Good Luck Jo. My thoughts are with you

Skye

Lovely forum buddies,

Thank you all for your good luck wishes. They boosted my morale no end

The X-ray went well. Thankfully the clinic was running on time and we were back home by 10.30! The consultant radiologist gave me a good indication that the surgery site was well sealed - no leaks!

I then had a call from the specialist liver nurse and she asked if I could attend an appointment this afternoon to get the CT scan results from last week.

So we hot footed it back across the city.

I was anticipating bad news (coping mode!) but this didn't help soften the blow of what I was told. The lung hotspots are cancer so I've now got to weigh up whether to have liver surgery or not as my life expectancy is 2 to 3 years and the surgery won't lengthen this time.

I can't write all the whys and wherefores at the moment as I'm struggling to take this in. My partner and I have some big decisions to make over the next few weeks. I know some of you may suggest a second opinion - and once I've got my head round it all, I'll probably do this!

Forgive me if I drop off the radar for a few days. I'll be thinking of you all though.

Much love to everyone, Jo xxxx

Hi Jo

So good to see your post.

We have all done it.  Walked out of the office and as you say thought of all the questions you should have asked.  Like most I made the mistake of not writing them down the first time but now if I have any I always write them down even if it is only one.  Hopefully you will get all the replies you need on Wednesday.

I can understand your reluctance to tell your children at present.  Given the pressure on them with exams I think you are vey wise to hold of telling them until these are out of the way and as you say things should be a bit clearer by then.  My daughter does not cope well with exams at the best of times and something like this would have wrecked her chances.  She has just done her first year exams at Uni and even though I am at the end of my treatment the Uni wanted all dates and everything of my diagnosis and treatment as they have said this will be taken into account in marking her exams - according to her they have to be nice to her!  It must have been difficult telling your family but it is something that has to be done.  I think there is nothing worse  for families that not knowing.

It is so sweet of you to remember that I am back to work tomorrow.  Given all that is going on it is something that I would expect to be in your mind at all.

Very best wishes.

Gill

P.S.  The pencil case and PE Kit are always in the last place you look!

Jo

Like Garf I was so pleased to see your thread appear, it's good to hear from you again. I can only echo the sentiments of Jules. Garf and Gill, who have said exactly the things that I was thinking as I read your post.

You sound so composed Jo, and it's lovely to see your cheeky sense of humour still shining through! You seem to be dealing with things in such a considered way, and as you say, you will be better informed again when you see the specialist this week.

I'd like to wish you good luck for this week too Gill, if I may. I'm also back to work on Tuesday after six months off - part time as I am juggling my return with the radiotherapy appointments through June. I hope it goes well for you, go steady.

I hope this good weather keeps up! lovely to see a bit of sunshine here in the Midlands today.

Love Gina xx

Hi Gina

Many thanks for your good wishes.  Back at work this morning but not much actual work done as most of it was spent going through over 3,000 emails and deleting most of them and with people coming up and asking me if I am ok.

Like you I am just doing part time to begin with and will gradually build up.

Good luck for tomorrow.

Gill

Hi Jules, Garf, Gill and Gina,

As always, riding to the rescue with supportive words!

Jules, the virtual, supportive hugs are most welcome, thank you! I hope your day of laziness in the garden was all you wished for! Your book reading prowess puts me to shame! I don't think I've read a book since my post surgical recovery last September!

(Will be thinking about you tomorrow)

Garf, your 'filing system' made me chuckle! I'm quite organised on that front, but I'm a bit of a hopeless case when it comes to keys!

Gill, I took your advice and looked in the last place and you were right, there was my PE kit! glad your first day back was ok, though a bit of an email fest by all accounts!

Gina, good luck with your return to work. Hope you and Gill remember to pace yourselves and not try to run before you can walk!

Thanks again for your continued support - will let you know more after Wednesday's appointment - think I'll put that list of questions by the front door with my keys

Hugs to all and have a good week xxxx

Hi Jo

We are all here on this forum to support each other and its good to give (as well as take) when the need arises.  Have just 'written a small book' on updating my own thread (no wonder hubby thinks I talk too much).  Wishing you all the best for your next appointment and do update us when you have the energy.  In the meantime sending more hugs virtually and here to listen whenever you want to share. Jules x

Hi Jo

Like you I tend to be quite organised and usually know where most things are.  I always keep my keys in the same place so I do not lose them.

Having worked for someone many years ago who operated the same filing system as Garf I can attest that it is a pain in the butt.  Every few weeks we would have to move him out of his office and sort through everything file a lot of stuff, deal with other stuff and finally get rid of what was just rubbish (and yes there was a lot of it).  Wasted so much time.

Have been taking it fairly easy today and will do so tomorrow at work.  Do not think I will have much choice with all my colleagues checking up on me every few minutes.  Did not feel particularly tired yesterday afternoon nor so far today but am being sensible about this.

Virtual hugs coming your way.

Gill

Jo, Thanks for your Pm,

Will be thinking of you tomorrow and will chat afterwards.

Love and hugs

Annabel. xx

Hi Jo

Hope the appointment went ok today and that you got all your questions answered.

Best wishes.

Gill

Hi everyone,

Well, yesterday's appointment with the liver specialist went really well.

I was armed with questions, the first being what having the surgery would mean to my life expectancy.

He assured me that although he couldn't give any firm timescales, by having the op, my chances of surviving longer than 2 to 3 years would be increased.

So, how come both my partner and I had come out of the last consultation only having heard the worst case scenario??

Anyway, with everything clarified, I immediately felt more confident about going ahead with the liver resection.

