Post Op Update

Preston has had a huge job to keep up on all of my pre and post-op etc over the last several days. So thankful for him staying on top of keeping everyone updated.

Just a quick overview for those trying to catch up. Surgery was scheduled Thursday AM, with the hope to truly be out patient. Even with amazing care and kindness from drs and nurses, we had no such luck though. AM surgery discovered unusual nodules that had to come out along with ovaries/tubes. I continued with excessive pain in post op even with every pain med plan, also continued with excessive nausea and just struggled overall. So very grateful for kind, patient nurses who cared for me. Pain continued to be totally out of control in spite of everyone's best efforts. Late evening determined a move and admit to 4th floor (L&D, where my on call dr could get to me easier). Continued struggles determined that a 2nd surgery would be necessary, so went back under late Thurs night to redo deep internal stitching. Thankfully that mostly resolved the biggest concerns. Also, being admitted meant that I was able to get all my pain meds via IV and that relief in itself was a huge blessing. With the pain finally managed, and amazing care from sweet nurses and both surgeons, we just kept trying to figure out what was next. Nausea was still excessive and we were not able to figure out any relief. Drs thought was that my body was just having an extra hard time bouncing back after having to do 2 surgeries and all the extra drugs and anesthesia that went into my system. Nurses continued to help around the clock to try to help me to eat and take a walk and get about by myself. Throughout all of this Preston never left my side, helped with any tiny thing that I needed, "slept" in an overstuffed hospital chair while nurses checked me every 30-60 min all night long, he was patient and just helped any way that I needed. We were also extra grateful for Caiden and his ability and willingness to hold down the fort at home while everything was happening. He made sure little peeps were taken care of, fed, did school, and took an overnight and a few days by himself. He is truly growing up, and we are so thankful we know that we can rely on him, esp in the face of great adversity.

Finally Friday evening I took a turn for the better, eating a whole meal, walking about, doing things for myself. Drs and nurses thrilled for me to be doing well enough to go home. Once home, trying to get settled was a bit of a challenge, and had a slight scare when I accidentally took coated ibuprofen at home (normally I cant have IB at all because of tamoxifen, but got ok, used at hospital. Can have regular IB but allergic to any coating - advil, motrin, etc). I had already taken my sleep med, so I did not recognize the allergy signs quickly enough. SO many blessings and answered prayers of protection - allergic reaction was severe enough it has taken 2 days+ and lots of benedryl to get stuff back out of my system. Other snag was having Preston help with my first of a month long need for anti blood clot injections. It didnt hurt, but brought tears anyway. Just with everything else, and this extra, it is going to be so much harder than I thought. So thankful Preston loves me so much to continue to be at the forefront of my continued need for pretty extreme care. I truly dont know how I could ever do ok without him. 

So, now I am just trying to lay low, eat when/what I can, and hoping and trying to get better soon. I will have follow up dr appts in a few weeks unless anything else needs attention before that.

Truly thankful for all of you who continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I know that there is great power in love and prayers and these things helped us to get through this weekend, esp when things were at their very hardest. We are ever grateful to you for your love and support as we work through this latest challenge in our life. Your love and support and friendship, and esp your heartfelt prayers are felt by us every moment, and we know that we are truly blessed because of you.

Hopefully things will stay quiet now for awhile. Will post another update soon. 

Out Patient Procedure? Not quite ...

Those who are still following along heard that Rory had a second little surgery last night. She seems to be doing much better this time, but we're still at the hospital battling with nausea and some pain. The nurses are insisting that she eat, so she's been working on a little bit of scrambled eggs and applesauce. She is able to get up on her own a little bit, so that's progress! I expect we'll see the doctor again after lunch to put together the next step in this ever-changing plan.

Here We Are Again

It's been awhile, but I'm checking in again from Short Stay. A short reminder about why I'm here with Rory ...

Her breast cancer is the type that needs estrogen to stay alive. She's been on a drug that is supposed to keep the cells from latching onto the estrogen in her body, and another to try to suppress the creation of estrogen. The main source of estrogen is the ovaries, but it's also made in other places like some organs and even in muscles. To really shut down the major estrogen production, they decided to have her ovaries and tubes removed.

Fortunately they can now do that procedure laproscopically, meaning she'll have three little holes: one for the camera, one for the air hose (yes, the air hose) and one for the basket to remove and retrieve those bits and pieces. For most people it's an out-patient procedure with very little to no restriction in daily activities even the day of surgery, so we're hoping to be home by lunchtime.

