Friday, April 2, 2010

I'm Not One of Those People Who Can't Stand To Be Waited On

Yoohoo, am I on the internets? It's been so long that I feel technology may have advanced while I was kind of out of it, and now instead of blogging we're all raising chinchillas or something and communicating by exchanging pelts. But in case that chinchilla revolution is not complete, I thought I'd pop in and say hi. Thank you, Amy, for updating everybody after my surgery. I loved reading everybody's hellos and well-wishes. I missed you all and I missed typing my little words to you.

So right now it is Friday evening, and I've had what seemed like a busy day. That is, I actually left the house, wearing shoes, and went to the plastic surgeon's office for a post-op exam. They said I was looking great and sent me back home. Obviously that was the most exhausting feat of human endurance ever and I had to take a two-hour nap in bed to get over it.

But to rewind a bit, the surgery was about three hours on Tuesday afternoon. Matt and my dad were down there with me. Everything went well and I woke up without a lot of pain. I spent the rest of the evening in a comfortable state of dozing and chatting. The nice nurse gave me a magic button that I could press to get a dose of pain medication. While she was showing me how it worked, I pushed the button about fifty times, which prompted her to explain that it would only give me a dose every ten minutes. Okay, we can play it your way if you want.


That was a great button, and I was really conflicted when they told me that in order to go home, I had to leave the button there. Button!

The surgeon told me after I woke up that the sentinel lymph node was positive for cancer cells, but that we would know more later. I wasn't really surprised, but it still wasn't great news--that there is chemotherapy in my future.

Even so, I was feeling much better by Wednesday evening and eating like an absolute horse. I don't know if that hospital has a Clean Plate Club, but if they do, my picture is on a bulletin board somewhere. Matt and I both managed to get a lot of rest in that hospital room. I'm telling you, it was much easier than being in the hospital taking care of a newborn baby.

This was a sign that Matt made and taped to the wall over my bed. It never hurts to remind people.

Matt brought me home and my whole house had been transformed into a cozy nest of flowers, pillows, thoughtful notes, and home cooked food. The kids appeared to have flourished in my absence, thanks to my mom, and I have not had to do a thing. There is no button but there are pills here. Pills!

I am only going to say one gross thing. That thing is: surgical drains. Now let's not speak of that again.

Oh! And good news today: when I was on the way home from my check-up at the plastic surgeon's offfice, the oncologic surgeon's nurse called. The doc was out of town but the pathology was back and she'd reviewed it. That sentinel node they took out was the only positive one. All the other fifteen or so nodes were clear. And the tumor margins were clear. Guys, this is the first piece of news that has gone our way, and it means that I am probably definitely going to be fine, even if I have to do a bunch more crap first. We are, all of us, so relieved.

So, I am tired and my tummy is full and sleep is imminent, so let's review: Matt and Dad were with me, surgery went well, Button!, Clean Plate Club, I get intimate with my La-Z-Boy, just one positive node, relief breaks out, I love you all, more to come. Good night!

36 comments:

Rick Dakan said...

First!

Welcome home, glad things are going as well as they are, if that makes any sense. I'm sure it must. Anyway, I'm super happy your home and safe and have pills.

You know, iPads go on sale in the morning - perfect for refined blogging dames who like to recline in their beds with their pills...

I'm going to get one. I wasn't. But now I totally am. Do you know you can read comic books AND porn on them?

Hugz!!!11!

Rick

Viki said...

I'm glad to see you felt well enough to get on the computer. The drain - not so pleasant but hopefully, it won't be in long. Just rest and take it easy. Have a good Easter.

Anonymous said...

Hi Becky, it's good to read your update, and so great that you got some positive news. I know we don't know each other, but I hope it's nice to know that there are people out there who care!

Amy said...

Yay!! This news just makes my Easter weekend, my month, my year! I am sorry that chemo still lies ahead, but there is a lot to be thankful for!

The pillows you mentioned the house being filled with...are two of them those peacock-y Liberty of London ones? Cause those are mine. Right?

Matt is awesome. I love that sign. And that is a fetching cap.

M said...

Fantastic news. I can't believe you feel up to blogging, but it's a great sign that you do. I love that I can look forward to your pithy posts sooner rather than later. ;) Have a fabulous Easter.

Mary
Flat Rock Creek Notebook

Marie said...

Praise God! I got the news from your Dad while I was riding down the interstate today. I was sure I was going to float right up to the clouds! Love you!

Suburban Correspondent said...

I think you have definitely earned an IPad. Take care of yourself and enjoy the pampering - you need it.

Jody said...

So So Sooooo happy for you about all those other negative nodes!!!

And Matt's sign is perfect! We've come to expect nothing less from good 'ol Matt!

It also shows how freakin' tall Matt actually is if you're in bed taking the picture and you're not even up to his waste!
Where does he even buy jeans?! Do they sell "Freakishly Long" at the Gap?

Lawyer Mom said...

Clear margins, only one node, and an abundance of pills? I'm kicking up my heels.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Leciawp said...

You look really skinny - I'm finding it hard to imagine the clean plate club...

I'm so sorry to hear about the sentinel node being positive, but you are going to be fine! My understanding is that stage 2 is 0-2 positive nodes...so nothing has changed with your staging right? Many oncologists give chemo for no positive nodes - I had it twice for no positive nodes, once a stage 1 and once a stage 2 cancer. It's good insurance.

Thinking of you all! And I love Matt's sign.

xoxox

Jane said...

