It's over

So, the colonoscopy procedure is over and I finally got to eat something after a day of liquids (and laxatives) and another day of absolutely nothing! Whew, that "prep" is something else ...

Anyway, it's over, and they did find one tiny polyp -- about the size of a pea -- so they removed it and sent it to pathology. They want me to get another colonoscopy "for screening purposes" in a year. They are watching me like a hawk.

So, guess what drug they used to knock me out? Propofol! The same thing that knocked Michael Jackson out forever. I gotta say, though, it was extremely enjoyable -- and effective -- so I can see why he liked it.

That's it for now -- thanks for checking on me!

Until next time ...
P

Checkin' the colon

Yes, even though I'm cancer-free, the screenings continue ... In fact, they're probably more important than ever now ...

Wednesday is my "big day" of preparing for my colonoscopy, so I'm planning to work until 1 p.m., then come home and start the, um, "preparation" ... So, as many of you know, that means drinking some stuff, taking some pills, and staying close to a bathroom (sigh) ...

The actual procedure is scheduled for 2:15 Thursday, at B-J West, with yet another new doctor, Dr. L (I've got quite the collection of docs now, let's see, about SIX now). And, hopefully, Dr. L won't find anything out of the ordinary, but if she does, she can snip that sucker right outta there!

Right now, life is truly grand, although it's a little on the cold side, but, hey -- that's a minor inconvenience and temporary ...

Hope you're having a great new year, as I am!

Until next time ...
P

Doctor, doctor

Yes! TWO doctors in one day! Double the fun!

So, a couple of days ago I saw Dr. K again (the "maintenance" guy who's taking the place of my primary surgeon). He says I'm doing great and wants to see me again in three months, the end of March. He sent me to the lab so they could draw blood for a cancer blood test, and his office will let me know how that turns out.

And, I'm now scheduled for a colonoscopy on Jan. 14 (gotta keep up with all the various screening tests, you know) ...

A few hours later, Doc Number Two, Dr. P, the physical therapy doctor, checked over my bum leg to see why it still hurts from time to time when I put pressure on it. She even took an X-ray of my pelvis, which showed that I have good bones (yay for good news!) but that my hips have some congenital "thing" that makes my walk a little "off" (OK, she actually used medical terminology, but this is the best I can do!), and, even though the X-ray didn't confirm it, she suspects that I tore some cartilage in my upper thigh, which is why it's still hurting some two months later, sheesh.

Anyway, she gave me the name of a physical therapist who can hopefully fix my problem with exercise (in lieu of surgery), and I'm all for that! So I'll see him sometime soon.

She also said I could walk my two-mile route again, if I feel up to it, so I'm going to play it by ear and do it as much as I can. This leg thing is so weird, though. Two days ago, it didn't hurt at all. Today, it does. Go figure.

Until next time ...
P

Cancer lessons

You know, you always hear about people who've had cancer saying that it was actually a "blessing." I don't know if I'd go THAT far, but you do learn a few things, such as:

• Enjoy each new day (and night!) ... Every day truly IS a blessing. And, it's an opportunity to do something you enjoy, and an opportunity to do something nice for someone else.

• I know it's a cliche, but DO NOT sweat the small stuff. Seriously. Unless somebody's bleeding, or crying, or hurting, just let it slide. Plane's late? Listen to your iPod. Sleep. Talk to somebody. Traffic jam? Listen to music. Better still, sing along with it! Loudly! (Please don't sleep.) Have to work late? Be glad you have a job and give it your all!

• Laugh. A. Lot. (Even at work!) Don't see anything funny? Make something funny ...

• Help somebody. Do a chore, or something "not in my job description," or send a card, or say a prayer, or make a donation. Just do it.

• Appreciate people. Tell them you love them, or you love what they did, or what they said. Don't wait. Let them know now.

• Say yes more than no.

• Be open to learning something new. Try to have an open mind about things. See the world with "new eyes."

I'm SO not perfect, and having cancer hasn't made me perfect. I'm still a "work in progress." But, like you, the older I get, the more I experience, the more I learn. Growing old isn't a curse. It's the ultimate blessing!

Until next time ...

P

Portless once again

Wow, "Port-a-Paula" (thanks for that, Kathryn) is, once again, PORTLESS!

My chest is a little sore where the portacath was removed, but, dang!, it feels SO GOOD to be getting back to normal, as in pre-cancer back to normal.

Even though they put me totally under anesthesia to install the port, they kept me awake to take it out. A little unsettling, but I'm sure this is just the way it's done ...

So, yesterday I reported to B-J West at 7 a.m. and got registered and prepped into a lovely hospital gown, and actually walked into the operating room and climbed up onto the table (weird, I'll probably have nightmares about this later), where a doctor and nurse proceeded to clean off the chest area, numb me up with lidocaine-in-a-syringe, then drape the area so I couldn't see what was going on (thank you, God!).

And, after about half an hour of feeling the doctor pushing and pulling and stitching and gluing -- and ongoing conversation about our kids, our jobs, our religions, our trips, the news of the day (um, Tiger Woods!), and how every Friday night is the nurse's "husband-hunting" night, ha! -- it was all over and I was free to go. Yes, free. Of the last cancer paraphernalia. YES!!! (Now, if I can just get rid of the ever-so-slight numbness in my fingers and toes ...)

So, please join me in lifting a glass of your favorite beverage tonight and we'll all toast to my port-less-ness! Cheers!

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Janine (yesterday) and Kathy (today)! Love you both!

Until next time ...

P

The eyes don't have it

Shingles, that is. So, after I was diagnosed with my latest malady, I went online to see if shingles can harm the eyes (since my shingles is in my right eyebrow and darn close to my right eye). And what did I find out? That if the shingles do get in your eyes, you can GO BLIND! Aaaaaaccccckkkkk! (That, according to the Mayo Clinic.)

So, of course, right that very minute my right eye started to sort of hurt and sting, and I was convinced the shingles virus was doing a number on my eyesight, so I called my eye doc and got in, like, two hours later (virtually all of my doctors know what a hypochondriac I am) ...

And I'm happy to report that the eyes do not have it, but was told to toss my current contacts and case anyway, just in case ...

So, whew, dodged yet another bullet ...

And I'm also happy to report that I got a ton of Christmas shopping done this weekend, so no stress there, either!

Until next time ...
P

Illness du jour

So, guess I'll be going into the roofing business, now that I've got a case of SHINGLES ...

Yes, I'm thinking of renaming the blog "Paula's setback after setback after setback," or "Paula's illness du jour," or "What the heck is Paula complaining about now?"

Anyway, yes, I've got the shingles, very mild, just a small patch in my right eyebrow area. Luckily, I already had a doctor's appointment yesterday (my annual skin-cancer check), so he diagnosed the shingles, telling me that there's really not much I can do, basically just let it run its course, some 14 days, and that I won't ever get them again!

So I'm thinking that maybe this is a good thing, a small price to pay for lifetime immunity ...

Until next time,
P