January 19, 2011

Well, it is 8 days since my surgery. I am doing pretty well I think.Here is what has happened in the last week.

On 1-11-11, I had a right thoracotomy with wedge resection. I apparently was in surgery for 3 hours. She took out 2 "spots" and several other areas. I have not heard exactly what was done, Randy can't remember what the doctor said. I remember waking up in the SCU. Lots of tubes. Dry thoart.
They made me wear a CPAP machine tonight. It was awful. the nurse took it off at nidnight. Thank God. The staff was great to me. I was able to get up in a chair Wed. Can you believe it? Did fine. The chest tube hurts. The central line is freaky. At least it is in my chest and not my neck.
Thursday, I was moved to PCU in the IU hospital. What a difference. Unless I asked to get up or turn or anything, no one ever came in except to give me pills. It had no heat so Randy and I froze all day and night. They will get a bad survey from me. I hope I never have to come back here. Jennifer was the nest nurse and Pamela, a tech, stayed with me when my chest tube was removed.
Randy was great. He stayed with me every night but one. He was such a big help. He helped me in and out of bed at all hours. Walked me in the halls etc.
I was to go home Saturday, but my pain was not well managed. I had a medication change and went home Sunday. It's nice to be home.
Moving is uncomfortable and hurts.Walking is okay. My incision is quite large, 6 inches ish. No sutures, steri strips only. Pain pills every four hours is a must.
Today, Wednesday. I need less pain med. I can go 6 hours now between pills.
Also, I have lost my cough. Cannot believe it. It is gone. Went without the Neurotin med 2 days and still no cough. I want to quit the med but Randy wants me to continue so I will till I wee Dr. Rushing. I think the tubes they used down my thoart, moved something or did something that stopped my cough. Will remain cautiously optimistic that it is gone.
Enough for now.Signing off.

January 1, 2011

Happy New Year everone! Randy and I went to a dance party at Five Star Dance studio last night. We had been to the studio to dance the night before. I did pretty well, surprizingly. I was able to dance and have a good time. Lots of friends there to talk to. Played cards too. Nice to get out and do normal things again. I want to dance again when I can.

I hope the year is good to all of you and the best is yet to come.

Dec,27th, 2010

Returned from Iowa yesterday. We drove to Iowa on the 22nd. to spend the Christmas holiday with my 2 wonderful daughters and my parents. Amanda had to work her night shifts so we decided this was the only way to be with her for the holiday. Sarah flew in from Los Angeles, California. This was so nice to be with them.
Amanda had her tree up and it was so pretty. Iowa had it's 6 inch + snow storm the day we picked up Sarah. Welcome to Iowa. Sarah is freezing of course. I brought her a long coat, scarf, earmuffs, gloves and boots.
My parents stayed at the nearby hotel. It was more comfortable for them. Amanda has only a 2 bedroom apartment.Sarah slept on the couch.
Mom and I cooked a big Christmas dinner. Looked like Thanksgiving again.
So nice to be with everyone.Sarah had to return on Sunday. The rest of us left Monday.Roads were all clear.
Few things about me I noticed...my hair is returning as are my eyelashes and eyebrows are filling in. Nice.
Met with a thoracic surgeon the day we left for Iowa. Surgery is scheduled for January 2011. This upset my parents of course.The girls seem okay.I am scheduled for a Right thoracotomy with wedge resection of the pulmonary nodule/metastasis. I'm resigned.