Hello again...

Well, you know the saying, "No news is good news." That's exactly how I feel right now. This past Wednesday, I challenged myself to a full day of activity: computer training class, CPR renewal class, appointment with Dr. Mutch, and adjunct faculty training class. I was completely exhausted after all this activity, but it also signified my readiness to return back to work. Dr. Mutch was reluctant to release me back to clinical work due to the risk of developing a hernia and amount of lifting that I may have to perform. Pragmatically, sure I could return back to clinical work and ask for help for when assisting patients out of bed to the bathroom, etc; however knowing that I would likely not ask for help...it's just better to stay away from the clinical setting another 2 months. The last thing I need is a hernia repair. He did allow me to return back to Maryville since lifting books would be acceptable and just take things slow. Good thing the first week of returning will be filled with meetings all day- all week. This past week was also a joyful time for me. My 2 great friends Heather & Christina from San Jose State left their babies to come spend time with me. During their visit I took them around town: the Arch, Forest Park, and a few wineries, too. The best part of their visit was having them around and catching up on each other lives. All 3 of us agreed, that whenever we see each other it "feels like home."
So yeah, I feel really good overall. I can now do easy housekeeping stuff and even attempted to vacuum one room (then I rested and never returned to vacuuming). I am also taking advantage of my limited appetite by eating more fresh vegetables and fruits. Figured this diagnosis could benefit from the fresh stuff, rather than the overprocessed stuff.
As for my sis...Monica has also returned back to work. She, too was fortunate with the early diagnosis. Her treatment will entail taking a special medication that will not allow the microscopic cancer cells to multiply. The drawback to the medication will essentially start her menopause (just like me) - no chemo or radiation is slated for her either! My parents are now recovering from the back and forth trips between Dallas and St Louis last month. They have been a tremendous help to our recovery and a constant source of support.
So my postings here will likely go to a hiatus mode since my health is quite good. I will just need checkups with my gyneocological oncologist every 6 months to ensure I remain cancer free.
Thanks again for all your support and positive well wishes!
Love,
Robyn

Trying to stay busy...Post-Op Recovery Week #4

Everyone,
Being a 'busy body' has it's pitfalls...I am having trouble staying home and keeping myself busy. Last week, I spent most of the week driving Jessica to and from camp at the St. Louis Zoo. This week I headed back to work (well, not physically - but on the computer) preparing for next semester which begins later this month.
Jessica will return back to school mid August as a 5th grader, and with Dr. Mutch's clearance I hope to return to Maryville on the 22nd. When I return, the first week will be spent sitting down, which will help me ease into the semester. To be completely honest, not too sure if I can last being home past the 22nd... with Jessica returning back to school on the 16th, not too sure what I would do each day at home. I have already organized the closets...and really you can only organize so much in the house. I feel more productive at work than at home.
My good college buddies (from San Jose State), Christina and Heather will be flying in for visit to check in on me. Hopefully, by then I will be well enough to take them wine tasting and maybe Grant's Farm (petting zoo/park owned by Anheuser Busch family).
Physiologically, I feel a pull and tug every now and then...but largely due to the combination of being inactive and the internal healing that continues to happen inside my abdomen. I still look 3 months pregnant with a pudgy belly. This 'look' will gradually decrease with improved abdominal strength.
With the recent discovery that no further chemo/radiation will be required, the next 5 years will be spent monitoring for any reoccurance of cancer and will need to focus on maintaining my health. My sister is gradually improving as well. She has occasional bouts with fatigue that she manages with rest and naps. Her final oncology report is still pending, so we are all waiting anxiously what her next stage of treatment will be.
Again, thank you for all your positive thoughts and prayers. Words cannot describe how I thankful I am to have such positive friends and family. Even though I live far, you are near to my heart... (sob, sob...)
Always,
Robyn

On the road again...

This past week, I feel tremendously better (compared to last week). I can easily drive and tolerate sitting for long periods of time now the stitches are out. My appetite is slowly improving, but still not in the mood for fish or heavily salted foods...I think this one has to do with the fact the first thing I could eat was a super-salty beef broth (liquid diet), which was far from yummy. Still hoping to return to work, since this busy-body (me) needs to get hopping mid August.
My sister is doing well as she recovers from the major Disney trip last week. She is waiting to hear final pathology reports from her radical mastectomy and you can bet I'm nagging her to do her shoulder exercises!
Love ya!
Robyn

Whew...big relief!

