Friday, August 11, 2006

Barium....it's whats for breakfast! lol lol lol

First of all I want to thank all of you for your heartfelt comments on mine and Jim's love story.......kismet, is what I call our coming together......he said I must of put some kind of spell on him of course! lol........Yeah that's me black magic woman! lol lol lol

Today my breakfast starting at 5:30 am is about 300 ml of Barium....can we all say "YUMMMMM?" more like GAG! I have to finish 175 ml more by the time I arrive at the hospital by 6:30 am. As a child I had a lot of upper and lower GI problems so I am very familiar with Barium....I just hope they have improved the taste! lol

At 6:45 I will become radioactive with dye that they will inject into my system that needs a couple of hours to get through my whole body for a bone scan...........so after they dye me, I'm off for a C/T scan by 7:00 am then at 9:45 I actually have the bone scan..........I know, you guys are soooooo jealous of what I get to do today! lol lol lol Hey, I've got an idea, I can save you all some barium and we can do a few shots of it together...........what do ya say?? lol lol lol

Two others tests that I have had done, I am still waiting on the results.....one is still the Estrogen receptor, Progesterone receptor and the HER 2 test and then some blood work that looks for other signs of cancer in my body and just the regular CBC's of blood work.

I met with my Plastic Surgeon on Tuesday of this week and as usual he will need a nickname too.........Dr. Oncologist is AKA Dr. Serious.....Dr. Surgeon is AKA Dr, McDreamy..........Dr. Plastic Surgeon is AKA Dr. Hollywood (Hey! They are mostly plastic or botoxed out there right???) He showed me tons of pictures of work he did via his digital camera..I can't tell you how natural these new breasts and nipples looked...then he showed me a few of the tattooed areolas....after the healing you couldn't tell which breast was the fake one and which breast was the real one.....breast cancer has come a long way and thanks to the plastic surgeons among others who rallied to get reconstruction and reduction and lifts on the healthy breasts to make them  symmetrical with one another and for most of the health insurance companies to cover the costs!

My Mastectomy is taking place sometime Wednesday (the 16th) The mastectomy itself is only about an hour long.........fair well ill Boobie! lol.......the reconstruction will take about 7 more hours of surgery right after the old, 43 year old boobie is removed. I am having my new breast reconstructed by a technique called tram flap......saw it on extreme make over once....the surgery and recovery weren't very pretty, but the after surgery results were fantastic! Here is a link explaining "Tram Flap"  linky ~~~~>
TRAM Flap  I thought it was a mini tummy tuck.......it's a whole tummy tuck........left side to make the new boob, right side so I don't look like the eighth dwarf "Lumpy" So all those years of NOT doing those sit ups and getting that six pack abs has finally paid off for me........My tummy will be flat again (and stretch marks will be gone...thanks to those sweet babies of mine! lol)  because they are relocating that said tummy up to my left breast area..........yeah for me!!!!! now is the time to throw the confetti, the streamers and blow those party favors!!!!! lol lol lol
Oh, I just thought of something..............good thing I never had my naval pierced....because after this breast/tummy reconstruction it would of ended up a nipple ring after all! lmaooooooooo!

I forgot to ask how long I will be in the hospital since I opted for the tram flap, and I won't have access to the Internet there (No lap top)....and since my bedroom at home is 2 floors up from my family room I'm not sure how soon I can crawl my bruised, battered and sutured body back the down stairs.........but I will post as soon as possible....But you will hear from me before I go into surgery next Wednesday.

I will get a 4 week reprieve before I start my chemo and I won't know the frequency or the dosage until I meet with Dr. Serious again 2 weeks after my surgery.

Breast cancer might knock me down......but it won't keep me down.....that's for sure!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Honey!  I'm up too, but headed for bed soon.  Good luck on your scan.  I've never had to drink barium but I've had one of those barium enemas - nothing like your husband's friend's ex-wife seeing you with a tube up yer butt!!!!  Ahhh, the perils of small-city life....

Here is a thought on the computer  thing - maybe check into a rental place and rent a laptop for a little while?  Or, beg and plead and bat your eyes really hard at the husband to get you one.  They've come down in price alot, and if you just want a basic model, he might be able to pick up a used one for you.

Husband picked up a used one for me when I had my angioplasty in 2002.  I was couch-bound for about 2 weeks.  That and a very long phone cord let me get online.  Had to use AOL 7.0 but dammit, I was online!!!!  LOL!  

Keeping you in my prayers, Kim.  

Love and friendship
Sheila

Anonymous said...

