Busy few days!

Saturday 10th June 2017 - We all got up early this morning and left at 8.45a.m. to go to Cambridge. We used the park and ride and arrived at the university at around 10.15a.m. It was an interesting though tiring day and it gave Sam an insight to university life. It was 5p.m. by the time we arrived home again  - the tiredness having now got to all of us! I am glad I went but if I am honest it probably was too long a day for me but at least I felt I had helped to support Sam with Reno as she explores where her education will take her once sixth form is finished.
Sunday 11th June 2017 - Had a lie in this morning but made sure I was about by 11.a.m. as Reno had to go into work and Sam was off out for the day. Me?.......I was going to enjoy being on my own with my book the TV and of course the occasional 40winks!! However, after a good start to the day by lunchtime about 12.30, I began to feel a bit hot and slightly under the weather. I took my temperature thinking maybe I ought to keep an eye on it and it was 39.5! I decided it must be the hot weather and put the fan on high and waited for 10 minutes before taking it again .....38.8. As I also felt a bit like I had a cold I decided to ring Somersham Ward and get there advice - I couldn't really see that I should have a problem with my temperature regarding my treatment because I have stopped having the actual drug that can cause high temperature - or so I thought!! The nurse on the end of the phone confirmed that whilst having any sort of treatment in the oncology dept. it should be standard procedure to call Somersham Ward emergency number if my temperature should spike above 37.5! They asked me to report to the ward a.s.a.p. so that they could check me out! I ring my sister to and she said she would be with me in five minutes to take me in case they decided to keep me in. In total we were there  around 6 hours! They gave me intravenous antibiotics and took a blood sample (after 2 attempts including popping a vein which has left me with a wonderful bruise! - not their fault I hasten to add, just my rubbish veins!) and said as soon as the results were back they would let me know and in the meantime we waited in the day room. After 2 hours the results were back and, not too bad! My infection level was up slightly though my blood counts were all ok. However because it could not be determined exactly why my infection level was raised I was told I had to see the doctor before I could leave! He eventually arrived at 6.45 p.m. and once he knew that I was having surgery on Wednesday 14th he decided to give me a course of antibiotics to be on the safe side. The doctor assured me that I could still have my treatment on Monday and nothing should affect my planned operation on Wednesday (thank goodness for that!), though he did ask me to report to the breast clinic on Monday just to let them know what had gone on! I returned home and started to wonder if perhaps I had over done things a bit in Cambridge on Saturday? Once Sam and I had eventually eaten we decided an early night was the best plan ready for my treatment tomorrow!
Monday 12th June 2017 - My sister and I dropped Sam off at school and then continued on to the hospital for my treatment. As we had plenty of time we called in at the breast clinic first to let them know the events of yesterday. After the receptionist took all the details she spoke with Miss Mortimer my surgeon, whose response was "Report to Theatre Admissions as planned on Wednesday" - Great! We then went to oncology and settled ourselves in the allocated bay for my treatment. After a while a nurse came over and apologised for the delay but she had needed to speak with my Dr Ram (my oncologist) because of my heart scan results. This all came as a bit of a shock to me - apparently my heart performance has deteriorated since having Herceptin and I was now close to the limit when Herceptin can still be given! I had so many questions regarding this but unfortunately the nurse could not answer them and said I would have to speak with Dr Ram once my surgery had been done. But she reassured me that treatment today would be fine. After 3 attempts to get a cannula into a 'good as it gets!' vein my treatment began and we were ready to leave by 1.45p.m. I still felt a little daunted about the heart scan but decided it was no good worrying about it until I could get my questions answered by my doctor - so I tried to put it out of my mind for the rest of the day. My other sister called round during the evening just to make sure I was feeling ok about my operation - I was honest with her - I was ok but nervous and just wanted it done with! Roll on Wednesday!!!
Tuesday 13th June 2017 - Had a quite restful day ready for tomorrow - I even felt a weird kind of excitement mixed in with a bag full of nerves and a few feelings of apprehension - not a wonderful recipe but hey - it got me through the day!!! During the evening I packed my overnight bag and then had another early night as I had to make sure I had some breakfast and my last drink (other than water which I can have up til 11a.m.) before 7a.m.