Everyone,
Today, I received confirmation from my surgeon the cancer was well contained within my cervix and no further treatment: chemo/radiation will be required at this point!
Whew...big relief!
To make my day even brighter, I can stop the self-cathing as well. Now that is a great relief as well.
I will return back to his office in 4 weeks when I will likely here confirmation to return back to work.
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!
My activity level has picked up as well. I can walk for an appropriate length of time without feeling winded or tired...every day I am feeling more stronger.
Much love,
Robyn

I'm getting bored now...

So I'm wearing the mu-mu fashion out here in St. Louis. Well not really, only within the confines and confidential location of my own home. With the recent recovery from a bladder infection 2 days ago (no shocker - after all my self-cath technique is not fully 100% sterile at home), I'm starting to get a bit of 'cabin fever.'
Today, I ventured out to the local mall and boy was I winded walking around the stores. Within our 1 hour fieldtrip, I had to sit and rest 3 times! Whew-makes you appreciate the various sitting areas all about mall. It was really good to get out and about.
Tomorrow, Jessica will return from her vacation with my father so things will get hopping here when she re-enters the Otty household.
Several of you are having trouble posting to the blog. Just click the title of the blog and another screen will pop up with a blank to add your thoughts at the bottom.

POD (post-op day) #6

My days have been revolving around my pee-pee procedure - measure, clean,cath, measure again, etc. This part is the most bothersome part of my recovery since I have to cath every time I pee, including once in the middle of the night. I am happy to report this process is much easier to tolerate (still no picnic) and the measurements are showing my bladder is better able to regulate and eliminate most of the urine on it's own. Funny how I am writing about my bladder as a separate from myself. The pain is well controlled with a daily ibuprofen and frequent position changes throughout the day. Today, I finally fell as if I can stand more upright and make more natural strides when walking (vs. the shuffle gait).
I'm hoping to soon venture outside the house with a field trip today to Mc Donalds with my mom.
Thanks to my for the cards, flowers, plants and care packages!
Love,
Robyn

I'm home

Thanks for thinking of me this week. Monday started out as a complete blur and even more blurry on Tuesday, because I spent most of the day trying to sleep and briefly move out of the hospital bed. On Wednesday, the medical staff figured out why I was so groggy - too much of the morphine pump and low Hgb counts (7.7-which I knew was too low). After a blood transfusion of 2 units of blood, I perked up and became more alert and better able to move about the room by myself...later that night they sent me home with 2 important lessons: self-injection of Lovenox and the more painful self-cathing after each urine void. Yuck! I've been urinating well, so hopefully this self-cathing business will stop in a week (praying for sooner), but the earliest would be next Friday at my follow up appointment.
Today, Jessica is off with her grandpa to Disney World. So I have the day to truly rest and get stronger. Later, my mom and I will take a short walk around to work on my endurance.
Robyn

I'm fine

I'm posting from my phone so it will b a short post.day feels like two days. The pca is currently my best fiend. Aanyhow looks like I'm fine foe the time being with the anesthesia weaaring out.

Great news...

My surgeon just phoned me to tell me that my PET scan came back with NO LYMPH GLAND involvement and the cancer is localized within the cervical region (no other signs of cancer beyond my cervix)!
Yahoo!  All your positive thoughts reached St. Louis!
Much love,
Robyn

 The picture of pink azaleas was taken today by Jessica from the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

This week has been spent relaxing and soaking up St. Louis culture...which included a trip to the Anheuser Busch Brewery where Rich and I were able to sip beer directly from the original keg before the bottling process.  Wow, that was yummy!  Today, I braved the hot weather to spend time with Jessica at the Botanical Gardens and St Louis Science Center.  On Friday, I spent the morning at Barnes Jewish for my pre-op check up, pre-admissions and PET scan.  The PET -CT scan was a learning experience.  During the test, my bladder had to be empty, so Foley was placed (oh,  so much fun) for the duration of the test.  Yeeps! Plus, I was officially 'radioactive' for 20 mins with the injection of radioactive isotopes which would basically light up my cancer like a light bulb.  According to the radiologist, this test would be able to sense any lymph node or organ involvement head-to-toe. 

