Yesterday I had my first post-op doctor visit. All went well. He said everything looks fine and I can drive again. He said I can also go back to work so I am going to go back to work on Monday, at least for half a day.
I got the rest of the staples out and the incision feels SO much better. I didn't think it felt bad in the first place, but now I know it was a little uncomfortable.
Geoff asked Dr. Yahanda about the pathology report. Dr. Yahanda said the tumor was fibrous. I asked him how it grew in the first place. He said it was a gastrointestinal tumor that grew from the walls of cahall...whatever that means. He said it was a very low risk tumor and there were no abnormal (cancer) cells in it.
So, in summary, I feel pretty lucky. This has been a long month and a half, but I am thankful for the way things have worked out. If I hadn't been dizzy and passed out that day, this tumor could have stayed in my stomach for who knows how long. So I am lucky that it bled and caused my dizziness.
If it had gone undetected, how much could it have grown? And if it grew more and more before they found it, could I have lost my whole stomach instead of just part of it?
And the luckiest thing of all is that the tumor turned out to be benign instead of cancer.
So, while some people may say this was an awful thing to go through, I look at it more as just a minor inconvenience compared to what it could have turned out to be. And again...I think I am pretty lucky that the events unfolded as they did.
Add this to all the other blessings in my life and I'd have to say Life is Good:-)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Progress
Well, I thought maybe you might want an update. If you're reading this, I guess you are interested in one.
The week has been pretty uneventful. I did not feel real well on Monday night. In fact, I was feeling bad enough that I was hoping that it was going to be the darkness before the dawn. Well, Tuesday morning when I got up, I realized that it was because I felt great. I still rested all day and when evening came around, I felt good enough to go to the City Council meeting for a little while. There were two things on the agenda that I wanted to be there for. I was going to ask to rearrange the agenda so I could just be there for those two issues then come home.
As it turned out, the first item took and hour and a half to get through so I left after that one and came home. I was a little tired, but did well.
My next venture out was when I rode along with Geoff when he took the boys to school on Thursday. I rode up to Auburn, took the boys into school/daycare with Geoff and came home and spent the rest of the day at home.
Today, we (City Council members) had an appreciation lunch for all the city employees. My friend Deb came and picked me up and we went to that. But before she came, I had to take something down to the pool so the guys could come close it up. Geoff had come home earlier and walked down the hill to the pool and slipped on the grass and fell. I told him I was not going to try the hill and would take the stairs so I could hold the handrail. With 3 or 4 steps to go, I stepped on a mossy, slippery spot and fell down the rest of the steps. I hit my hip (which doesn't hurt) and my elbow (which does still hurt), but my incision looked fine.
So after the lunch, Deb took me to the doctor just to check things out. He told me what to look for as far as pain and when I should call him if I have pains in certain spots, but everything looks fine. WHEW!!! I have been really avoiding the stairs in the house and really didn't even think about not going down the stairs of the deck. DUH!
The eating has been getting better and better each day. I started out eating just one thing at a time and eating just a little bit. That way, I could tell if something made me sick or didn't "agree" with me, then I could stay away from that for a while. And I have been sticking to soft food (noodles, mashed potatoes, soup). That has worked pretty well and I have not been hungry or too full. I eat several times a day. Today, at the lunch, I had some pulled pork and baked beans and even some carrots and celery. It was all good...no problems and that was over three hours ago, so I think I am getting the hang of using this smaller stomach:-)
I go back to the doctor on Wednesday. Since I am feeling so good, I would like to ask him if I can try half days at work starting on Monday October 10.
The week has been pretty uneventful. I did not feel real well on Monday night. In fact, I was feeling bad enough that I was hoping that it was going to be the darkness before the dawn. Well, Tuesday morning when I got up, I realized that it was because I felt great. I still rested all day and when evening came around, I felt good enough to go to the City Council meeting for a little while. There were two things on the agenda that I wanted to be there for. I was going to ask to rearrange the agenda so I could just be there for those two issues then come home.
As it turned out, the first item took and hour and a half to get through so I left after that one and came home. I was a little tired, but did well.
My next venture out was when I rode along with Geoff when he took the boys to school on Thursday. I rode up to Auburn, took the boys into school/daycare with Geoff and came home and spent the rest of the day at home.
Today, we (City Council members) had an appreciation lunch for all the city employees. My friend Deb came and picked me up and we went to that. But before she came, I had to take something down to the pool so the guys could come close it up. Geoff had come home earlier and walked down the hill to the pool and slipped on the grass and fell. I told him I was not going to try the hill and would take the stairs so I could hold the handrail. With 3 or 4 steps to go, I stepped on a mossy, slippery spot and fell down the rest of the steps. I hit my hip (which doesn't hurt) and my elbow (which does still hurt), but my incision looked fine.