Wednesday 14th June 2017 - Hoorah! Surgery day finally here! Reno and I arrived at the Theatre Admission Dept. at 11a.m. as instructed where my wristband was put on (As if I could be mistaken for anyone else!!! - I am unique!!!) and almost as soon as our bottoms touched the seats in the waiting room we were called through to another room for me to be prepared for theatre apparently at around 1.30p.m.! I felt quite important as one by one different people came in to see me!!! First of all a male nurse, who took my temperature, pulse and blood pressure which of course was a bit high but I had taken my BP recordings in and he was happy that it had been fine earlier in the day! Then my specialist breast care nurse arrived who talked through everything with me from the surgery to the plan for once I was discharged. She was certain that I would be kept on the ward for one night and then discharged the following morning provided all was well. She made me feel a bit more relaxed and assured me that everything would be fine though she would mention once again to Miss Mortimer about my antibiotics as she was unsure whether I should be continuing with them as I would be given antibiotics intravenously during my operation. Next came the physiotherapist who had a booklet for me tailored just for my requirements after surgery. She explained I would do very little for the first 3-4 days but even that 'very little' would help stop my shoulder going stiff and help for when I would be encouraged to do a bit more. I have an appointment to see her on June 28th for a group session of exercise! Next came the registrar to Miss Mortimer and he went over a few things with me and asked a few questions about Sunday. He seemed to think that everything was fine and told me that Miss Mortimer herself would be along to have a chat with me. Once she arrived she didn't seem too happy at all that Dr Ram had allowed me to have Herceptin on Monday - so close to surgery knowing that from the heart scan he could tell that the Herceptin is having an effect on my heart, and also she didn't seem overly pleased that I had reported to Somersham Ward on Sunday even though she had been made aware of this on Monday! Her first reaction was to say that the surgery would have to be postponed probably for 4 weeks! As you can imagine this upset me greatly and after some discussion with me I think she realised that maybe she had been a bit harsh because she then said 'let's get you gowned up and I will do my theatre drawings on you, then I will go and see the anaesthetist and the decision will be his' So this we did and we waited for Miss Mortimer to come back with the anaesthetist. After a short while they both returned and sat down. They explained that they had had a discussion and really did not think it would be wise to go ahead with the surgery today. The anaesthetist was concerned that my surgery was already classed as high risk surgery which is no problem if you are fit, but they explained my whole body has gone through so much in the past few months added to which the issue with what the Herceptin was doing then adding in the fact that I could still have some infection somewhere that I was taking the antibiotics for, it just put the risk factor too high and it was a risk that he was not prepared to take. Obviously I was gutted to say the least but I was thankful they told me they already had a plan and of course I have total respect for them both and knew that they were absolutely right. I am to attend the breast clinic on Monday morning first thing after having a blood test at the path lab. I also have some forms for the path lab to match me 2 units of blood ready for my surgery day which would now be Wednesday 21st June. After approx. an hour Miss Mortimer will have the blood test results and be able to make sure everything ok with them. I would also get an appointment to have my heart checked by ultra sound before surgery. Then I would be admitted on Wednesday 21st as I had been today, same time etc. but I would definitely be staying overnight and if I needed a top up of blood they would have it all ready sorted. Miss Mortimer and the anaesthetist assured me that this was the right thing to do and of course I realised that too - I don't want anyone putting me at any more risk than they have to! They both left knowing that I was happy that I had another date for surgery and after we had had a cup of tea we left too! However, we were almost at the main door out of the hospital when my mobile rang and it was a lady telling me my heart scan was booked for today in 20 minutes! How good is that - so we turned around and headed to the cardiology clinic for the scan!
The scan took about 15 mins and the nurse who did it said the report would go straight to Miss Mortimer so she would have it when I saw her on Monday! As I went out of the room the nurse looked at me and said ' don't worry I am certain it's all fine' and smiled. I found that quite reassuring.
We left the hospital finally at around 2.30p.m. and had some lunch out before going home - where I intend to do nothing but rest up practice my exercises, have a few short walks in the sunshine as Miss Mortimer has suggested, and get myself as fit and well as I can possibly be for Wednesday 21st - I really don't want a repeat of today - I just want to get this next step done. Bring it on!!!!!!

Before I finish I must just tell you that..........my hair has started to grow!! its just peeping through so I cannot determine the colour yet but it's definitely there and can no longer be called 'bum fluff' - it is most definitely hair!!!! It's also started to grow back on my legs too - not quite enough to need shaving but it's a start anyway!!!