Last Tuesday I went to see Dr. Skoracki and you know what? He sucked my blood. Okay the technical term is actually "aspirating" my blood but I've always wanted to say (sounding like Dracula), "I vant to suck your blood".
The Saturday before the aspiration I woke up in the morning in pain. The hematoma had gotten so big. I rested that day and the next. Rested meaning I didn't get off the couch.
Dr. Skoracki had me come in. Of course by Tuesday the hematoma had gone down in size. So therefore, he decided to drain the blood with a syringe. Bye-bye lumpity-lump.
The blood was sent to the lab for testing -- and thank God it truly was only blood and not some sort of infection!!! Can I get an AMEN?!?!??!!!!
Well, I'm telling you my talent is growing boobs in other places as I have another "boob-like" mass on my back.
Next step...surgery. Thankfully my manager at my little job is the ultimate advocate about work/life balance -- health and family come first is what she says.
My back will be re-excised Friday. I guess I have a leaky blood vessel, it will be cauterized and will stop leaking.
This surgery will be a quick one and I'll come home the same day.
If you don't mind saying a little prayer that all goes smoothly, I'd appreciate it.
Love and Blessings From the Top of My Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Happy Happy New Year!...
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| 1/1/2012 Texas Half Marathon |
We had a very nice and relaxing Christmas Break. We spent lots of time with our family and friends!!!
Hope you all have had a great start to 2012 as well and that Christmas was a Joyful time - a time to remember and celebrate the birth of our Saviour!
Okay here's the latest on the hematoma...I still have it. The "lumpity-lump" is not as big as it was the day I had the drain put in - December 13th.
Late the night before Christmas Eve I walked out of our bathroom and got the drain tube caught on the doorknob. Out came the tube and one of the stitches. Jim was already asleep - he jumped out of bed because the sound of the suction coming out of the tube was so loud. He made sure I was okay and did also say "great this would happen late on a Friday night - the night before Christmas Eve". :)
I called MDA the next morning and received a call back from the Plastic Surgeon on call - she told me to keep pressure on it and see my Dr. on Tuesday. Before I received a call back from her I also emailed Dr. Skoracki (from some urging of a few friends and Mom) and he said it should be fine and just watch it. Everything was fine all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Then while I was getting ready for work on the 26th - the site where the drain was would not stop bleeding.
I did go to see Gordon, Dr. Skoracki's awesome PA. He and another Plastic Surgeon looked at the bleeding and told me to rest and keep pressure on the hematoma. They could tell it was old blood because of the color of the blood - it looked like motor oil. It took a whole week (and no working - resting again) for the bleeding to stop. Thankfully my manager is incredibly caring and understanding and told me to also rest and not worry about work.
On my MDA schedule, I noticed that I had an appointment with Dr. Skoracki on the 19th. I figured I'd wait till then to have the hematoma looked at again. It was going to do one of two things...get bigger or go away.
Well last Wednesday Gordon called to see how I was doing and asked if the hematoma was gone. I told him I still had it and it was about the size it was originally (golf ball size). He asked why I hadn't called and I told him that I figured I'd just wait till my appointment on the 19th. Of course he asked if I was in any pain and then remembered that I had a high pain tolerance.
So then he told me that if I still had the hematoma at the appointment that they will do some exploratory surgery in the clinic. He said that I would need Jim to drive me home. I told Gordon that my appointment was at 9 am. Gordon suggested I have anything to eat or drink that morning before the appointment in case they have to take me into the operating room around noon. I asked him if I should see a hematologist - he said that we should see what's going on first. Gordon thinks maybe I was oozing from somewhere.
Wow! Another little bump on this journey...not a big one - thank God!! So now I find myself being thankful that I feel fine and this is not a big deal. Thankful that Jim is able to be with me through everything. Thankful that my family is healthy! Thankful that I have a job where my employer is so understanding. Thankful that I have such an amazing medical team - the best!!! Thankful that God allows these "bumps" so that I can refocus and talk to Him.
I also am thankful for you and your prayers!!! Please let me know how I can pray for you also - it's the least I can do for all y'all have done for me!!!
I'll let you know what happens...
Love and Blessings from the Top of my Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk/journal
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
From seroma to hematoma...
Unless I have run into you at HEB (our local grocery store) - you probably haven't heard about my Dr.'s appointment yesterday.
So the "bump"/"lump"/"boob" on my back was not a seroma it was a hematoma.
