Wednesday 10.13.2010 Doctor Visit

Interrupted sleep, but not having to get up at 0430 is a good thing. When I did wake, I listened to the radio. The trapped miners in Chile were being rescued!! and I wanted to see it. Not being well-versed with the channels on the television (I don't watch much) I searched through and found live coverage on CNN. So cool--the back story about the survival and rescue and treatment of the miners, both during their entrapment period and after they were brought to the surface. The commentator said that specialists all around the world were contacted for advice, from physical to emotional to psychological. It looked very orchestrated and well organized. I was very impressed. And of course, the thanks goes to God.

I watched, fascinated, while I got ready for the day, until I had to leave for my appointment with Dr. Williams, the oncologist. And the same channel was on in the waiting room there, too.

I was a bit early, and had to wait, but eventually Lakeya (it still bugs me that they don't wear name badges there) came out to get me. Weight was 160.8, which is down from 162. Finally!!! It seems I've stopped gaining weight!! She took me to the exam room and reviewed the medication list after taking my blood pressure, which was a little higher than usual, 117/64. Then I waited for doctor to come in, which seemed like forever. I passed the time making a list of things I wanted to talk with him about, then made a list of phone calls to make today, and went through my planner. He finally came in, without knocking.

And I told him it was rude to just open the door. I don't think he knows how to take that. He's really a very personable guy. He sat there flipping the pages of the chart, initialing stuff, re-acquainting himself with my case, trying to have a casual conversation. I think that's his way of finding out how the patient is--engaging us in conversation, then asking how we are.

Since I had to wait for him, and I knew it was well past my appointment time, I was wanting to get to business. So I got my list and redirected the conversation. We talked about the tendonitis and the nsaids; as long as the tendonitis doesn't affect my feet, knees, hips, etc, that would affect my ability to stand/walk at work, I'm not ready to change the aromatase inhibitor. There are 3--Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin, and I've changed from the Arimidex to Femara because of cardiac arrhythmias. With almost 5 years left of the treatment plan, I'm not willing to go to the last option yet. So we stay the course, using the meds as needed for comfort.

I asked him who is supposed to be following my breast? Because the surgeon has moved away, and my family practice guy is not real familiar with affected breasts, and I have a concern about the itching. He said he could. For me. Because "there are so many breasts that I couldn't keep up with them all". I wanted to laugh out loud, it sounded so funny. Then I thought it was kind of sad, and amazing, that there are "so many breasts". But, praise the Lord that there are "so many breasts" that are in survivorship!!!

I told him about the itching, how the woundbeds are firm and tender and itchy. Heck--I was trying to describe it to him, but without showing him what the woundbeds looked like, and the next thing I knew I had whipped up my shirt and undone my bra. He seemed concerned? interested? in the way it looks, with the incisions being puckered inward like they are, and the areola mostly smooth. "This looks like it's full of fluid." he said. "And this one, too," referring to the axillary scar. And he asked me about having therapy for the lymphedema. I confirmed that I had, and he got the prescription pad and wrote another prescription for treatment. "That needs to be taken care of," he said. Hm. Guess I've gotten complacent about that, though Leah does a little bit during my massage.

He ended up staying in the room with me for about 35 minutes, obviously in no hurry. As we left the room, he reached out and hugged me, saying I was good. I don't know just what he meant by that, but I think it's a positive.

I stopped at the window and scheduled the next appointment for January 17th, and to call if I need to be seen before that. I hope not.

The new girl, who also didn't have a name on, drew my blood for me, getting in the first time, in the spot that usually gives trouble. Thank you, no-name girl.

I had a headache from not eating (for the labs) and was happy to get home. I fixed my food and watched the miners come up, thanking God for each of them. Dan asked if I could pick up his meds at the pharmacy, so I went out and did that, then started dinner.

We ate shortly after he got home, and it wasn't too long before I went up to the clubhouse for the condo association board meeting.

That was a yucky meeting tonight. We've got a couple of units in foreclosure, so their dues aren't being paid, and our budget is skewed because of it. So we'll have to have a "special assessment" to pick up the slack. We also had a couple of other prickly items to discuss, and by the time we left, I was not feeling so good. Queasy and bothered.

Daniel went to bed shortly after I got back. I've done some breathing and tried to relax, and wrote here.

Tomorrow is massage day. Very timely, I'd say.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.