I am thinking of Charlotte and wondering if she has had the surgery? And if so how she is doing? I also wanted her to know that we all care about her very much.
I left notes for Art and they helped. Wednesday he even cooked his own TV dinner. The surgery was suppose to be 1 1/2 to 2 hours but ended up 3 hours. I warned him of pelvic adhesions from the infertility surgeries I had in the 70s. They were worse than I even thought and quite a challenge for him (according to him). He said he was surprised I was not in a lot of pain because they were on my bowels too. He cleaned up as much as he could plus getting around them to do the removal of all was a job. Right now my sorest spots are the 5 incisions for the robot arms. I don't know if the lower pelvis will hurt much or not. I am taking the hydrocodone and iburprofen. He told me even though I didn't think I need it to take them as prescribed for the first few days so I have. Slept most of yesterday but only about 1 1/2 hours today. He said to walk to I have been walking back and forth across the road to where my sister is parked with their RV.
My sister leaves tomorrow. Art has not strayed far so thinking he will become even a more 'velcro' man, at least for a while.
Now to wait for the pathology to come back to make sure it was all contained in the uterus.
Glad to hear you made it thru the surgery without too much difficulty. Will keep you in my prayers that the test results are in your favor. Take care of yourself.
Charlotte, I am hoping and praying that the pathology report comes back favorable. Thinking of you, and hope you can heal quickly, but rest as much as you can!
Sending you prayers, affirmations and best wishes. I hope you are relaxing with feet up and enjoying a good book, journaling, napping, or just a nice daydream.
Wolf - warning. Might be more info than you want!!!! :-)
Was so bummed. I didn't sleep much yesterday so thought I would sleep all night. Went to sleep around 11, woke up at 2 and couldn't get back to sleep. So I came out to the computer, watched TV for an hour, then went back to bed at 3:30 where I then woke up at 7:30. Went over to chat with my sister as they packed up to leave. Layed on the bed and snoozed until around 1:30 when I got up due to being hot. It was 87 in here. Had Art shut the door and turned the a/c on. Just got done with a shower. The bruises around the incisions are turning a pretty black/blue about an inch larger than the 1+ inch incision. Am cutting the hydrocodone in half because I don't need the strength he gave me. Not saying as time goes by pain may show up in other places other than the incisions. Gas pains are actually worse! Oh, bowels are working fine which makes me very happy.
Art is bored - keeps asking if I have plans to do anything. duh!
Charlotte, glad to hear the surgery is over. Hope to hear of a positive outcome from the pathology.
When I was laid up after surgery, at the end of January, all of February & March, Dan got a little bored, would forget that I couldn't jump up & do things, or go for a ride in the car. Didn't matter so much then, I guess, since it was such a nasty winter, couldn't go or do much anyway. Hope things go as smoothly with hubby as is possible during this time (heck, at any time!!).
Charlotte, so glad you are back home and not in too much pain. Will keep you in my thoughts as you wait for the pathology reports. Take it easy. Our brain always thinks that we are healed long before our body actually is!
Charlotte, with the hydrocodone, you probably know to use a softener as well...it can cause some constipation problems as Ozzie found out when he took it and the hospital didn't tell him about that side effect. You are so with it though you probably don't need this reminder. I hope you will be feeling much better soon..I can't imagine what you have been through. You are a real trooper!
Found out how to get the pain! STRESS It got to the upper 80s so I turned the A/C on which keeps it at 78. First he is cold then hot, puts on shorts, the jeans. Turn the front off, gets hot and he goes to put jeans on. I told him to open the door and windows. Me Not thinking, he opens the window by where I sit which if not done gently pulls the slider off. He can't get it on and takes me a while. I am in back with a/c on. Wants to know if he should close the door of which I not so nicely say no. Tomorrow it will be in the 90s A/C stays on! Now when can I get drugged again?!!!!
