The Night Before

Well here it is, the night before the big day. Things have just not went well the last few days!
Tuesday I had an MRI schedule so the surgeon could get a better idea of what to expect before she cut me open. Well after getting to the hospital, filling out the paperwork, and waiting forever, I find out that I can't have an MRI done as long as I have these expanders in my chest. You see these expanders hold a small piece of metal in them - that's how the doctor finds the spot in which he puts the needle for the saline injections. So with that plan shot, I called the doc to find out what's next. Her staff hauled ass to get me an appointment today for a CAT Scan of my chest.
So today I went back to the hospital for my appointment with Radiology. It took a bit to get things rolling, but I will have to say that they had this one person who just rocked the IV. It's the first time I can ever recall not having to be poked twice - and I handled it all without a shot of lidocaine! Plus I really have to say that having the IV and getting the contrast was a million times better than drinking that crap they usually shove down your throats! Once I got on the table it took no time at all. So after I finished up, I headed downstairs to get something to eat. When I was done and I was heading to the car to leave, I noticed that my cell phone was missing. I panicked bad! Radiology was closed, so I couldn't check there until a Security Guard came to open the doors. Well it was no where in there to be found. I ran back downstairs and found it under the table I ate at. Oh thank goodness! I checked and found I had a missed call from my surgeon's office, but it was past closing time. I called the emergency number, where they told me that she wasn't on call. I explained to them that I had no idea if I was supposed to have surgery tomorrow or not. Luckily they got a hold of her and called me back. She was able to get the results from the CAT Scan and scheduled surgery for 9:15 am. However I did not get a chance to go over the scan results, so I'm not sure if we will be able to stick with our original plan, but I'm sure I will get to talk with her tomorrow before surgery actually begins at 11:30.

Also I found some articles I wanted to share, but time is just getting away from me and as it is I will have to shower in the morning before going. There just isn't enough time in the day - that and I just have too many thoughts swimming in my head. Like I never told you that the week before last Ruben was rear-ended. Luckily his truck is alright, but man did the women ef up her car. And she slammed into him right in front of the cops! She was driving while on the phone, so what can you say. I also have pix I wanna share from Nat's special dress days at school. I also need to scan in her spring school picture. but it will have to wait till another day. I'm tired and ready to call it quits.

Oh and one more thing, did you see A.I.? I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO glad David Cook won. ok well I will check back in after my surgery when I am feeling up to it, till then be good = )

Treading Life

Sorry I haven't blogged the last few days. I had doctors appointments both Thursday and Friday - and devoted much of my evenings to watching season premieres (yes I watched Grey's and I so loved it!) I've also spent plenty of time resting from all the chaos that goes along with seeing my doctors - the driving, traffic, waiting, forms, filling rx scripts. UGH! Currently standing, I already have 5 doctor appointments for October, as well as an appointment at the salon. I'm sure I will likely pick up a few more appointments before October is over.

Oh, I'm also happy to report that we bought all the needed things for Halloween, all kinds of decorations, costumes, and candy to give out even though we won't be here. We ran around shopping today, since our original plan of going to see a movie was shot once we got there and found out that nothing appropriate to see with Natalie was playing. But I think the big news of the day is that, after days of talking with Ruben about exercise and such, it finally hit me, and I broke down and bought a treadmill. Last year Ruben bought a weight machine that works the arms and legs, the year before that we bought an elliptical machine. Ruben had wanted a treadmill, but I insisted on an elliptical, as it had always been my favorite machine at the gym - but now I finally see the benefit of the treadmill......walking in the air conditioning while watching your DVR'd TV shows! We now practically have a home gym (especially with all the Pilate's stuff I've acquired), we just need to start using it! I figure that even IF my plastic surgeon continues to restrict my activities after I see him on the 3rd, that I can still at least walk on my treadmill at a normal pace. It isn't like the elliptical machine that also works the arms, or the weight machine where I fear that lifting weights with my legs may inadvertently cause me to tighten or pull the muscles within my chest. I figure walking is relatively harmless, or at least it is if done for short periods of time through-out the day. Besides, this way I can walk off those pounds they keep pumping into me each time I go into a hospital - especially since I cannot resort to my previous ways of dieting (at least for the time being.) Prior to surgery they gave me this packet of things I could and could not have. It strictly forbade the use of diet pills (both RX and OTC) along with lots of types of herbal supplements. It seems that those things can prevent blood from clotting, and wounds from healing. So I need to get on that treadmill - bad - and if for no other reason so I can at least balance my ice cream addiction! LOL! Oh wait, I forgot that I have to use it to get my moneys worth out of it too. Speaking of money, let me tell you the sweet part. The treadmill was on sale for $699, and to make room for new stock they marked it down 30% - and since it was a floor item we were getting an additional amount off. They agreed on 10% on top of the 30%. So the lady rang it up, not knowing that the computer had already taken off the 30%, she proceeded to give us a 40% discount off the already clearanced price. After all was said and done, we paid less than $320 for it. What a deal, eh? I seriously can't complain about a price like that. So here's to shapelier legs and hips!

This here is my new baby. Ain't she pretty? Now our HUGE bedroom is just a tad cramped!

Holiday Weekend Update

Boy, it sure feels like it's been a while since my last post. I've been busy this past weekend. Friday I met with my new pain doctor. He's changing up my meds, starting me on a new regimen, and had someone come by today to give me a RS-4i Stimulator for my back & to fit me for a Spinal Orthosis lower back brace. The Stimulator is one of those machines with the sticky pads that deliver electrical pulses to the areas in which the pads are placed. It's a pretty cool machine, and it's mine thanks to my insurance. On Saturday, I woke up fairly early (7 am) which is rather odd for me. So I woke Ruben and we all got ready and spent the day at the movies. We had already seen Spiderman 3 on opening day while at Disney. So we checked out Shrek the 3rd and Pirates 3. Both good flicks, but all that theatre time was hard on the ass! Sunday we drove to Houma with the plan of going to Home Depot to stock up on brick pavers, weed block, and lava rock to re-do some of the yard, but decided to first get estimates for concrete curbing instead. At least that way it will take away half of the hard work. Besides, I need to get someone out here to lay concrete in the back yard to extend our patio. Instead we ended up at Office Depot and bought a new 37" LCD HD TV for our bedroom. Now Natalie's room is the only room (other than the guest room) that doesn't have a HD TV. Afterwards we continued on to Lowes were we finally found all the lights for the baths, once we start that remodeling project....of course that is one project the contractor will be doing - once I find one! For Memorial Day we just stayed at home indoors and chilled out. One of the new meds the pain doctor has me on causes drowsiness, so I ended up napping most of the day which spoiled our plans to work in the yard, which is fine by me! It's going to take me a few days to get used to this medication. Somehow it's supposed to help with the effects from chemo and the chemo agent I take daily (my Femara medication) but so far it seems like it only adds to the effects! Today was a big day. I saw my Plastic Surgeon this afternoon and we nailed down a date for my surgery. We set the date for July 23rd so I can fly my mother-in-law out here for the week to help out with Natalie. My little brother-in-law will also be coming out and staying for a month. Now aside from getting ready to have surgery (which I am having on both sides, as I am having my other breast removed), I need to find furniture for our guest room so Ruben's mom has somewhere to sleep. Of course I also need to get estimates for concrete, tree trimming, bathroom remodeling, and also go to another dozen doctor appointments. It's going to be a busy, crazy summer - just hope I have enough energy to stay awake to get it all done!