Lady Business

Follow-up Report

2007-10-10T08:40:00.000-05:00

It is now five months since my surgery. I am doing very well. I have lost weight and am exercising with plans to continue to lose more.

I began to get hot flashes about two months ago. They happen mostly at night and don't last too long. I also keep a fan on my desk at work so I can turn it right on my face, if necessary. I have not begun to take any hormone replacements. I have been working so hard to lose weight that the thought of immediately putting back on 20 pounds or so, is not appealing to me. I would rather suffer the hot flashes (for right now). My goal is to get healthy and get off of the high blood pressure medication. I am of the opinion that I was storing estrogen in my fat and therefore, I had a delayed (and may still be having) menopause.

I feel better since the surgery. I believe the problems I experienced for about eight years were all related and they culminated in developing the cancer. I experienced irregular periods for the last eight years. I also think the increased weight gain I had over that time was a combination of my hormones, not eating properly, and not exercising regularly.

I feel very lucky to have come through this only needing the surgery. It was caught early and that made all the difference. I do feel like it changed my outlook on life. The main thing is it made me want to get healthy. I always put it off, something I was going to get to eventually. When I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and when I found out that it was something I increased my risk of by being overweight, it really changed my outlook. I always thought, "I'll deal with my weight when I reach menopause and I have an increase risk of heart attack." Well, I did not pay attention to the increased risk of cancer and it caught me.

Get tested and follow-up - it is so important.

Thank you

2007-05-30T09:02:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-22T10:29:00.001-05:00

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

2007-05-18T15:59:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-16T16:18:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-11T21:43:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-08T21:13:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-05-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-06T06:44:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-04T20:01:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-03T18:15:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-02T00:07:00.000-05:00

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.

The Inspiration

2007-04-26T22:23:00.000-05:00

Giant Underpants!

2007-04-26T20:37:00.000-05:00

I found a uterine cancer online support group and have been checking in for hints for the hospital stay and afterward. They have been very helpful and have given me hints such as, get some giant underwear at least two sizes bigger than you normally wear and watch out for wicked attacks of gas pain. Also, take earplugs and a facial mask to the hospital so you can get some sleep. I am heeding their warnings and preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.

PAT Tests

2007-04-23T21:52:00.000-05:00

The big ordeal right now is going through the series of examinations and tests to get ready for the surgery. I finished the last of them today (I hope) and should not have to be poked by a needle again until I arrive in pre-op.

I have already experienced the joy of arguing on the phone with the insurance company and then a doctor's billing office. My insurance is claiming that one of my doctors is "out of plan" and he is not, so that issue is not yet resolved. We are lucky we have insurance, but my Canadian relatives are marvelling at the whole issue of having to argue about health coverage. Jerry keeps saying we could move and end the problem.

I have found what I already was true - you are your only reliable advocate so you better stay on top of the situation.

Carmel Corn

2007-04-20T21:24:00.000-05:00

There was a recent incident with macadamia nut carmel corn and a tooth which now involves a new crown. Seems that everything is deciding to go at the same time - much like an old car.

A World of Colors

2007-04-15T21:31:00.000-05:00

Everyone is familiar with the Pink and Red ribbons
"Who does not want to wear the ribbon?!?!"
It seems that all the illnesses have their own color and it is a rainbow of sickness out there. Turns out that Uterine cancer is peach, hence the background color on this blog. There is one sad footnote to my recent introduction to the color spectre of cancer - colorectal has chosen brown to represent them.

The Diagnosis

2007-04-13T21:33:00.000-05:00

I have to thank my GP Dr. Bloom for sticking with me and insisting that I have my yearly pap test and an ultrasound, and then recommending I see a gynocologist when the ultrasound looked odd. The gynochologist Dr. Janicki found a polyp right away and sceduled a d&c (which I wanted to back out of) and from there it was discovered I had grade 1 (stage undetermined) Uterine cancer. The complete hysterectomy is scheduled for May 3rd. After that, pathology will determine the extent of the stage, however my gynocological oncologist is very optimistic that it will be all the treatment I will need. Her name is Dr. Zanotti and she is affiliated with the University Hospital System in Cleveland. the surgery will take place at the MacDonald Women's Hospital

My Mom will be in town for about a week to make sure Jerry and Conner don't run wild while I am in the hospital.