Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Say What?

Last year I went thru the process of having a lump removed. I found the lump, had a mammogram, had a biopsy where they inserted a marker into the tumor to indicate the tumor had been checked out if we opted against surgery and eventually decided to have the lump removed. After the surgery it was nearly impossible to do a self exam of that breast because the tissue was so dense from the surgery scar tissue. I had just started doing self exams again when I found this new lump. I was devastated. We were just about ready to do another round of TTC when I found this lump. I really dont want to go thru another surgery. It was pretty miserable the last time. The fact that I produced two lumps in two years had DH and I seriously considering removing the whole breast to avoid going thru this again next year.
I went in for my mammogram yesterday. When she was done putting my girls in that vice-like machine that was so obviously designed by a man she asked me to wait while the radiologist reviewed the scans but was pretty sure I was going to need an ultrasound too. After a little while she came back out saying she needed more views and I was going ton have to get tortured by that damn machine again. While talking with her she asked why I was getting this lump checked out again. It turns out that the marker they put in during the biopsy was still there. I don't know what got removed during the surgery but at least a big portion of the lump was never removed. I have an appointment with the surgeon Thursday afternoon (her nurse called within two hours of me leaving the diagnostic center to schedule this appointment). I can't fathom what her explanation to leaving a major portion of a tumor inside me could be but thanks to her screw up I'm going to have to have another surgery, another scar, a more disfigured breast, and another recovery period.
I'm beyond pissed.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Spray Starch Doesn't Kill Cockroaches

DH works nights, this is a series of text messages I sent to him tonight:

#1: fyi - spray starch doesn't kill roaches

#2: there's a roach trapped under a jar behind the toilet in your bathroom

#3: you're flooring probably gonna be a little sticky

#4: you need more spray starch

I have a very patient husband.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Save Second Base

My nephews are baseball crazies - seriously, they're in a tournament every weekend, it completely takes over their lives in the summer.

I sent their mom a picture of the t-shirt a friend got me to wear to my mammogram.

She's not very happy with me because one of the kids saw it and innocently (and naively) commented how cool it was and asked for one.



I'm taking my laughs where I can get them at this point, even if it makes me the bad aunt.

Mammogram in two weeks, baby making on hold till this is sorted out (because we need another roadblock).
Good times....

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Boob Drama

The universe is at it again. Last fall we had to take several months off TTC because I found a lump in my breast. I had to go thru the process of seeing my gyno, getting a mammogram (ouch!), getting a biopsy, waiting three days that felt longer than a TWW, learning it wasn't cancer but was 'suspicious', getting referred to a surgeon, getting another mammogram (they should really serve drinks at these places) and ultimately having minor surgery to get it removed.
The process was grueling but I was happy to get it out.
I had had another lump removed from the same breast in my early twenties but I went straight from gyno to surgery, back then they didn't bother with torturing you for a while first. They were also able to cut around my nipple the first time to minimize the scar.
This time they cut on the outside of my right breast leaving a gnarly scar. The other thing is that having tissue removed twice from the same breast has left me noticeably lopsided. My girls are no longer identical twins, they're now fraternal.
I was coming to terms with the scar and lopsidedness and happy to have the whole thing behind me. We are gearing up to start trying again. We've picked a new donor in case our prayers for our original donor don't get answered. I've started the paperwork with the new bank and according to my estimations we should be starting up around the end of the month or the beginning of August.
I found another lump.
It's on the same side as the other two.
The universe is gearing up again and she's pissed.