Day 6 after the surgery and I'm still in pain - headache and in the mouth, sporadically. The mouth? Well that is expected, I guess, after an oral surgery. It is really hard to talk, burp, yawn and swallow. Whenever I swallow it feels like someone is pinching my throat. When I burp or yawn it hurts. I am still finding it hard to talk. The palate looks weird and I saw a white stuff where the excision was done. I do not know if that is normal. I called Dr. C2's office about it and his assistant didn't tell me much except that they will check it on Thursday. So much for that.
The headaches? Not sure where that is coming from. I'm taking liquid Advil and Tylenol 3 to ease the pain so I am a bit perplexed why I am getting headaches. I did notice that I get it every time I take Tylenol 3 with codeine. It is supposed to be a painkiller but, man oh man, it is doing the opposite to my noggin. I did not take it today. I've only taken Liquid Advil for kids when the pain is unbearable. So far, so good. We'll see about tomorrow. I told my cousin about it coz she's a nurse. She said Tylenol 3 might be too strong for me and agreed that I stop taking it. I'll mention this to Dr. C2 on Thursday.
Tonight I tried the other mouth guard meant for eating for the first time since the surgery. The verdict? I do not like it. I tried to eat solid food for dinner to see if I can do it. I mashed the veggies and cut the meat into tiny pieces so I do not have to chew as much. Boy, that was a struggle. I probably did not put it on properly but the mouth guard kept coming off my teeth it was just uncomfortable. It was such a struggle that I did not even attempt to finish my dinner.
Anyway, a friend told me that these pains are minor inconveniences. It will be over soon. She said I have to look on the bright side that the tumor is gone. So true.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Have One's Heart in One's Mouth
Figuratively, it means to feel strongly about someone or something, emotionally....Or it to be nervous or scared about something. I guess they're kind of the same but I wanted a title for this post that kind of gives you an idea how I feel lately. Somehow this idiom fits the bill especially since it relates to my mouth. Hee hee.
It has been tough since the palatal surgery. The mouth guard is starting to annoy me and it is only Day 5 (I think I have three more weeks to go). I could hardly feel it but the thought that it is there is driving me up the wall. It feels like my teeth needs to be free/breathe! ;) For me, it kinda feels like having a piece of meat stuck between your teeth and you cannot remove it... I am not allowed to brush my teeth with toothpaste either (Ew!!!!!). That grosses me out. Seriously! It is hard to talk and swallow. Also the blenderized diet is not that appealing.
I'm probably going to call Dr. C2's office because I want to know if I am allowed to brush my teeth with toothpaste, eat solid food and see if the white spot on my palate is normal after surgery. I also got really sick this weekend. I was bedridden and could not do anything, I was so weak and was in pain. Nausea plus vomitting on Saturday night puts the icing on the cake, so to speak. It was not fun at all.
Our kids started asking Mark questions if I am ok. For them a good sign I'm ill is if I'm the bedroom the whole day and very weak (exactly what happened this weekend). So far we've been able to dodge the kids' questions with simple answers but I do not know how they really feel. Our eldest son is starting to give me the "look" or check up on me every now and then, similar to what he did when I had chemo. I've only managed to tell them that I do not feel well. Some may disagree, but the lesser our kids know, the better.
I have been so busy the past few weeks that I hardly had time to think about the tumor on the palate or the cyst on my breast. That's good I guess or maybe I've become numb through it all.
This morning we saw Dr. P, surgeon who did the lumpectomy two years ago. It was a consultation for the cyst found on my left breast. Like Drs. K and C, Dr. P did not feel the cyst or any lumps on my left breast. He checked it a few times in various ways. Dr. P also checked the other breast and said it is healing fine. He said the cyst is very small (less than 1 cm) and the fact that I'm experiencing pain is consistent with the symptoms of a benign cyst. Which is a good thing, according to Dr. P. At this point, nothing can be done but simply observe the cyst. A three-month breast ultrasound is in order to monitor the cyst. If it changes, Dr. P will discuss the options after I have the ultrasound in October. Hopefully it will be okay. Dr. P assured me that it is nothing to be concerned about. Exactly the words I want to hear. :)
It feels like the worst part of the recent health scares are almost over. I can breathe a sigh of relief. All I need to do is to psych myself, again, that everything will be alright.
