First F*** Up . . .

And it ain't mine.

Today The Old Boot and I headed out of the house at 8 AM to get to CancerCare in time for my 9 AM appointment. I am always amazed at the amount of traffic headed into the downtown; it makes me nervous and I get rather snippy with The Old Boot because he insists on driving my car and I am not a good passenger in my own car. I am much better if I'm driving. The traffic doesn't bother me anywhere near as much.

After a tense drive over the CancerCare, it was a relief to get to a parking spot, walk to CancerCare, and find the clinic where my appointment was.

When we checked in, the receptionist couldn't find my paperwork, so we were asked to sit down. In a few minutes, a nurse comes out and, after apologizing, tells us there has been a mistake and that the doctor I am to see isn't even in the office today. Well, consarn it all anyhow!

Having worked in medical offices, I know that once in a while, someone falls between the cracks, especially when you have doctors that work at more than one location, such as the oncologist I was to see. It is just the way things go; no matter how careful people are there are sometimes miscommunications between the offices, and there is simply no point in getting worked up and angry about it. So I was gracious, told the nurse it was not a problem, and she promised to get us booked in again as soon as possible.

The time at HSC was not totally wasted; I took a thank-you card up to the staff on GH-3 where I recovered from surgery, and we popped in to visit The Old Boot's aunt who works at HSC.

Once we got home, mom had already had a call from the doctor's office rebooking my appointment to next Thursday, November 6, same time, same place - one more week to find out what the next steps will be.

-- Lori

Just a Few Thoughts . . .

On Monday mom and I went shopping, I to get my new cell phone activated and she to have a browse in the bookstore for recipe books aimed at feeding a cancer survivor well. She found a book called Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor, by Kris Carr. It's the second of two books and is sort of a workbook for the first, the first being Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips. Well, the highly twisted, demented and irreverent sense of humor of the book matches my own so I just had to go back yesterday and buy the first book!

Most of yesterday I spent reading Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips (I was kind of tired out from the play Monday night and needed a lazy day). I laughed, I cried, I thought deep thoughts, I plumbed some personal depths that haven't been plumbed in years. I have definitely found a resource that will help me plan out some of the next steps of my cancer journey, a resource that is lighthearted but serious, as opposed to one book I started to read that was kind of doom and gloom, do-this-or-you-die heavy. Yuck. Don't need that in my life. Never finished that book.

Tomorrow is the big day, the preliminary meeting with my oncologist at CancerCare. I woke up at about 3 AM and couldn't get back to sleep so I did some research on the commonly used chemotherapy drugs used for pancreatic cancer. I don't do this research to scare myself, although that sometimes happens. I do it so I can ask intelligent questions of the doctors and nurses, so I have some background knowledge as a framework for moving forward with my medical posse.

I even did one of the things we patients are always told to do: I made a list of questions to ask the doctor. So sometime after the appointment tomorrow, I'll hopefully be posting some more news about the next steps on my path.

Stay tuned!

-- L

And Now For Something Completely Different . . .

Last night, my mom and I had a rare treat - we went to a play!

Through the kindness of friends, we were given two tickets to see Pride and Prejudice at the Manitoba Theatre. So away we went. The Old Boot was kind enough to drop us off and pick us up so we didn't need to worry about parking and then getting into a cold car to get home. The play ran from 8 PM to about 10:40. By the middle, I was getting sleepy because I have been hitting the hay at about 9 PM, but a couple of times I rested my head on mom's shoulders for a bit, closed my eyes, had a mininap, and managed to stay for the whole thing.

If you're a Jane Austen fan, especially if you love Pride and Prejudice, then you're probably like me and are rather sceptical of any production that tries to stuff all the action of the book into two and a half hours. But the playwright did not too bad a job and got all the important bits in. I did miss some of the characters and scenes that were left out, though. I guess I'm a purist at heart.

Anyway, if you have an inkling you'd like to see the play, I can tell you that it is enjoyable and rather humorous.

-- Lori

CancerCare Continued . . .

Once again I am impressed with how quickly the medical system is working for me.

I got a call from CancerCare Manitoba yesterday saying they had an opening on Thursday, October 30, at 9 AM, and would that be convenient for me? Heck yeah, of course!

