Monday, April 16, 2012

I totally get the F*ck Cancer logo now...


I am home!! I was at Johns Hopkins an extra night because of some complications during surgery, but will recover just as well...it just might take a little longer. The mass had wrapped itself around a muscle in my neck and the muscle had to be removed, and my trachea was nicked in the process. If it weren't for all of the antibiotics (which I am thankful for) I would be feeling pretty good besides being swollen and having some stiff muscles from not being able to hold my head up. There was a bulky bandage around my neck with a drain in it after surgery which made it impossible to stretch my shoulders or lift my chin and now the front of my neck and chest is swollen which still makes it difficult. But today is better than yesterday (much) and tomorrow will be better than today!

I should have kept a journal while I was in there because I wanted to record the little details, but I couldn't concentrate on anything other than not straining my neck. 

I was terrified going into my surgery, I think I held it together well, but was pretty freaked. The nurses and doctors were amazingly kind and knew exactly what to say and do which comforted me quite a bit. I enjoyed to medication they gave me going into the operating room (everything was bouncing and wonderfully bright!) and the last thing I remember is talking about Ocean City, which is close to where I live.

I was sick coming out of anesthesia which is why I didn't get to eat or drink for 36 hours. I was in recovery from 11:30ish-8 when a room finally opened up. That night was awful. All I wanted to do was sleep but I had two IV's in me and two times someone came to draw my blood, once someone came in to attach me to antibiotics and give me a shot of blood thinners, and then every so often someone would come in to check my vitals. That was between 10 and 5 when the nurse came in to tell me doctors would be making their rounds soon so to come up with questions because "they come in, talk really fast, and then leave." I hadn't had any pain medicine since recovery so I asked if they thought if it would relieve some of my discomfort without making me sick (it would be dangerous to get sick because of the strain on my neck) they said yes so I said BRING IT ON!

It helped take the edge off and not make me super ridiculous (even though a picture of me holding up a fork and a juice box made it on facebook). I spent that day with family visiting me (I have an amazing family and family-in-law) and feeling pretty good. Thank goodness Ginger Ale is my favorite drink because I must have drank my weight in it. 

That night we watched the Orioles game on TV and The Help. My husband is so wonderful and supportive and everytime I had to get up he would have to get up to unhook my legs from the compressor things or get me water or call the nurse. He never complained or showed how exhausted he was. He is my hero.

I woke up at 5am feeling very nauseous. I was really anxious about them taking the drain out and finishing my stitches which I think was part of it, but I think the stress from the past two days caught up to me and made me extremely shaking and nauseous. The nurse gave me nausea medicine which made me feel like I was blowing up like a balloon and when I would close my eyes I felt like I was instantly somewhere else so I would wake up with jolt and feel even worse. Finally the doctors came in to remove the drain and tie up my stitches. YIKES!

Having someone literally stitch your skin together on your neck is a feeling I hope to never experience again. It helped a tiny bit that the doctor looked like someone out of Greys Anatomy, but I had my eyes closed for most of it so I picturing some foreign land with palm trees and blue water instead of gazing into his eyes that were focused on the wound on my neck....ugh.

After the doctors left my husband kindly fanned my face while I dabbed my face with a cool damp towel (I was a little bit worked up). I think at that moment all of the stress leading up to the surgery and all of it that had built up over the last two days finally broke loose and I was a wreck. Shaking and blubbering a little bit I realized my surgery was OVER. My drain was OUT. And now all I had to do was heal. After that this underlying fear began to set in... “where do I go from here?” 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

What Cancer can do...

What Cancer cannot do..."cripple love, shatter hope, silence courage, corrode faith, eat away peace, kill friendship..." but it can't make you reaaaalllly awkward sometimes. Yikes! I had a majorly awkward "So I have Cancer" moment today at Barnes and Noble and I am still slapping myself and saying "what the hell was that?!"

