Decision Made-All Guns On Board

mojogirl67
mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306

I couldn't get comfortable this morning so I am up with a heating pad. Thought I would update. I went back to MUSC Wednesday. They took out all of the staples and I met with both of my doctors. The colon doctor said he took out 19 lymph nodes and all were negative and that his margins were good as well. He still wants me to do the remaining seven chemo treatments for mop-up of as many as I can tolerate. My liver surgeon said the same. They will take out the Avastin so that's one plus. Both doctors said we were aiming hard for "cure" and that I have had the best results I could have gotten. I like chemo says no one ever, lol. In the scope of healing, I figure that whatever I have been doing (including my supplements in the mix) has been working and I will stick with it unless I have a bad reaction. I meet with my oncologist April 1st to discuss everything and will start chemo again soon after. I can't imagine with all of the discomfort I have going on right now doing chemo as well in a few weeks. I am just praying that the pain lessens and I wll heal quickly in the next weeks before all of this starts. One odd things is that I think they pulled my shoulder sockett out somehow during surgery and it has ached almost as much as my liver. I am just living for the day when I can crawl into my bed without pillows stuffed everywhere and sleep thru the night. I have stoppd taking the Oxi for pain due to the severe constipation. My liver doctor suggested Ibuprofen which I thought was actually bad to take but they said no for short periods. So, I am only doing the Iburprofen now. Walking helps and I am doing that daily as well as stretching to preven adhesions. What a ride this has been. One that I NEVER want to get back on. I am chomping at the bit to drive and get back to my mountains before chemo for a week or so. How soon did some of you start driving after a resection? I hope this finds all of you with something good in your day! Hugs...M

 

Comments

  • Kazenmax
    Kazenmax Member Posts: 463 Member
    This is wonderful news! I

    This is wonderful news! I know you are hurting but that will pass. As I sit here,  3 years after my surgery, I can’t believe how good I feel. At the time I thought I would never be the same. Well technically I’m not the same but I am better. I’m sending you love to help you get through the next couple of months. Let’s just say 2019 sucks but next year will be so much better.

    k

  • Lily Flower
    Lily Flower Member Posts: 260 Member
    0 lymph nodes. That is great

    0 lymph nodes. That is great news. The soreness will take a while to dissipate but it will get better. I drove to my follow up surgeon's appointment 3 weeks after the surgery. The only thing that bothered me a bit was the seatbelt. It pushed up against my incision that I had to pull it out the whole time with my left hand while driving. It wasn't painful just annoying. I've been out of my surgery for a year and a half now and I feel fabulous. :D You will too and you will get through the chemo and on your way being healthy again! 

  • Diane_K
    Diane_K Member Posts: 84 Member
    Wonderful news about the

    Wonderful news about the negative lymph nodes!  You do have a great chance of being cured!  Most of my pain was in my ribs.  It felt like they were cracked.  I wonder exactly what they are doing in there to cause so much pain beyond the liver.  Because of my rib pain I didn't drive myself for about a month.  It was difficult to get in and out of the car.

    Good news. Best wishes.

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    Good results

    Congratulations on the good results.  I started driving two days after leaving the hospital.  The bumps were a bit painful at first, but independent mobility is core to my life.

    I had problems taking Ibuprofen, perhaps it is novel to me, or perhaps it is influenced by the chemo.  But it made me dizzy and caused fainting.  I did a lot better with plain aspirin, which may not be too good right after surgery (I took no pain meds when I got home after surgery).   Maybe you could try medical marijuana or a glass of wine?

    Bromelain is reputed to help reduce swelling after surgery and to help with healing.  It also has anti-cancer potential.

    Best of luck on your new path.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    Good news! Congratulations! I

    Good news! Congratulations! I think after any surgery you're not supposed to drive for 6 weeks. The anaesthetic stays in your system for a month and if you were to be involved in an accident you could be blamed. At least that's how it is here.

    I have no idea how quickly I'd have healed after mine because I ended up with complications but I was good for a few days and walking lots in a day or two. Almost 5 years ago, I can't quite remember.

    Hoping for a quick recovery for you!

