Surgery Talk: In a few days it will be a month since the surgery. Today I went for a short walk and it was truly amazing. Other than the pain from the incision, I felt great! It feels like a huge bowling ball that I have been carrying around for 10+ years has been removed from my abdomen. I feel lighter on my feet and everything is shifting down to where it's supposed to be. I don't have heartburn anymore, my metabolism is speeding up, and I have energy!!! These are all good things! Other than weight I have gained through the years, I feel like I did in high school. I know that I will never get back to that physiologically speaking, but I think that I can get close...actually I know it. Bottom line: I should have had the hysterectomy years ago...but I did not know that because in previous years I thought that I would be able to have children if I just got rid of the tumors. The truth of the matter is that the tumors wreaked too much havoc and too much damage was done. So, I am at peace with that and excited for what I am physically capable of now that I am rid of them.
In other news...well, there isn't much other news. I realize that I need to start posting some pictures to make this blog interesting. I am starting Weight Watchers again in a few weeks, so maybe I will start posting about that as well. I have been on WW before with great results. Now is the perfect time to start again since I will be able to do a lot of things that I could not do before as far as exercise is concerned.
I have two more weeks before I go back to work. It's amazing the perspective that can be gained by going through something like major surgery. My outlook on work and my career has completely changed. I just hope that when I do get back to the office, I can maintain my new promise to myself. I tend to get really stressed at work and I have decided that I am just done with that...done with getting upset. Life is too short. So we'll see how it goes.
Anyway, that's all for now. Oh - I just watched the Oscars and I am very happy for everyone involved in Slumdog Millionaire. I am also happy for Kate Winslet. The show itself was weird in my opinion...Hollywood amazes me with their need to award themselves and pat each other on the back on a yearly schedule. Entertainment is important, but you would think that some of these actors are curing cancer or something. I guess that I should leave it at that considering that almost my entire existence has been funded by my father's career in television...my stepmom's career in several types of media...my stint at CBS....my husband's work at Fox in Los Angeles & now the NBC affiliate here in Denver. Actually if I add it all together, only 8 years of my life have not been supported by work in the industry either entirely or partially in some way, shape or form. Weird.
Where are the IT awards???!!! Maybe I should start that? I wonder if I could get a TV or cable network to carry it...
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Humility
Hello! It has been awhile since I have posted...sorry about that.
Things here are good. I had my 2 week follow-up appointment and the doctor says that I am healing well. My husband has been a great nurse and I can't say enough good things about him (as usual).
We are coping well with the outcome of the surgery. Of course I am only human...and some days are better than others. But, Reggie and I agree that we CAN get through this! If we couldn't, it wouldn't have happened to us. So for now we have decided to take it easy and not make any decisions re: adoption, etc. Well...I take that back...we have decided on adoption when the time is right. I am going to spend the next several months getting my "rear in gear" so that I can look and feel like the person that I am on the inside. It should be easier now that I no longer have the tumors.
I will not be graphic, but the doctor explained to me that I was VERY sick. Way more sick than I even knew... I am very blessed to have made it through this. She told me that at some point she actually had to call in an oncologist while she was removing everything. Scary stuff! But no worries, I am cancer-free...she just needed some extra hands to remove the monster from my body.
So, during this recovery period, I feel very special because I am learning a lot. I feel like a 5th grader who can't stop reading...but I am not learning from books. I am learning from the graciousness of others...friends, family, my husband...even the cat! (He dutifully stays with me all day.) What I am learning about is humility...
Those of you know me know that I can get a little controlling in all things...work, home (especially the kitchen)... For some reason I am usually only comfortable when I am in control. Flying is a perfect example, I feel like I would be safer flying the plane even though I do not have a pilot's license. This is irrational I know, but I guess that I may be a little "type A". Well, when I put myself in the hands of the doctor and the anesthesiologist, I let go...I relinquished control..and you know what? it is one of the best things that has happened to me in recent years.
I am humbled by the skills and professional care of the doctors and nurses that I experienced.
I am humbled by the unwavering faith that my husband has in me that I can get through this.
I am humbled by the generosity of friends who have helped us out by bringing us meals, sending flowers, sending well wishes, but mostly by their friendship.
I am humbled by my family who keeps me in their thoughts and prayers at all times.
But most of all...I am humbled by something I can't fully understand, something bigger than all of us. I am so blessed...
So it is time for a change...I am changing the title of the blog. The address will remain the same, but I think that "Tracy's Place" is more appropriate. There is no need to dwell on the surgery any longer. I made it through and it is time for a little optimism. :)
Things here are good. I had my 2 week follow-up appointment and the doctor says that I am healing well. My husband has been a great nurse and I can't say enough good things about him (as usual).
We are coping well with the outcome of the surgery. Of course I am only human...and some days are better than others. But, Reggie and I agree that we CAN get through this! If we couldn't, it wouldn't have happened to us. So for now we have decided to take it easy and not make any decisions re: adoption, etc. Well...I take that back...we have decided on adoption when the time is right. I am going to spend the next several months getting my "rear in gear" so that I can look and feel like the person that I am on the inside. It should be easier now that I no longer have the tumors.
I will not be graphic, but the doctor explained to me that I was VERY sick. Way more sick than I even knew... I am very blessed to have made it through this. She told me that at some point she actually had to call in an oncologist while she was removing everything. Scary stuff! But no worries, I am cancer-free...she just needed some extra hands to remove the monster from my body.
So, during this recovery period, I feel very special because I am learning a lot. I feel like a 5th grader who can't stop reading...but I am not learning from books. I am learning from the graciousness of others...friends, family, my husband...even the cat! (He dutifully stays with me all day.) What I am learning about is humility...
Those of you know me know that I can get a little controlling in all things...work, home (especially the kitchen)... For some reason I am usually only comfortable when I am in control. Flying is a perfect example, I feel like I would be safer flying the plane even though I do not have a pilot's license. This is irrational I know, but I guess that I may be a little "type A". Well, when I put myself in the hands of the doctor and the anesthesiologist, I let go...I relinquished control..and you know what? it is one of the best things that has happened to me in recent years.
I am humbled by the skills and professional care of the doctors and nurses that I experienced.
I am humbled by the unwavering faith that my husband has in me that I can get through this.
I am humbled by the generosity of friends who have helped us out by bringing us meals, sending flowers, sending well wishes, but mostly by their friendship.
I am humbled by my family who keeps me in their thoughts and prayers at all times.
But most of all...I am humbled by something I can't fully understand, something bigger than all of us. I am so blessed...
So it is time for a change...I am changing the title of the blog. The address will remain the same, but I think that "Tracy's Place" is more appropriate. There is no need to dwell on the surgery any longer. I made it through and it is time for a little optimism. :)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Good News & Bad News
Good News: I am home from the hospital and recovering relatively well.
Bad News: Due to some issues with the tumors on the back of my uterus, my doctor had to opt for a hysterectomy. This happened after she had already removed 7 tumors. We had talked about it the Friday beforehand, so I knew that it was a possibility. I am ok with it...but it is going to take me awhile to process what this means as far as my family and the positive and negative changes in my life.
I am thankful for the support of my family and friends. This is not the worst thing that has ever happened, but it will take some time to fully understand it.
Bad News: Due to some issues with the tumors on the back of my uterus, my doctor had to opt for a hysterectomy. This happened after she had already removed 7 tumors. We had talked about it the Friday beforehand, so I knew that it was a possibility. I am ok with it...but it is going to take me awhile to process what this means as far as my family and the positive and negative changes in my life.
I am thankful for the support of my family and friends. This is not the worst thing that has ever happened, but it will take some time to fully understand it.
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