One More Hurdle Down, Next Week Will (Almost) Be a Vacation

So, I survived the MRI and it wasn't horribly difficult. I didn't bother with the valium at all - I could tell that it was a tube, not a box, and I don't have issues as long as I can see or sense a way out. So, I accepted whatever they had in mind or fed me through my IV line, relaxed and concentrated on my breathing, and listened to a lot of VERY loud noises for what seemed like forever. There was music playing in the background, but it was quite faint and easily overtaken by the interesting noises of the machine doing its' thing. But basically, all I did was follow instructions and lie there. The cushion that my sternum should have been resting on, however, raised me too high for what they needed, so they took away the cushion and covered the metal plate with a cloth. My sternum is still sore from having my weight resting on it for more than 30 minutes against that hard metal surface. 

A breast MRI scan (this is NOT mine, BTW) can show 
details, locations and extent clearer than almost any other 
options. That's especially true in women with dense 
breast tissue (which is what I've got). My doctor wanted 
a much closer and more comprehensive look at my cancer 
to make sure she wasn't missing anything when she perform 
surgery in a couple of weeks. 

My friend Claire, aka "Chickie Mama" picked me up at the shop and drove me to and from the Radiology Lab. She said she gets these scans every six months, and Chickie has had them at least once before as well. Both of them warned me about how loud the sounds are. Oh yeah! They're super loud and rather interesting. The sounds aren't all the same, either. There is a variety of sound meanings, variations, descriptions and lengths. It actually was pretty interesting. I'll forgo further examination of the sounds until I'm supposed to go through another one of these, however. 

Look at these lovely different MRI scans under different 
types of dyes. MRI is one of the best ways to isolate 
brain tumors - there's not much better ways since you 
can't actually feel for lumps or invasive tissues. Each color 
in the photos above is a different type of dye that the 
MRI can work with, and each type of dye focuses on 
a different type of tumor or area. 

I had an IV, of course - yet another puncture hole. They actually injected me with a contrast dye towards the end of the procedure. I was amused at the end of the session, when I was finally released from the tube and allowed to get my sternum away from that hard surface. They wrapped up my arm, telling me to leave the pressure bandage on for at least 30 minutes. I think I remembered to remove it an hour or so later. But ... what I found amusing were the twin vampire marks on my arm. I couldn't see where the IV had actually been positioned, but apparently my skin had been pressure folded in two places and it looked exactly like two gashes, equidistant apart from each other and approximately 1/2 inch long, 1-1/2 inches closer to my wrist. Vampires! LOL 

Every monster has its' pet. Witches traditionally 
have cats, vampires traditionally have bats. I have 
no real idea what the Mummy would have, but 
maybe a dung beetle? LOL

But one more hurdle has been passed and I'm one step closer to resolution and surgery. Next week I have my pre-op physical, and then, the following week I have my lumpectory. It's been quite the ride. It's not over quite yet, but I'm much closer. That's good, because I don't think DH could put up with much more of this. He's going a little bonkers with all of the tests, do-hickeys and whats-a-maholics. We just want this over with so that we can live our lives again. Of course, we'll be arguing constantly once again, but I'll take this small respite from that attitude and enjoy it while I can. Have an excellent Friday and I'll be back to wrap up the week tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

It's MRI Day - A Busy One Right From the Start

I was planning to awaken in time to work out on the treadmill before my shower and trip to Midwest Radiology for my MRI. But, I was feeling a bit under the weather, so at 2:15 am, I went on a hunt for a thermometer. I wanted to take my temperature and see if there was a reason I was feeling a bit poorly. After one digital thermometer and one standard one agreed on a 99.6 temp, I resigned myself to having a very low grade temp. I'll mention it if needed, of course, but although it's about 98.6, it barely qualifies. It's certainly NOT in fever range, so I'm not horribly worried about my health impacting the appointments upcoming. 

I'm in the Low Grade section at 99.6. I wanted to take 
my temp again this morning, but haven't yet. I'll 
have to do that before I have my morning tea. 

So today is the MRI and then I can return to a "normal" schedule until early February. I'll actually have a full week ahead without any doctor appointments! It's a MIRACLE! Actually ... that's not quite true. I have my pre-op physical scheduled for next week Wednesday at 7:30 am. That should be pretty standard and an in/out fairly quickly. It's ALMOST like getting a week off at this point - LOL. 

I think I'll be OK without the valium. I 
hope so, because I have to be functional 
at the shop, and I won't be if I take the 
relaxants. So, I'll try to skip those and see 
if my breathing and meditation techniques 
will see me through. 