"So how have you been?" Says the nice guy I went to school with that I haven't seen in probably 5 or more years.
"Uh (stammer stammer) I'm good...good yeah I'm good." My face proceeds to turn a fresh tomato red...
"So everything is good?" He looks at me like I'm an alien...
(Thinking to myself that he must have heard, like everyone else through social media that I have Thyroid Cancer, since he is looking at me so understandingly or maybe he is wondering why I am staring desperately at the door)
"Yeah I'm good...busy busy ya know..." Then I blurt out... "IhavebeengettingreadytogotoJohnsHopkinsbecauseIhavecancer."
"What?! Oh."
"Its treatable...I have to get my thyroid out and whatever other treatment they decide on." At this point I want to bolt. Desperately want to say adios and not ever see him again. 
"Well I will be thinking about you and I hope everything goes well with...that."
"Thanks, yeah I'll be fine...so everyone is getting married and all that huh?"

So tomorrow I leave for Baltimore for my surgery...(slap slap "what that hell was that"). 

Monday, April 2, 2012

Lovey Doveys

So as a new beginning, and I kind of get obsessed with projects, I opened a shop on Etsy.com. It is called Lovey Doveys and I am selling handmade covered button earrings and eventually my crocheted purses. The competition on Etsy is fierce, but I'm really excited!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveyDoveys

Almost there...

Well this is the week. A couple weeks ago I was saying "Ughhh lets get it over with!" But now that it is only three days away I am trying to skid to a stop and wishing I had a couple more weeks left! My "To Do" list is so long, mostly because I am trying not to think of my surgery, and I find myself just sitting and spacing out. I think it is the thought of not know what is to come (I know I might sounds dramatic) but how am I going to feel? How am I going to finish all of my papers that are due? Will I be able to concentrate? The side effects of Hypothyroidism are mood swings (sorry Hubby), difficulty concentrating (sorry professors), weight gain (sorry Hubby) and some hair loss.

I know and am grateful that many of the side effects won't occur if I get on the hormone replacements, but hearing people say "this is the best type of cancer to have," "you will feel fine," "its no big deal," drives me crazy sometimes. And I know this is meant for comfort, and that everyone will be like "so what else should I say" but when you are aware that cancer is in your body no matter what kind of cancer you have it is cancer and it sucks. Sounds like the mood swings have already begun I know. :) No matter what things will be different, but I will be a better person for it, a better wife, friend, and eventually mother for it. I'll have this life experience that I will be able to use to offer advice and support to someone in the same situation.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Good news!

According to a full neck ultrasound the cancer has not spread to my lymph nodes! This is positive news for my recovery and treatment afterwards. Now all I have to do it wait for surgery on the 6th. I am planning on getting PJ's for the hospital that say "Thyroid Cancer: What a pain in the neck" from CafePress.com. They have everything. I am feeling positive and I hope all of this is in my rear view asap. :)

Monday, March 12, 2012

Satisfaction

I started crocheting before I was diagnosed, and now it has turned into therapy for me. I am still a beginner, but it helps me unwind by methodically stitching and watching my project grow. When I finally finish something (it takes me awhile I generally have to unravel and start over at least once) I feel immense satisfaction that I completed something, and that I made something myself instead of going out and buying it. I crack myself up because I am not good at taking my time and following directions or going about it the way they explain if I can figure it out right away. If I get impatient I will just do it, and if it works I feel as though I conquered the boring voices in my instruction book, but when it doesn't...well like I said I unravel at least once. I have made two little purses, and now I am thinking about attempting a hat...hopefully I don't turn into an ugly sweater knitter...I don't think my husband would put up with that.

This is my latest accomplishment!


Sunday, March 11, 2012

Slipping...

Sometimes I feel like I am standing on the peak of a roof and all of the sudden I get pushed. I'm sliding down the roof, unable to see how far I am falling or where I am going to land, desperately trying to grasp onto anything that may slow me down or something I could hold onto...then I think "I must be getting near the end..." but I just keep sliding.

I am up to my ears in Middle Eastern Literature and Literary Theory this semester. A book a week, around 200 pages for each class with writing assignments and discussion boards. Talk about floundering...but I just printed out a zillion pages of reading, and I am going to begin to write my conference paper so maybe I am finding footholds on this never ending slip off of the peak I was on.

I have an ultrasound this Thursday at Johns Hopkins to check to make sure the cancer has not spread to my lymph nodes. If it has then they will biopsy them and they will be taken out during surgery. Sigh...I am terrified that this will be another slip, but I am hoping all of the prayers and good energy my amazing friends and family have sent my way will be a big foothold for me to stand on for awhile. If not then I will probably freak out, and then take it in stride as another thing I can use to make dent in the lack of awareness of Thyroid Cancer.