Grimblefig

Posted 1/25/2008 07:10:00 PM by Karen

I had the ultrasound on last Friday. They found another spot. Therefore, I had another core needle biopsy on Monday. The numbing medicine didn't take for this one and all I have to say is OUCH! It is standard procedure to put a tiny marker in by the spot when they do a biopsy. Then they have to do a mammogram to make sure they can see the marker and it is in the right spot. Well they couldn't get it into the view on the mammogram because it is so low in my armpit. After 20 or so tries they got 1 view (of 2 they wanted) and gave up. This caused even more pain.

I then headed to my family physician for the pre-op check-up. I talked with her about my sinus issues getting slowly worse and now my lungs starting to be involved again. She put me on a different inhaler and had her nurse call the ENT's office to see what they would recommend to do to stop me from getting worse so my surgery didn't get canceled because of a lung issue. Her nurse called me back and said the ENT's office was quite addiment I just had to wait for my appointment on the 30th. I was at that time to have surgery that day. I called and talked to my ENT's nurse. I found out that she did not talk with my family doc's nurse nor did anyone ask her about my case. I was so frustrated from feeling like I had to fight with my doctors to get them to help me get better that I ended up crying while on the phone with her. After talking nicely, but VERY candidly with her about the whole thing, she broke it down into what she could do now and what would have to wait until my appointment. She was very nice and actually went above and beyond for me. She talked with the ENT on call and they recommended a different nasal rinse that has an antibiotic in it. They also wanted to put me on a steroid but the surgeon said no because steroids can keep your body from healing properly...not good when your having surgery soon. She also changed my appointment to the 29th.

I went to see the surgeon yet again on Thursday. The new spot is invasive cancer. Because they have found two spots of invasive cancer now (the original lump and this new one), he is recommending a mastectomy and taking all of the lymph nodes. Because of taking everything, I might not need radiation now. He also said it was up to me whether to do a reconstruction of the breast or not. I said that I did want to. So he sent me to a plastic surgeon.

We went to see the plastic surgeon today. He is recommending not to do a reconstruction at this time because no-one is for absolute certain that I won't need radiation. Apparently radiation would ruin anything he did and I would have to do it over. Insurance will cover reconstruction at any time down the road so that isn't an issue. Due to my case being NOT very straight forward and having found areas that didn't show up in the mammograms and ultrasounds, he is questioning if it would be wise to have the left breast removed as well.

After speaking with the surgeon's nurse who talked to the surgeon, we found out that he thought my last regular mammogram was within 6 months. It was more like 9. So I now have a diagnostic mammogram for the left breast scheduled on Monday. Assuming nothing shows up on it, I now have surgery scheduled for Friday, Feb. 1st at 11.

I also had to go back to my family doc this afternoon so she could re-check that my lungs were ok for surgery and they are.

That's been our week. I am feeling some better as far as my sinus's go. I can especially tell a difference with my breathing and coughing. My ears are still plugged and I can't hear well. Hopefully we can work on that with the ENT at my appointment on Tuesday.

My spirits are doing well now (obviously Monday was bad). Alex is doing better as well. I think talking to him is helping. We are also trying to watch how much we talk in front of him. Yes, we do still talk about today and maybe tomorrow's happenings with him. But he is only 2 and we have noticed that talking too much in front of him is overwhelming.

Alex and I did get to spend a little time together on Thursday. We went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond just to browse while waiting on Daddy to be done at work so we could go out to eat. He got to ride in the stroller which he hasn't done for awhile and Mommy got to pick out a couple of things she can use to help her de-stress. And today I got one of those moments where it pays to work where your child attends daycare. He took his guitar in to show everyone. One of the teachers there plays guitar and leads a simple group music time for all 3 classes of his age group. There that teacher was sitting in her chair playing her guitar with all of the children seated facing her singing along. Right beside her was Alex seated in a child's chair playing his guitar. How adorable!

Jim is doing ok. He missed band practice at church Tuesday due to me having a major sinus headache. And because of going with me to the surgeon and the plastic surgeon, he is now back at work on a Friday night to make up time and get his work done. He doesn't seem to mind too much.

That's pretty much it. Thanks for your support!