I did not have a fine needle aspiration. I got an early Christmas present...a drain!!!! That's what I told Dr. Skoracki and he told me that he really thought that it would come out before Christmas.
Gordon (PA) and Dr. Skoracki couldn't believe how big the "bump" was yesterday. Gordon couldn't believe how much it had grown since last Thursday.
It was decided the "bump" was big enough that it would require a drain.
First some numbing, then in goes the drain and out comes about a 1/4 cup of blood. My blood is maroon (Jim went to Texas A&M - that's their color). I bleed maroon! Dr. Skoracki said my blood was blue - like royalty, lol!!
Jim came down from work via train to drive me back home! It's so nice that his office is close to MD Anderson.
Dr. Skoracki is going on vacation next Tuesday but he gave me his email address so I could let him know when the blood starts draining a straw color.
Last night Jim emptied 10 cc's out of the drain and this morning it was also 10 cc's and still maroon in color.
I'm so happy it was nothing serious! I just have to take it easy for a few days - no heavy lifting, vacuuming, sweeping - you know the stuff that I did last week to celebrate my 2nd Survivorversary?!?!!!
Very glad we didn't wait till after Christmas to have the "bump" drained - I do wonder how big it would have gotten?
Thank you for your prayers!!! One more miracle on this journey!!!
Love and Blessings From the Top of My Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk/journal
So the "bump"/"lump"/"boob" on my back was not a seroma it was a hematoma.
I did not have a fine needle aspiration. I got an early Christmas present...a drain!!!! That's what I told Dr. Skoracki and he told me that he really thought that it would come out before Christmas.
Gordon (PA) and Dr. Skoracki couldn't believe how big the "bump" was yesterday. Gordon couldn't believe how much it had grown since last Thursday.
It was decided the "bump" was big enough that it would require a drain.
First some numbing, then in goes the drain and out comes about a 1/4 cup of blood. My blood is maroon (Jim went to Texas A&M - that's their color). I bleed maroon! Dr. Skoracki said my blood was blue - like royalty, lol!!
Jim came down from work via train to drive me back home! It's so nice that his office is close to MD Anderson.
Dr. Skoracki is going on vacation next Tuesday but he gave me his email address so I could let him know when the blood starts draining a straw color.
Last night Jim emptied 10 cc's out of the drain and this morning it was also 10 cc's and still maroon in color.
I'm so happy it was nothing serious! I just have to take it easy for a few days - no heavy lifting, vacuuming, sweeping - you know the stuff that I did last week to celebrate my 2nd Survivorversary?!?!!!
Very glad we didn't wait till after Christmas to have the "bump" drained - I do wonder how big it would have gotten?
Thank you for your prayers!!! One more miracle on this journey!!!
Love and Blessings From the Top of My Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk/journal
Monday, December 12, 2011
A bump in the...road? No, on the back...
The day after my 2nd Survivorversary Kelli was rubbing my back and she asked, "what's that bump on your back?". She showed me in the mirror where it was. It was the exact spot I was trying to get Jim to scratch for me the night before. He had noticed it the night before but didn't say anything.
So the good thing about Kelli finding it that morning is that I already happened to have my regularly scheduled appointment with my Breast Oncologist, Dr. Green that afternoon.
Dr. Green checked me over and all looks great! Nothing unusual except for my "bump".
She really wasn't sure what it was. She thought maybe it was muscle bulking up that was overcompensating for the Latissimus Dorsi that was missing because of my reconstruction.
Dr. Green walked over to the Reconstruction clinic to see if she could flag down my Plastic Surgeon. He wasn't available but Gordon, his PA was.
Talk about service...I didn't have to go to him to have him look at my "bump". He came to me in Dr. Green's clinic.
Gordon's theory was different than Dr. Green's. He thought that the muscle was slipping and it would eventually atrophy. Dr. Green thought that made sense.
They told me to watch it and if it became bothersome or bigger then they would order some imaging to be done on it. I asked, "so no ultrasound today?". Dr. Green told me the same thing "watch and wait". I guess I made an unhappy face because she said, "you don't like that idea???". I told her, "yesterday was my 2nd Survivorversary and I would like to continue to enjoy this time but with this thing on my back...I'll be wondering". Gordon said, "let's go ahead and order an ultrasound". Dr. Green wrote up the orders :).
There were no openings on the 8th for an ultrasound but I did get to have one on the 9th.
The preliminary findings on the ultrasound report from the Radiologist were that I have a probable seroma.
