Tag: surgery
From the New York Times: When to Try Physical Therapy before Surgery
Some sociocultural commentary:Compared to the American population, I’ve found Filipinos are more receptive to starting with conservative therapy first (e.g., physical therapy or the local indigenous “hilot”). Partly because of the financial cost of medical care: the lack of insurance options, and sub-optimal coverage by Philhealth (universal healthcare), and partly because of surgery and strong […]
53. An Anniversary, and Making Progress
March 31, 2023Doreen the breast cancer mascot celebrates the first anniversary of boobless-ness with one of the foobs from Knits by May. They are also known as “knitted knockers“. April 4, 2023 It’s been a busy couple of days, and will be busy through next week. I will be undergoing all sorts of surveillance tests, […]
51. Goodbye, Portacath!
January 17, 2023 Update. Today’s milestone: portacath was removed this morning. Woohoo! Recall that the portacath was placed back in May 2022 so that I could avoid having an intravenous line (IV line, or IV access) placed at every session for chemotherapy. Since IV access will not be needed at regular, frequent-ish intervals anymore, my […]
48. Walk It Out
November 16, 2022 Update. The RCA cable I bought online was finally delivered today, and made for a much better Wii gaming experience for my recovery and rehabilitation from the laparoscopic THBSO (recall that the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries were surgically removed on November 3 – tomorrow marks 2 weeks since surgical menopause started). […]
47. Cording, Human and Otherwise
November 15, 2022 Update. Today’s theme is cording, both medical and otherwise. Cording, also known as axillary web syndrome (axilla = armpit), is a common side effect after breast cancer surgery. Since breast cancer often spreads from the breast to the axillary lymph nodes, surgeons often have to disrupt and/or remove the lymph nodes and […]
46. THBSO Recovery is Going Well + Anastrozole
November 10, 2022 Update. Long-ish post. Today is post-operative day 7 after laparoscopic THBSO (refresher: the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are gone) and I am now in surgical menopause – as opposed to “natural menopause” when your ovaries just stop pumping out hormones due to aging. Went for my follow-up clinic visit and of […]
45. Discharge Home: the Long Goodbye
November 4, 2022 Progress: Out of bed Walked around Tolerating diet well Urinated multiple times (goal met) Passed gas twice! (goal met) Discharge home today! But discharge paperwork is taking forever. Doreen is tired and so am I!
44. Returning to the Room & Waiting to Pass Gas
November 4, 2022 Update. [Late post – wrote this about 6 hours earlier today] Good morning! Finally in hospital room at 2:10 AM [early Friday morning]. Got anesthesiology and ob-gyne clearance to leave the recovery room at 11 PM or so, but of course babies being born could not wait and the delivery room complex […]
43. Goodbye, Lady Parts. Doreen is Here Too.
November 2, 2022 Update. Warning: long post. Bottom line: please send prayers and good vibes for successful surgery and recovery Admitted to the hospital today (Nov 2nd, Wedensday), for tomorrow’s laparoscopic total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (LTHBSO). Long fancy words describing the surgical procedure to remove the uterus and ovaries. Doreen is here too. There’s […]
4. Post-Operative Day 1
April 1, 2022 Post-op day one is nearing its end. Thankful for controlled pain, and that nausea and lightheadedness are gone. Also thankful for a portable wireless keyboard that made it easier to update everyone – typing on the phone screen’s keyboard would have been terrible for my thumbs. Doreen is doing a good job […]