    Jan

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    I tell the story of my last

    I tell the story of my last liver resection, I came out of recovery with two strained biceps and the long back muscles on my right side. The opioids they gave me were inadequate and all my begging for something else just looked like drug seeking behavior, I guess. It hurt so much to lie back that I finally crawled to the chair by the bed [12 hours out of surgery] and spent the night leaning forward with the edge of the bed catching me if I nodded off too far. Come mid-morning a nurse offered me Benadryl, which I didn't know about, but after taking I barely made it on to the bed before passing out for several hours. My surgical wound was 12 inches up and more then twelve to my right side, but thosed strained back muscles hurt way more. The moral of the story came when it was time to fix the big hernia. I made sure they knew opioids were ineffective for me, and the dilaudid worked much better. I'm happy to hear the nodes, the margins, and the plans are all good, you may suprise yourself in coping with the chemo, I did. About a week after getting home I drove short trips  just to feel normal again. If you do, take your pillow, lots of reasons to cough out there, lol. Upward and onward...............................................Dave

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306
    Kazenmax said:

    This is wonderful news! I

    This is wonderful news! I know you are hurting but that will pass. As I sit here,  3 years after my surgery, I can’t believe how good I feel. At the time I thought I would never be the same. Well technically I’m not the same but I am better. I’m sending you love to help you get through the next couple of months. Let’s just say 2019 sucks but next year will be so much better.

    k

    Next Year Will Be Better

    I'm glad you are better. Don't think any of us will ever be the same after being in the ring with this disease but yes, cheers to a better year coming! Thank you for the encouragement and support. It is soaked up and so very much appreciated! Hugs, M

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306

    0 lymph nodes. That is great

    0 lymph nodes. That is great news. The soreness will take a while to dissipate but it will get better. I drove to my follow up surgeon's appointment 3 weeks after the surgery. The only thing that bothered me a bit was the seatbelt. It pushed up against my incision that I had to pull it out the whole time with my left hand while driving. It wasn't painful just annoying. I've been out of my surgery for a year and a half now and I feel fabulous. :D You will too and you will get through the chemo and on your way being healthy again! 

    Thank you!

    The soreness definitely sucks but hopefully lessens each day. I may try driving next week if all keeps going well. Thank you for sharing and the well wishes!..Hugs, M

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306
    Diane_K said:

    Wonderful news about the

    Wonderful news about the negative lymph nodes!  You do have a great chance of being cured!  Most of my pain was in my ribs.  It felt like they were cracked.  I wonder exactly what they are doing in there to cause so much pain beyond the liver.  Because of my rib pain I didn't drive myself for about a month.  It was difficult to get in and out of the car.

    Good news. Best wishes.

    The Ribs..Ouch

    I guess with all they do during surgery, it is no wonde we are sore. I hope things have progressed well in your treatment and wish you well! Thank you for the note..much appreciated Hugs, M

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306

    Good results

    Congratulations on the good results.  I started driving two days after leaving the hospital.  The bumps were a bit painful at first, but independent mobility is core to my life.

    I had problems taking Ibuprofen, perhaps it is novel to me, or perhaps it is influenced by the chemo.  But it made me dizzy and caused fainting.  I did a lot better with plain aspirin, which may not be too good right after surgery (I took no pain meds when I got home after surgery).   Maybe you could try medical marijuana or a glass of wine?

    Bromelain is reputed to help reduce swelling after surgery and to help with healing.  It also has anti-cancer potential.

    Best of luck on your new path.

    Two Days Later?? Wow

    I can't even imagine..lol..I was in so much pain I never could have. I have read of the Bromelain (pineapple) and find it to be true. Pineapple was one of the first things I asked for afterwards. I will stick with the Ibuprofen and good ole' time itself. Thank you for the advice and and well wishes. Hugs, M

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306
    JanJan63 said:

    Good news! Congratulations! I

    Good news! Congratulations! I think after any surgery you're not supposed to drive for 6 weeks. The anaesthetic stays in your system for a month and if you were to be involved in an accident you could be blamed. At least that's how it is here.

    I have no idea how quickly I'd have healed after mine because I ended up with complications but I was good for a few days and walking lots in a day or two. Almost 5 years ago, I can't quite remember.

    Hoping for a quick recovery for you!

    Jan

    Thank You!