He explained that I would be re-scanned in 4 months time and the lesion in my lung would also be scanned at this time and a decision made about having that resected too!

We talked about ablation and he agreed that this was also an option, but he felt that a resection was the better choice for me.

I asked when the operation could happen (I've already had the pre-op assessment!) and he rang his secretary to find out - and guess what, I'm down for Friday 13th June! Am I superstitious? Mmmm!

He told me that as he is a Muslim, Friday is his Holy Day. 13 is also his lucky number!

So, that gives me a week to leave my desk sorted and tie up a few loose ends and I'll be slipping into the glamorous gown and sexy surgical stockings once again! I need to arrive at the hospital at 7am and hope there is a HDU bed available, otherwise surgery will be postponed or cancelled!

I've told my kids that I'm due to have the op and will explain the 'finer points' of it all in due course!

The phrase "I'm looking forward to it" isn't quite accurate, but I do feel an element of relief that things are moving again!

Thanks everyone for your kind wishes - I feel that it's been 'all about me' and I've not been very attentive of late, to your problems! Sorry - 'Could try harder' springs to mind hehe! No gold stars for me!

Much love to all, Jo xx

Hi Jo

Pleased to read that your appointment went well and that you got answers to all of your questions.

The news certainly sounds fairly good although I can understand why you only remember to the worst case scenario.  I am not superstitious but would have to think about an operation on Friday 13 June but since your consultant is a Muslim and his holy day is Friday and his lucky number is 13 you cant really go wrong.

The gowns and surgical stockings are just so glamourous I am suprised there is no fashion show just for these.  Perhaps that fact that no-one wants to wear them and the audience would fall about laughing might have something to do with it.  It is definitely a case of one size does not fit all.

It is so wonderful that your sense of humour has not deserted you.

Gold stars are definitely due to you.  With what you are going through it would not be surprising if it were all about you but you have given so much that once in a while you are entitled.

Fingers crossed for Friday 13 and virtual hugs.

Gill

Hi Jo

Pleased to read that your appointment went well and that you got answers to all of your questions.

The news certainly sounds fairly good although I can understand why you only remember to the worst case scenario.  I am not superstitious but would have to think about an operation on Friday 13 June but since your consultant is a Muslim and his holy day is Friday and his lucky number is 13 you cant really go wrong.

The gowns and surgical stockings are just so glamourous I am suprised there is no fashion show just for these.  Perhaps that fact that no-one wants to wear them and the audience would fall about laughing might have something to do with it.  It is definitely a case of one size does not fit all.

It is so wonderful that your sense of humour has not deserted you.

Gold stars are definitely due to you.  With what you are going through it would not be surprising if it were all about you but you have given so much that once in a while you are entitled.

Fingers crossed for Friday 13 and virtual hugs.

Gill

Hi Gill,

Hey, top marks should be coming to you for all the support you offer on here!!

Your comments about the gowns and stockings made me laugh!

Definitely the one size does not fit all! I'm a short, skinny thing and yet I'm offered the same garb that would be offered to my hulking great partner!

Maxi on me, mini on him!

I hope you're not too weary from work this week. The weekend weather forecast looks hopeful, so I hope you've got some plans to recharge the batteries and pamper yourself!

Forgive my numpty brain, but has your chemo finished now, or are you coping with work and the last few sessions of chemo too?

(I need to do some serious, forum friend, catch up reading this weekend!!!)

Thanks for the virtual hugs, sending you some back

Jo xx

HiJo

Was delighted to read your update (and like the others have said 'it should be about you when you have had so much to take in') and my daughter swears that Friday 13th is very lucky so will join with everyone else (though finding it hard to stop laughing imagining the 'fancy dress' you will be forced into wearing) in wishing you a great outcome from the op.  Your continued sense of humour always manages to shine through and you have been a source of inspiration when being supportive of me.  Have a lovely weekend with your family and no doubt puppy will be making sure you are kept on your toes!! Lots of hugs  Jules x

Hi Jo,

Great to read your positive update.

As for Friday 13th My little Ava was born Friday 13/9/13.!!!!! And that was great news.

Her father is also a  Friday the 13th baby.

Look forward to chatting to you before you go in. At the moment I am down with a real Flu like virus that is doing the local rounds.

You take care of your self this next week and as you are the gold star I don't see how you can want anymore. !!!

Speak soon Jo.

Annabel. xx

Hi Jo

Thanks for your kind comments.  I have been so lucky that it seems only right that I try and help others where I can.  Am only following others like you who have done so much in much more trying circumstances.

This may be a picture in your head that you do not want but on one of my many visits to x-ray was gowned up along with another lady when a man was brought through.  He was well over six foot and huge.  Gown was quite stretched and only just covered his backside and ended well above his knees.  If you have ever seen a progamme or trailer for "Obese: A year to save my life" or something like that it was that sort of size in a gown.  Not pretty.

I have my last partial treatment on Tuesday.  After that will need another CT Scan and a Bone Marrow Trephine (ouch and more ouch) and then it should just be regular checkups.  First one in a month and then at three monthly intervals.  On the one hand want to put the flags out but I shall miss some of my fellow patients who are continuing treatment and might pop in after work one afternoon just to see how they are doing. 

Was planning to take cakes in for staff and patients but do not think I will have time to make them all.  Tomorrow is work in the morning and weekly shop in the afternoon.  Saturday is up to Uni to pack up as much of daughter's stuff and bringing it back so she can be out of campus flat by 10am on following Saturday and on Sunday some housework followed by a friends barbeque (or grillaque depending on the weather) and Monday it is a blood test followed by work.  Might try and do it for four week checkup instead.

Very best wishes.

Gill