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