How's that for quick? We went from waiting for weeks to waiting for days! Yippee!

Having never been through this process before, I am not sure what to expect from the first visit, but I am hoping that the doctor will be able to lay out a treatment plan for us, give us information on the chemo drugs they will be using, the side effects I can expect, the schedule for appointments, and all that interesting and important stuff. I just hope I am recovered enough from the surgery to be able to start the chemo soon. I will of course be taking along my Rock, The Old Boot, to the appointment, and will of course update this blog to keep all of you dear readers in the know.

-- Lori

CancerCare Manitoba . . .

I have finally heard from CancerCare. Got a call from the referrals clerk yesterday to let me know they had received the referral and my file, and that a doctor will be reviewing the file and then an appointment will be arranged for me.

When I asked how long that would take, the clerk said it usually took weeks, but that in my case she thought they would hurry things up a bit.

Here's hoping I won't have to wait too long.

-- Lori

Readjusting . . .

Good morning, folks!

I thought I had better post something today to let you all know that things are going pretty well. I am eating a little better every day, gaining a little more strength and stamina every day, and am generally on the mend.

However, I am having some difficulty readjusting to life at home, mainly because I have to behave so differently. At home, I'm used to doing this, doing that, cleaning, cooking, etc., but I find myself unable to do much. So I am struggling (weakly) to just let others take care of me and not get too wound up when I can't do something that I ordinarily would do.

In hospital, it was easy to let others do everything - the setting is so different. All you have to do is relax, do as you're told, and trust in the people around you to help you get well. The hospital has its own rhythm, and that also helps because after a few days, you know when bloodwork is done, when you'll get your Heparin shot, when breakfast, lunch and supper are served. You just rely on the hospital rhythm to choreograph your day.

At home, I find I want to fall into my old rhythm but I can't, because I'm an "invalid". So I am working toward building a different rhythm for this time: several short walks a day, regular meal times, naps in the afternoon, that kind of thing. But it's hard.

-- Lori

I'm Home!

Even though Tara already wrote a post to let everyone know I got sprung from the hospital today, I have to write my own to say a few things:

1. Man, am I glad to be disconnected from the pumps and the hoses and the monitors! I can walk around without dragging any machinery! I no longer have people asking me about my urine, gas and stool output. (Sorry, I know this is a bit graphic, but it gets tiresome having nurses ask when was the last time you peed. Every time I saw a nurse, s/he was sure to ask about some bodily function or other.)

2. Man, am I glad to be home! Just to bask in quietness after the continuous background roar of hospital noises is a treat. Plus, I got home to a very unexpected surprise: The Spice Moms and a couple of friends in cahoots with my mother had redone my bedroom - repainted, recurtained, rearranged and really nicely done. The bathroom was redone too; not too sure about purple in the bathroom but it will grow on me, I'm sure.

3. Man, am I glad I have so many friends! So many came to visit in the hospital, so many sent cards or gifts or flowers, so many sent messages of hope and good cheer, that my spirits were always buoyed up. I feel such gratitude for all of this support. Thank you, everyone.

-- Lori

Home Sweet Home!!!

Hello, this is Tara. Mom's youngest daughter for those who don't know! I am here to inform everyone that Mom is no longer in the hospital and is now home. So I hope some people check this before going to the hospital to visit her XD

. . . I don't know what else to say so I will end it here. . .

TOOTLES!!!

straight from the horses mouth

I only suffered minor bruises during todays visit; but I must say mother is getting stronger with each day that passes. I dread the day she is out of the hospital. Surely she will beat me to a bloody pulp...

This is a note wot my mom wrote for her fans!

"Today is a red-letter day.
1) Ten days post-op and I have finally eaten something like real food - porridge! (Hospital porridge is only 'something' like real food)
2)Nasogastric tube came out this morning. No more rubber hose a-danglin' from my nose! And hopefully, no more sore nose.
3) Staples - all 27 of them - are now out. It feels odd not to feel that little pull every time I breathe or move, but I'm sure I'll adjust quickly".


I have been asked to post more photos of the foliage sent our way. Here they be.








