Guest guest Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 I am so glad you told your story again. It certainly helps me put things in perspective.Eva @...: chanson@...: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:05:45 +0000Subject: [ ] Zazzy: My story Some of you already know this, but thought I would post it to let others know my story.I was slated for open heart surgery in July 2000. It was rather quick.. I had seen the surgeon only twice before, when they decided that I needed surgery NOW. I wasn't doing well, my heart had become enlarged to a point that it was interfering with daily life. My husband had taken me to Spokane, WA (about 95 miles from our home) for a cardiac cath that day. Next thing I know I'm sitting in the CPU (chest pain unit) waiting surgery, which was supposed to be at 2:00 p.m. that day. When 2 p.m. came and went, I started wondering what was going on. The surgeon came into the unit and told me that they couldn't do the surgery because my white count was high (19,000). I attributed the WBC to a sinus infection. I've had them most of my adult life. Off I went for a cat scan... the did find an infection and put me on 1000 mgs. Ceftin. I was sent home with a referral to an ear, nose and throat doc. They drained my sinuses (now I know where the Beatles got the idea for the song " Maxwell's Silver Hammer), kept me on the antibiotics and scheduled another appointment for the following week. Since my husband works swing shift, I drove myself to these appointments. WBC the following week showed the all clear.. normal wbc. Surgery was scheduled again, only to find the day of the surgery that my wbc had shot back to the 19,000 range. This scenario went on for 3 more times. I would be scheduled for heart surgery and at the last minute postponed. It was absolutely maddening and I didn't know how much more I could take of it. The fifth time of scheduling, and again my wbc shot back up. There I was in pre-op, with three heart surgeons and my cardiologist standing over me arguing about what to do with me. It was decided that I would be put in the hospital for a week of testing. Interestingly enough, a visit with an onc was part of this, and I was declared NOT to have leuk. Too bad that they didn't look for the RIGHT one. lolThe next week they decided that I normally had a high wbc and scheduled the surgery. As I said before, I almost died on the table. My recovery went well that week in the hospital and I was finally sent home. This was in October of 2000.In November I was again hospitalized with pericarditis, a nasty case. Got better, sent home. December it was pleural effusion that caused me to be hospitalized again. Got over that episode and sent home again.In January, my PCP was monitoring my WBC like a hawk. I was going down for blood tests twice a week, and each time it would be higher.I went back and saw the onc... he did blood tests and sent me home. When it reached 68,000, my pcp called the oncs office and had me scheduled for a BMA. When I arrived for the appoitment I was called into the exam room. A PA came in and said that they didn't need to do a BMA, but the onc wanted to talk to me. He came in, asked if anyone was with me. I said that yes, my husband was in the waiting room, but he needn't come in. That's when I was hit with the " You have CML " I'll make the rest of this short. lol Since that time I have been diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy, had a staph infection in the wound, was dxed with congestive heart failure, peripheral neuropathy, sudden startle syndrome and arthritis. I've had many surgeries since, one being a breast reconstruction. I am doing well... I mostly do what I want and a few things that the docs would pale over. I don't like to sit still, so I usually have about 3 projects going at a time. I rototill the garden, mow the lawn, etc. In the winter months I stay sane with decorative painting and my house has been so many different colors that I've lost count of them all. I'm not one to dwell on anything.... I'd rather try to find a solution to things I can change and accept the things I cannot. Anyway, there it is. Sorry for such a long post. Take care,Zazzy _________________________________________________________________ Create a handy button so your friends can add U to their buddy list. Try it now! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/211 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Zazzy, if ever there was a definition of " survivor " I'd say it was YOU!!! You're truely an inspiration, Tracey > > Some of you already know this, but thought I would post it to let > others know my story. > > I was slated for open heart surgery in July 2000. It was rather > quick.. I had seen the surgeon only twice before, when they decided > that I needed surgery NOW. I wasn't doing well, my heart had become > enlarged to a point that it was interfering with daily life. > > My husband had taken me to Spokane, WA (about 95 miles from our home) > for a cardiac cath that day. Next thing I know I'm sitting in the CPU > (chest pain unit) waiting surgery, which was supposed to be at 2:00 > p.m. that day. When 2 p.m. came and went, I started wondering what > was going on. The surgeon came into the unit and told me that they > couldn't do the surgery because my white count was high (19,000). > > I attributed the WBC to a sinus infection. I've had them most of my > adult life. Off I went for a cat scan... the did find an infection > and put me on 1000 mgs. Ceftin. I was sent home with a referral to an > ear, nose and throat doc. > > They drained my sinuses (now I know where the Beatles got the idea > for the song " Maxwell's Silver Hammer), kept me on the antibiotics > and scheduled another appointment for the following week. Since my > husband works swing shift, I drove myself to these appointments. > > WBC the following week showed the all clear.. normal wbc. Surgery was > scheduled again, only to find the day of the surgery that my wbc had > shot back to the 19,000 range. > > This scenario went on for 3 more times. I would be scheduled for > heart surgery and at the last minute postponed. It was absolutely > maddening and I didn't know how much more I could take of it. > > The fifth time of scheduling, and again my wbc shot back up. There I > was in pre-op, with three heart surgeons and my cardiologist standing > over me arguing about what to do with me. It was decided that I would > be put in the hospital for a week of testing. Interestingly enough, a > visit with an onc was part of this, and I was declared NOT to have > leuk. Too bad that they didn't look for the RIGHT one. lol > > The next week they decided that I normally had a high wbc and > scheduled the surgery. As I said before, I almost died on the table. > > My recovery went well that week in the hospital and I was finally > sent home. This was in October of 2000. > > In November I was again hospitalized with pericarditis, a nasty case. > Got better, sent home. December it was pleural effusion that caused > me to be hospitalized again. Got over that episode and sent home > again. > > In January, my PCP was monitoring my WBC like a hawk. I was going > down for blood tests twice a week, and each time it would be higher. > > I went back and saw the onc... he did blood tests and sent me home. > > When it reached 68,000, my pcp called the oncs office and had me > scheduled for a BMA. When I arrived for the appoitment I was called > into the exam room. A PA came in and said that they didn't need to do > a BMA, but the onc wanted to talk to me. He came in, asked if anyone > was with me. I said that yes, my husband was in the waiting room, but > he needn't come in. That's when I was hit with the " You have CML " > > I'll make the rest of this short. lol Since that time I have been > diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy, had a staph infection > in the wound, was dxed with congestive heart failure, peripheral > neuropathy, sudden startle syndrome and arthritis. I've had many > surgeries since, one being a breast reconstruction. > > I am doing well... I mostly do what I want and a few things that the > docs would pale over. I don't like to sit still, so I usually have > about 3 projects going at a time. I rototill the garden, mow the > lawn, etc. In the winter months I stay sane with decorative painting > and my house has been so many different colors that I've lost count > of them all. > > I'm not one to dwell on anything.... I'd rather try to find a > solution to things I can change and accept the things I cannot. > > Anyway, there it is. Sorry for such a long post. > > Take care, > Zazzy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Hiya (as we say in UK) !! I guess " his a coupla kangaroos short in the top paddock!? " is the Oz version of " he's as thick as 2 short planks " !!! (as again we say in UK) wow what a bilingual lot we are lol!!!! Regards Donna > > G'day Chi - you're right on the ball mate - we have some great sayings! How > 'bout " his a coupla kangaroos short in the top paddock!? " guess what that > means LOL. And our epitany: bewdi mate, how's she goin' mate? Geez you > sheilas are grouse! (wow your pretty alright!) > > > > Zazzy - you are true blue dinky die alright mate! > > > > Regards, > > > > from Downunder > > > > _____ > > From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of china > neal > Sent: Wednesday, 12 March 2008 1:14 PM > > Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Zazzy: My story > > > > > > Many of us survive but some like Zazzy thrive- like > the old commercials...she still keeps ticking!!!! > > I love reading the different international posts and > I've picked up a saying from OZ- " Good on ya " which > I assume means good for you or you go!!! so Zazzy- > Good on ya. > > Chi > > ___ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Zazzy, Thank you for sharing. And if it's ok I would like to say what an inspiration your story is even though I know you had such a difficult time. Keep mowing them lawns, keep painting those walls with beautiful colors and keep living strong! (PS. I love doing the same things. Its very therapeutic) ez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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