Sunday, March 29, 2015

Reunion

Hello my lovelies. It's been so long but a lot happened since that last post.

I wonder where that mug got to...

I've wondered about continuing here and would like to keep the record of our life happening for the childers. I have been guilty of climbing on the Instagram express because it is just so easy and quick and you don't have to be at a computer. Not that there's anything wrong with that it is just not as nourishing sometimes- a Macca's snack as opposed to a balanced full bloggy meal It just feels like time to reconnect and get some thoughts down and out of my head.

The very evening I wrote the last happy post in the cubby, we got a call that something nasty had been found in the excised breast reduction tissue. There I was all happy and chilled on my cloud 9 drugs thinking it was all done and dusted. Finally I had symmetry, new perkier ladies that were mine, all mine and they tell me it's all about to start again??? That was a whole three days of thinking we could maybe get back to being normal again.

Must get back to the cubby this holiday for R and R.

So it was a bit of a shock. When I mentioned this to the doctor who had performed the operation he commented that he was "a bit surprised" too. Of course he was, as he had not bothered to mark the tissue or request  tumour margins or mentioned that I had a tiny bit of breast cancer history on his pathology request forms. So the pathology told us nothing- just that it was there. We don't know if there was more or if it was contained or if there were safe margins because he didn't ask for them in the most routine of tests usually done for that procedure. To make matters worse, the wee beasty lump had not shown up in the $500 non-rebatable MRI weeks before- or the ultrasound or the mammogram earlier in the year. I have rather lost faith in these ridiculously expensive tests. Anyhoo, the surgeon said he was a little surprised as he gazed out the window, giving me no eye contact and no apology. I would prefer not to see him again.

The annoying doctor Tweedle with his poking fingers.


So the option was another mastectomy which could be followed by months of reconstructive surgery with expanders and implant to follow or a more conservative course of radium again. I opted for the latter. There was just one person who thought I should just be off with it's head to be sure to be sure, but I am still at more risk from the original B.C. and really could not face more surgery and hospitalisation after last year. The possibility of another muffinectomy to rebuild a breast was impossible as they had used it all up. If only they could do a buttockectomy- but alas.  Maybe I'll regret it later but my mind just could not accept another major amputation and surgical recovery. My family simply wasn't up to it either.

Part of a graffiti piece from work that reminds me of radium treatment...

The radium was much easier than last time as it wasn't as deep or ferocious. I kept working and going for the daily treatments but it got tiring toward the end as much from the daily drive to the hospital as from the radiation. It all wound up on Christmas Eve as a rather lovely present. The staff and doctor at the Wesley unit made it infinitely more tolerable and were like the gentlest family to me. To be honest the tiredness from the radium only hit me in the back to school weeks as it was the first time I had stopped and been without the offspring for a few hours. Oh yes. Did I mention I had to leave the most wonderful job in the world as it just didn't pay enough to cover the medical bills and children's expenses.
The view from my old desk- sigh
This is all a bit of a tirade. There was a lot to explain and a lot to get off my chest. (excuse the pun!)
I have the time for a brief window to regroup and reconnect with you all if anyone is still out there. It seems many of us have gone over to the instagram side and I have caught up with a couple of you there but it did not feel like the way to share this wee story. Hopefully this clears up a few of the questions and kind enquiries from you gentle souls. Your support was always beyond imaginable when this began in 2012.
                                           

Sometimes it feels easier to be open to people outside the immediate family and friend circle  where so much is clouded by emotion and angst and a misguided compulsion to try to help in all the wrong ways.
a "foxy-moron": when love stings

Thanks for the past and for the now and, hopefully, for the future if I can get my blogojo back and there is somebody still reading out in the cyber wilderness.

Later....

11 comments:

  1. Still here, still reading, still really pleased to see you pop up in my blog reader ... IG just doesn't do it for me and I know I'm far from alone in that. Not pleased to read that you're still fighting the beastly boob disease. And kinda feeling grateful for the NHS as I read this .... we pay for it from our wages, but what we get from it is according to need not care cost or contribution amounts. I still play the song you shared back in 2012 sometimes, it lifts me when I'm down. Here's hoping you're on the way up again and don't need it x

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  2. Oh darl xxx

    So pleased to hear from you.

    kimmie_heartpoet on intstagram ;)

    You?

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  3. Good to see you back in the blogosphere but not happy to hear the reason for your absence. Will be cheering you on aa you recovered again and carry on your wonderful arty life. Sorry you had to give up your lovely job. I've just started with instagram but not sure what I'm doing yet.

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  4. Hi. This is just a test to see if I can comment on the bus.

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  5. Okay. So I can comment from the bus. Your post just now has made me think two things. One and most importantly how are you now? Are you clear? Are you worried still? You should be easy on yourself. Breasts are so overrated. Second, let's reignite the blog. I miss them. I miss reading all the stories from normal people with normal families. I'm going to get back into my blog when our computer returns from being fixed. Let's bring the blog back!

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  6. Hello Annie.
    Wow I missed your quirky, honest and eloquent writing, not to mention the arty farty (and I mean that in the nicest way) element thrown in.
    I'm just going back and reading in reverse chronological order, and this is the first post obviously I've seen. I will make more of an effort as your words did resonate with me. I need a good burger.
    Sorry to hear you've been through yet another cancer experience. Dr Tweedle sounds like he needs to brush up on his patient manner somewhat.
    Do you know when I was in the Wesley for a week with a back op, I thought of you all the time. Because Wesley. Because Art work. There is so much fabulous art there.
    Blog on. x

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  7. Hi Annie, I have been thinking about you because you were so quiet. I'm sorry to hear that you have not been well. It would be nice to have you back here. I've always loved of writing about serious stuff, your sens of humour is unique. Most hopefully you still have it and most of all it helps YOU. Regula

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  8. Good to see you back, sorry you had to deal with the worry again. Hope you are feeling better and all clear this time. If the big expenses are over, maybe you could approach the school and let them know that you are keen to come back or job share ,should that be possible. ..I am sure they know you only left as a last resort.

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  9. Hi Annie, I wrote a comment and it isn't here (sometimes that happens when I comment via bloglovin) I have to get ready for work now, but I knock off at 3 this arvo and that's it for two weeks(!!!) so I'll write another betterer comment than this one then. Okay? x

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  10. SO great to hear from you Annie, I've really missed you!!! And so sorry this all happened again, I hope you are out of the system now.......and let's try and get our bloggy gang back together, it used to be so much more fun before IG came along xxxx

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  11. Gosh. Sorry to hear this. Your spirit is remarkable. Sending you lots of good vibes. Xxxx
    Deb - Foot photo contributor and member of your remote cheer squad.

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