So after the lunch, Deb took me to the doctor just to check things out. He told me what to look for as far as pain and when I should call him if I have pains in certain spots, but everything looks fine. WHEW!!! I have been really avoiding the stairs in the house and really didn't even think about not going down the stairs of the deck. DUH!
The eating has been getting better and better each day. I started out eating just one thing at a time and eating just a little bit. That way, I could tell if something made me sick or didn't "agree" with me, then I could stay away from that for a while. And I have been sticking to soft food (noodles, mashed potatoes, soup). That has worked pretty well and I have not been hungry or too full. I eat several times a day. Today, at the lunch, I had some pulled pork and baked beans and even some carrots and celery. It was all good...no problems and that was over three hours ago, so I think I am getting the hang of using this smaller stomach:-)
I go back to the doctor on Wednesday. Since I am feeling so good, I would like to ask him if I can try half days at work starting on Monday October 10.
Monday, September 26, 2011
On The Way to Recovery
I know that Elizabeth posted for me after the surgery, but since I am home now and feeling a little better today, I will try to give details.
We got to the hospital at 7am on Tuesday. The surgery was to start at 9 but it really got started about 10 I think. I talked to the anesthesiologist first. I told him that I do not take Vicodin or Morphine because I can't breathe when I take them. He said that is partly what they are supposed to do, suppress breathing. But in his foreign accent told me that he would not force me to take them. He instead decided to do an epidural to help with pain management after the surgery. What a great decision...at least for two days. I had virtually NO PAIN after the surgery. I had the epidural until Thursday when I broke it and it had to be removed. Apparently that was long enough to get through the initial pain because I still did not have an extreme amount of pain from the surgery. My headache was a different story. If I could describe the pain for you...I felt like RIPPING MY HEAD OFF MY NECK. I would have done this by grabbing the back of my head at my spine and just pulling up and forward. That probably would have been quite a mess for the staff to clean up so I refrained. That pain has finally become manageable today. Not even the pain meds made much difference...I pretty much had to lay on my back (almost flat) and the pain would subside a little. All the nurses and I feel that it was from the epidural. (Also a friend of Geoff's and mine that works at FWO feels it was from the epidural.) When the anesthesiologist came in to remove it (a different one than I saw before the surgery), I asked if the headache could be from the epidural. He said he didn't think so...hmmmm. I think he lied.
So after I saw the anesthesiologist, Dr. Yahanda came in. He explained everything again and said he would see me in a little while. The anesthesiologist gave me something through my IV that he said would relax me. Now, I know he really meant relaxed, but before I left that room, I was pretty much out of it. I barely remember looking at a nurse that was holding me up in the OR while the doc put the epidural in. That was it...next thing I know, I am in my room.
So fast forward to the next morning when Dr. Yahanda came into my room. He said the surgery was a success. He removed 4-5 inches of my stomach and all seemed to be going well. My diet for that day, as it was for Tuesday and would be for Thursday also, was ice chips. Not even water...JUST ice chips. I told him he was pretty serious when he said "liquid diet". He said "What do you mean, those ice chips are solid."
Basically, the rest is all pretty mundane. Tuesday night, I stood by the side of my bed. Wed and on, I walked at least three times and up to five times, depending on the severity of my headache. There was one funny story...
I had a tube up through my nose that went down into my stomach to drain my stomach of acids, etc. Wednesday night, two nurses came in to talk to me and get my vitals, etc. They had to wake me up because it was 1:30 in the morning and at that point I had been pretty much sleeping all the time. When the nurse that stood talking to me woke me and stayed beside the bed, I started smelling this AWFUL smell and the only thing I could think it could be was this nurse. And I thought, if they aren't saying anything about this smell, then it MUST be one of them. I could not wait for them to leave. I thought I was going to throw up. At last, they left. I rolled over to the other side to go back to sleep to find my bed was wet everywhere. And the smell was coming from the bed. I called them right back in and told them about it. My drain tube from my stomach had leaked all over my bed and me. So, at 1:30 in the morning, one nurse was helping me change and wash while the other was changing everything on my bed. Now, didn't I feel bad thinking it was one of the two nurses who stunk up the room when actually it was ME!!!!!
Being home has been so much better. I have been able to eat a little today without gagging at the sound of the word "food". And, as I said, the headache has gotten a little better. The only pain med I am taking is Extra Strenght Tylenol every 4 hours or so. I think I'm on my way...
