I feel pretty damn good. In fact, I feel better ten days out of surgery then I felt for the entire year beforehand. The worst part is the waiting!
We went over to see the worlds best Gynocologist! Dr Rittenmaier at GOA. Well of course I am going to say that! But truly, I have felt like they were top notch from beginning to end. Appointments were prompt, surgery was prompt, follow ups were prompt, and he has a great manner of speaking that is blunt and to the point. He is not going to give you more information then you need, but he is very sure about what he says.
I had some discontiuous areas of FIGO stage 1 endometrial cancer. The largest piece was 4 CM. The pelvic was clear, the lymph nodes were negative, there was no cancer except in the uterus. It weighed about a half pound. It should be a total cure, however, I do have to do the following:
1) Go for pelvic exams every 3 months for 3 years. At that time they will also do the CA-125 blood test. The risk of doing scans is more then the risk of the nice and early cancer returning so none of those. After three years, I go every 6 months for a further two years.
2) Pap smear once a year, which surprised me, since I thought without a cervix that may be a moot point. But apparently they take a swab of the top. Guess I shouldn’t get too greedy and expect no reproductive organs and bleeding as well as no pap smears at the same time!
3) Listen to your body. Get your regular mammeograms once a year, and blood pressure etc checked every year. The normal things. Watch for unusual things.
4) Get a colonoscopy every 5 years. Wow, this is getting even more fun!
He also put on what he called his dog and pony show. This was on HRT.
Use the first one for two weeks, the patches. Then use the spray on your arm every night once for two weeks. Then use the rub on your arm for two weeks. See which one you like the most and come back and they will give you a years supply. I was glad to see those as I was already crying at Kitten Pictures on Facebook, and crying through a WW 2 movie, so I definitely wanted my hormones to even out.
He also gave me some excellent plain talking observation notes that he gives to his patients on cancer, HRT etc. If you are interested in them let me know, I can email.
IF I CAN BE ONE OF THOSE ANNOYING WOMEN TO MY FRIENDS FOR A moment AND SAY GET YOUR YEARLY TESTS! I will never be able to explain the relief I felt at having cancer, but it being in something that they could easily cut out of you (and it was a part most women my age don’t want anyways!), AND that it was stage one, well contained, I don’t think I will ever forget that feeling.
They are very adamant that you not have sexual intercourse for 6 weeks. It is repeated over and over, for gods sake, I bled forever, sex once every 6 weeks would be a bonus to my husband over the last couple years I would think!
We stopped at the Meathouse and Mothers in Newport Beach on the way home to pick up some meats and “health food” type things. Never thought I would see the day I was in those! Mother’s was LARGE, i was impressed! Anything to keep my glucose levels down nowadays people!
I have been put on “crap” “medical food” for the diabetes by my doctor. Sigh. I hate protein type drinks of any kind. They may call this Dutch Chocolate, but to me it tastes more like cardboard…with yucky lumps! Metagenics has brought down my blood glucose levels an average of 20-30 points overall, which is pretty good. I have tried it blended, mixed with ice and coffee, and other ways. There is no dam way I can convince myself it is a moccha frappucino! I think them saying they have patients who always take some with them out because they like it so much they use it for dessert is plain old marketing.
I have found the best way is to put as little liquid in it as possible, get my husband to mix it really good and down it quickly. Hence the shaker in the picture. And my family will appreciate that I can never, and I mean never, make a can opener, electric or not, work. I did buy a new one today though to try it one more time!!!
I continue to feel better and better though with the diabetes control. I am down 25 lbs and I am starting to think that I may make it down for a couple months to the boat in June, after I am finally cleared. But first I have to built myself up so I don’t need a nap every time I walk through costco (Like today)
I think I have rambled enough. I just wanted to let everyone know how I was who have been so kind sending thoughts, letters, (chocolate! No one sent chocolate!) and keeping in touch with me.
So, I downloaded Travis Meadow’s new album yesterday..I love his music, it is so honest and he writes straight from the heart. The album has quite a few songs that the words make me smile, but the stand out song for me has to be Nice Girl. Unfortunately it will never be a radio song as it is “explicit”. However, I smiled every time I hear it and you can feel the bitterness and anger toward an ex coming out in his words. I am sure there is a man or two who has sang it about me way back when….Powerful stuff Travis!