I love the way you have made this entry so funny when in reality it is so serious! Not had the experience of barium ......yet......no doubt my time will come with my gastric problems! I hope you make a speedy recovery from your surgery, for your sake.......! Take care my friend, my thoughts are with you!! love Joan
http://journals.aol.co.uk/aniracj/StrannyDayze/
http://journals.aol.co.uk/aniracj/TheBandAyleysComet/

Anonymous said...

good luck with today.  barium, yuck. but, it is not as horrible as some of the magnesium stuff to clean you out!  but still, yuck.  you are a trooper though.  I can see you making a drinking game out of it. i will be thinking of you today.  tina

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Anonymous said...

All the best for all your procedures. I'll keep ya in my thoughts.

Anonymous said...

Brenda had a great idea,, have someone at least post for you or give someone a phone ### my prayers are still with you and your family.......... When I was 16 I had a blockage on my small            I know all about those barium, they used to be grosss big time, like you said hopefully with time the taste is better, hugs and love, Sherry    How are the chilren taking all this???

Anonymous said...

Hey Kim - send us all a shot and we'll down in with you (we can all gag together!!!). The suggestion about a telephone number is great - we'd love to keep up with you. The suggestion about hubby typing in a few brief words is even better!  Hey, a full tummy tuck - sounds like a great deal! Woman, you are going to be one hot chick after this! (Not that you aren't already, but imagine having a teenage body again - mmmmm).  Take care, we are all praying for you. Love, Caroline
http://journals.aol.com/caromarls/ANewAdventure

Anonymous said...

I agree with Sheila.  I was gonna say the same thing.  Get a rental or a cheap used one and write us if you can.  Or have Jim type something.  I'm also thinking maybe rearrange a room downstairs and have them send you a rental hospital bed and a port-a-potty if there's not a bathroom downstairs for you.  Just for a little while.  You don't want to be tearing stitches.  You're going to have a rockin' body!  How're your children doing?  As for the barrium, grosss!  We love you, sweety!
Nelishia
http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/Wishingandhoping,prayingandbelieving/

Anonymous said...

sounds like some wonderful shots for all of us to share!!  I do hope they have improved the taste of it!  Linda

Anonymous said...

well looks like you'll be getting an extreme makeover!  hope your recovery is quick and painless, maybe they'll give you lots of drugs for that! keep up the great outlook and spirit and these n asty little invadors won't stand a chance.  blessings K.    

Anonymous said...

Then im thinking u better show someone in that house how to do a journal entry because some of us will be going nuts (shut up) worrying about u . Seriously the prayers for you will be many and being the tough broad you are i expect a full recovery and a sexier new you........love ya Robin

Anonymous said...

Fight on!  Prayers and hugs through it all...  Michelle
::lifting shot of barium to my lips and shootin' down::  LOL

Anonymous said...

Courage, girl...and you are full of it...the courage, that is.  Honestly, I don't know if I'd be so upbeat, but I truly admire your sense of humor in spite of everything.  But then again, its that humor that will get you through this.  Wow, technology sure has come a long way, huh?  Good luck with all your procedures...barium??  No thanks, I'll pass on this one!  Take care...
xoxo ~Myra

Anonymous said...

Great outlook, your in my thoughts and prayers
katie

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Anonymous said...

Thinking of you and praying for you each day.
Pam

Anonymous said...

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers~

Anonymous said...

Your comment, "good thing I never had my naval pierced....because after this breast/tummy reconstruction it would of ended up a nipple ring after all! lmaooooooooo!" has had me laughing hysterically.  Your attitude during this time is so commendable!!  Your always in my thoughts.
Missie
http://journals.aol.com/chat2missie/MissiesUpsideDownWorld/

Anonymous said...

I'm new to your journal but have been reading a few entries , I just want to say your very brave and glad your family is with you , I'm sure you will come out of this and look back and say, I'M WONDER WOMEN,,,,,,,,, good luck to you, DIANE

Anonymous said...

ALL my best wishes, love and hugs comin' your way babes!!
You are AMAZING!

Good luck, take care,

Lv Stevie
xxx

Anonymous said...

Oh the barium drink stuff doesn't sound like fun, will pass on your offer of having a few shots of it with you......keep your wonderful sense of humor, you are going to be one gorgeous lady with a flat tummy, but heck you deserve that after all you've had to deal with.....take care, will look forward to your next message when you're able to get to journaling.   Bless you.....Arlene (AJ)

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Anonymous said...

I just hope that it goes fast for you, and that your recovery is quick.  I agree with Shelia, if you can maybe borrow a laptop, Circuit city just had specials for $299.00 wireless.....that's what my hubby bought. But I know you where theres a will you will find a way...LOL. We are all pulling for you honey....Sandi

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Anonymous said...

I'm going in for surgery on the 16th also. I'll be thinking of you Kim. (((hugs)))

Anonymous said...

Good Luck
hugs
Jayne

Anonymous said...

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