A bit of a curve ball . . .

So today I met with the plastic surgeon and because my skin is not healing the way it should, I am going to need an additional surgery, which will delay Chemo for a few weeks – darn!  So my Chemo Kick Off party is off for now and surgery is on for Wednesday (yes, in 4 days).  This surgery will be a 4-6 week recovery time and I will be in the hospital for 3-4 days – probably in ICU at first and then moved to the regular unit when things are stabilized. 

I’m thankful that I have an amazing doctor, since the surgery is a fairly complicated procedure - called the SGAP.  It is actually pretty amazing what they can do – apparently my body didn’t like the foreign object that was placed there in the last procedure, so I’m ok going this route now, knowing that long term it will alleviate a lot of discomfort.  Long term the SGAP has very few complications and upkeep – short-term, it is a little more inconvenient, intensive and basically a pain in the butt (literally ;)) than the first surgery I had.  It’s also not such a bad thing to get some free plastic surgery in the process – LOL, I’ll be expecting calls from Vogue after they get done with me ;).

So after I met with my plastic surgeon, I went to see my oncologist.  He totally agreed with going forward with the surgery before Chemo since we need to take care of the issues I am having before we start putting crazy potions in my body :0.  He and his staff were so nice and patient with my little melt down today when they accessed my port for the first time.  The anticipation was much worse than the reality but needles and blood just are not my favorite.  I’m embarrassed to admit that while I didn’t cry when they told me I had cancer, there have been a few tears shed from the continuous prodding and poking along the way :).

So, I am going to enjoy the next few days before I go back to limited mobility again.  I drove today for the first time in 3 weeks.  I took my nieces out for a belated birthday dinner and a little shopping.  We started the celebration of my “birth week” too, since mine is on Monday the 20^th - if you’re in town, feel free to stop by my house that evening between 7 and 10 p.m.  Since the Chemo party is off, we’re having a little birthday open house before I go under the knife again.  Tuesday I have a small outpatient procedure we need to get done before the surgery on Wednesday, so Monday will be sort of my last supper :) – no eating after midnight.  I’d better enjoy those Skinny Cow ice cream bars I can’t seem to get enough of before then . . .

Since I’ll be a little laid up for awhile, my sisters will be keeping you updated on how things are going, so check back here for the latest.  To quote myself – “I didn’t know it was going to be so fun”!  To quote someone much wiser: "It all works out in the end.  If it is not working out, it is not the end."  Gordon B Hinckley