My heart is in my mouth with all the moral support, words of encouragement and continued prayers we have received from family and friends. I am deeply touched by your kindness and I cannot thank you enough for that.
It has been tough since the palatal surgery. The mouth guard is starting to annoy me and it is only Day 5 (I think I have three more weeks to go). I could hardly feel it but the thought that it is there is driving me up the wall. It feels like my teeth needs to be free/breathe! ;) For me, it kinda feels like having a piece of meat stuck between your teeth and you cannot remove it... I am not allowed to brush my teeth with toothpaste either (Ew!!!!!). That grosses me out. Seriously! It is hard to talk and swallow. Also the blenderized diet is not that appealing.
I'm probably going to call Dr. C2's office because I want to know if I am allowed to brush my teeth with toothpaste, eat solid food and see if the white spot on my palate is normal after surgery. I also got really sick this weekend. I was bedridden and could not do anything, I was so weak and was in pain. Nausea plus vomitting on Saturday night puts the icing on the cake, so to speak. It was not fun at all.
Our kids started asking Mark questions if I am ok. For them a good sign I'm ill is if I'm the bedroom the whole day and very weak (exactly what happened this weekend). So far we've been able to dodge the kids' questions with simple answers but I do not know how they really feel. Our eldest son is starting to give me the "look" or check up on me every now and then, similar to what he did when I had chemo. I've only managed to tell them that I do not feel well. Some may disagree, but the lesser our kids know, the better.
I have been so busy the past few weeks that I hardly had time to think about the tumor on the palate or the cyst on my breast. That's good I guess or maybe I've become numb through it all.
This morning we saw Dr. P, surgeon who did the lumpectomy two years ago. It was a consultation for the cyst found on my left breast. Like Drs. K and C, Dr. P did not feel the cyst or any lumps on my left breast. He checked it a few times in various ways. Dr. P also checked the other breast and said it is healing fine. He said the cyst is very small (less than 1 cm) and the fact that I'm experiencing pain is consistent with the symptoms of a benign cyst. Which is a good thing, according to Dr. P. At this point, nothing can be done but simply observe the cyst. A three-month breast ultrasound is in order to monitor the cyst. If it changes, Dr. P will discuss the options after I have the ultrasound in October. Hopefully it will be okay. Dr. P assured me that it is nothing to be concerned about. Exactly the words I want to hear. :)
It feels like the worst part of the recent health scares are almost over. I can breathe a sigh of relief. All I need to do is to psych myself, again, that everything will be alright.
My heart is in my mouth with all the moral support, words of encouragement and continued prayers we have received from family and friends. I am deeply touched by your kindness and I cannot thank you enough for that.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Updates from a Busy Bee
It has been awhile since I posted an entry on my blog. I have been so busy with family vacations, family gatherings, medical appointments and all sorts of personal stuff that I did not have time to write anything.
The past months felt like a roller coaster ride, emotionally. I sought peer counselling, saw a psychologist, talked openly about my depression and recent health issues to family and close friends. It helps me cope and I find it therapeutic. Family vacation in a cottage far, far away from our house was a much needed break. It was the escape I yearned for and it certainly took my mind off things. It was so relaxing! That coupled with family visiting from New Jersey and I'm a happy camper.
Another way of coping is to not even think, read, watch or surf the web about anything that relates to cancer. Somehow any information on cancer, whether good or bad, stresses me out. I've decided that the best way is to ignore it or at least come up with ways not to think about the big C. I am not sure if that is denial but Dr. D said if it works for me, just do it. She said it is denial but if it helps me cope with the recent news I have had, go with it. Dr. D said that they do not preach any form of denial in medicine but she discovered that it works well with cancer patients in coping with the disease. I felt good after that meeting. So far it is also help me cope and I'll continue doing it if it will help my sanity.
