Jill
Aspiring Cowgirl
08/18/09: Early this afternoon, I have an appointment with the surgeon who's going to do my surgery. He's Dr. Paul Kiernan and he sounds pretty awesome at what he does (see: http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_sear...MD-A0416E7A.cfm ).
I hope to find out when this will happen, if he thinks it can be done w/ cameras or not, how long he thinks I'll be in the hospital, how long I need to rest at home after I get out, ETC. I think from what my pulmonologist said, the time frame for the surgery will be soon. I already know the surgery will be at Inova Fairfax (one of the best hospitals in the Nation)
Will post an update when I can, but may possibly not be until later this evening depending upon traffic. I have a business seminar this evening and not sure I'll be online between the doctor's appointment and the seminar.
I feel so lucky this lung cancer was caught prior to any symptoms I could feel (no cough, never been a smoker) and before it had spread. Honestly, if not for one of my worst HORSE experiences (those colts from another farm who had Rhodo Pneumonia), I'd have never even gotten an order for a chest xray which got this diagnosis started. Life works in mysterious ways and sometimes the worst things you go through turn out to have a major silver lining. By the time I had symptoms like a cough that would have prompted an xray, things would not look nearly as good. As it is now, the prognosis is very good.
Thanks to everyone who has expressed well wishes to me the past couple of weeks. You all have really lifted my spirits and been a great source of comfort and strength.
08/19/09: My surgery is already scheduled, for Friday!
I have to go to Inova Fairfax Hospital this morning for pre-op bloodwork and EKG. Dr. Kiernan, the surgeon, is not convinced it's cancer (probably is, but not sure), but it has to come out because of where it is and how it's collapsed the lung around it. He explained 3 things he may do when he gets in there but I don't want to think too hard. Ranges from taking out the upper left lobe, possibly taking it out and doing some kind of a "sleeve" to the other lobe, or worst case (hoping big time not) taking the whole lung. I sure hope not. Apparently "where" this is in terms of the airway / wind pipe is a big deal.
In the surgeon's office yesterday, I found out he's actually the chief of thoracic surgery at Inova Fairfax, so he's one of the real big dogs in terms of this surgery and on the National level. So I am lucky to be in his hands. I already knew I was seeing some of the most elite, but I did not realize his level of expertise until yesterday. Just so lucky to live where I do.
Dr. Kiernan told me hospital for 1-3 days but only talked with him quickly. The nurse coordinator lady said really plan on at least 3 days, and at least 2wks at home to recover. I thought I might be back in the office a couple days after coming home so that part was unexpected.
I plan to take a laptop with me to the hospital, but am not sure if I can (access?) or will want to use it.
PS horse girl to the end, right now, one of my big concerns is if I can find the comfortable shoes that will be easy on / easy off like I'm to wear there that are not full of horse you know what!!! Honestly, I do not even know if I still own tennis shoes (did have some New Balance at one point, but my puppies might have done them in...).
08/20/09: I got all my pre-op bloodwork and EKG done yesterday, found some knock off croc shoes (didn't know where they sell the real kind... and wasn't in the mood to look too many places), and I think I am all packed and ready to go now. We want to leave by 5am tomorrow morning. Surgery is supposed to be 11am, but I am to be there at 8am. When the coordinator asked the doctor a question and told him it was set for 11am, I could tell he wanted to do it earlier from her reaction and she said if I get there early, I may get done early.
Here, we have (officially) the 2nd worst traffic in the Nation. The Inova Fairfax Hospital is about 70 miles away, but with the morning traffic in Northern VA, leaving 3hrs early is pretty much mandatory just in case.
Will update when I can. I did pack my old laptop to take, but am not sure when I'll be up to using it. I'm going to be in a really nice new wing of that hospital (and most likely a private room -- yay!), and would imagine they do have internet access available, but am unsure what I'll feel like doing there at first. But please know how much your well wishes and prayers mean to me. This place really has a close knit group of people and you all mean a lot to me.
Jill
I hope to find out when this will happen, if he thinks it can be done w/ cameras or not, how long he thinks I'll be in the hospital, how long I need to rest at home after I get out, ETC. I think from what my pulmonologist said, the time frame for the surgery will be soon. I already know the surgery will be at Inova Fairfax (one of the best hospitals in the Nation)
Will post an update when I can, but may possibly not be until later this evening depending upon traffic. I have a business seminar this evening and not sure I'll be online between the doctor's appointment and the seminar.
I feel so lucky this lung cancer was caught prior to any symptoms I could feel (no cough, never been a smoker) and before it had spread. Honestly, if not for one of my worst HORSE experiences (those colts from another farm who had Rhodo Pneumonia), I'd have never even gotten an order for a chest xray which got this diagnosis started. Life works in mysterious ways and sometimes the worst things you go through turn out to have a major silver lining. By the time I had symptoms like a cough that would have prompted an xray, things would not look nearly as good. As it is now, the prognosis is very good.
Thanks to everyone who has expressed well wishes to me the past couple of weeks. You all have really lifted my spirits and been a great source of comfort and strength.
08/19/09: My surgery is already scheduled, for Friday!
I have to go to Inova Fairfax Hospital this morning for pre-op bloodwork and EKG. Dr. Kiernan, the surgeon, is not convinced it's cancer (probably is, but not sure), but it has to come out because of where it is and how it's collapsed the lung around it. He explained 3 things he may do when he gets in there but I don't want to think too hard. Ranges from taking out the upper left lobe, possibly taking it out and doing some kind of a "sleeve" to the other lobe, or worst case (hoping big time not) taking the whole lung. I sure hope not. Apparently "where" this is in terms of the airway / wind pipe is a big deal.
In the surgeon's office yesterday, I found out he's actually the chief of thoracic surgery at Inova Fairfax, so he's one of the real big dogs in terms of this surgery and on the National level. So I am lucky to be in his hands. I already knew I was seeing some of the most elite, but I did not realize his level of expertise until yesterday. Just so lucky to live where I do.
Dr. Kiernan told me hospital for 1-3 days but only talked with him quickly. The nurse coordinator lady said really plan on at least 3 days, and at least 2wks at home to recover. I thought I might be back in the office a couple days after coming home so that part was unexpected.
I plan to take a laptop with me to the hospital, but am not sure if I can (access?) or will want to use it.
PS horse girl to the end, right now, one of my big concerns is if I can find the comfortable shoes that will be easy on / easy off like I'm to wear there that are not full of horse you know what!!! Honestly, I do not even know if I still own tennis shoes (did have some New Balance at one point, but my puppies might have done them in...).
08/20/09: I got all my pre-op bloodwork and EKG done yesterday, found some knock off croc shoes (didn't know where they sell the real kind... and wasn't in the mood to look too many places), and I think I am all packed and ready to go now. We want to leave by 5am tomorrow morning. Surgery is supposed to be 11am, but I am to be there at 8am. When the coordinator asked the doctor a question and told him it was set for 11am, I could tell he wanted to do it earlier from her reaction and she said if I get there early, I may get done early.
Here, we have (officially) the 2nd worst traffic in the Nation. The Inova Fairfax Hospital is about 70 miles away, but with the morning traffic in Northern VA, leaving 3hrs early is pretty much mandatory just in case.
Will update when I can. I did pack my old laptop to take, but am not sure when I'll be up to using it. I'm going to be in a really nice new wing of that hospital (and most likely a private room -- yay!), and would imagine they do have internet access available, but am unsure what I'll feel like doing there at first. But please know how much your well wishes and prayers mean to me. This place really has a close knit group of people and you all mean a lot to me.
Jill
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