D DAY ARRIVED

today was busy starting at PMH at 715am in Day Surgery unit on 18F, vitals (BP, TEMP ETC) assessed, escorted for 9am to X-ray for wire guide into the tumour under Ultrasound imaging, then  escorted to Mt. Sinai Hospital through a walk through (no outside as I am in a patient gown) to Nuclear Medicine Department. Radio active blue dye is injected into breast and over the next 20 minutes the journey of the dye is tracked by a series of pictures to discover the first lymph nodes to receive the dye (these nodes are called Sentinel nodes and are known to be the first place the cancer will spread). A permanent marker X is put on the skin over the nodes to guide the surgeon to remove them with the tumour.
Back to room on 18f
Escort arrives to give me a ride on  the stretcher to the Operating Room, I am starving, have headache as no morning coffee and really really wanting food, any kind will do. I get teased that the four letter f word will not be uttered in my presence (food) lol  you thought it was my frequently used four letter f word...I got you  lol
An elevator trip down to 3f, in holding pattern to see anaesthetist (the anaesthetic claims that she will be offering a cocktail she call 'gin and tonic' x 2 plus sedative gas through a mask, no big tube down my airway to put me to sleep, I had concern about my teeth retainers and other points of interest about my teeth and they will not be at risk yipeeeeeee), get IV in and a NICE WARM FLANNEL BLANKET, talk with the surgeon (Dr. McCready) to establish that we are both on the same page about what is going to take place.(in R breast to take out tumour and sentinel nodes). yep we are both on the same page. after a little wait .... ride the gurney into OR (no cheering like on Palm Sunday), onto the table. get another warm blanket (YES, LIFE IS GOOD!), get my cocktail (the best trip I have taken in a very long time) plus the mask and I am in dream land.
Operation take about 70 minutes and I am back sorta to the land of the living, very drunk with the anaesthetic medication, shortly after the discomfort sets in, a bit of pain medication in the IV, aah .....relief, and then, in an hour or so, ready for travelling to my room on 18f for FOOD!!!!!!!! AND DRINK   tbtG
eat, drink, be merry and become fully awake and off to home by 530pm to devour take out Swiss Chalet supper as cooking is not on my agenda.
Comments:
- Kirk and Tanya were invited to go to all the stops and wait with me +++ a real bonus to have their support
- staff were consistently great, friendly, informative
- hospital food was actually ok

I continue to say that PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL is a very well oiled machine for Cancer Care. We are very privileged to live in a city and a country that provides world class health care in our backyard and, we need to be thankful.

Here it is 1245 am, feel great, still no pain and I am off to bed.
Thanks to all for prayers, support and caring.

 

TIME IS SET

I need to be at PMH at 730am on Thursday for preop with anaesthetist and to get a guide put into the lump so it can be found as it is so small. Kirk is driving me and we will meet Tanya at the hospital.
Still walking in my walking shoes and enjoying it more (who would have thought eh!)

getting ready - nortic walking

I bought walking shoes yesterday to get myself in shape to walk 'the 5K' in the Run for the Cure next October in London Ontario, yes I realize I have an early start as I am not in shape to last for 5K.
My kids who both run, have agreed to enter with me. I got Nortic Walking poles from Debbie (she got them in a garage sale so I understand). I am told a good time will be to walk 5 K in one hour. Today I walked .5 mile in 15 minutes so you can see that I have a way to go. I came home and rested for an hour ...... I know I'm a suck but its the best that I could do.

temp 4c, a little chilly

cottage is cool to say the least, making arrangements to stay in Toronto this afternoon so will be in the city after this weekend.
Wi-Fi, hot chocolate and warmth are great assets of Tim Horton's (yea Timmy)

 

FALL AT ITS BEST

the journey continues

Got a call yesterday with an appt for a repeat ultrasound today at 9am (very very early by my standards) left cottage at 615 and got to PMH at 845 (from darkness needing headlights to grey skies and crazy downtown traffic) Ultrasound was done very thoroughly and then needed to be read by radiologist ........... long wait, had a little nap and then she arrived, I gather there was a cyst so she did a needle aspiration, what else,, we were discussing life and I mentioned that I had a choice this fall between Ebola in West Africa or cancer, she smiled and said I made the correct choice (what humour we use in the mist of life), long wait at a friend's including lunch, to GP for 3pm to have preop physical (she commented that I was very healthy other than the lump) thank goodness for small mercies. I have indicated that I would be willing to take a cancellation to get this show on the road.
Thanks to everyone who have been so generous in the offering of assistance of any type.
3 trips to Toronto this week ugh. I will be staying in To after Thanksgiving so the long back and forth will end. ......       off to pack up the cottage for the winter