We got to the hospital at 7am on Tuesday. The surgery was to start at 9 but it really got started about 10 I think. I talked to the anesthesiologist first. I told him that I do not take Vicodin or Morphine because I can't breathe when I take them. He said that is partly what they are supposed to do, suppress breathing. But in his foreign accent told me that he would not force me to take them. He instead decided to do an epidural to help with pain management after the surgery. What a great decision...at least for two days. I had virtually NO PAIN after the surgery. I had the epidural until Thursday when I broke it and it had to be removed. Apparently that was long enough to get through the initial pain because I still did not have an extreme amount of pain from the surgery. My headache was a different story. If I could describe the pain for you...I felt like RIPPING MY HEAD OFF MY NECK. I would have done this by grabbing the back of my head at my spine and just pulling up and forward. That probably would have been quite a mess for the staff to clean up so I refrained. That pain has finally become manageable today. Not even the pain meds made much difference...I pretty much had to lay on my back (almost flat) and the pain would subside a little. All the nurses and I feel that it was from the epidural. (Also a friend of Geoff's and mine that works at FWO feels it was from the epidural.) When the anesthesiologist came in to remove it (a different one than I saw before the surgery), I asked if the headache could be from the epidural. He said he didn't think so...hmmmm. I think he lied.
So after I saw the anesthesiologist, Dr. Yahanda came in. He explained everything again and said he would see me in a little while. The anesthesiologist gave me something through my IV that he said would relax me. Now, I know he really meant relaxed, but before I left that room, I was pretty much out of it. I barely remember looking at a nurse that was holding me up in the OR while the doc put the epidural in. That was it...next thing I know, I am in my room.
So fast forward to the next morning when Dr. Yahanda came into my room. He said the surgery was a success. He removed 4-5 inches of my stomach and all seemed to be going well. My diet for that day, as it was for Tuesday and would be for Thursday also, was ice chips. Not even water...JUST ice chips. I told him he was pretty serious when he said "liquid diet". He said "What do you mean, those ice chips are solid."
Basically, the rest is all pretty mundane. Tuesday night, I stood by the side of my bed. Wed and on, I walked at least three times and up to five times, depending on the severity of my headache. There was one funny story...
I had a tube up through my nose that went down into my stomach to drain my stomach of acids, etc. Wednesday night, two nurses came in to talk to me and get my vitals, etc. They had to wake me up because it was 1:30 in the morning and at that point I had been pretty much sleeping all the time. When the nurse that stood talking to me woke me and stayed beside the bed, I started smelling this AWFUL smell and the only thing I could think it could be was this nurse. And I thought, if they aren't saying anything about this smell, then it MUST be one of them. I could not wait for them to leave. I thought I was going to throw up. At last, they left. I rolled over to the other side to go back to sleep to find my bed was wet everywhere. And the smell was coming from the bed. I called them right back in and told them about it. My drain tube from my stomach had leaked all over my bed and me. So, at 1:30 in the morning, one nurse was helping me change and wash while the other was changing everything on my bed. Now, didn't I feel bad thinking it was one of the two nurses who stunk up the room when actually it was ME!!!!!
Being home has been so much better. I have been able to eat a little today without gagging at the sound of the word "food". And, as I said, the headache has gotten a little better. The only pain med I am taking is Extra Strenght Tylenol every 4 hours or so. I think I'm on my way...
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Post-Surgery Update
It's Elizabeth again. I have some post-surgery facts from my mom and dad.
Nicole is still in recovery, but is doing well. She had an epidural and a catheter right after surgery. Those are both out now. The epidural broke off, so they just took it out. She is now hooked up to a pump and is taking Demerol for pain.
She still isn't allowed to eat anything other than ice chips. They are checking her stomach through a tube in her nose that goes down to her stomach. They fill her stomach with fluid and then flush it out. This contraption may come out this afternoon or tomorrow. She remains hooked up to an IV for fluids.
Nicole was up walking yesterday and earlier today. The dressing over her incision is off, and she has 18 staples.
Nicole is still in recovery, but is doing well. She had an epidural and a catheter right after surgery. Those are both out now. The epidural broke off, so they just took it out. She is now hooked up to a pump and is taking Demerol for pain.
She still isn't allowed to eat anything other than ice chips. They are checking her stomach through a tube in her nose that goes down to her stomach. They fill her stomach with fluid and then flush it out. This contraption may come out this afternoon or tomorrow. She remains hooked up to an IV for fluids.
Nicole was up walking yesterday and earlier today. The dressing over her incision is off, and she has 18 staples.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Surgery
This is Elizabeth, writing on behalf of Nicole.
