I'm home!

I'm home.
I'm feeling fine, just taking tylenol for pain.
I do need a nap shortly.
I'll write more later tonight or tomorrow.
Thank you for all your good thoughts sent my way!

words for surgery

Below are the words I have asked to be read to me during my surgery tomorrow.  I am to be at the hospital (Mercy Fore River, Portland) at 11 AM for a procedure that begins at 12:15.  The surgery should last about 2 hours.  I'll then go to recovery and eventually to a room for an overnight.  I should be sent home on Wednesday, July 4th and the cancer will have been removed.  Hooray!

If you feel so inclined, you might also read the statements aloud to me between 12:15 and 2:30.  Thanks!

I believe that the words spoken to me while I am unconscious have a powerful impact on my healing.  I believe in the benefits of positive statements spoken during surgery.  Thank you for reading the following statements during today's procedure.

Before surgery, please read this aloud to me 5 times:

Your operation will go very well.  Following this operation, you will feel comfortable and you will heal very well.

As surgery is about to begin, please read this aloud to me 5 times:

You will feel safe with this wonderful medical staff to take care of you.  Your body will relax which will help the operation go smoothly.

During surgery, please read this aloud to me 5 times:

Your operation is going very well.

Please feel free to talk to me and offer other words of encouragement and support.

After surgery, please read this aloud to me 5 times:

Your operation has gone very well.  You will wake up hungry and thirsty and you will be able to urinate easily.

You will be able to take slow, deep breaths that will help your body start the healing process.

Your body will comfortably adjust to the changes and heal nicely.  The drains will work efficiently and effectively.

You will feel your strength returning as you do the daily exercises, and your body will heal smoothly because of this.

You will have a healthy appetite every day and sleep well at night.

Almost ready...

for Andrew and Jamie, that is!  They will be arriving this evening.  I pick them up at the airport around 7 if all goes well.  But they are coming through Newark, so anything can happen!  We're hoping for seafood at the Lobster Shack tonight.

Just a few more boxes to stack up and the kitchen sink to clean and I'm pretty ready!

Tackling more things on my list

I have a huge list of things I hope to accomplish before Tuesday, so I will tackle some of those today after my 10:15 appointment with my regular doctor in Wiscasset.  At least I'm feeling well this morning after a week of awful intestinal stuff.  I may even make breakfast!

on my list:
go to the grain store and stock up on bird seed and cat litter
do the laundry
get a pedicure
put more stuff in boxes in my work room
and throw more stuff in there away
take donations to the dump swap shop on Saturday
get some groceries--stockpile canned goods, paper products, soda, water, iced tea, etc.

testing 1...2...

Tests today went well, in spite of ...
the fact that they couldn't find a vein in my arm and finally ended up putting the IV in the top of my left hand;
the stuff they gave me to drink for the CT scan had the same effect as the food poisoning earlier in the week;
and I still haven't eaten a decent meal since last Friday.

what I accomplished in the last couple of days:
Bone scan and CT scan
pre-op chat with nurse
home health nurse scheduled for after surgery
nifty undergarments purchased for post-surgery with these cool pockets for the drains and minus the fiberfill puffy pillows/fake boobs that came with the camisoles--didn't even bring those home--way too funny
picked up a jacket from the pre-op nurse that I can wear should I decide to go out in public before my post op follow-up visits on the 10th
started writing out the cards to be read during my surgery--positive affirmation statements--I'll post them here once I have them finished
lots of naps

It's nearly time for bed.  Nighty-night!

Some Good News

Talked with Dr. Inhorn, my oncologist, this afternoon.  The good news is that this cancer is what I had before--ER negative HER-2 positive.  Most likely that means the cancer is only in my breast and has not spread elsewhere.

Meeting tomorrow with my surgery nurse to go over pre-during-and post surgical stuff.  Will meet with my therapist later in the day to go over relaxation techniques for surgery day.

Thursday I'm at Mercy Hospital State Street from 9 to 1 for a bone scan and a CAT scan.  Dr, Inhorn should call me with those results on Friday.

Friday I am scheduled for my annual physical with Sarah Robey, PA, at Wiscasset Family Medicine.

Twisted the wrong way today and have been icing my back and napping all afternoon/evening.  Certainly seems like the Universe has it in for me this week!

Journal Pages

I've started working in my journal again...just picked up on the next empty page.  Here's today's entry:

When life gives you lemons...