It's rather appropriate that the gift for little one #1 that I ordered from the UK arrived today. And little one #1 loves it.
The surgery is scheduled for January 8. The first batch of pre-op work looks good, and they are optimistic about both his prognosis and his survival rate. He is at higher risk of not making it through surgery due to his age and his cardiac conditions--and of course, no surgery is without risk even for the healthiest specimens--but the odds are still overwhelmingly in favor of him getting through it OK.
I was told NOT to come out for it because I would do no good. Dad is going to be in the hospital for at least 3 days, and I will not be able to go to the hospital with little one #2 in tow. My parents said they will let me know if they need me, and then I and little one #2 will fly out. I'm thinking I may be needed afterwards when Dad is at home, but we shall see.
So I'm a little frustrated that I can't be there, but I understand.
December 26, 2013
December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas
If you celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas. If not, I hope you're having a merry day anyway.
I just finished talking with my parents via Skype. It was a little hard not having them here, especially given why they couldn't be here. But at least we could see them, and them us. My mom said that she had a difficult morning, but she snapped herself out of it to celebrate the day with my dad. Tomorrow they go to the surgeon to start planning the tumor removal. I don't know when that will be...they're hoping to do it soon enough so they can be out here for the February birthdays.
My better half tried getting me something new...jewelry. He actually did well with two of the three items he picked for me. He knows I don't wear it often, so subtler pieces are a better choice for me. One was a blue topaz (my birthstone) earrings and pendant set; the other was a small pendant with my first initial in crystal chips. The one piece that wasn't subtle...well, he said he thought they'd be perfect stocking stuffers. And yes, large dangling crystal snowflakes are just that. I am wearing them right now.
I also got a big haul of yarn, knitting needles and pattern books. Next year, I'm going to make a Doctor Who scarf. I'm a classic Who fan: they kind of lost me after Christopher Eccleston, who was brilliant but didn't want to stay more than a season.
All of the boys were excited about their gifts. Little one #1 was ecstatic opening gifts; little one #2 was ecstatic eating the wrapping paper. Two gifts didn't make it in in time: one for the better half, one for little one #1. The former's gift is backordered; the latter's gift is coming from the UK. A little disappointing for me, but what can I do?
Last night, I caught Midnight Mass from the Vatican on the Vatican's website. I have to admit, Pope Francis is a Pope I can get behind: he's not all talk and no action. He lives his word. He renews my faith in my Catholicism. And we share a lot of similar points of view...that reminds me, I seriously have to find a Catholic church around here to start going to.
Anyhow, for today's entertainment, we've been chilling out, watching religious/Christmas/holiday movies. The last one we just finished was King of Kings. I think next may be Ben Hur or The Year Without a Santa Claus.
No work until next week. Whee!
December 19, 2013
Woo hoo!
The cancer didn't appear to have metastasized. The PET looked everywhere except the brain and didn't turn up any evidence of growing tumors. Not sure why they didn't do the brain though, but my sister tells me it's not likely to have spread up there.
So that's pretty great news given that he's still got lung cancer.
They meet with the surgeon on Boxing Day to start pulmonary testing and get the surgery organized. They're not sure how far the tumor extends down, but going to try to preserve as much lung as possible. Apparently they can rewire the bronchial tubing if necessary. Worst case scenario: the whole lung goes...but that's OK. Pope Francis only has one lung and look at him: he's a globe-trotting Pontiff. He's also the same age as my dad, so even more proof that losing a lung won't be the end of things.
Now I can focus on enjoying the holidays a little bit more.
So that's pretty great news given that he's still got lung cancer.
They meet with the surgeon on Boxing Day to start pulmonary testing and get the surgery organized. They're not sure how far the tumor extends down, but going to try to preserve as much lung as possible. Apparently they can rewire the bronchial tubing if necessary. Worst case scenario: the whole lung goes...but that's OK. Pope Francis only has one lung and look at him: he's a globe-trotting Pontiff. He's also the same age as my dad, so even more proof that losing a lung won't be the end of things.
Now I can focus on enjoying the holidays a little bit more.
December 17, 2013
Update
Got a call from my sister...it is squamous cell. I guessed right.
Now whether this is the "great" option remains to be seen.
Now whether this is the "great" option remains to be seen.
In which Meriwhen learns nothing new
Well, not entirely true. But it sounded good as a title.
So the first round of pathology results are in...and it's definitely cancer. However, we don't know what type of cancer it is. It has been narrowed down to three: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and some other type carcinoma. One of these is really slow to grow and spread and if it were this one, it'd be great. For the other two, not so great.
We won't know until the next appointment on Thursday. In the meantime, Dad has a PET scheduled for tomorrow to see if it has metastasized. My sister couldn't understand how they couldn't tell what type it was right away. I think they want to wait until the PET is done so they have all the info.
I'm going to guess that this is squamous cell, as that one apparently likes to grow in the bronchial tubes and that's where the mass was found. But who knows?
No one mentioned if it's possible that this is a cancer from elsewhere that spread to the lung. I guess if they see metastasis, then that means it's very possible.
If we caught this in the early stage, then the 5-year survival rate is decent. If it's late stage...
So more hurry up and waiting.
On an up note, apparently Dad is a good cancer for surgery, so it must be located in a better spot than they originally thought. They're optimistic that they could remove it and preserve the lung. If they can't, his other lung is functioning well enough that it could do the job alone if it had to.