If any news floats along between now and my surgery date, I will be sure to let you know.

Thanks for all your support!  I melt and get emotional just thinking about how fortunate I am for having wonderful support, prayers, and positive thoughts from my friends and loved ones.  Several buddies have already offered and plan to visit me here in St. Louis as I recover.  As much as I hate to inconvenience others', many of my best buddies have graciously offered their help.  Christina and Heather room mates from my OT school days already planned a visit and many offers to help with Jessica.  Thanks is just not a big enough word to say what I mean from the heart.

Love,

Robyn

The Cat is Out!

Okay, if there is a message to be shared with all my female friends...Don't skip your yearly pap-smears.  Turns out I skipped 2009 & 2010 pap-smears for who knows why (probably because sitting in stirrups with a speculum in your ya-ya just plain sucks).   So to help spread the importance of why annual pap-smears are so necessary...I let my "cat" out of the bag.  Hey, did you get the reference?  Okay, gotta have a sense of humor about it!
I just recently told my Touro students and will soon let my Maryville students know. Get your Gardisil vaccines & visit your friendly "MD with the speculum" every year.
My sister's mastectomy went well.  She only has one drain to deal with now (she had 2 when she came home) and now she has to overcome the non-shower situation.  I think that is the worst part about being laid up, opened up, and showered up....no running water where you really need to have water run. She's an absolute trooper and she looks fantastic on Skype...keep it up strong 'sista!'
I am hoping the PET techs will take a picture of me on Friday...after all how often does this picture opportunity come along?  I'm not as bad as Jummel (with the camera), but I do like to snap pictures of interesting and new experiences.
Thanks for everyone's support and love!

Today Is a Symbolic Day

Today, my older sister Monica underwent a major radical mastectomy due to a recent diagnosis of DCIS Stage II Breast Cancer.  She is doing quite well recovering from her surgery and resting quietly at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas.  During her pre-op visits, she was able to meet with an occupational therapist to review arm exercises and adaptive equipment needs for her recovery.
With my sister's diagnosis in May, I felt the urgency to schedule a mammogram as well (not to mention I reached the magical age of 40, too).  In the process of receiving my mammogram referral, my gynecologist found cervical dysplagia and abnormal cellular changes.  Last week, it was confirmed that I have cervical adenocarcinoma stage I-II and will be undergoing a radical hysterctomy early next month.  Yes, both my sister and I have been simultaneously diagnosed with cancer.  I really have my sister to thank though.  Without her diagnosis, I would put off a yearly (and usually negative) gynecological exam for another 6+ months.  Cervical cancer is something completely left field for me.  In fact, I was completely asymptomatic and usually cervical cancer is fatal within the III to IV stages, so I know that it was a blessing that it was discovered.
My surgeon, Dr. Mutch of Washington University of St. Louis is thankfully a world renown researcher on gynecologic cancer and feel completely secure that I am good hands.  As a medical professional, you want the very best care from the smartest guy in the room...and Dr. Mutch turns out to be that man for my job.  Next Friday, I will be undergoing a PET scan to detect any cancer that may have spread to my lymph glands and/or pelvic wall.  I even added a picture of what my PET scan result should look like (cross your fingers for localization within my uterine walls and cervix).  On July, 11th is my scheduled surgery with a 3-5 day stay afterward at Barnes Jewish Hospital (yip, the hospital I work as a per-diem/PRN therapist).  Good thing, I know how to appropriately get out of bed and techniques to wipe my own butt (yahoo)!
So feel free to post on this wall or just sign in to say hi.  I will update my condition on this blog and anything else that may pop along my recovery.
By the way, if you were one of the people I directed to this email...it is because I value your friendship and trust this news does not make it's way to Facebook (hee hee - I had to say that one).  As for my friends and colleagues from Touro and Maryville, please feel free to share this blog with your cohorts, because I would especially like to share this journey with you.
Love,
Robyn

(this is not mine...just an example of a PET scan showing cervical cancer)