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Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, my warrior sisters! I am so thankful for another year to love and support each other. Thinking of those we lost this year and praying we will live with purpose and joy to honor all of them. Hugs to you (gentle hugs because I just got my port out and you have never seen such an enormous bruise on a human!)
Comments
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A time of calm and joy
Hope this day is one of calm and joy for all of us on this road. So happy for Armywife to have her port out as that is quite a step forward. The board is mostly quiet and that means all of us have our focus on family and friends and the peace this day brings. The shopping is done and soon gifts will be exchanged and shouts of glee will be heard. May 2020 be a better year for all of us, our nation and our world. May love and peace fill all our hearts. DF
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Christmas greetings
I hope that everyone had peaceful day with family and friends yesterday. My cat Griffin wasn't keen on wearing the reindeer antlers a friend gave him, but he was nice enough to keep them mostly on while I snapped his photo. Then he ditched them and only forgave me for this indignity when I gave him some treats.
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Happy New Year!
Belated “Merry Christmas“ and a very “Happy New Year“ to you all! Love the kitty photo CMB. Your kitty must have a sense of humor just like you! Armywife - a true milestone to have your port removed. It takes some adjusting to the “little pocket“ where the port once was.
I am reflecting on 2019 as a snowstorm is approaching our lake home in Northern MN. It is quite, calm and cold pending 1/4 inch of ice followed by 12 inches of snow and blustery winds.
I am especially grateful today (and everyday) for my 10 years without further evidence of cancer. I finished my chemo / radiation around Dec.28, 2009. Counting my blessings as the new year of 2020 approaches. Here’s to all the best health possible in 2020 for all of us!
Lori
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Hematoma
Well, apparently my port surgeon was not as skilled as my cancer surgeon or my ankle surgeon, because that huge bruise (literally about 9" by 12" on my chest has developed a large lump right around the incision. I went back to interventional radiology yesterday ( a week and a day after the removal) and the two doctors' jaws just dropped when they saw it. They said that this almost never happens - they're not sure if the big vein just didn't scar over fast enough or if a smaller artery was cut with the incision. Either way, it's a big fat blood clot. They want me to watch very closely for signs of infection and come back right away if anything hurts. They kept asking about tenderness, and it's really hard to tell what's from the incision and bruise vs what's abnormal. I sort of patted on it to see if it hurt and they were like, "maybe don't press on it." Ugh! A little unnerving, to be honest, because a very dear friend of mine died a week after hemorrhoid surgery because of a clot. The irony is not lost on me: I didn't really want to get the port out yet, and I agreed because the surgeon said the longer it's in , the longer you risk infection or a clot. Well, I went two and a half years with it in with zero issues, and now it's out and I'm worried about...infection or a clot! All prayers welcome....and cmb, your cute kitty made my day! If I can figure out how to add a photo, I will share one of our sweet Mao Mao - missing one eye, nearly blind in the other, lame in a paw and then spry again - nothing keeps her down. (Much like the women on this board.)
And now is as good a time as any to ask if anyone here would be willing to exchange contact info so that if I do in fact croak from a port removal after surviving Stage IVB cancer, I'll have (or hubby will have) a way to let y'all know so you don't sit around here worrying.
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Oh! No!
So how long do they think you may have to live with this clot until you can stop worrying about it? You'd think they'd give you a clot buster to prevent a piece of it from breaking off!
I just hate how this has got you thinking it may get you when the cancer itself hasn't! You can bet that we are praying for you and that this is just a temporary scare. Maybe a 2nd opinion about what to do about this? Having it happen during the holidays couldn't have helped.
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Still here!Armywife said:Hematoma
Well, apparently my port surgeon was not as skilled as my cancer surgeon or my ankle surgeon, because that huge bruise (literally about 9" by 12" on my chest has developed a large lump right around the incision. I went back to interventional radiology yesterday ( a week and a day after the removal) and the two doctors' jaws just dropped when they saw it. They said that this almost never happens - they're not sure if the big vein just didn't scar over fast enough or if a smaller artery was cut with the incision. Either way, it's a big fat blood clot. They want me to watch very closely for signs of infection and come back right away if anything hurts. They kept asking about tenderness, and it's really hard to tell what's from the incision and bruise vs what's abnormal. I sort of patted on it to see if it hurt and they were like, "maybe don't press on it." Ugh! A little unnerving, to be honest, because a very dear friend of mine died a week after hemorrhoid surgery because of a clot. The irony is not lost on me: I didn't really want to get the port out yet, and I agreed because the surgeon said the longer it's in , the longer you risk infection or a clot. Well, I went two and a half years with it in with zero issues, and now it's out and I'm worried about...infection or a clot! All prayers welcome....and cmb, your cute kitty made my day! If I can figure out how to add a photo, I will share one of our sweet Mao Mao - missing one eye, nearly blind in the other, lame in a paw and then spry again - nothing keeps her down. (Much like the women on this board.)
And now is as good a time as any to ask if anyone here would be willing to exchange contact info so that if I do in fact croak from a port removal after surviving Stage IVB cancer, I'll have (or hubby will have) a way to let y'all know so you don't sit around here worrying.
Thank you all so much for your sweet comments and messages! I'm still here. Happy to report that bruise is shrinking somewhat and lump is not giving me any trouble. I want to encourage you, too, not to be afraid of port removal - this rarely ever happens. Grateful to God for allowing me more days. Grateful for each and all of you!
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Lori, you snuck your goodNorthwoodsgirl said:Happy New Year!
Belated “Merry Christmas“ and a very “Happy New Year“ to you all! Love the kitty photo CMB. Your kitty must have a sense of humor just like you! Armywife - a true milestone to have your port removed. It takes some adjusting to the “little pocket“ where the port once was.
I am reflecting on 2019 as a snowstorm is approaching our lake home in Northern MN. It is quite, calm and cold pending 1/4 inch of ice followed by 12 inches of snow and blustery winds.
I am especially grateful today (and everyday) for my 10 years without further evidence of cancer. I finished my chemo / radiation around Dec.28, 2009. Counting my blessings as the new year of 2020 approaches. Here’s to all the best health possible in 2020 for all of us!
Lori
Lori, you snuck your good news in here! Congratulations on 10 years!!! We need to celebrate these victories.
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