Patty's epic adventure

12/30/2020 Before I continue tonight, I want to get something off my chest.  Wait a minute - that was a poor choice of words.  Oh, well, you know what I mean.  When I was at MD Anderson on Monday, one of the doctors I saw was an Internist.  He introduced himself and was very pleasant, however, he said he was a Geriatric Internist.  Get that?!?  My brain was flipping inside out - wondering why a Geriatric Internist was seeing me.  After a fraction of a second, it dawned on me.  I'm old.  The visit went downhill from there.  "Women your age.... yada, yada, yada", was all I heard.  Geez.  Ok, I have some news tonight.  Both David and I had the first COVID vaccination today.  We'll get the second one in 4 weeks.  My Oncologist at MD Anderson told me to get it if I could.  Two hours of sitting at Harvey Hall in Tyler, waiting for our turn, then led like cattle to a slaughter.  It was weird.   I s...

12/28/2020 We left at 7:00 a.m. this morning and got home at 7 p.m. tonight.  8 hours of driving, 3 hours at MD Anderson, and 1 hour to eat/get gas.  I saw an Internist, an Anesthesiologist and peed in the cup for the Lab.  Looks like I'm good to go. David waited in the car for me - again.  They're still not letting anyone in the doors except patients.  It'll be the same when I have surgery on 1/7.  I'll stay overnight, but they won't let him in.  I don't have a time yet.  My pulse got all the way up to 48 today.  I just couldn't seem to get excited.  They were a bit concerned, but not enough to postpone my surgery.  I'll have more info in a couple of days.  

  12/26/20 I had an appointment with the ENT guy.  I liked him at first, but then he put a scope down to my toes through my nose with a little camera on it, and the romance was over.  He said the same thing the Dr. at MD Anderson said.  I have too much acid in my stomach and even though I had a Nissen Fundoplication years ago (and it's still intact), I have too much acid finding it's way up and it's causing my cough.  So, I'm back on meds for that again.  A Fundoplication is where they take the top portion of your stomach and wrap it around the bottom portion of your esophagus so nothing comes up any longer.  It's a one-way street, so to speak.  That's why I won't be able to vomit when I have chemo and they're going to give me two different kinds of meds to control the nausea.  I haven't burped since February of 2018, but I can toot like a pro.  On chili days and taco nights it's quite a propellant.  I'll be going down to MD Anderso...

12/21/2020 Last biopsy came back negative, so that's good.  I'm supposed to make an appt. with my ENT up here to see if he can fix my cough.  I have lots of pictures of my insides to show him, so we'll just call that visit 'show and tell'.  David has been gone for 3 days hunting, so he doesn't even know yet.  He'll be home tonight and I'll fill him in.  Not much news for ya'll other than that.  Sometimes no news is good news, tho.   Here's my annual Christmas riddle: What do you call Santa's helpers? If you said 'elves', you're incorrect. They're Subordinate Clauses.

12/18/2020 I got the results from the biopsy in my stomach today.  I didn't even know they took some for a biopsy.  Go figure.  The doctor said I had some scarring in there, but I don't recall anything else.  Perhaps the anesthesia was still at work for that discussion.  Anyway, it was negative - so good news there.  Still no results for the esophagus biopsy - that's they one I remember.  Perhaps Monday..... sigh.  Another weekend with little sleep.  Ahh, my poor brain is on overload!  My genetic test results came back negative, so that's good news.  My girls can rest easier now, that's for sure.  That means there's less chance I need a double mastectomy and can have a lumpectomy and removal of my lymph nodes.  Either way I will have surgery, chemo, then radiation.  I have 2 forms of cancer:  Metastatic Invasive Ductal and Lobular carcinomas.  That puts a twist on things and I don't have enough information t...

  12/16/20 I don't have much to report, but it's Stacy's birthday today, so I have to write something just to log the date on this site.  David went to the pharmacy for me today after I woke him up from his nap.  I felt bad, but I don't go anywhere these days.  Well, except the doctor.  I drove myself to the doctor today because it was local - for a change.  I was peeing blood this morning.  Not good.  I have a UTI, but won't know anything else until we hear from the lab.  Story of my life.  I still don't have the genetic test results and am scheduled for surgery on 1/7.  I have no idea what kind of surgery since tests are pending, and it's disconcerting, to say the least.  Sleep is elusive because my brain won't shut up and having those results would be beneficial.  Some of you leave messages on this site and I get a notification.  That's great, because I know to go in and read them.  However, for some reason, s...

