Final Staples Are Removed

The last two weeks, only a few staples were removed. The final staples were removed today. About 1/3 of my first scar is a keloid scar and the enitre second scar is a keloid scar. Most of the feeling from surgery number 1 has not returned. I think this has helped with pain management externally but internally I have been sore over the last month.

Dr. Newman will monitor me monthly for any lumps or bumps. We will do a baseline CT to monitor any different growth in the surgical site. I go back in a month.

One Week Post Op

It's Christmas Eve and Dr. Newman wants to look at the incision and determine if the drain should come out. It has been draining more than it was the last time. I am doubtful it will come out today. It is such a pain to have this thing. More annoying this time is the drain is right at my spine. My incision is close to a foot long and there are a lot of staples. I can feel the drain moving within my back.

As luck would have it, Dr. Newman decided to take out the drain. What a great Christmas gift! I was so relieved and felt the worst was behind us. I was really sore and this was the first trip I made even downstairs, let alone leave the house.

Christmas was low key. We stayed home and enjoyed each other and our family. Scott really stepped it up making everything normal for the kids. I tried to recover as quickly as I could. The kids would go back to school soon and I would be back to the normal hussle and bussle soon enough.

Surgery, Part II

Surgery is scheduled for today. Same players, thankfully. The same sweet little nurse, even the same surgical transport guy. It was a little weird. The only difference is that I didn't have months to get to the point that I wanted surgery. I had a week to prepare and I didn't want to have it! Period! I was more frightened becasue I knew what to expect. I knew it would hurt. I knew I would be laid up for weeks. I knew I would have a drain. I knew I would be stapled back together in gruesome fashion. And I knew they could come back!

Surgery was a few hours. Dr. Newman had reinforcements in the OR this time. He had another surgeon assist and a pathologist in the room with him. They removed 5 tumors, totalling 9.0 X 8.0 X 4.5 cm. "All final margins appear free of tumor." I was off to recovery, Dr. Newman filled Scott in on the surgery. An hour in recovery, I was back in my room.

Not wanting to repeat history, I was terrified to try and walk. I had never passed out before my first surgery and I knew I didn't want to ever again. I cried, I walked and I didn't pass out. I went home a few hours later. The kids were all there to greet me. Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Scott were with them. We were all getting good at this surgery thing.

CT Results Are In

The results from my latest scan are in and there is no way to sugar coat it. Dr. Newman just comes out with it, they are back and we need to take them out again. We opt for a quick surgery. With Hannah's surgery in the Summer and mine in the Spring, the family deductible is paid in full and we will atleast save money. Hey! We are trying to find all the positive we can in this situation :-) Surgery is scheduled for 12/18/08. We know the drill.

CT Scan Number ???

I go to CDI for yet another CT. Same poor lady is there trying to convince me nothing unusual going on in my body. She is lousy at concealing bad news, by the way. I leave there in pain and pretty sure there is something growing in my body, again!!

Pain and Swelling In My Back

I visit my new primary care doctor (I learned from the first time, that doctor wasn't the right doctor for me) and describe the pain and my history. He ordered all of my reports and examines me. He doesn't feel anything but he would like for me to go see my surgeon. They agree to see me and Dr. Newman doesn't feel anything either. I know that I have been feeling pain over the last few months but I ignore it to some degree. Dr. Newman reluctantly orders another CT scan prefacing it with these types of tumors typically get confused with scar tissue. He is worried they will misread scar tissue for a new mass. After all, he doesn't feel any. Everyone agrees the area is swollen but they don't feel a mass.

Last week only a few staples were healed enough to be removed. The last of them were removed today. I ask Dr. Newman what caused this mass to grow and will it come back. He says, only God knows and maybe. He leaves off, swating my back, this is the funkiest place I have ever seen one of these! Lucky me!