I took a long walk today to clear my head...and to work on losing the next 10 pounds. Since all of the parents bailed on coming out to visit, there's no excuse for me to not work on it. So I walked over to the town line and back. Well, the second town line I came across because I live right on top of a town line: I go to the corner and I'm out of town and into in unincorporated space. So I walked until I reached a line into another town, then walked back.
So the first round of pathology results are in...and it's definitely cancer. However, we don't know what type of cancer it is. It has been narrowed down to three: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and some other type carcinoma. One of these is really slow to grow and spread and if it were this one, it'd be great. For the other two, not so great.
We won't know until the next appointment on Thursday. In the meantime, Dad has a PET scheduled for tomorrow to see if it has metastasized. My sister couldn't understand how they couldn't tell what type it was right away. I think they want to wait until the PET is done so they have all the info.
I'm going to guess that this is squamous cell, as that one apparently likes to grow in the bronchial tubes and that's where the mass was found. But who knows?
No one mentioned if it's possible that this is a cancer from elsewhere that spread to the lung. I guess if they see metastasis, then that means it's very possible.
If we caught this in the early stage, then the 5-year survival rate is decent. If it's late stage...
So more hurry up and waiting.
On an up note, apparently Dad is a good cancer for surgery, so it must be located in a better spot than they originally thought. They're optimistic that they could remove it and preserve the lung. If they can't, his other lung is functioning well enough that it could do the job alone if it had to.
I took a long walk today to clear my head...and to work on losing the next 10 pounds. Since all of the parents bailed on coming out to visit, there's no excuse for me to not work on it. So I walked over to the town line and back. Well, the second town line I came across because I live right on top of a town line: I go to the corner and I'm out of town and into in unincorporated space. So I walked until I reached a line into another town, then walked back.
December 16, 2013
I was cancelled at one job today. I had an opportunity to pick up work today but declined. I did drop little one #2 off in daycare today. I need today to get some Christmas stuff done. I also need a day to myself to unwind, relax, and knit my nephew's Christmas gift.
My parents set up Skype so they can see the boys. I have Skype but I rarely use it. The only person I've really used it with is my sister. My in-laws have Skype but I don't use it with them because what they like to do is wait until they have everyone over and then put me and the boys on display, and I don't really like that...especially as they usually catch me by surprise and not warn me that I'll be talking to people that I hardly know.
But now that my parents have it, I can use it for them too.
So yesterday we all video-chatted. They got to see the boys. I got to see them. My dad looks surprisingly good. My mother, not so much. But she's bearing the brunt of all the stress so it's understandable.
I learned that it isn't Tuesday for the results to come in, but Thursday. More waiting. Whee.
Moving into lighter topics...I've started working at three new programs. One is pretty intense, with a patient population that is heavily Axis II and SI. The other two have patient populations that are more laid back but no less acute. All are very interesting to work, so I'm enjoying myself. I have an open order--at least for this month--at the intense program to come in whenever I'm free to help them out. That's the work I could have picked up today, but declined to. I'll be there on Wednesday, and I told them if the agency cancelled me on Friday I'll be up there.
The intense program has me honing my suicide risk assessment skills to perfection, since I have to perform a thorough one on nearly every patient that walks into the door. I've also learned some new techniques to improve my psych assessment skills that I've started using in other programs that I work.
The other programs give me more opportunities for patient education. Most of my education has been about non-psych (i.e., medical) conditions and care. Comorbidities run amok in chronic psych patients, and a lot of the time the patient themselves either downplays or ignores them.
I've also had some good shot practice as I administered several depot medications. They asked me if I would be OK in giving the shots.
"It may take a little getting used to," I replied.
"How so?"
"They're cooperative. I'm used to a bit of a fight."
Haldol dec is a bastard...thick as Ativan, so it's hard to pull AND push. I feel sorry for anyone that has to give--or get--it more than q2 weeks.
My parents set up Skype so they can see the boys. I have Skype but I rarely use it. The only person I've really used it with is my sister. My in-laws have Skype but I don't use it with them because what they like to do is wait until they have everyone over and then put me and the boys on display, and I don't really like that...especially as they usually catch me by surprise and not warn me that I'll be talking to people that I hardly know.
But now that my parents have it, I can use it for them too.
So yesterday we all video-chatted. They got to see the boys. I got to see them. My dad looks surprisingly good. My mother, not so much. But she's bearing the brunt of all the stress so it's understandable.
I learned that it isn't Tuesday for the results to come in, but Thursday. More waiting. Whee.
Moving into lighter topics...I've started working at three new programs. One is pretty intense, with a patient population that is heavily Axis II and SI. The other two have patient populations that are more laid back but no less acute. All are very interesting to work, so I'm enjoying myself. I have an open order--at least for this month--at the intense program to come in whenever I'm free to help them out. That's the work I could have picked up today, but declined to. I'll be there on Wednesday, and I told them if the agency cancelled me on Friday I'll be up there.
The intense program has me honing my suicide risk assessment skills to perfection, since I have to perform a thorough one on nearly every patient that walks into the door. I've also learned some new techniques to improve my psych assessment skills that I've started using in other programs that I work.
The other programs give me more opportunities for patient education. Most of my education has been about non-psych (i.e., medical) conditions and care. Comorbidities run amok in chronic psych patients, and a lot of the time the patient themselves either downplays or ignores them.
I've also had some good shot practice as I administered several depot medications. They asked me if I would be OK in giving the shots.
"It may take a little getting used to," I replied.
"How so?"
"They're cooperative. I'm used to a bit of a fight."
Haldol dec is a bastard...thick as Ativan, so it's hard to pull AND push. I feel sorry for anyone that has to give--or get--it more than q2 weeks.
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