  12/15/20 We just got home.  Had my COVID test on Saturday.  I passed.  I studied again for that test, so it was inevitable.  It rained 3-1/4" on Sunday at Courtney's house, so we didn't get to go outside.  First thing Monday morning we drove to west Houston to MD Anderson.  I had an appointment with my oncologist and then went upstairs for my endoscopy.  They found the reason I've been coughing for 5 months.  I have a good sized nodule in my esophagus.  They took a biopsy and I should have the results by the end of this week.  My oncologist set up another ultrasound because I have a couple large, new lumps on my breast.  He didn't like the looks of them so I had to spend another night in Houston so I could have it done this morning.  We got up at 5:30 a.m. because the procedure was in Conroe at 7:15 a.m.  I have to arrive 15 minutes early for every appointment and it's mostly because I have to go through 'Checkpoint...

  12/11/20 Still no results from genetic testing.  I've been moved up to the priority list, so at least they have started on them.  We are leaving at 9:30 in the morning for Houston.  I have another COVID test and blood work at the main campus tomorrow afternoon.  We will stay with Courtney this trip.  I have Sunday off and then see my oncologist at the west campus on Monday morning at 10:25 a.m.  When I'm done with him, I go downstairs for an endoscopy.  I will be sedated, but David will be waiting in the parking lot for me.  As always.  Right now, we are planning on driving home afterwards.  If something arises, we'll spend another night down there.  I can sleep all the way home while David drives.  So far, I don't have another appt. in Houston until 12/28. David has been my 'knight in shining armor' during this whole ordeal.  He has been nothing short of spectacular and I want everyone to know he's taking excellent...

  I had surgery yesterday morning to remove my heart monitor.  It went well and I spent the rest of the day sleeping.  Well, almost.  I was tired, so slept.  There.  Around 7 p.m., the doorbell rang.  David answered it because I was in bed.  I didn't hear him talking to anyone, but a few moments later, I heard him close the door.  Odd.  He came into my room and told me to get out of bed and come see the front door.  Again, odd.  I did as instructed, however.  He said he saw a van drive away with its lights off, but saw no one.  However, our front door was completely covered with cards, notes, drawings, cutouts of snowflakes, a Christmas tree covered with chocolates (my personal favorite), etc.  Some of our good friends and their kids spent a great deal of time making decorations and secretly taping them all to our door.  And yes, I cried.  A big thank you goes to the Staley family! No genetic tests yet....

  12/4/2020 Had my tests today.  3-1/2 hours of tests.  They smooshed, poked, prodded, and then took pictures.  I'll get those results early next week.  My latest biopsy results came back today.  They were malignant, also.  I'm still having my heart monitor removed early Monday morning and I should hear about a game plan for my treatment early next week, too.  I was also told that I'm an over-achiever.  I've got an abundance of small nodules in both lungs.  Lots of the little buggars.  However, they don't think that's what's causing my cough, so I'm still no smarter in that respect.

12/3/2020 Went to my cardiologist today.  He scheduled a stress test tomorrow and an echocardiogram.  He won't release me for surgery till he has those results.  I'll study hard tonight to ensure a passing grade tomorrow.  I will have my cardiac monitor removed at 6:45 a.m. Monday morning.  It's a simple surgery and I'll be home by noon.  I can't have radiation with it in place and the incision site hasn't healed properly after 8 weeks, anyway.  Some of the stitches that were supposed to dissolve, have not.  It's red and irritated.  I have good news and bad news:  I learned at MD Anderson that I've shrunk 1/2".  I used to be 5' 2".  Now, I'm 5' 1-1/2".  The good news is: If the sky falls, the tall people will die first.

  12/1/2020 David took me to my 9:00 a.m. appointment at MD Anderson this morning.  I met the oncology radiologist and she sent me to get a CAT scan.  We finally left Houston at 4:00 p.m. and headed home.  200 miles later - we're here!  She answered a lot of questions but I still have to wait until the biopsy results make it back, along with the genetic testing results.  I have to get clearance from my cardiologist, too.  I see him this Thursday, so I'll spring this whole thing on him.  It'll be great.  David sat in the car all day today.  They won't let him in anywhere for anything.  So, he sits in the car alone and I sit inside alone.  This sucks.