Nicole's surgery was scheduled for 9:00 this morning. They got a bit of a late start; she went into surgery a little after 10:00. She was out of surgery and into recovery at 1:15.
The surgery went well. They were able to remove the tumor, and they will send it into pathology to make sure everything is ok.
Nicole was expecting to be groggy the rest of the day, but I'm sure she will update with more details soon (or give me more details so I can update for her).
Nicole's surgery was scheduled for 9:00 this morning. They got a bit of a late start; she went into surgery a little after 10:00. She was out of surgery and into recovery at 1:15.
The surgery went well. They were able to remove the tumor, and they will send it into pathology to make sure everything is ok.
Nicole was expecting to be groggy the rest of the day, but I'm sure she will update with more details soon (or give me more details so I can update for her).
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Referral
Apparently I wrote up the experience of trying to get a referral to Dr. Wiersema on my notebook, not on my blog.
As you know, my endoscopic ultrasound was scheduled for September 6. I called on Thursday, Sept 1 to find out from my insurance if there was a referral from Dr. Yahanda to Dr. Wiersema. There was not one.
On Monday, Aug 29, when we left Dr. Yahanda's office with the referral to Dr. Wiersema, I asked Dr. Y's staff if they would call the insurance to do the referral to Dr. W. They said they would take care of that. So after calling my insurance, I called Dr. Y's office again and talked to someone and she assured me she would take care of calling the insurance.
On Friday, I called my insurance again...still no referral. I called Dr. Y's office again and had to leave a message for a nurse. I told her that it was very important that she call me back because I needed the referral called in that day. Since it was a holiday weekend, that would be the only day to take care of it because insurance would not be available to take the referral on Monday. I hung up, realizing that no one had taken care of anything yet and no one had returned a call from Dr. Y's office yet, and I called my primary care physician. He had his front desk person call my insurance and take care of the referral. She called me back within 15 minutes and the referral was taken care of.
As you know, my endoscopic ultrasound was scheduled for September 6. I called on Thursday, Sept 1 to find out from my insurance if there was a referral from Dr. Yahanda to Dr. Wiersema. There was not one.
On Monday, Aug 29, when we left Dr. Yahanda's office with the referral to Dr. Wiersema, I asked Dr. Y's staff if they would call the insurance to do the referral to Dr. W. They said they would take care of that. So after calling my insurance, I called Dr. Y's office again and talked to someone and she assured me she would take care of calling the insurance.
On Friday, I called my insurance again...still no referral. I called Dr. Y's office again and had to leave a message for a nurse. I told her that it was very important that she call me back because I needed the referral called in that day. Since it was a holiday weekend, that would be the only day to take care of it because insurance would not be available to take the referral on Monday. I hung up, realizing that no one had taken care of anything yet and no one had returned a call from Dr. Y's office yet, and I called my primary care physician. He had his front desk person call my insurance and take care of the referral. She called me back within 15 minutes and the referral was taken care of.
Pre-Cert
This blog post is more for my own information for when I want to write a letter to Dr. Yahanda's office when this is all over.
I called my insurance today to make sure the pre-cert had been done for my surgery. I posted a few weeks ago about the trouble I had getting the referral for Dr. Yahanda then for Dr. Wiersema, I think. If I didn't, when I go back and read, if I don't find it, I will also post that.
Well, once again, they had no record of a pre-cert for any surgery scheduled for me. I double checked with my insurance that it has to be the doctor performing the surgery to call for the pre-cert. They confirmed that I was correct. So I called Dr. Yahanda's office and asked to make sure they were going to call for the pre-cert. I was told that they are working on this week's insurance calls right now and have not gotten to next week's schedule. I asked when she thought they might get to it. She said possibly not until the day before the surgery.
I told her I was uncomfortable with that because of my experience with other office staff I have had in the past couple of weeks when trying to get the referral. She interrupted me a couple of times and said maybe I needed to talk to the person that took care of me before. I told her no one took care of me because nothing ever got done. I said that was all over and done with and my concern now is getting this surgery pre-certified.
I told her my surgery is in six days and if this does not get done, I will not show up for the surgery because I will not pay out of pocket for something that should be paid by insurance.
She said she didn't even have my surgery schedule papers there and she would go over and ask another scheduler she works with about it. She came back on the phone and said she had the information and she would call the insurance and see what she needed to do and she would call me back.
She also told me the reason things didn't get done before was because they did not have our correct insurance information. She said the employer was entered wrong. I didn't say anything but thought to myself...we handed you the card, you scanned it into your computer and you double checked information verbally. If you don't have it right, someone gathering the information is a little incompetent. Then there is the question...if that was the problem, why didn't someone call to get the correct information instead of just doing nothing?