Charlotte, I am reading your frustration (stress) loud and clear! Here's hoping tomorrow will be better for you, and that you can relax and heal. Sending you hugs
There's something so freeing when one is drugged-up. Not that I would recommend it for a steady diet. When I was really sick and in BIG pain a couple years ago, I was on heavy duty pain meds for a month - couldn't drive, couldn't think, etc. But, boy are you right about the stress causing more problems. My hubby was in total catastrophic melt-down and very aggressive with anybody who tried to help me. I was ready to have him committed just to have some peace in the house so I could heal. With God's help and my friends sneaking around to help me, I healed and sadly had to give up my comforting drugs. Made me constipated, anyway
Glad to hear the surgery is over and you are doing OK. Now, I hope Art will settle down, so you can get the rest you need. Is there anyone who could take him out for awhile?
I hope you are feeling better. With your sister leaving, is there anyone who can help you? Trying to recover from surgery and watch a spouse with AD is extremely difficult. Wishing you the best.
didn't sleep well last night. Kind of back to my old schedule I guess of staying awake until 1 or 2 am. I woke up at 7:30 so got up and read. Went back to bed at 9, slept until 10. Cable and internet went out so took a shower. One cable box is working and the internet is - will wait to see if the other one corrects itself. Need to call charter.
All pain meds had worn off by the time I got up. The pain was minimal so think I will just take the ibuprofen. I told him today he can put on his long pants cause the a/c is staying on. He said OK.
I seem to always go with the lower odds. When I had the D&C I was told 20% need to have further surgery - I was in that 20%. After a total removal of all female parts where the D&C comes back positive for precancer but not cancer, 1% will come back positive for cancer. I am in that 1%. I read the report last night so was not surprised when he called to tell me this morning. Doctor said I am the first one he has ever had that came back positive. Pathology found a tumor in the outer layer of the uterus that came back positive. He gave me a choice of going to the gyn oncologist in Spokane, Seattle or Portland. I choose Spokane cause it is closer, will not have the expense of overnight stay. There are three treatment options he said: biopsy of lymph nodes, anti-estrogen therapy which is like chemo just not the awful drugs, or wait and see.
Now I wait for the specialist to call for the next step. This is when I miss not having a spouse to talk to. I will not say anything to him until the day I go. He will just stress about it. Again, not so much about worry for me, but what will happen to him.
Charlotte, I, too, was hoping that would be the end of the problem for you. We'll all be rooting for you and keeping you in our prayers. It sounds like you've got a very good doctor who is on top of the latest, and I'm sure he'll refer you to the best in Spokane. Now if we could just get someone to take care of Art for you while you beat this thing.
Charlotte I was hoping you would have good news to share. You are a strong lady and you will get through this too. But I can only imagine the many concerns on your mind now.
I hope you have support to help with Art and take care of yourself This time, you need to put yourself first! Not easy I know.
Charlotte, so sorry to hear this news. You have already proven that you can overcome anything and you will survive this too. I for one am cheering for you and send you my very best wishes. XX
Charlotte, I am so sorry for the difficult news, but after following you and your history on this website, I know you're up for the challenge on this recent health setback. You've never said "why me?', stopped caregiving or stopped providing support to us on this website, no matter what difficulties faced you, your family and your DH. Yes, I know being strong gets tiresome and sometimes the warriors need TLC and caregiving too. And yes, it's time for you to get healthy and be supported. We at Joan's are here to give you emotional support and we will...hopefully there is someone who can care for Art while you get the treatment you need to recover fully. If you don't recover and thrive, neither will he.
What a thing. I feel deeply for you where you've had more than enough to deal with. I very much hope that here you catch a break. You are certainly due for a change in luck.
Good grief, what a pain. You yourself must come first now. I'm sending all my best wishes for you to come through this and have a good outcome and a bright future. Blessings!
Charlotte, You are an exceptionally strong, kind and caring person, and in the same way that you have overcome so many obstacles in your life, I am praying that you will overcome this.
As others have said, you need this time to focus on you – hopefully there is someone or an organization that can care for Art during this time. I understand how difficult it is to worry about him and the fear he will have when his Rock of Gibraltar is not right there. But you really have to take care of you. Kindest regards and hoping someone will step up to the plate and look after Art while you concentrate on you.