Something new was that I was told to "gown up" while waiting for her. Had a lovely yellow paper gown with sleeves down to thumb holes, plus gloves. I only got to sport that getup for a few minutes, as the nurse came in and said we had the "all-clear." Apparently because of her recent infections there was some sort of flag that had them concerned enough to take extra precautions, but the "infectious nurse" changed her mind and cleared me to take it off. So I was only "special" for a few minutes.

Even before signing anything they had an EKG done. Lots of conversations about allergies and meds; they finally have stopped trying to write down all that information on her bracelet, and now they just write "See Chart."

They listened to Rory's "suggestion" that the IV team be called to get her line started, rather than letting the floor nurses give it a try. Who walks in to start the IV? Sally. She's some sort of head IV team coordinator, and has been called in for past attempts after nurses had used up their allocations. In the past she has come with a little portable ultrasound machine to try to locate veins, but this time it was just her. She and Rory had quite the conversation about previous surgeries, reminiscing about everyone's friend Jill Tharp, family vacation, etc. Even with all of those "good thoughts" it still took Sally two tries to get the IV started, but it was "only" two tries this time!

They do an antiseptic swab of the inside of the nose now, which was new for us. They had Rory do her own abdominal wipe-down with antiseptic wipes. We met the surgeon (her preferred surgeon ended up with a family emergency today, but the team decided it was best to go ahead with this procedure anyway), new anesthesiologist, and new nurses. Everyone has been great, patient, understanding.

So by 7:30 they rolled her away, and I'm in the waiting room. The procedure is supposed to be about an hour (hopefully less) and then we'll see how long it takes for her to wake up. More to come when there's anything to share ...

January 2017 Update

Wedding etc done - check. SLC open house done - check. Baxter Family Florida vacation done - check. Surgery pre-op appt done - check....

Crazy that the last 2 months, and an entire year have come and gone! Wedding etc plus rockin' family vacation back to back and now we are settling into a new year and school and home etc once again. 

Pre-op appt went well. Dr feels that surgery will be very straight forward. She is anticipating that I will be able to come home same day and shouldn't be down more than 1-2 days. Will have a long weekend of no extras to recover. Biggest challenge will be having to receive daily anti blood clot injections for a whole month post-op. Will learn how to do those ourselves at my next appt. Have stopped all cancer meds until after surgery. 

Our other unplanned adventure is that Colton ruptured an eardrum during last week of vacation. Confirmed concerns with on call dr at pediatric office. Hopefully with a strong antibiotic ear drop over the next week it will heal on its own. Caiden came home with a cold+fever so he is also down for a few days. Always is something.

I am thankful for multiple Dr appts next week so I can touch base with everyone before surgery. Oncology appt will be a big appt. I have tried to start lowest dose of chemo. I tried chemo during vacation, hoping to tolerate it and do normal stuff like Dr hoped. No such luck though, days 4-5 were esp hard, even missed last half day of Disney because I was so sick. Sent notes to Dr office of reactions. She is esp concerned about my reactions considering that we can't drop it any lower. Will have big discussion of what will need to happen next, or if I just have to try and know I will be sick. 

Sometimes I come to tears because my brain and body are broken. (Brain was esp bad day we flew home, lost big items, Preston rescued). I have tried so hard to stay positive, but there are times that I can't do anything about, times that literally have me in years, times like being so forgetful or having extreme side effects to meds that are supposed to be helping me. Times like knowing surgery is going to be harder than expected because my body doesn't behave like the "norm". I know that there is nothing I can do about these things, but feel like I should, and end up saying sorry all over the place to those who are caring for me. Esp to Preston and the kids for being such an extra burden at times. I end up not knowing what to say or do to make things better, because there are times, like now, that there is nothing to make things better. 

The only thing that I do is ask for help, from Preston or Drs and esp Heavenly Father. I had the extra blessing that He answered every heartfelt thought and prayer during vacation - every single one, immediately. In all my weaknesses, He answered without fail. Truly a very great miracle to me that He even cared about the little things that were such a big concern at the time, and esp to answer when I lost big things on our travel day home and that they were recovered quickly with Preston help and patience and forgiving me for being so clueless. The only one thing I know that I can do is continue to ask for help and hope that Preston and others and Drs, esp Heavenly Father will forgive my great weaknesses and the great burden that I am. I will try to stay positive and know that this and prayer can hopefully heal and help as we continue to take on big challenges. Thanx to all who continue to stick things out with us! Will write more soon!