I did go over today and have my pre-op testing done. That went smoothly. I called yesterday and asked if I could come today so I wouldn't have to take off work and amazingly they had a cancellation and I got in. I had a blood test, completed health history and registration and had a chest x-ray. They did not have to do an EKG because I just had one when I was in the ER last month.
Lynn called me back from Dr. Yahanda's office within the hour and said the authorization was done. I will call insurance in a little while and make sure it is done.
I called my insurance today to make sure the pre-cert had been done for my surgery. I posted a few weeks ago about the trouble I had getting the referral for Dr. Yahanda then for Dr. Wiersema, I think. If I didn't, when I go back and read, if I don't find it, I will also post that.
Well, once again, they had no record of a pre-cert for any surgery scheduled for me. I double checked with my insurance that it has to be the doctor performing the surgery to call for the pre-cert. They confirmed that I was correct. So I called Dr. Yahanda's office and asked to make sure they were going to call for the pre-cert. I was told that they are working on this week's insurance calls right now and have not gotten to next week's schedule. I asked when she thought they might get to it. She said possibly not until the day before the surgery.
I told her I was uncomfortable with that because of my experience with other office staff I have had in the past couple of weeks when trying to get the referral. She interrupted me a couple of times and said maybe I needed to talk to the person that took care of me before. I told her no one took care of me because nothing ever got done. I said that was all over and done with and my concern now is getting this surgery pre-certified.
I told her my surgery is in six days and if this does not get done, I will not show up for the surgery because I will not pay out of pocket for something that should be paid by insurance.
She said she didn't even have my surgery schedule papers there and she would go over and ask another scheduler she works with about it. She came back on the phone and said she had the information and she would call the insurance and see what she needed to do and she would call me back.
She also told me the reason things didn't get done before was because they did not have our correct insurance information. She said the employer was entered wrong. I didn't say anything but thought to myself...we handed you the card, you scanned it into your computer and you double checked information verbally. If you don't have it right, someone gathering the information is a little incompetent. Then there is the question...if that was the problem, why didn't someone call to get the correct information instead of just doing nothing?
I did go over today and have my pre-op testing done. That went smoothly. I called yesterday and asked if I could come today so I wouldn't have to take off work and amazingly they had a cancellation and I got in. I had a blood test, completed health history and registration and had a chest x-ray. They did not have to do an EKG because I just had one when I was in the ER last month.
Lynn called me back from Dr. Yahanda's office within the hour and said the authorization was done. I will call insurance in a little while and make sure it is done.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Scheduled
The surgery will be at 9am on Tuesday September 20. I was surprised it was so quick! I was equally surprised they called me first thing this morning!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Making a Plan
I had another appointment with Dr. Yahanda today. He said there were two possible outcomes of the needle biopsy. One is a gastric-blah-blah-blah tumor and that one is more likely to be malignant.
The other possibility is a liomyoma (no idea if that is spelled right) and he started talking about smooth muscle. I didn't hear much after the liomyo...I know two people who have had a cancer called liomyosarcoma (again...spelling?) One of them was told that she would not live long, but has been cancer free for about 3 years, I think, after she had surgery to have all the cancer removed. The other one was my cousin's daughter who did not win her battle with the disease.
So as not to interrupt, I waited until he was finished talking and I said "Are you saying this is a liomyosarcoma?" He said "NO...it is a liomyoma" They are very rarely malignant. He said that is what my tumor is and it is definitely not malignant...not cancer...not liomyosarcoma!!!
So what we will do is this...
1. The cyst on my pancreas is no big deal. We will just leave it alone and have it checked in about a year.
2. Since I am having no symptoms, he is going to leave the gallbladder alone also. He said until I have symptoms, there is no reason to mess with it.
3. The tumor will definitely have to come out because it could bleed again.
They are supposed to call me tomorrow to schedule that surgery. It will involve taking about a third of my stomach out and reconnecting the rest of it to the duodenum. If it is in a different place than where Dr. Wiersema (the dr that did the endoscopic ultrasound) described then that plan might change, but he is not thinking I will lose my whole stomach...thank goodness.
I will have to have some pre-op tests, as usual, and I think they will schedule those when they call me tomorrow also. I will be in the hospital 5-7 days. I will not be able to drive for at least two weeks then it depends on whether I am taking pain killers or not. I could be off work up to six weeks, but he thinks with my job and my boss letting me come home if I don't feel good, I should be able to be back in three to four weeks.