Here's the definition of seroma - "A mass or swelling caused by the localized accumulation of serum within a tissue or organ".
My understanding is that it is fluid build up. Kind of like a blister. The "bump" is just above, on and under the incision on my back from my reconstruction donor site.
Gordon called me Friday afternoon to give me the preliminary report. He said it was big enough to warrant draining it. Most times they reabsorb into your body.
Originally I had planned to have it drained the week after Christmas when my Plastic Surgeon would be back from vacation.
Over the weekend the seroma became bigger and now uncomfortable. Not really painful, then again maybe a little painful. There is a lot of pressure. What I don't know is if it only swells out towards the skin or if it swells the other direction also. That may be the reason for the pain plus the skin is stretching.
My Plastic Surgeon's clinic was able to work me into the schedule tomorrow afternoon. Gordon told me it's an in office procedure. It's kind of like a fine needle biopsy on your breast. They will also take a sample of the fluid to make sure there is no infection or anything else going on.
The "bump" on my back honestly looks like a little boob. My new saying is "you can cut the breasts off of me but they'll grow back somewhere else".
Laughter is good medicine!
Please pray for my procedure tomorrow afternoon and pray that it truly is nothing more than a seroma.
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers!!!
Love and Blessings From the Top of My Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk/journal
So the good thing about Kelli finding it that morning is that I already happened to have my regularly scheduled appointment with my Breast Oncologist, Dr. Green that afternoon.
Dr. Green checked me over and all looks great! Nothing unusual except for my "bump".
She really wasn't sure what it was. She thought maybe it was muscle bulking up that was overcompensating for the Latissimus Dorsi that was missing because of my reconstruction.
Dr. Green walked over to the Reconstruction clinic to see if she could flag down my Plastic Surgeon. He wasn't available but Gordon, his PA was.
Talk about service...I didn't have to go to him to have him look at my "bump". He came to me in Dr. Green's clinic.
Gordon's theory was different than Dr. Green's. He thought that the muscle was slipping and it would eventually atrophy. Dr. Green thought that made sense.
They told me to watch it and if it became bothersome or bigger then they would order some imaging to be done on it. I asked, "so no ultrasound today?". Dr. Green told me the same thing "watch and wait". I guess I made an unhappy face because she said, "you don't like that idea???". I told her, "yesterday was my 2nd Survivorversary and I would like to continue to enjoy this time but with this thing on my back...I'll be wondering". Gordon said, "let's go ahead and order an ultrasound". Dr. Green wrote up the orders :).
There were no openings on the 8th for an ultrasound but I did get to have one on the 9th.
The preliminary findings on the ultrasound report from the Radiologist were that I have a probable seroma.
Here's the definition of seroma - "A mass or swelling caused by the localized accumulation of serum within a tissue or organ".
My understanding is that it is fluid build up. Kind of like a blister. The "bump" is just above, on and under the incision on my back from my reconstruction donor site.
Gordon called me Friday afternoon to give me the preliminary report. He said it was big enough to warrant draining it. Most times they reabsorb into your body.
Originally I had planned to have it drained the week after Christmas when my Plastic Surgeon would be back from vacation.
Over the weekend the seroma became bigger and now uncomfortable. Not really painful, then again maybe a little painful. There is a lot of pressure. What I don't know is if it only swells out towards the skin or if it swells the other direction also. That may be the reason for the pain plus the skin is stretching.
My Plastic Surgeon's clinic was able to work me into the schedule tomorrow afternoon. Gordon told me it's an in office procedure. It's kind of like a fine needle biopsy on your breast. They will also take a sample of the fluid to make sure there is no infection or anything else going on.
The "bump" on my back honestly looks like a little boob. My new saying is "you can cut the breasts off of me but they'll grow back somewhere else".
Laughter is good medicine!
Please pray for my procedure tomorrow afternoon and pray that it truly is nothing more than a seroma.
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers!!!
Love and Blessings From the Top of My Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk/journal
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
2nd Survivorversary!!!
God has blessed me with another Survivorversary! I pray that I have many more to celebrate!!!
What have I done to celebrate today? I've done laundry, swept the floor, wrapped some Christmas presents, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, picked kids up, dropped kids off. Isn't that special? YES!!!! You know why - what would normally seem like an ordinary day to most -- to me it shows me that I'm still here. And ordinary days are great!!!
