand times better this time. 

Last time my abdomen was full of infection so I had 3 bags of antibiotics hanging at one time.  This time I only had one bag and I'm not sure they started another when it was empty.  If they did, it was only once.  Last time I was on morphine for 2+ days.  This time I needed NO pain medication!  What a blessing!  The morphine caused nausea and really clouded my thinking. 

I ended up coming home Sunday afternoon, two days earlier than I was told.  Saturday afternoon The doctor said I could begin eating at supper and they'd cap my IV if I did okay.  When he came back Sunday morning he said I was way ahead of schedule and could go home after lunch!

Sunday evening I became nauseous and had a low fever.  The children had had a stomach bug the week I went in the hospital and I could tell this was a bug, not a surgery related issue.  Since I was home 2 days early, my mom was not here yet so we planned on J's mom keeping 2 children each day, while I would keep SK, SR & LG on Monday and AB, TJ & LG on Tuesday.  The older girl could help me out and my little LG is just good medicine herself ;)  I felt it was time for her to be home with Mama!  Since I got sick Sunday night J stayed home with us Monday & Tuesday.  Monday night I finally had the worst of the bug and while I felt better stomach-wise on Tuesday, I was totally wiped out from the day before.  I'm so glad he was here to take care of me :)  His mom still took 2 children each day which made for a much quieter, calmer house (separating the two boys and the two older girls!). 

Eating is coming along slowly, but it's coming.  Today I feel as good as I did on Sunday when I came home!  I'm glad I didn't get sick in the hospital, though!  It's much nicer to be sick at home.

I haven't heard the results from the colonoscopy biopsy.  I guess I'll have to call them.  Next up is the post surgery check-up, then more blood work in September.  I'll also have some genetic testing done to see if I'm at risk for this or other cancers or if this was a non-genetic case.  If it is genetic, then I guess I have a much higher risk of recurrance and my children have a higher risk. 

Right now, I'm glad to be on my feet and bag-less!

Second Surgery

Checking in at 5:30am tomorrow.  Surgery is scheduled for 8:00.  I was told it's a 5 hour surgery.  Maybe that will make up for my missing sleep :)  I was also told to expect a minimum 5 day stay again.  I won't be posting again 'til I get home.

My mom is due to come on the 26th and stay for three weeks.  I'm glad to be prepared this time, but it's also given me time to think of things going wrong, too.  I will miss my dear children the next few days.  J will be with me in the morning and evening, but I probably won't see the children 'til Saturday.

Results

All went extremely well. No polyps. There was an area of "irritation" that she took a sample of to have biopsied. One more week 'til my hospital vacation ;)

Colonoscopy Prep

Nothing but clear liquids today. I prepared myself by just juicing yesterday. I'm choosing cucumber/celery/apple juice over jello, kool-aid, soda, broth, etc. (All things I don't like and are no good for anyone.) 6pm I get to drink some yummy stuff!!! Will find out later today exactly what time my colonoscopy is tomorrow.

Yesterday morning while searching online for some healthy clear liquid ideas I happened to come across some articles on the dangers of colonoscopy and the (sometimes long term) after effects.  As often as I check into things before I do/take them (or give to/have done to my children), I had not even thought to look into this before.  I knew there was a risk of perforation and that could be dangerous.  The packet of information I was given didn't list ANY effects or complications other than perforation.  They make everything sound hunky dory.  I was fearful for a time after reading the things I did, but I know there's no need to fear.  God is in control and it's all for His glory! 

I'm trying to wrap up a lot of household stuff before I go back in the hospital next Thursday.  Jeff's mother will be keeping three of the children and some friends will keep the other two.  My mom will be flying in on the 26th; the day I (hopefully) get out of the hospital.  I think this arrangement is going to work out very well, though Jeff will have to do some running to drop off and pick up all the children twice (he'll bring them home for the weekend and take them back Sunday evening).  I'm glad we can at least be prepared for this hospital visit!!!

