Tag: Health

The greatness that can be

If anyone has been staying up late to watch the olympics at night they have seen the gymnastics. What I have really enjoyed is watching  Ally Reisman’s parents, especially her father.  These two people look like they are in pure agony as their daughter performs.  And they have seen some big ups and downs.  You have seen tears in her fathers eyes but also the overwhelming pride that only a parent can feel when their baby has done something great.

My kids are still young so I can only imagine, you see them growing, watch the connections being made and conceptualize the greatness that can be, someday.  I do everything I can to provide the tools, support, assistance and shoulder to cry on ,and hope and pray that the decisions I make are the right ones.  (I also hope that down the road they do not end up on some couch saying it all starts with my mother..)

Only time will tell of course.

Went to the farmers market again today…fed the animals while we were there.

The “New” reality hits

Back in May I posted a page called Reality Hits. Those feelings after walking into the Oncologists office a year ago, both fear and empowerment.  Seems like a life time ago!  Today I was on my elliptical machine sweating up a storm, thoughts swimming in my head, when it finally started to hit me…I have a new reality!  I will not get breast cancer (alright nothing is 100% but 93-95% is not bad at all!)  I will never have another mammogram or breast MRI. I started to feel empowered again!  When I finished my workout I tooted my own horn with my FB post..(which is not like me honestly):

Exactly 4 weeks ago today released from a one week stay in the hospital after a Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy. A 20+ inch incision across my abdomen. TODAY a 20 minute high impact elliptical workout followed by 5 minutes on the punching bag…DAMN right I am proud of myself!

So much time agonizing over the thoughts of cancer…gone.  Then,  the validation of my decision to have the mastectomy when the pathology reports hit.  

So I understand that I am not ready to run a marathon, but I remember about two weeks ago getting stuck on my back on my own bed, lying there like a turtle.  I also fully grasp that I will have a set back on 8/24 when I have the surgery for the nipple reconstruction and revision, but for now I will do what I can to get in somewhat decent shape before then.

The new reality is not too bad at all!!

Process and Procedure minus common sense

So after waiting a day and a half for my surgeons scheduler to call to no avail, I called to get this process moving. I have no patience and I need to be able to let my husband know what is going on so he can get help at work.   I also need to arrange something for the kids.

We have a date..August 24.  Nipple reconstruction and revision.  Of course it was not the smoothest of calls.  We start by getting the first available opening, later than I wanted but that is totally out of my control.  Then she proceeds to tell me that I need to schedule a pre-op appointment.  “I was just there on Tuesday” I politely tell her.  “Did you sign your consent and did they perform the physical?” I did not sign the consent but since  he said we were ready to move forward I assume the physical was completed.  “Oh no..it is a form and it is procedure”.  NOW…those who know me, know that I am a policy and procedure kind of gal.  I also do my best not to shoot the messenger. BUT I have little patience for those who can not add simple common sense to the procedure and don’t stop to think for a minute.  She sticks to her guns that I need to make another appointment.  By the way, another important fact to include here would be the fact that I received the first set of doctor bills for the surgery in the mail just a few hours earlier.  Thankfully we have wonderful insurance but as we all know there will still be a large out-of-pocket payout and unnecessary doctor visits are just not needed right now! So not quit as politely I explained  that I had just seen him at 3:45 on Tuesday and that I would not be making another appointment and that I thought one of us should give the actual surgeon a call.  She agrees a bit reluctantly, and says she will try to get him on the phone and call me back. No lie, five minutes later I receive a call saying that I did not need to come for an appointment.  Really…no kidding?  She faxed me the consent form which I signed and sent right back.  I do have to re-do blood work since it is over 30 days but I can understand that.  Maybe that will be our big adventure for tomorrow.

I know I should not get so aggravated but after already having 2 appointments with him since leaving the hospital July 8th, the last of which being 2 days ago how could you say I have to come back. It has been a long road and it is time to come to an end! At least we are moving forward.  The pointy parts are close!