Friday my husband and I flew to NYC for my monthly Oncologist appointment at Sloan-Kettering and for a planned surgery on Saturday (yesterday) to have my ovaries and tubes removed. Â Since my cancer is ER/PR+ having my ovaries out was a no brainer. Until I was ready for surgery I was receiving monthly injections of Lupron to put me into a chemically induced menopause and shut down the production of estrogen.
Friday I had to fast. Nothing but liquids and juices until midnight and then nothing until after surgery. Â I normally don’t eat a lot but tell me I can’t and I get a voracious appetite. Â Every commercial on our hotel tv was food and every store I saw on the way to and from my appointments was a restaurant of some kind. Wtf. By the time Saturday rolled around I was weak and light headed.
We got to the York st location early. I wasn’t sscheduled to be there until 11am but I was hoping they would take me early. Â They did. We only waited 10 minutes before they called us back. They must have gone over my history about 10 times. Â Then the nurse came to put in the IV. Â They really need to figure out how to do that without the excruciating pain that comes with it. “Quick pinch” my ass.
At 1:20 pm it was my turn. I was unable to walk to the OR as I was dizzy so they wheeled me. The poor nurse couldn’t have been more that 110lbs and she got stuck wheeling my enormous ass all by herself. Â I felt bad. As I entered the operating room I was introduced to everyone there. The bed I was instructed to get on was beyond narrow. Â I was confident I’d never fit but I did. I was afraid to sneeze for fear I’d fall off. I was covered in a nice warm blanket and a squeeze thing on my left leg that I liked. The last thing I remember is the nurse giving me “something to relax me” and I was out.
The surgery went well. They didn’t have to open me up like they feared. There was a lot of scar tissue but Dr. Sonoda made it happen. Once I was able to go to the bathroom I was ready to be released. Â I was hungry and sleepy but not in much pain. They gave me a nice healthy dose of morphine before I left and sent me on my way with more to keep me comfortable.
Chinese food and a dilaudid chaser and I was ready for a long night sleep.
I’m hoping to leave the room tonight for dinner but the thought of putting on pants is very unappealing. We leave for home tomorrow so I better buck up and get used to it. The pain is not horrible but I can’t cough and I’m praying I don’t sneeze.
Tuesday I find out if I will be randomized for a lumpectomy. Â I entered a clinical trial to see if removing the primary tumor will add to overall life expectancy. Â But that’s another blog all on its own.
Time for more meds.
I’m on lupron. Why did you choose removal over lupron?
I did do Lupron for 5 months while they got the cancer under control. I needed radiation to T12 because the tumor was so big it was crushing the nerves and pressing on my cord. I had previously had a partial hysterectomy in 2003 for endometriosis and fibroid tumors (did Lupron back then too) so knowing I wasn’t having more kids and being 43 it seemed like the logical thing to do.
OMG this must have been very painful for you. I hope you’re doing well,