Last week we met Dr. C2, and to our surprise, they booked the surgery to remove the tumor in my palate sooner than later. The surgery happened this afternoon. It lasted about 20-30 minutes but Dr. C2 did not perform the surgery, it was one of the senior residents. I forgot his name but I will call him Dr. Hottie (because he is one good looking dude with beautiful eyes. hee hee)
Anyway, the worst part was when he started freezing the palate. It hurt but Dr. Hottie did it so fast there was no time to complain. He probably froze 7-12 areas of my mouth. Not fun at all. Then he started and before I knew it, it was over. They sent the margins to the pathologist for further testing. I waited for a good 10-15 minutes but well worth the wait, all margins tested were negative for cancer! I breathe a big sigh of relief while my mouth was full of gauze and mouth guard. It was one of the best news I've had.
Two hours after the surgery, the freezing started to wear off and it was painful. It didn't help that the one of the residents forgot to write the dosage and frequency for the painkiller on the prescription!!! The mouth guard is bearable, kind of, but it does take awhile to get used to it. It is a struggle to talk, drink or swallow. No solid food or anything hot or spicy for the next week or so, doctors' orders. Everything has to be put in the blender. Yuck!
So what's next? We'll go back to Dr. C2 next Thursday for a follow-up. The good thing is the palate issue is over and done with. I now have to deal with the cyst. On Monday, August 30th, we're meeting Dr. P to discuss that. Keep your fingers crossed.
The past months felt like a roller coaster ride, emotionally. I sought peer counselling, saw a psychologist, talked openly about my depression and recent health issues to family and close friends. It helps me cope and I find it therapeutic. Family vacation in a cottage far, far away from our house was a much needed break. It was the escape I yearned for and it certainly took my mind off things. It was so relaxing! That coupled with family visiting from New Jersey and I'm a happy camper.
Another way of coping is to not even think, read, watch or surf the web about anything that relates to cancer. Somehow any information on cancer, whether good or bad, stresses me out. I've decided that the best way is to ignore it or at least come up with ways not to think about the big C. I am not sure if that is denial but Dr. D said if it works for me, just do it. She said it is denial but if it helps me cope with the recent news I have had, go with it. Dr. D said that they do not preach any form of denial in medicine but she discovered that it works well with cancer patients in coping with the disease. I felt good after that meeting. So far it is also help me cope and I'll continue doing it if it will help my sanity.
Last week we met Dr. C2, and to our surprise, they booked the surgery to remove the tumor in my palate sooner than later. The surgery happened this afternoon. It lasted about 20-30 minutes but Dr. C2 did not perform the surgery, it was one of the senior residents. I forgot his name but I will call him Dr. Hottie (because he is one good looking dude with beautiful eyes. hee hee)
Anyway, the worst part was when he started freezing the palate. It hurt but Dr. Hottie did it so fast there was no time to complain. He probably froze 7-12 areas of my mouth. Not fun at all. Then he started and before I knew it, it was over. They sent the margins to the pathologist for further testing. I waited for a good 10-15 minutes but well worth the wait, all margins tested were negative for cancer! I breathe a big sigh of relief while my mouth was full of gauze and mouth guard. It was one of the best news I've had.
Two hours after the surgery, the freezing started to wear off and it was painful. It didn't help that the one of the residents forgot to write the dosage and frequency for the painkiller on the prescription!!! The mouth guard is bearable, kind of, but it does take awhile to get used to it. It is a struggle to talk, drink or swallow. No solid food or anything hot or spicy for the next week or so, doctors' orders. Everything has to be put in the blender. Yuck!
So what's next? We'll go back to Dr. C2 next Thursday for a follow-up. The good thing is the palate issue is over and done with. I now have to deal with the cyst. On Monday, August 30th, we're meeting Dr. P to discuss that. Keep your fingers crossed.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Uncertainties
It is now day 4 since I got the news about the cyst on my left breast. I am still trying to accept it. I am confused, numb and unsure. I have not cried since Friday, until now. Maybe because the reality is slowly sinking in.
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