Thank you

We are going to shut this blog down since it was for updates and I am now recovering very well at home. I am scheduled to return to work on June 18th. I am getting stronger and feeling better.
My main issue now is that I seem to tire easily. I think I can do a few errands and find I am ready to go back home after just one. I am sure this will get better with time.
Thank you to everyone for all their good wishes, emails, cards, flowers and treats. I am very grateful to our families who have been so supportive and my nurses: my mom, Jerry's parents, Jerry, and Conner for hanging out with me and napping.

Ladies of all ages - please remember to get your check-ups, early detection made a bad situation much better. If you notice something is wrong - especially post-menopause, please see a Dr. right away.

Menopause

June by Natasha Wescoat

I am sure some of you are wondering how I am handling being in menopause right after surgery. Actually, I have not had many symptoms. I discussed it with my Dr. and we decided to hold-off on hormones for a while. I am due to see her at the end of June when we will discuss it again. So far though, I do get warm, but that could be the weather and my unwillingness to turn on the AC until the calendar says June.

Getting Stronger

I got a Livestrong notebook from Carmen and it is a great resource for keeping all the information in one place and they also offer all kinds of reading materials.

My next battle is with the insurance company as they mistakenly believe one of my doctors is not in my plan (he is). Lots of long phone calls to straighten that out.

Jed and Betty made it back safely to Nova Scotia, it was a huge help having them here.

Reward

Today I went out for a celebratory pedicure - and now that the weather turned chilly again, my freshly painted toenails are inside my woolly slippers. I am feeling much better and find riding in the car easier to tolerate. The roads in Cleveland have some serious potholes and my handy "belly pillow" was a lifesaver.

P.S. There were not any flowers in my pedicure water!

Very Good News

Went to see Dr. Zanotti today and she gave me a clean bill of health. She said I did not need to do any radiation or chemo for follow-up and that the incidence of recurrence was so low, it was negligible. Yay! She wants me to take it easy and concentrate on recovering. The staples are out, which should help me to sleep.

The Changing of the Guard

Jed and Betty arrived from Nova Scotia yesterday and are here to take over nursing duties from my Mom. She heads back up to Grand Blanc on Saturday and Olive will be very glad to see her.

Saw Dr. Bloom my GP and he thinks that except for a couple minor things the healing is progressing nicely.

Working to Maintain Property Values

Recovery is coming along and getting around is not easy to do - but with help from Jerry and Mom I am making progress. I even managed to vote for the Lakewood School Bond issue today. Of course, that was the main event of the day and required quiet sitting on the front porch afterward.

I Am Home and Glad to be Here!

I came home this morning and feel much better being back in my own bed eventhough the nursing staff at UH are top notch, I am glad to have nurses Jerry, Audrey and furry nurse Conner taking care of me right now. Thank you again for all your good wishes and gifts, they mean a lot to me.

Love,
Martha

Coming Home

Jerry here again...

Yesterday Martha was still a bit tired, and ate a hot dog. She was also walking around the hospital ward with basically no help from yours truly. I know, an exciting day. Well good news, today she's been cleared to come home! I'm off to the hospital right now, and if we can figure out the maze that is the hospital complex, we'll have her back on Cook avenue pretty soon now.

More flowers kept arriving at home and at the hospital too, thanks to all for their thoughts, emails and cards.

Friday

Jerry here posting again...

Martha looked and sounded much better today. Having the tube in your throat for surgery really messes up your speaking, but she sounds like herself again. She's off the IV and oxygen nose tube, and has been sitting up and walking a little. The pain is always reduced, and she's on oral meds instead of meds via the IV now. There was also a parade of doctors earlier in the day. Separately, her GP, surgeon, associate surgeon, resident and one other doctor all dropped by. Unlike the TV show House, though, it's the nurses who spend the most time with her. Kirsten, who has been here RN in two shifts has been very helpful and more energetic than most people I've seen in any job. The nursing staff is definitely making her stay better. She also is speaking to some folks on the phone as well.

Back in Lakewood, Audrey and Conner and I are anxiously awaiting Martha's return. Rachel dropped by today with some nice bread and many cured meats, way more than we can eat alone, so we'll save some for Martha's return. We are definitely not short of food!

So far it's looking good for getting her back home this weekend as she gets more strength. She sounds like old time Martha again.

Post Surgery

Jerry posting here...

The operation was a success! The Doc said she thought the tumor looked small and like it had not invaded any surrounding tissues, and the lymph nodes all look clear.

Martha is sleepily recovering, and should be able to eat some solid foods tomorrow. We're hoping she will be able to come home by Sunday. Meanwhile she has a great private room, and the nurse was very helpful for her. She's enjoying some cranberry juice now, be able to add vodka perhaps in a few weeks.

Audrey and I waited in several places, and lamented the sad state of affairs in the modern waiting room, which has a TV blaring that no one really wants to have to hear, but no one can shut off. We did the requisite worrying but it all turned out great. Audrey managed to knit a baby blanket, making her both a great knitter and a champion of irony, which was noted by patient and everyone alike.

Thanks to all who sent flowers and balloons, Martha really liked the arrangements, although she'd like to remind her brother she is not actually nine years old ;).

We'll be visiting again tomorrow - more news then!

Surgery May 3rd

My medical leave will start on May 2nd and the surgery is scheduled for May 3rd - Jerry will post an update after the surgery, but probably not until the evening. Thanks for thinking of me and I look forward to posting again shortly.