Maybe in my down time after surgery I can post some bday pics from the May & June celebrations and from our camping trips...  I don't want to just post about all this medical stuff ;)

Second Oncologist Visit

Had the "real" appointment yesterday morning with the oncologist that I wanted in the first place.  I am SO glad I switched.  She is a much better fit for me than the first doctor.  I was not comfortable with him.

The results:  My PET scan was clear and my CEA (blood work) was clear.  While that's good news, there are always the unknowns.  The PET scan will only detect a tumor of 5mm or larger and the CEA doesn't detect very early cancer growth.

The recommendation:  The doctor still recommended preventative chemotherapy; 12 doses over 6 months.  The reason is that there was a rupture and it was impossible to tell if it was a rupture of the tumor or the colon.  If the tumor ruptured then there could be cancer cells spreading around my body.  She cited a 16% three year recurrence rate among stage 2 patients with 12 clear lymph nodes.  She said chemo could reduce that rate by half to two thirds.  Statistically speaking, that's 4-8% vs. 16%.  Of course my recurrence risk would be higher IF the tumor ruptured, which we can never know.

So, statistics vs. a real person...  Statistically speaking J & I don't see a huge improvement in recurrence risk after chemo,  though we can't know what those risks might be if the tumor did rupture.  I would certainly be doing a lot of damage to my body by taking the chemo drugs.  Some of that damage could be permanent.

Right now we are very comfortable following a life style change that includes eating raw foods.  Some may call us irresponsible or naive, but we are confident that this is how God wants us to proceed.  This is not something new we've just heard of, but something we've been learning about for years.  If there are cancer cells present, I won't be giving them fuel to reproduce and I'll be building my body to fight them.  As the doctor said, we have to make the decision that's right for us and then don't look back or second guess ourselves.  If it's chemo, be committed to the entire course of treatment; if it's lifestyle change, do it 100%.

I will go back for more blood work and another CAT scan in September.  I will probably have blood work done every 3 months and several more CAT scans.  I'm told that if the cancer is going to come back it usually does so within 3 years.  Our lifestyle change will continue for life.  We've had the knowledge for years and we've talked it to death, now we're faced with a critical choice.  Cancer turns out to be a "health opportunity" as some have said!

I am going to call the surgeon today to see if I can have my surgery on July 27th.  I also have to determine when to get a colonoscopy:  in the hospital right before surgery or sometime before that.

Thank you all again for keeping updated, praying, and your kind words of encouragement.  The love and support from everyone has really helped our family through this.

The Doctor Visit That Wasn't

I was supposed to have an oncologist visit yesterday afternoon, but somehow it got deleted or something.  They had no appointment scheduled at all.  Now I have an appt. for the 8th.

Last week I had a PET scan and some blood work done.  Since I didn't see the oncologist yesterday they were going to have a nurse call me today with those results.  That didn't happen either and I didn't call the office until almost 4:00 and they were closed.  So, I know nothing ;)

Anyway, I'm feeling great.  I've tried many new recipes, most delicious, but some not-so-much.  I did go out to my favorite Chinese buffet last night for my birthday, but it wasn't as wonderful as it always was.  I think my tastes are changing.  I've heard that happens when you're eating raw foods for a while.

I also got to have a great conversation with a fairly new Christian lady who took my blood last week.  God just has neat blessing around every corner!

Thanks for reading and keeping up with me.  I'll post my test results when I know them.  I'll probably just wait for my visit next Wednesday.

Non doctor related news...

We had several terribly hot days, but the weather broke and yesterday and today were just perfect:  about 80 degrees and breezy!  We got to work in the garden and pull weeds in the flower bed last night.  This weekend I hope to get some mulch down.

J is trying to finish up a few cars he has to work on and then take a few weeks off from the extra work.  We have our first camping trip planned for Father's Day weekend.  I'm really looking forward to camping again!