I think back to 2 years ago. The day that I heard, "you have cancer in your breast". There was no laundry done that day, no sweeping, no present wrapping, no kitchen cleaning, no vacuuming, no picking kids up, no dropping kids off.
It was a day that would forever change me. A day of Jim holding me up. A day of friends crying with me, praying for me. An evening of telling Jakob, Kelli and Joey that their mommy had cancer. An evening of Jim calling Papa and Omi and Mom and Dad to tell them that their little girl had cancer (a task I couldn't do myself). An evening filled with fellowship with friends at our church's Ladies' Christmas Dinner.
So many thoughts ran through our heads that day and many more ahead. Questions, information, change of plans (our plans). But most importantly the Blessing - we looked up to Jesus to help us, guide us, comfort us.
As I'm writing this I'm thinking - how fitting actually...we looked to Christ in our time of need and it was during the Christmas season. We became Christ-centred again during the time of His beautiful birthday celebration. Christmas is a time to celebrate the Perfect Gift - every day is a gift!!!
So while you are busy during this special time of year -- take the time to remember what Christmas truly means...the birth and celebration of Jesus.
When ordinary and normal seems boring to you -- instead be thankful that you have been blessed with the tasks you are given.
Enjoy time with your loved ones and I wish you all a very Happy and Merry Christmas!!!
Love and Blessings from the Top of My Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
What have I done to celebrate today? I've done laundry, swept the floor, wrapped some Christmas presents, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, picked kids up, dropped kids off. Isn't that special? YES!!!! You know why - what would normally seem like an ordinary day to most -- to me it shows me that I'm still here. And ordinary days are great!!!
I think back to 2 years ago. The day that I heard, "you have cancer in your breast". There was no laundry done that day, no sweeping, no present wrapping, no kitchen cleaning, no vacuuming, no picking kids up, no dropping kids off.
It was a day that would forever change me. A day of Jim holding me up. A day of friends crying with me, praying for me. An evening of telling Jakob, Kelli and Joey that their mommy had cancer. An evening of Jim calling Papa and Omi and Mom and Dad to tell them that their little girl had cancer (a task I couldn't do myself). An evening filled with fellowship with friends at our church's Ladies' Christmas Dinner.
So many thoughts ran through our heads that day and many more ahead. Questions, information, change of plans (our plans). But most importantly the Blessing - we looked up to Jesus to help us, guide us, comfort us.
As I'm writing this I'm thinking - how fitting actually...we looked to Christ in our time of need and it was during the Christmas season. We became Christ-centred again during the time of His beautiful birthday celebration. Christmas is a time to celebrate the Perfect Gift - every day is a gift!!!
So while you are busy during this special time of year -- take the time to remember what Christmas truly means...the birth and celebration of Jesus.
When ordinary and normal seems boring to you -- instead be thankful that you have been blessed with the tasks you are given.
Enjoy time with your loved ones and I wish you all a very Happy and Merry Christmas!!!
 |
| Joyful today on my 2nd Survivorversary!! |
Love and Blessings from the Top of My Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Happenings and surgery...
Wow! I can't believe it's already October. And I can't believe that it's been since June that I've posted an update!!
Here are a few of our highlights from the summer.
First off I went to Canada to "surprise" Papa, Omi and the rest of my family. Only Jason (my bro) and Amanda (sister-in-law) knew that I was coming and were kind enough to pick me up from the airport. A very generous friend of mine gave me a buddy pass so I could fly home. I ended up staying up there for 10 days. It was so nice to spend time with family.
Next vacation was a few days in San Antonio to attend our great-niece's 1st birthday party. We spent time with family there, our niece and her fiancee as well as my cousin from Michigan. We also went to Sea World. We had a blast!!! We ran into some friends of ours from Kingwood at Sea World.
After that we had visitors from Canada. My brother, Jason and my sister-in-law, Amanda and our 2 nieces came to visit for a week. Quality family time!!!
Off to Vegas next for Jim and I. We met up with some of our dear friends from Austin. Jim and I were celebrating our 40th birthdays along with a few of the others. Vegas is always fun!!!
Our next vacation was the last week and a half of the summer. We first went to Pensacola Beach, Florida then to Treasure Island, Florida. It was amazing! We went in-shore fishing (in Tampa Bay), hung out at the beach, the pool, collected treasures (seashells), rented a boat, watched dolphins swim right by the condo we stayed in. All this thanks to some of our close friends. It was definitely paradise - I would move down there for sure!!!