    The drving part sucks but I understand the reasoning behind it. (sweet pic..I love it) One foot in front of the other and one day at a time I suppose. Hope this finds you with something good in your days. Thanks for the Congrats and the note. Huge hug..M

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306

    I tell the story of my last

    I tell the story of my last liver resection, I came out of recovery with two strained biceps and the long back muscles on my right side. The opioids they gave me were inadequate and all my begging for something else just looked like drug seeking behavior, I guess. It hurt so much to lie back that I finally crawled to the chair by the bed [12 hours out of surgery] and spent the night leaning forward with the edge of the bed catching me if I nodded off too far. Come mid-morning a nurse offered me Benadryl, which I didn't know about, but after taking I barely made it on to the bed before passing out for several hours. My surgical wound was 12 inches up and more then twelve to my right side, but thosed strained back muscles hurt way more. The moral of the story came when it was time to fix the big hernia. I made sure they knew opioids were ineffective for me, and the dilaudid worked much better. I'm happy to hear the nodes, the margins, and the plans are all good, you may suprise yourself in coping with the chemo, I did. About a week after getting home I drove short trips  just to feel normal again. If you do, take your pillow, lots of reasons to cough out there, lol. Upward and onward...............................................Dave

    Thanks Dave...

    I will probably try to drive next week..fingers crossed. I stayed away from the dilaudid and the oxi..neither were good for me. The pain is manageable now but always seems worse when I lay down for the night.I think my shoulder is worse than my liver pain so I understand about the biceps and back muscles. When  you need rest and can't find it, you are miserable. Thanks for encouragement with the chemo..I will hang tough. Hope this find you have a great day with good things along the way! Hugs, M

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    Shoulder

    I had exactly the same with the shoulder after that surgery. I woke up in a recovery room and mumbled that I am in pain. When they asked me where? Shoulder. As soon as I got home I was driven to my chiropractor and massage everyday. Chair massage first because you can t lay face down. It is actually not your shoulder but muscles around. I also had pain in my collar bones. Now the show is back....... I suspect it is Avastin. I can t turn in the middle of the night, scream, can t find s proper position, iboprofen is not strong enough. MRI done, trips to chiropractor, massage person. I was told to try an ice pack. I hear you.......

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    Is it possible the shoulder

    Is it possible the shoulder pain is from them dilating the abdomen during surgery? I've heard that with laproscopic surgeries people get shoulder pain because whatever they use to inflate the area so they can work actually leaves the body through the shoulders so many people have shoulder pain for a while. This isn't laproscopic but mayeb they do that a bit anyway?

    Jan

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    News

    Thanks for sharing your good news.  Sounds like your surgery was a success so that is very encouraging.  As far as driving, they told me 6 weeks.  I'm sure that some people drive before then but they told me one reason is some stay on pain meds for several weeks and they don't want you driving while on them.  Hope you get to go to the mountains before treatment begins. 

    Kim

  • myAZmountain
    myAZmountain Member Posts: 417 Member
    Terrific News!

    So wonderful that your lymph nodes were all negative and surgeon got down to clean margins! Hoping the post op pain becomes more tolerable and you are soon feeling up to snuff. What kind of chemo are you going to do? Happy to hear the Avastin is not going to be included--I think its a bad drug myself...FDA banned it for breast CA patients. Have you read the book by Dr. Keith BLock--he has the same thoughts of using all kinds of treatments to battle cancer--the best approach IMO!! 

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    Happy Dancing Man Time

    image

    Even though you are still on the mend, and not quite 'out of the woods' yet, clear margins and clean Lymph nodes are reason to celebrate. 

    Run with it.

    I hope you get to your mountain soon, 'Jim Bob'. 

    Tru

  • feckcancer
    feckcancer Member Posts: 189 Member
    Fantastic news. you go girl .

    Fantastic news. you go girl . 

  • feckcancer
    feckcancer Member Posts: 189 Member

    Good results

    Congratulations on the good results.  I started driving two days after leaving the hospital.  The bumps were a bit painful at first, but independent mobility is core to my life.

    I had problems taking Ibuprofen, perhaps it is novel to me, or perhaps it is influenced by the chemo.  But it made me dizzy and caused fainting.  I did a lot better with plain aspirin, which may not be too good right after surgery (I took no pain meds when I got home after surgery).   Maybe you could try medical marijuana or a glass of wine?

    Bromelain is reputed to help reduce swelling after surgery and to help with healing.  It also has anti-cancer potential.

    Best of luck on your new path.

    interesting about the

    interesting about the Bromelain (pineapple). Years ago i was told it is also good to help with the pain and healing from Giardia which is a disease caused by a parasite that attacks the gut. Thank you for posting

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member

    interesting about the

    interesting about the Bromelain (pineapple). Years ago i was told it is also good to help with the pain and healing from Giardia which is a disease caused by a parasite that attacks the gut. Thank you for posting

    Bromelain

    One of the lost threads in the CSN crash was on bromelain.  I started taking it for its anti-cancer potential, and was surprised to find that it helped with my sleep apnea (another condition correlated with colon cancer and another lost thread).