I'm so very happy you finally got some good news. That's wonderful, just wonderful.

Maggie said...

I got the email from you dad today telling us the news. I am so glad that the reports came back negative. It actually gave me chills. I know that all of the prayers were answered. We love you and hope that you continue to feel better. BTW, you look FAB in the cap!! Hugs to you, Matt, and the kids

Beth said...

YAHOO! So glad to hear good news. I've been thinking about you and hoping for the best.

THis is definitely a Good Friday.

Meg said...

Welcome home! Glad you're doing ok and that you've been given some good news. You've been in my prayers constantly and will continue to be.

I love Matt's sign. It's the little things eh?

The Dental Maven said...

Yup! You will be absolutely fine. But we won't kid ourselves, the road to fine isn't a highway, it's a damn dirt road. But we're all here to try to cushion those bumps along the way and, from the looks of things, Matt and your family have a great navigation system set up for you. I can't wait for you to get to "fine!" Welcome home Becky!

kathy said...

WE REJOICE WITH YOU!!!!

Ginny Marie said...

Ah, the drains...just another little detail no one warned me about.

I'm so glad that you have some good news out of all this!

Have a Blessed Easter!

Michele said...

I'm so happy to hear form you. Amy did a great job but until you came back I couldn't relax. I'd lift a Cosmo for you but it's 8 am and I have a rule. Never drink before noon. Us librarians and our rules.

Sorry to hear about the chemo but the prognosis sounds goods. Hang in there.

The hell with rules I'm off to make a Cosmo.

The Stiletto Mom said...

Surgical drains are a good time aren't they?

I'm so glad you are home and you have pills! Pills! However, I am jealous that you look so pretty in your little jiffy pop surgical hat...no one looks good in those things!

Love you much!

Beth said...

Yay for good news! And yay for feeling well enough after surgery to join the Clean Plate Club! I love Matt's sign, what a super idea.

Amy - the gazelle said...

So glad for the good news! And so glad that you are recovering so quickly! (Sad, though, that you weren't allowed to take button home. I had a button once. It was awesome.)

Rest & recover! You're doing so well!

Amy said...

Good thing you got your hair did cos the surgie cap really brings out your highlights. Or maybe it's the midlights?

I love the sign because there's a teeny little unspoken threat there, right? Nothing like strapping 6'5" fellow standing over yonder exhorting care of his wife to make staff toe the squeaky-clean line!

And, lastly, hurrah hurrah HURRAH. It's 'bout dang time you got a call going the right way. xo

Cassie said...

You look beautiful in that shiny cap. =)

We have similar signs on the doors leading into our home. It's funny to see a solicitor start to knock, then turn tail and run at the mention of compromised immunity and what will happen to you should you expose us to any germios.

We've been thinking about you constantly over here and will continue to pray for you throughout the process (I'm sorry it's going to be longer than expected, but glad that there was some good news in there). One step at a time...

Sjn said...

I've been praying for you. You just let everyone wait on you, it's definitely your turn. You have a very caring bunch of peeps looking after you!

Mrsbear said...

Popping over from Oscarelli to give you some get well soon vibes. I'm glad for your good news and your full tummy and pain eliminating buttons. :)

Wishing you a lovely Easter.

Keely said...

I've been on a non-computer kick (I know, what's up with that?) but I had to check and see if you'd posted. And you did. And I'm so very, very glad, because you look fantastic and you sound strong and positive and yay!

Now where can I get me a button?

Stephanie said...

I'm glad you're home and that the surgery went well. Drains? I saw one last week on my dad. NAS-Tay. Thank God I finished that red powerade before reading this brought that memory back.
I'm sorry that chemo's in the future but and million sighs of relief about it only being in one node. Chemo that bitch out yo body, sista.
Again, you are in our thoughts and prayers and if I could e-mail a casserole, I would.

gretchen said...

Well I think this all sounds very good. Woohoo! And you totally work that hospital gown and festive head bonnet thingy. What color is that? Silver lame? (that e needed an accent over it to make it pronounced in the French way, you know what I mean.

So glad to hear that Matt et al are taking excellent care of you and treating you like the queen that you are.

Much love to all!

Patrick said...

That good news is welcome indeed! Been thinking and praying for y'all. I'm so glad to hear that things are starting to look up through this whole ordeal. I love you guys.

clear screen said...

oh my goodness, becky. i haven't been on the computer for a while and just checked up on you today after almost two months! i'm glad i caught up after your surgery, and to read that you're doing well and are in good spirits, pill-induced or not. sending you beaucoup love.

Ash said...

Sent via Lawyer Mom - so glad she did!!

Congratulations on the good news, and the pills - so wonderful.

As a fellow Georgia Peach (grew up in Roswell), I can't wait to read more about you. Prayers for your health - Ash

Michele R said...

So good to hear about the one node results. Great sign--now we know from where Laura gets her sign making skillz.

Jenni said...

So glad about your good news. Rest up!

Scott said...

I was relieved to hear the good news about the lymph nodes. Glad you guys are doing well.

Unknown said...

What wonderful news . Stay positive :)) Hugs

Jane Turley said...

Hi Becky, I've come from Lawyer Mom's to wish you the best of luck - it sounds like you are on the mend:) - Fabulous news for you and your family:)

I seriously hope you lodged a formal complaint about that stylish hat though - no woman should have to endure such a horror:) Still, if you run out of Bacofoil I guess it'll come in handy:)