Surgery Tomorrow

Hi, there. Not much to report, but it's been a few days and I'll be out of commission at least tomorrow, so here I am. This week has been busy with appointments. I had my PET scan on Monday. I'm not sure when the results of that will be back. I'm notified when my online chart gets updated so I'm not sure if I'll see it there first or if it's the kind of thing the doctor discusses with you first (which would be my guess...). 

My weekly acupuncture appointments are doing wonders as well. I haven't had a hot flash in well over a week. They were really awful, all night and day when I started going again so that's been a huge and welcome improvement. When I start chemo back up I'm going to go to acupuncture directly before going next door to chemo. He said that should help with controlling some of the side effects of the chemo. 

I had my heart scan today. There was still a little fluid around my heart, but less than last time (2 months ago) so they think it's resolving itself. I have to keep getting my heart checked every three months while doing chemo/Herceptin so my oncologists will still keeping an eye on it regardless, but it looks like it shouldn't be a problem. My original heart doctor from the hospital, Dr. Trivax, did a double take when he saw me there. I don't think he recognized me at first -- vertical, with hair and wearing something other than a hospital gown. No offense, but I hope I don't have to see him every again -- or at least until next January when they want me to check back in. 

Speaking of Herceptin, there was a little confusion this week -- a phone call saying I had to start coming in weekly for it, then a return call a few hours later saying to keep coming in every three weeks still... I'm really hoping this week of weird misinformation and miscommunication will be the last of it. So, I'll go in next Thursday for my regular infusion, then back again three weeks after that. 

Surgery is tomorrow. James is spending the night elsewhere tonight, Claire's at her mom's and we'll be up and out the door by about 6:30. I think the procedure itself should be over by about 10 and they said I'll be there "most of the day." I can't imagine it will be anything like waking up from my last surgery so hopefully we'll be able to head home by mid-afternoon. 

I'm scheduled to go in Friday for my staging or radiation simulation. They were going to call my surgeon to make sure I'll be allowed to put my arms up for that and I haven't heard back so I'm planning on it. 

On that note, I should get going as I'm going to try to do a few things around the house this evening and make some soup that should feed me for several meals while I'm laying low. Thank you for the continued good wishes and generous gifts and donations. We got some Whole Foods gift cards today that definitely be put to good use!