Kids are back into the routine of school. Jakob is a Freshman in high school now, Kelli is in 7th grade and Joey is in 5th grade. Jakob tried out for the High School golf team and made it!! Kelli really enjoyed swim team this summer and got "high point" winner for her age group at All-Stars! Joey loves going to the ponds just down the road from our house to fish!!
Jim is busy at work. He just returned from a short trip to Kuwait. This was his 3rd trip to Kuwait this year.
Me - well I'm feeling great!!! I have started running again. I only run about 3-4 miles, I'm running for me.
This past weekend we participated in Houston's Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure. A 5K. There were over 35,000 registered participants. This was my 3rd time participating, 2nd time as a Survivor!!! I had lots of friends and family on my team - Moni's Bosom Buddies this year.
Tomorrow, I have a day filled with appointments at MD Anderson. Pre-op appointments. I'm having surgery on Wednesday. This is my reconstruction surgery on my non-cancer side. It should be my final surgery. Dr. Skoracki will be removing my tissue expander (a.k.a. the rock). It's called an exchange surgery because the tissue expander is exchanged for an implant.
This time I won't even be spending the night in the hospital. I will most likely have 2 drains. Jim will be taking a couple of days off to take care of me and the kids. I most likely won't be able to drive for about 2 weeks. Should be the easiest surgery to date.
I will have Jim update the blog on Wednesday as soon as he gets word that I am out of surgery.
Thank you once again for your prayers. Please pray for the Dr.'s and medical staff caring for me before, during and after surgery. Also for Jim and the kids as they wait for me to get out of surgery.
I would like to share with you an article that was in last week's local newspaper http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/kingwood/news/survivor-credits-breast-cancer-with-changing-her-life-for-the/article_a06a1e5a-d8f9-55b9-b95a-d1ab566fb7df.html
Love and Blessings from the Top of my Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk/journal
And if you'd like to sponsor me in the Race for the Cure (it's not too late)
http://rfch.convio.net/site/TR?px=1664564&pg=personal&fr_id=1130&s_tafId=39220
Here are a few of our highlights from the summer.
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| Guelph, Canada |
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| San Antonio |
After that we had visitors from Canada. My brother, Jason and my sister-in-law, Amanda and our 2 nieces came to visit for a week. Quality family time!!!
 |
| The kids with their Canadian cousins |
 |
| Celebrating our 40th Birthdays |
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| Florida |
Kids are back into the routine of school. Jakob is a Freshman in high school now, Kelli is in 7th grade and Joey is in 5th grade. Jakob tried out for the High School golf team and made it!! Kelli really enjoyed swim team this summer and got "high point" winner for her age group at All-Stars! Joey loves going to the ponds just down the road from our house to fish!!
Jim is busy at work. He just returned from a short trip to Kuwait. This was his 3rd trip to Kuwait this year.
Me - well I'm feeling great!!! I have started running again. I only run about 3-4 miles, I'm running for me.
This past weekend we participated in Houston's Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure. A 5K. There were over 35,000 registered participants. This was my 3rd time participating, 2nd time as a Survivor!!! I had lots of friends and family on my team - Moni's Bosom Buddies this year.
Tomorrow, I have a day filled with appointments at MD Anderson. Pre-op appointments. I'm having surgery on Wednesday. This is my reconstruction surgery on my non-cancer side. It should be my final surgery. Dr. Skoracki will be removing my tissue expander (a.k.a. the rock). It's called an exchange surgery because the tissue expander is exchanged for an implant.
This time I won't even be spending the night in the hospital. I will most likely have 2 drains. Jim will be taking a couple of days off to take care of me and the kids. I most likely won't be able to drive for about 2 weeks. Should be the easiest surgery to date.
I will have Jim update the blog on Wednesday as soon as he gets word that I am out of surgery.
Thank you once again for your prayers. Please pray for the Dr.'s and medical staff caring for me before, during and after surgery. Also for Jim and the kids as they wait for me to get out of surgery.
I would like to share with you an article that was in last week's local newspaper http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/kingwood/news/survivor-credits-breast-cancer-with-changing-her-life-for-the/article_a06a1e5a-d8f9-55b9-b95a-d1ab566fb7df.html
Love and Blessings from the Top of my Heart,
Moni
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk/journal
And if you'd like to sponsor me in the Race for the Cure (it's not too late)
http://rfch.convio.net/site/TR?px=1664564&pg=personal&fr_id=1130&s_tafId=39220
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