The other possibility is a liomyoma (no idea if that is spelled right) and he started talking about smooth muscle. I didn't hear much after the liomyo...I know two people who have had a cancer called liomyosarcoma (again...spelling?) One of them was told that she would not live long, but has been cancer free for about 3 years, I think, after she had surgery to have all the cancer removed. The other one was my cousin's daughter who did not win her battle with the disease.
So as not to interrupt, I waited until he was finished talking and I said "Are you saying this is a liomyosarcoma?" He said "NO...it is a liomyoma" They are very rarely malignant. He said that is what my tumor is and it is definitely not malignant...not cancer...not liomyosarcoma!!!
So what we will do is this...
1. The cyst on my pancreas is no big deal. We will just leave it alone and have it checked in about a year.
2. Since I am having no symptoms, he is going to leave the gallbladder alone also. He said until I have symptoms, there is no reason to mess with it.
3. The tumor will definitely have to come out because it could bleed again.
They are supposed to call me tomorrow to schedule that surgery. It will involve taking about a third of my stomach out and reconnecting the rest of it to the duodenum. If it is in a different place than where Dr. Wiersema (the dr that did the endoscopic ultrasound) described then that plan might change, but he is not thinking I will lose my whole stomach...thank goodness.
I will have to have some pre-op tests, as usual, and I think they will schedule those when they call me tomorrow also. I will be in the hospital 5-7 days. I will not be able to drive for at least two weeks then it depends on whether I am taking pain killers or not. I could be off work up to six weeks, but he thinks with my job and my boss letting me come home if I don't feel good, I should be able to be back in three to four weeks.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Heading Onto Smoother Roads
I had the endoscopic ultrasound and needle biopsy today. Here are the things I found out...
1. The tumor is a muscular tumor and is benign...thank God!!!
2. I have a cyst on my pancreas that he wants to look at in a year. So I will have this test again next year.
3. I have stones in my gallbladder. So when I have the tumor removed from my stomach, apparently I will also have my gallbladder removed.
4. The tumor is not close to my esophagus so they will be able to take the tumor out while just removing a portion of my stomach rather than me losing my whole stomach.
5. The tumor has not grown since they found it three weeks ago.
What a relief! I am amazed that I have this tumor AND the gall stones. I do not have any symptoms of either one. I guess it's a good thing the tumor "decided" to bleed so I can get this all taken care of before I have any bad symptoms.
I see Dr. Yahanda on Monday and I'm sure he will schedule the surgery then. Hopefully that will be soon.
1. The tumor is a muscular tumor and is benign...thank God!!!
2. I have a cyst on my pancreas that he wants to look at in a year. So I will have this test again next year.
3. I have stones in my gallbladder. So when I have the tumor removed from my stomach, apparently I will also have my gallbladder removed.
4. The tumor is not close to my esophagus so they will be able to take the tumor out while just removing a portion of my stomach rather than me losing my whole stomach.
5. The tumor has not grown since they found it three weeks ago.
What a relief! I am amazed that I have this tumor AND the gall stones. I do not have any symptoms of either one. I guess it's a good thing the tumor "decided" to bleed so I can get this all taken care of before I have any bad symptoms.
I see Dr. Yahanda on Monday and I'm sure he will schedule the surgery then. Hopefully that will be soon.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Test Time
The scheduler from Lutheran Hospital called this morning. I will be having the next test on Tuesday September 6. It took them a while to call, but they sure got me in quickly!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Please leave your name...
As of noon today, it was 48 hours since I had been to Dr. Yahanda. I still had not heard from the scheduler at Lutheran Hospital so I decided to call Dr. Yahanda's office to see if it was normal for it to take so long for them to call.
I explained to the first person what I wanted and she said she would transfer me to Dr. Yahanda's nurse.
I talked to the second person, asking her if it should be this long before the Lutheran scheduler calls me. She said she would transfer me to Dr. Yahanda's nurse.
The third person answered the phone..."Scheduling". Why did I not think this was Dr. Yahanda's nurse? I again explained what I was trying to find out. She said she would transfer me to Dr. Yahanda's nurse. I told her the first person said she was doing that and the second person said she was doing that. She said "the person that transferred you to me is a nurse at Lutheran Hospital". I said "ok...transfer me to his nurse".
Well, this time I did get transferred to Dr. Yahanda's nurse, but I didn't actually get to talk to her. I got her voice mail. Hearing the usual "please leave your name, phone number, etc and I will call you back", I followed the instructions. And waited. (remember the waiting game?)