DH and I filled out End of Life Directive forms over the past few days. Our desires are quite different, DH focuses on lucidity - he doesn't want to hang around if his brain is on permanent vacation. I totally understand that. Mine has to do with quality - can I interact with others, am I mobile, am I actually able to enjoy the life that's in front of me. As long as I can find something to enjoy (and read - books are essential to my life), I'm probably OK. I'll change a couple of things in mine this morning, and Claire and Chickie will witness our signing the forms after Claire drops me off at the shop after my MRI. She's been such an amazing friend through all of this. I can't believe I got so lucky as to have two amazing people like Chickie and Chickie Mama in my life. Not everyone is that fortunate. 

DH and I each filled out separate Advance Directive forms 
for our broker to have on file for us. We'll also keep copies 
in our own records. But here's the difference between us. 
He concentrated on whether he was lucid or not. I only 
cared that I was happy, and physically pain-free. He wept 
throughout his filling the form out, I was quite matter-of-fact 
about filling mine out. Once I got started, it really almost 
filled itself out for me. Not a tear in sight for me. I'm a 
practical person in that regard. 

So, I'm cutting this off. I feel a need for a hot cuppa and a quick breakfast before getting bundled up and heading over to the shop. I need to be there by 7:30 for Claire to pick me up and take me to the Radiology center. I must admit, I do love the advances that medicine has made over the decades I've been alive. It's quite phenomenal. Have an excellent day and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

Upcoming MRI, Coughs, Cooking, and "The Hat"

I'm finally caught up with posts I had missed. It's been a crazy few weeks, and we're not finished yet. DH is at least staying away from me, so I'm coughing less and think I might be able to pull off this MRI tomorrow after all. At least that's my hope. I'm not sure I'll do the Valium, though. I seem to be able to control my coughing a bit better if I'm not befuddled. And, looking at images on-line, it's not a totally enclosed chamber - it's a tunnel. I can usually handle tunnels as long as I can see the exit. So ... we'll see how I do tomorrow. 

I don't have claustrophobia if I can see an out, 
so I think I'll actually be OK. I'll be enclosed, but 
not 100% locked in. As the saying goes: There's 
light at the end of the tunnel. LOL

What I do know for a fact is that my doctor needs the imaging to make sure she knows exactly where the tumor is located. That's kind of important stuff - LOL. Me? I'm more worried about where I check into the hospital for the surgery. It's a very large hospital, and I want to make sure I can do it efficiently, not waste time going from one location to another. I think I'll phone my Doc and ask the team this question so that we're all now wasting time. 

United Hospital is a large hospital near downtown 
Saint Paul, MN. The last thing I want is to check in 
at the wrong side of it and be late for the surgery 
on the 4th. I have time to check that out, though. 

Today I'm grocery shopping, depositing DH's check and paying a lot of bills, and making soup. I'm still undecided about what soup I'll make, but it's cold up here in the Frozen Northlands, and soup is my go-to in cold temps. The last one I made, the cabbage soup, was WONDERFUL. I absolutely loved it and I'll make that one again. But not today. Variety is the spice of life, after all. 

I'm in the mood for a nice vegetable soup today. I'll have to 
see what veggies look good when I go to the store in an 
hour or so. 

So we're starting out another Trump presidency. It's four years that we have to check off on our calendars, and we can only hope that we'll still be an independent nation of mixed peoples and cultures after those four years have passed. I have to say that I loved Melania's choice of headgear. She could stand up there, look prim and polished, and ignore 90% of what was happening around her. Nobody could tell the difference. LOL. 

I have to give her credit - not everyone could have 
pulled of the "Lady of Mystery and Mourning" that 
Melania managed at the changeover of power ceremonies. 
I actually rather like the hat ... on her! LOL

"Honey, did you see how masterfully I took over my old 
job?"

"No dear, I couldn't see a thing in front of me." LOL

Have an excellent Wednesday. Tomorrow is the MRI, but I think I'll still have the opportunity to post, although it might be a short post. If I don't post early, I'll post late and let everyone know if I freaked out or not - LOLOL. Slava Ukraini. 

ARGH and Sharon's Retiring! YAHOO!

I'm officially going on record that I'm really pissed off at DH for giving me his cold. I'm not constantly coughing the way that he is, but there's a tenseness in my lungs. Of course, I have my MRI scheduled for Thursday where I CAN'T move, so coughing isn't on the menu. Yeah ... I'm pissed. 

Coughing - bleh! I'd better not have a coughing fit 
while I'm getting my MRI on Thursday. 

We're in the deep freeze here in the Frozen Northlands, and I gave in last night and added my Mom's crocheted afghan to my bedding. I was warm and cozy, so I decided to allow myself a bit more sleep (desperately needed). Thus, today's post is a short one. 

I was warm and cozy under the blankets once I added 
my Mom's afghan to the layers. But it's frigid outside, 
and I'm not looking forward to going to the shop. 