How lovely!
--Kyra

Hey Doc, What's For Lunch?

Hi everyone.

It is October 13 (Thanks Giving Day), ten days from the day of surgery. I'm sure that by now you are wondering what has been going on in the recovery room of our Lori. I am happy to announce that Lori is growing stronger by the day and is quite capable of being a real nusiance in the hallways of the ward. She is able to move herself around with relative ease and has pretty much weaned herself off of the morphine and is seeing the world through the eyes of a rehabilitated junkie once again.

Yesterday marked the day of Lori's first taste of food. They claimed to have served her a consome, jello and a cup of the house tea. In reality, the consome actually smelled like chiken soup, but the jello is terribly bland and the tea tastes like reheated mop bucket water.

Today Lori was hoping to have an actual bowl of chicken noodle soup. But I don't think she got to. She did manage to get another broth, a jello that I'm sure you could use as a tile grout and some ice cream that was actually already past its expiration date by Lori's observation. She said it tasted old, like it had that freezer skin outer layer taste to it. MMMMMMM yummy.

We have also reached another milestone in Lori's recovery. Today she got her staples out and the incision is healing very nicely. Cindy Smith (a very dear friend of Lori's) was present at her side to witness the removal of the staples. I would have loved to have been there for that one, but hey, you snooze you lose, right? Lori got the staple remover as a keepsake,they were just going to throw it out anyway. What a memento. I know exactly why she got it though. She wants to pinch me with it, I'm sure.

Lori wants me to tell all of you how very much she appreciates all of your visits, your cards, your flowers, shawls, prayer blankets and baskets of beautiful gifts that you have lovingly given her. You are all so very important in her life, and although it is not often enough said, you must know that you are loved. Thank you all so very very much.

As we see it, if Lori continues to heal at the rate that she is going,it should not be long at all before we can bring her home to relax in the comfort of her home. The doctors say that she could not go home till she can eat. Well, it might be hospital food, but it's still concidered eating, so we are nearing our release date at a very good pace.

Well, thats my update for now. I hope you all enjoy my musings and are able to slip in for a little visit to help break up Lori's day.

I am sincerely

The ole boot

"Flowers"

Nana tells me that I am supposed to post a photo of these lovely flowers. Here they be:





And as always, here is an amusing youtube video for your enjoyment.



--Kyra

after the surgery

Hi everyone. This is Lori's husband. More than likely known to most of you as "the ole boot". And here is my update as requested by lori.

Sorry that I havn't done this a little earlier,but I have been a little tired from the late nights and have not been able to get near the computer.
On October 03 ,as you all know,Lori had her surgery for her cancer. The original plan for this surgery was to go in,look around and remove the cancerous areas. The immediate culprit for eviction was the tumor on the pancreous, the head of the pancreous and possibly any little offspring that charlene had during her visit.
Once this was done a little replumbing and poof,Bobs yer uncle ,we are done.But, unfortunately,I am sad to say,this was not the case. After goin in,the surgeon found
yet another little spawn of charlene on the side of the liver. A biopsy of this little bugger was sent to the lab and was also labelled malignant.
While the surgeons were inside they looked further and diagnosed that the cancer had also spread to the lymph nodes.This unfortunately,is a little more serious than we wanted to hear and had an unwelcome affect on the surgical proceedings.
After discovering the additional complications,the surgeons had to inform us that they could not complete the surgery as planned. The cancer had spread further than they had anticipated and they had to do a lesser procedure than hoped for.
The surgery that was completed included the redirection of the bileduct from the large intestine to the small intestine to alleviate the pain that Lori was having which will help in her recovery.They also used alcohol on some of the nerves to deaden them in an attempt also to relieve more agony while Lori trys to restrengthen herself for the upcoming battle.
The truely sad part of this is that charlene and her little demons remain unwelcome guests in the temple which is Lori. The Drs decided that because of the degree of the spread of the disease ,the eviction of charlene and her demon spawn would not help the outcome and would only increase the post surgery pain and recooperation time.
At this point we must now look ahead to the possibility of alternative methods to
deal with shrinking the tumors to a manageable size and possibly turn the tables to remission.
We are now looking at our options and concidering chemotherapy as the next step in
this battle.
At this writing,it is Oct 06 and Lori is recovering well. Her post surgery pain is lessening each day and she is able to take short walks down the aisles with the aide of a walker and a very handsome and loving husband.Each day seems to bring some strength back and motion and movent comes a little easier.
At this point,I would like to say how very impressed we have been with our Drs and nurses throughout our ordeal. With each little piece of information gained,a new part of the team came on board in full force. We have in Manitoba a truely magnificent team of Drs, nurses,coordinators,secretaries,and volunteers that have shown the true meaning of professionality and compassion to us and all of those that I heve met and seen during these past few weeks leading up to today.
The communication between the different areas involved in putting together an attack plan on charlene and her demon spawn was absolutely incredible. Appointments,scheduling,bloodwork, mri's,surgery, all made at breakneck speed due to the severity of the situation.None of this could be done without dedicated , professional,and caring people,which we seem to be fortunate to have an abundance of in our Manitoba Health care system.
Well, this is my first ever blog entry and I hope that this puts clear where we are in serving official eviction notice to charlene and her demon spawn.I will try to keep you posted more frequently as to Lori's condition and any new ideas,plans or concerns .

I am sincerely

The ole boot

Recovery

I still don't know what's going on, but mum's recovering from her surgery. She's not as screwey as she was in Friday, which is nice.

Thanks for all the comments, as well. It's good to know that so many people are rooting for my mom.

I promised her I'd sabotage the crap out of her blog, so here's something I think that EVERYONE can enjoy.



--Kyra

Hi Urrvabody

Don't get all excited; this is Kyra, Lori's firstborn.

Here's the deal: I don't know what the deal is. Mum had her surgery yesterday and when I got to the hospital I was informed that it "didn't go too well": something along the lines of the cancer had spread to her lymph node? Please don't get all excited, or read too much into this particular blog, because I have no idea what's going on. All I know is that they couldn't get rid of the cancer.

Here is a video for your enjoyment. If you care about our family, you will watch the entire thing.




--Kyra

Last Post Before Surgery . . . .

Surgery time is finally just around the corner.

It's hard to believe that it has only been a little over five weeks since my GP told me I had pancreatic cancer. It feels like it has been five months.

Charlene gets evicted tomorrow!

As I said in an earlier post, my People will be updating this blog in my stead for the next two weeks at least. I may write something up and ask them to post it, but generally what they post will be their own words. Having them take over the blog will be interesting for me, as well, because I won't have access to a computer for a while and I'm already wondering what sorts of things my People will write.

When you post a comment on the blog, my husband will automatically be notified. Also, he has access to my personal e-mail account and will be checking it for me. If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment or e-mail, and I'm sure he'll get back to you.

One more sleep!

-- L

Two More Sleeps . . .

I am still having good success with the Percocet. No side effects so far and the pain control is great! Being relatively pain free is sure helping me prepare for surgery because I have more energy and actually feel pretty good both physically and mentally. Getting good sleep helps immensely too, and I have had dreamless, deep sleeps the last two nights.

I have already made a list of things I will be taking with me into hospital and have started packing. When I start packing too soon I have a tendency to take way too much stuff with me so I have selected my smallest suitcase and vow that when it is full, that's it - no more stuff!!! If there is anything I desperately need, my People can always bring it to the hospital for me.

Today will be my last day at work for a while, and we really don't know how long I will be away. This surgery seems to have a different healing timeline for everyone so it is very hard to estimate exactly how long I will be off work. Also, I don't know much yet about what will be happening after I have recovered. I know I will be having chemotherapy at some point but until the surgeons get Charlene the heck outta there and see exactly what kind of a malignant thing she is, what kind of damage she may have caused by squatting in my ribcage, and most important, if she has sent any nasty offspring to other parts of my body, they can't really make firm plans for follow up and chemotherapy.

So at the moment, I have only one major thing to concentrate on - the surgery. And all I really have to do is get myself to the hospital on time, let the medical members of my Eviction Team do their thing, then follow their instructions for getting myself healed up.

Easy!

Two more sleeps.

-- L