And I am still waiting. I called back right before 5 and their office was closed. So from noon until whenever their office was closed, his nurse could never find the time to call me back. I'm not very happy...oh well, maybe tomorrow.
I explained to the first person what I wanted and she said she would transfer me to Dr. Yahanda's nurse.
I talked to the second person, asking her if it should be this long before the Lutheran scheduler calls me. She said she would transfer me to Dr. Yahanda's nurse.
The third person answered the phone..."Scheduling". Why did I not think this was Dr. Yahanda's nurse? I again explained what I was trying to find out. She said she would transfer me to Dr. Yahanda's nurse. I told her the first person said she was doing that and the second person said she was doing that. She said "the person that transferred you to me is a nurse at Lutheran Hospital". I said "ok...transfer me to his nurse".
Well, this time I did get transferred to Dr. Yahanda's nurse, but I didn't actually get to talk to her. I got her voice mail. Hearing the usual "please leave your name, phone number, etc and I will call you back", I followed the instructions. And waited. (remember the waiting game?)
And I am still waiting. I called back right before 5 and their office was closed. So from noon until whenever their office was closed, his nurse could never find the time to call me back. I'm not very happy...oh well, maybe tomorrow.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Another Test
I met Dr. Yahanda, the surgeon, today. Unfortunately, things are not going to move along as quickly as I had hoped. I was ready to get this thing out yesterday, but I found out today that I have to have another test before he can do surgery.
There is a certain percentage of stomach cancers that will show up benign on the first biopsy. So, the growth I have COULD still be a cancer, but it could also be something else. It was some big long word I have never heard of so I can't remember what it is called. He told me a few times that he really thinks it is the "something else", but he has to be sure before he operates.
The treatment for stomach cancer is to do chemotherapy first then operate to remove the tumor. The treatment for "something else" is to just operate and take it out. So, in order for him to be sure of what it is, I have to have another type of upper GI endoscopy.
This one is with a different kind of probe that will do an ultrasound of the tumor. It will also have a needle in it or on it that will be used to do a needle biopsy of the inside of the tumor rather than just the surface. I don't know when I will have this test. Only one doctor in Fort Wayne administers the test and he is at Lutheran Hospital. They faxed all the info over to Lutheran and now I am waiting (remember the waiting game I mentioned in my first post?) for Lutheran to call me to set up a time for the test.
After this test, I will see Dr. Yahanda within 5-7 days and then we will proceed with whatever treatment is necessary. Let's hope for JUST surgery!!!
There is a certain percentage of stomach cancers that will show up benign on the first biopsy. So, the growth I have COULD still be a cancer, but it could also be something else. It was some big long word I have never heard of so I can't remember what it is called. He told me a few times that he really thinks it is the "something else", but he has to be sure before he operates.
The treatment for stomach cancer is to do chemotherapy first then operate to remove the tumor. The treatment for "something else" is to just operate and take it out. So, in order for him to be sure of what it is, I have to have another type of upper GI endoscopy.
This one is with a different kind of probe that will do an ultrasound of the tumor. It will also have a needle in it or on it that will be used to do a needle biopsy of the inside of the tumor rather than just the surface. I don't know when I will have this test. Only one doctor in Fort Wayne administers the test and he is at Lutheran Hospital. They faxed all the info over to Lutheran and now I am waiting (remember the waiting game I mentioned in my first post?) for Lutheran to call me to set up a time for the test.
After this test, I will see Dr. Yahanda within 5-7 days and then we will proceed with whatever treatment is necessary. Let's hope for JUST surgery!!!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Proceed with Caution
I went to see Dr. Wait today. He confirmed that the biopsy report was benign.
It was a benign mucosa with inflammation. There were no gland changes and no bacteria causing ulcer.
He said that when they do a biopsy they take a little piece of the growth and get the report on it. It is VERY good news that this came back benign, BUT he wants me to be cautiously optimistic. He said he doesn't want me to be SHOCKED if when they take it out and do all the testing on it that they do, they find something different. He said odds are they will NOT find anything since the biopsy is benign, but strange things happen.
So I am proceeding with caution. But I am optimistic...let's just get on with it already:-)
It was a benign mucosa with inflammation. There were no gland changes and no bacteria causing ulcer.
He said that when they do a biopsy they take a little piece of the growth and get the report on it. It is VERY good news that this came back benign, BUT he wants me to be cautiously optimistic. He said he doesn't want me to be SHOCKED if when they take it out and do all the testing on it that they do, they find something different. He said odds are they will NOT find anything since the biopsy is benign, but strange things happen.
So I am proceeding with caution. But I am optimistic...let's just get on with it already:-)
Monday, August 22, 2011
Already!