My BFF Sharon has turned in her documentation and will be retired from being the BEST Librarian in the Denver Public Library system, on February 1st. I'm so pleased for her. She has loved being a librarian, posted at a crazy little library with some serious class. I know she'll enjoy her retirement too, but it will be a radical change for her. Mazeltov, my dear friend! 

Sharon has worked at the Decker Library branch for many 
years. It's a charming building constructed in 1912 and 
restored in 1993. It's got class, and it's loved by its' neighborhood. 

\

And that's it for today. Short, to the point, and I'm heading up for breakfast and then out into the -18F temperatures. Ick! Have a wonderful Tuesday and I'll be here tomorrow. 

COLD and Schedules and DH is Sick

It's going to be a VERY busy week this week, and DH is nursing a head cold. He's coughing and sniffling and I'm staying as FAR AWAY from him as possible because I am NOT having my upcoming breast cancer surgery placed in jeopardy because he's being stubborn. Although I would be solo at the shop toady, it's actually a really good day for him to stay home. Our current temp is -13F (-25C) and I doubt I'll have a ton of customers today. Minnion won't be happy staying outdoors in the parking lot either, but we'll carry on. If necessary, I can call Chickie to maybe come out for an hour or two. But I doubt it will be necessary. 

We usually don't get snow when it's this cold, so that's 
one thing to be grateful for. The mere thought of being 
outdoors, shoveling the driveway in this temp is NOT 
a good one. 

DH has a photography project that he's been working on so that we can put some of our items into various auctions. It's important - I fully understand that. But I think it's more important that he get over this head cold ASAP, and that's not going to happen if he's driving back and forth in these temperatures. 

I actually think I'll be OK on the MRI, but they 
will have Valium available for me if I'm 
totally freaked out by the closed-in feeling. 
Since there actually is an in-out that's not 
locked away, I'll probably be fine without 
the drugs. 

I'll be tied up on Wednesday, have my MRI on Thursday, and have things I have to do on Friday, so if he's going to be sick, today and tomorrow are his best bet because I'll be able to handle the shop today and I'll have Chickie tomorrow. I left him a LARGE note telling him to stay home. He won't pay attention, and I'll be really angry that he's endangering my labs and my surgery with his stubbornness. ARGH! MEN! Are all men this pig-headed? 

Pig-headed is the definition of DH, and right now 
he's worse than usual. His attitude is NOT helping 
me at all, though, although he claims it's all 
for me. BS! 

But, at least I got a good run on on the treadmill, I've got the battery for my electric vest powered up and ready to go, and I'm fully able to handle the temperatures. I won't LIKE being in them, but that's irrelevant. LOL I can do this - I live in Minnesota. (I assume it's probably even COLDER in Canada, but I think this is about as far North as I'm willing to live - LOL). 

Personally, I'd LOVE the opportunity to stay warm and 
cozy at home for the day. But I'M obviously the 
intelligent person in the family. *sigh*

Have an excellent Monday, stay warm and cozy if you're in the cooler climates, enjoy your heat if you're in the Southern Hemisphere. I'll trudge along and manage, somehow, to make it to the shop and back home again today. I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

So It's Cancer But It's Small and We're Moving Ahead

Yesterday I met with my surgeon - a wonderful, funny, lively woman who I think will do a wonderful job. She spent almost an hour with me and my friend Claire, going through the results of my pathology and why she recommended one pathway over another, one decision over another. I discovered that my actual tumor is between 6 and 8 mm in total size, that we found it early - very important - and that I could choose either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy (removing just the cancerous "lump" or the entire breast). My decision was to go with the lumpectomy since we found things early and it seems quite contained. 

Mastectomy (left) is the total removal of the breast. One 
of my friends chose this option when she was diagnosed 
with cancer, but mine is quite small and very localized, 
so I've opted for the lumpectomy (right). 

I need to go through the paperwork in more detail today and set up an appointment for an MRI. That's the next step. Of course, I'm very claustrophobic, so the MRI may well be the most difficult thing on my agenda. But, I'll get it done. They'll prescribe valium for me, but I'll have to ask Claire to drive me to the appointment and back home again since I can't drive while under the effects of a tranquilizer. 

I've never had an MRI and I have extreme claustrophobia, 
so we'll have me take some drugs to lessen the phobia 
and make the enclosed space more tolerable for me. It 
still won't be my favorite thing. 

But all in all, the appointment went well, the prognosis looks good, and I'm relieved. I'm not out of the dark quite yet, we still have to actually accomplish all of this in as short a time as we can manage. So I'll be on the phone today with this person and that one to get the balls rolling. It was very helpful having Claire there for emotional support. She's a "sharp cookie" and there's not a lot that escapes her. I'm quite fortunate in my friends. 

So I have a lot on my agenda today. I'm cutting this off here, because I need to get going on it. Have an excellent Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini.