Thinking of a childhood friend who just had a mastectomy yesterday. Heard she's doing well and eager to get home. She had to travel to have it done.
Today finally, is my MRI. I'm a little nervous. I hope I can stay still for that long. I'll eat early so that I don't have to deal with any digestive problems during ;) It falls awkwardly at lunchtime. I'll plan on getting the kids afterwards.
Yesterday, I did all the hospital admin stuff. I talked to the anesthesiologist, who was a bit dismissive about my antihistamine issue. I did ask for anti-nausea stuff. She asked me about the pre-op meds and I said half of whatever, just in case. Not in the morning because if I'm too loopy, I'm worried I won't be cooperative with Dr. N. He has to put in the filament to guide the surgeon. My apt. is 10:30 so they have enough time.
I also had to see an admin person and then a nurse. They decided that my blood-type card was too old, since the last time I had anything was Davina's birth 9 years ago. So yet-another blood test! She did it well. They put it over the bruise from the last test just a few days ago! Can we coordinate things better people? Feel like a pin-cushion already!
I did relent and look up the two procedures that Dr. N. is doing. Let's say, I'm glad I'll get them done by someone I know and trust! The surgeon said he does these very well. The dye has to be injected the day before. Sounds yukky but I'll be a Big Girl. The filament sounds strange. I emailed a friend who had this done to ask her what's involved. I assume the string will be left inside the boob. It's removed during surgery. This is a procedure only for very small tumors which are not easy to find. Bummer to have yet-another step but glad I'm in the category.
Just for curiosity, I looked up About.com's info on biopsy. Now, I'm staying away from Dr. Google as advised but I do look at trusted sites which are geared towards those of us facing Breast Cancer. I don't look at anything for medical professionals. The Mayo clinic has great pages. They're really short and only tell you what to expect and what stuff is. If you want more information, you have to click. Psychologically, this works great. You can stop at any point.
The biopsy procedure shown was very different than how it was done with me. I was on my back and they showed a woman lying face down with her boobs hanging down. I have no idea but it probably was because of where my tumor is, very off-to-the-side. The hanging position wouldn't have been too useful!
So my sister is getting tested for the BRCA genes. They didn't want to do it unless I tested first. She told them that I'm not getting it done now, since my treatment isn't that complicated. Some women get it during treatment to decide between say, a single vs. double mastectomy. I'm not facing any mastectomy and probably no chemo. I'll just get this done and then face BRCA testing later.
They claimed that two relatives wasn't "enough". She citied that we do have a small family, so there's not that much "info" and one relative is a sister who lives abroad. They took it to the chef and they relented. She's getting tested.
I will do it, whether she's negative or not, since I have two daughters.
I'm trying to cover all my bases while I'm gone. This is done as an out-patient procedure in the U.S. so I'm a little miffed at the two-night stay. See if I can negotiate getting out on Thursday. At least the kids can visit me after school. They're only a few blocks away. They go to the public schools for people who live in that sector. I arranged that another mom take Davina over after school on Thursday, who lives nearby.
I'm also planning laundry, food and other practical matters. We have a long weekend and it's not sure what will be open on Monday.
Still nervous about surgery but nervous like getting-on-a-rollercoaster nervous. I don't feel like I'm in peril.
I'm going to services tonight. My favorite rabbi (I'm collecting professional, by the way) will be there. He's also American, married to a Frenchie and comes from Paris to do services about once a month. I did tell a couple of people ahead of time. I hope they don't fuss over me. I'm bringing Davina because she has a class beforehand of Talmud Torah (since Sunday is cancelled due to the long weekend) and I'm begging Ronnie to go. He is resisting because Daniel often takes him to Saturday morning services in Wolfisheim (booooooring!) because they don't have minion. Ugh. He's negotiating to get out of Saturday if he comes with me.
Now off to look up this MRI place, see where it is, etc.
Today finally, is my MRI. I'm a little nervous. I hope I can stay still for that long. I'll eat early so that I don't have to deal with any digestive problems during ;) It falls awkwardly at lunchtime. I'll plan on getting the kids afterwards.
Yesterday, I did all the hospital admin stuff. I talked to the anesthesiologist, who was a bit dismissive about my antihistamine issue. I did ask for anti-nausea stuff. She asked me about the pre-op meds and I said half of whatever, just in case. Not in the morning because if I'm too loopy, I'm worried I won't be cooperative with Dr. N. He has to put in the filament to guide the surgeon. My apt. is 10:30 so they have enough time.
I also had to see an admin person and then a nurse. They decided that my blood-type card was too old, since the last time I had anything was Davina's birth 9 years ago. So yet-another blood test! She did it well. They put it over the bruise from the last test just a few days ago! Can we coordinate things better people? Feel like a pin-cushion already!
I did relent and look up the two procedures that Dr. N. is doing. Let's say, I'm glad I'll get them done by someone I know and trust! The surgeon said he does these very well. The dye has to be injected the day before. Sounds yukky but I'll be a Big Girl. The filament sounds strange. I emailed a friend who had this done to ask her what's involved. I assume the string will be left inside the boob. It's removed during surgery. This is a procedure only for very small tumors which are not easy to find. Bummer to have yet-another step but glad I'm in the category.
Just for curiosity, I looked up About.com's info on biopsy. Now, I'm staying away from Dr. Google as advised but I do look at trusted sites which are geared towards those of us facing Breast Cancer. I don't look at anything for medical professionals. The Mayo clinic has great pages. They're really short and only tell you what to expect and what stuff is. If you want more information, you have to click. Psychologically, this works great. You can stop at any point.
The biopsy procedure shown was very different than how it was done with me. I was on my back and they showed a woman lying face down with her boobs hanging down. I have no idea but it probably was because of where my tumor is, very off-to-the-side. The hanging position wouldn't have been too useful!
So my sister is getting tested for the BRCA genes. They didn't want to do it unless I tested first. She told them that I'm not getting it done now, since my treatment isn't that complicated. Some women get it during treatment to decide between say, a single vs. double mastectomy. I'm not facing any mastectomy and probably no chemo. I'll just get this done and then face BRCA testing later.
They claimed that two relatives wasn't "enough". She citied that we do have a small family, so there's not that much "info" and one relative is a sister who lives abroad. They took it to the chef and they relented. She's getting tested.
I will do it, whether she's negative or not, since I have two daughters.
I'm trying to cover all my bases while I'm gone. This is done as an out-patient procedure in the U.S. so I'm a little miffed at the two-night stay. See if I can negotiate getting out on Thursday. At least the kids can visit me after school. They're only a few blocks away. They go to the public schools for people who live in that sector. I arranged that another mom take Davina over after school on Thursday, who lives nearby.
I'm also planning laundry, food and other practical matters. We have a long weekend and it's not sure what will be open on Monday.
Still nervous about surgery but nervous like getting-on-a-rollercoaster nervous. I don't feel like I'm in peril.
I'm going to services tonight. My favorite rabbi (I'm collecting professional, by the way) will be there. He's also American, married to a Frenchie and comes from Paris to do services about once a month. I did tell a couple of people ahead of time. I hope they don't fuss over me. I'm bringing Davina because she has a class beforehand of Talmud Torah (since Sunday is cancelled due to the long weekend) and I'm begging Ronnie to go. He is resisting because Daniel often takes him to Saturday morning services in Wolfisheim (booooooring!) because they don't have minion. Ugh. He's negotiating to get out of Saturday if he comes with me.
Now off to look up this MRI place, see where it is, etc.
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