Well, some of you may not have even read the first post yet, but my doctor's office called this morning to let me know they have the results of the biopsy already!
The news is GOOD! It is benign!!!
More later when I have more news.
The news is GOOD! It is benign!!!
More later when I have more news.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
The Waiting Game
Monday August 15, I had been kind of dizzy all day. I had been thinking lately about whether I was taking too much blood pressure medicine since I have lost 20 pounds since March. I thought that was why I was feeling dizzy and thought I would call my doctor and ask him about it on Tuesday.
I went downstairs to change my clothes after work and felt VERY dizzy when I came up the stairs. I went into the conference room and sat down until I felt better. Once I did, I left and drove to the bank and the post office. After that, I went to the superintendent's office to go to the school board meeting. I got there before Geoff did and when he came in, I told him that I had felt dizzy all day.
I got through the part of the board meeting that I wanted to get through and then told him I was going to go to the restroom. I walked out to the hall and felt very dizzy (almost sick) again. I made it to the bathroom and was holding on to the top of the door to lock it so I could sit down.
The next thing I knew, I woke up on the floor. I reached up to the lock on the door and unlocked it and crawled out to the hallway. I did not want to fall again and I was still pretty dizzy. I called for the maintenance person who was down the hall and asked her to go get Geoff. I lay on the floor until he came out. He helped me get back up so I could go to the bathroom.
Betty, the maintenance person, had gone to get me a wheelchair and Geoff took me to the ER. When I got to the ER, my blood pressure was 74/46. I was admitted to the hospital.
At first, they thought I was dehydrated so they started fluids through an IV. Well I spent the next day or so going to the bathroon AT LEAST once an hour. So they decided I was not dehydrated. My doctor decided to check to see if I was bleeding internally because he noticed my hemoglobin was down from the last time I was in his office. He was thinking bleeding ulcer...so on Thursday I had an upper GI endoscopy.
They found a golf-ball sized tumor in my stomach that was bleeding. I will see my primary care physician on Wednesday to see if the tumor is benign or malignant. After that I see a surgeon on Aug 29 because whether it is benign or malignant, it has to come out because it will bleed again.
I asked my doctor what he really thought...would it be benign or malignant? He said he could only say 50/50. He said it looks really good because there are no "fingers" coming out of it, but there is part of it that looks really suspicious so he could only say 50/50.
I asked him if the specialist he is sending me to is an oncologist. He said "No. He specializes in weird things" So I guess I am considered weird.
That is where I am now...playing the waiting game. If you decide to follow this blog, you can play along with me.
I went downstairs to change my clothes after work and felt VERY dizzy when I came up the stairs. I went into the conference room and sat down until I felt better. Once I did, I left and drove to the bank and the post office. After that, I went to the superintendent's office to go to the school board meeting. I got there before Geoff did and when he came in, I told him that I had felt dizzy all day.
I got through the part of the board meeting that I wanted to get through and then told him I was going to go to the restroom. I walked out to the hall and felt very dizzy (almost sick) again. I made it to the bathroom and was holding on to the top of the door to lock it so I could sit down.
The next thing I knew, I woke up on the floor. I reached up to the lock on the door and unlocked it and crawled out to the hallway. I did not want to fall again and I was still pretty dizzy. I called for the maintenance person who was down the hall and asked her to go get Geoff. I lay on the floor until he came out. He helped me get back up so I could go to the bathroom.
Betty, the maintenance person, had gone to get me a wheelchair and Geoff took me to the ER. When I got to the ER, my blood pressure was 74/46. I was admitted to the hospital.
At first, they thought I was dehydrated so they started fluids through an IV. Well I spent the next day or so going to the bathroon AT LEAST once an hour. So they decided I was not dehydrated. My doctor decided to check to see if I was bleeding internally because he noticed my hemoglobin was down from the last time I was in his office. He was thinking bleeding ulcer...so on Thursday I had an upper GI endoscopy.
They found a golf-ball sized tumor in my stomach that was bleeding. I will see my primary care physician on Wednesday to see if the tumor is benign or malignant. After that I see a surgeon on Aug 29 because whether it is benign or malignant, it has to come out because it will bleed again.
I asked my doctor what he really thought...would it be benign or malignant? He said he could only say 50/50. He said it looks really good because there are no "fingers" coming out of it, but there is part of it that looks really suspicious so he could only say 50/50.
I asked him if the specialist he is sending me to is an oncologist. He said "No. He specializes in weird things" So I guess I am considered weird.
That is where I am now...playing the waiting game. If you decide to follow this blog, you can play along with me.
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