So sorry to hear this, Charlotte. It's something so many of us worry about--who will take over when we can't. You have my most positive thoughts for your own health. You've heard it before, and I know it's not that easy to do, but do your best to take care of Charlotte now. Betty
For now I sit and wait to hear from the referral doctor. I hope I hear this week and get it schedule so I will know what she suggest, then go from there. Getting tired of the waiting game! I have not told Art and won't until the day we go up.
Charlotte, I am so sorry to hear your bad news. I hope you can find someone to help with your husband's care. I am sure that would make it easier for you to get thru whichever treatment is necessary. You are such a positive person, but this has to be a difficult pill to swallow. I will continue to keep you in my prayers.
So very sorry Charlotte to hear this latest news. I thinking "waiting" is the hardest.
It will be great when you see the specialist and can take things from there.
Is it possible for you to get someone to look after Art? I guess that is an inappropriate question. My wish for you is you could simply relax for a bit and catch your breath.
Like others here, I am sending much healing energy and blessings.
Charlotte, I'm so sorry that you have to take on yet another challenge. I don't have many words of comfort but please know that I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks for asking Wolf. I am doing fine. By the end of the day my stomach is bloated but I found a great forum called hystersisters. Found out that this is normal and can go on for a few months - hopefully not. I emailed the doctor about the referral and they said it was sent in the 4th and gave me their number to call on Monday. From my research all things point to they got it all and now just wait and see. The cancer was stage 1 grade 1 which is the best I could want which means it is the earliest stage. Of course will wait to see what the 'expert' says. But at least I go in with knowledge and not blindly.
Charlotte, its good to hear that they caught it at an early stage. My alzheimers DH had a bladder cancer that they saw when they did x-rays for kidney stones. Further tests showed it was cancer but in early stage. They removed his bladder and built him a "neo-bladder" from a piece of intestine they diverted. That was 24 years ago!
Charlotte, as everyone here, I was hoping for a good positive outcome for you. You surely have a lot on your plate - sending hugs & prayers for you & hubby.
Heard from my doctor (his nurse) that the oncologist in Spokane refused to take my case for consult because I already had the surgery. Guess she wanted to do it all! I was given the option to go to her but I wanted to stay closer to home because it was easier with Art. Now they are contacting one in Seattle to see if he will do the consult. She said they would let me know Friday when my doctor would be back in. He was in surgery all day today - not sure what he is doing tomorrow. So more waiting.
More stress for you Charlotte, I am sorry to hear that. How are you coping with the pain and all the demands that you face daily, caring for Art? Hope that you will have some positive news soon. Best wishes.
I am really sorry Spokane didn't work out. I know you were counting on that consult to make things easier for you with Art. Hopefully you will get a better response from Seattle. Waiting is so hard, I hope you hear soon. Good luck.
I actually have had very little pain. The worst pain has been the 5 incisions and now just one will bother me which is one of those the robotic arm went in. Yesterday I did walk once around the park. It felt good but later that one incision and my right lower pelvic area was hurting. Today I ended up taking a ibuprofen and hydrocodone. It took two days to get hb to vacuum since I can't vacuum for 4 weeks - 2 left to go. I make him carry or pick up most every thing which he likes doing - makes him feel useful. Since I told him yesterday about the cancer diagnosis, he has been more attentive a caring. Not use to that.
I did go online and find a place to email a complaint about the doctor refusing me. She works at the Cancer Center in Spokane. If she ever sees it I don't know but I feel better. I had the option to go up there but I choose to let my doctor do it never thinking if by slim chance it came back positive, an oncologist would refuse to consult because she did not do the surgery. I still stand by my decision to have it done here vs Spokane. I was stressed enough without the added stress the expense of 2 nights in a hotel and hb being totally out of his element.
Glad you are not in too much pain. I can understand why you made your first decision to stay near home. Always being the wonderful caregiver you are and putting Art first.
Hope you will see that now until you recover, your needs must be first. So , I hope you have the support needed now to take the best care options for yourself.