Re: Please help...To Jan

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan!

I want to thank you for your validation regarding the chaotic treatment that I

received. I

agree that doctors haven't a clue as to the degree of pain and suffering in

which they put

some patients thru. I believe it would change their whole perspective on a lot

of medical

procedures.

I am grateful to all the people that have responded to my intro. Although this

is the end of

my first day with all of you fine people, I feel like I am much welcomed into a

family. This

is truly some good medicine that I have been in dire need of.

Once again, thank you and I'll be talking with you soon.

> Hello, my name is Carol, age 43, and this is my first time to write,

so I will

introduce

> myself with some info about me. It may be a lengthy intro, so please be

patient with me.

I

> have so much to tell.

> I was diagnosed with stage 3 lobular breast cancer on Sept. 8th last year

after my first

> mammogram showed 2 masses. I had a radical right side masectomy on Sept. 19th.

> Unfortunately, my drain tubes would not drain and I had to undergo another

surgery on

> the 27th, upon where the doctor cleaned out what he said was a protein build

up that

was

> clogging my tubes. When this surgery was done, the doctor(who, by the way, was

someone

> I was referred to as my insurance didn't give me any options to for someone

other than

a

> 'general surgeon') took all my leftover skin from my previous surgery. That

was

supposed

> to be left there for possible reconstructive options in the future. What ended

up

happening

> next was what I was realizing was an even bigger nightmare than the diagnosis

itself.

The

> doctor took too much skin, so much that I ripped open within 3 days because I

did not

> have enough to close the wound. What followed next was 2 more surgeries within

the

next

> couple of weeks with the same doctor trying to close it, however, he was not

doing

> anything other than sewing, gluing and stapling all at the same time, only to

have them

rip

> open by the next day.

> Whew...

> Sorry, I just get so angry when I recall all of this.

> Next was a desperate trip to a wound healing center, who I found from a nurse

after my

> last surgery.( thank God for her ) They then taught me how to care for it

while I was

> waiting to see a new surgeon. This time, it was a plastic surgeon. I Love my

new doc!

> He did a skin graft on me on Dec. 20th and I am now healed enough to finally

start

chemo,

> which, by the way, is tomorrow.

> Fortunately for me, I am in a 3yr+ relationship with my partner, Jane. She has

been my

> rock! Without her, this would have been even more unbearable, perhaps even to

the

point

> of me giving up!

> The stress of all of this is something I cannot describe. Besides creating

high blood

> pressure with bloody noses, it had also landed me in a 'hospital' for a week

of so called

> rest. Fortunately for now, my blood pressure has been under control with

medication.

> I have had little of nothing in the way of support other than my own private

therapist

and

> our marriage counselor. I am desperate for some kind of communication with

anyone

who

> is or has gone thru any of this. This is some crazy stuff and I apologize for

this being

> lengthy, however, there was a lot for me to share.

> Thank you for just listening and for all those who choose to repond.

> By the way, did I mentioned that I am scared to death of starting chemo

tomorrow? eek!

> Thanks again,...............carol

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Jan Koelsch

>

> ---------------------------------

> Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate

> in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.

>

>