Treatment Update: Pre-surgery

Surgery is set for tomorrow morning. I know it’s outpatient and everything is expected to go well, but these procedures are not without risk and/or side effects. Of course, there is also the unknown pathology results I will have to wait several days for.

Overall, I am okay with this part of treatment. I really don’t want them to take any lymph nodes, but I understand why they’re doing it. Images of my lymph nodes have all been clear from the beginning of this. In my mind, I can’t justify the risk of lymphedema. They want to be “sure,” though. Yeah, okay. It’s not like I can get out of it – it’s “standard procedure.”

I did get a nice new button-down shirt to wear home afterwards. It came all folded up and sealed in plastic – I have washed and dried this thing and the wrinkles still won’t come out of it. It’s times like this I wish I had an iron & ironing board, but I don’t because I hate ironing. I just got used to wearing clothes that don’t need it. It’s easy enough to do. No cleaners in my town, either.

Yes, I am distracting myself from the real issues. I am concerned that the anesthesiologist is not going to monitor my blood sugar while I am out or try to keep me out of DKA range. The last one told me he would, but when I woke up, he said he hadn’t even checked it. It was 230 going in and coming out. That’s barely DKA, but still bad – especially for someone who has had type 1 diabetes for 40 years.

As for the pathology reports, I’m praying for clear margins and clear lymph nodes. Also, I don’t want any complications from the surgeries. I just want to get this over with and get back home to my normal routine for a short while before I have to start radiation treatments.

The week before any kind of surgery or procedure is rough for me. I have arthritis, scoliosis, sciatica and an autoimmune disease – and can’t take anything anti-inflamatory. I can’t have any vitamins or supplements, either. Ugh. I can take Tylenol, but it doesn’t do anything. The inflammation and pain are getting to me.

So, anyway, I’m outta here. I have prep-work to do around the house. I’ll be back. I hope everyone has a great week and that anyone going through this with me is having good results. L8r.