Notable event anniversary

5 years ago today part 3.
Arrived at Via Christi Saint Francis Medical Center at 0530.
Got admitted. Went up to the surgical floor. 
Out of the clothes and into the gown. 
Belly was shaved.
Warm up shot.
Kissed Sharon.
Rolled to Pre Op.
IV in each arm.
Second warm up shot.
The last thing I remember was going through the double doors into the OR.
Woke up in the rolling bed going down a passageway surrounded by people.
Got to the room.
Doc and a small squad of nurses doing checks.
One nurse said that I needed to get up and walk!
The answer is not repeatable in mixed company. I assure you of that.
The surgery started at 0800. It was all done by 0945.
Left Kidney had been removed. The Fancy word is nephrectomy.
When I was released 4 days later, Doc Farha told me the pathology said that it was cancer.
Smack! Upside the head.

5 years ago today

On the 10th of September, 2009, I saw the urologist.
Determination was to remove the left kidney.
The one that had the large mass was going away.....
Further post on the relevant matter on the appropriate date.

Three years ago today, part 2

The Missus drove to urologist's office. I was still pretty much a basket case.
The check in was sorta like this.
Cute chick behind counter: How may I help you?
Me: I have an appointment with Doctor Farha.
CCBC: Renal Mass?
Me: Yeah.
Then we did the insurance card stuff and I gave her the CD of the previous week's scan. I then received the proverbial cup.....................we need a sample, please.
Went back to an exam room after sitting a bit. The Missus was present as well. After a bit, the Doc walked in and shook my hand and said this is what we are going to do. He pulled out a pen and began drawing on the paper on the exam table. Three small incisions to do the laproscopic thing and then one about 3"-4" long next to the navel for the exit. Seems the "mass" in question was really close to the arteries and he determined that the safe route was to make the left kidney go bye-bye. By the time I left I had been scheduled for surgery on the 21st of September.
The Missus got a moment of laughter when Doc pulled on the latex glove and informed me to drop my britches...........................................................

Eighteen Years Ago, Today with some good news!

Official date of Transfer to the Fleet Reserve.
Retired from active service on this date in 1993. Has it been that long? I guess so.
My kids were in school from junior high to sophomore in high school. Now there are five grandchildren.
That also means that on the 29th of September, yesterday, was the thirty eighth anniversary of my enlistment in The United States Navy.

And on a more current note..............
My Doc called with the results of Monday's CT scan...............
Clear. Nothing showing other than what is supposed to be there.........
Yay!!!!!

Eight Months

No! I ain't pregnant. Smart asses anyway!
Naw. Tomorrow the 21st it is eight months since I had the surgery for the cancerous kidney. Wow has time flown. Eight months, already.
It is early due to having to take the Missus to a specialist in LA, on Wilshire Boulevard, no less. It is related to her diabetes. Tricare covered, don'tcha know.
And my HABS WON! 5-1 over the Flyers!

Three months

Today is exactly three months since I had the kidney removed. The one with the big mass/tumor/something on it. The pathology said cancer. It is gone and I have been at the new job since November 9. Getting used to it now. The big incision is a lot smaller now. It was so large then due to swelling up from being opened up. I do have a small tuck and roll but it is quite alright considering the possibilities had it not been found when it was.

Three months. Out of work and in a hospital to moving to the Mojave Desert in California for a job. Once in awhile it is almost one of those, is it real moments. Sounds a little nuts but I am still around for a whole lot longer. The odds say I will watch granddaughters walk down the aisle at some point. That is a good feeling. And one of them is just recently a teenager. Yikes!

So for today, the browbeating I was going to give reid, baucus, dodd and the rest of the new communist party will have to wait.

Remember that perspective post? There it is.

The day I went home from the hospital

On the 24th of September, I got to go home. The doc showed up about mid morning to let me know about the pathology. That was when I was told that it was cancer that was on my kidney. But it had been isolated to the kidney itself. And he said I would get a prescription for pain relievers.
The missus and I did stop for lunch on the way home, I had fun with the waitress. She asked us how our day was going. When we told her splendid due to I get to hang around many more years, the young lady almost fell over. It was rich.
We stopped at our local neighborhood convenience store to grab some smokes for the missus and some gatorade for me. I did sort of a rotten thing and showed the gal who works there my stomach with all those wonderful incisions and staples that were yet to come out. She turned a bit pale! The missus was none too impressed. I thought it was kind of funny. Sailors have rather sick and twisted senses of humour, ya know.
As of tomorrow, things may be thin for awhile as the Missus and I are heading west either tomorrow afternoon or Friday morning.
So, until I get settled and have internet service, see ya then!

Monday and five weeks since the surgery

Five weeks today. The scars are slowly receeding. The smaller three that were part of the actual laprosocpic/robotic part of the operation are down to just little lines and dots! The big one that was used to take the kidney out is still red/reddish-pink. All the scabs are completely gone. The pain of excessive situps is slowly fading. I will have my release/up chit in hand tomorrow. It gets faxed to Edwards in short order after that.
Just something else to ponder. When the doc says I have good news and bad news doesn't just happen on TV and in the movies. That is how this all got started!
Tomorrow, staple removal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hospital routine

The best part was cable TV. I was on the clear diet for chow........Jello, broth, tea and coffee. The best part was the coffee. And young student nurses doing the vitals and such during the day. On the second day the cathater finally came out and I could pee in a relief bottle! They had to keep track of how much and how often. Isn't that exciting! And the dressing came off. First look at the ugly! I have never had staples before, unique sensation when brushed by clothing. And the doc came by and said everything was cool and we were waiting on the pathology. The other lab stuff said that so far so good. In case you are wondering, there is no sensation of the kidney being gone. Really. None. Nada. Oh did I mention the magic button? Yeah, the belly still hurt, alot at times. Then they decided to pull the IVs and go with pills, Percosette!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Say hello to my little friends!!!!!!!!!!! The third day, Wednesday was basically uneventful, I slept on and off, watched alot of Discovery Channel, TLC, A&E, History Channel and Fox News. And more jello and broth for meals. The missus said everyone had gotten back home after the wedding of the number two son. She had her hands full for awhile with a house full of company and me going in for surgery, so her visit was short and sweet. I told her to go home and sack out. She had a very busy and stressfull period with doing the wedding cake, company coming and me. She deifinitely needed the day to herself. And shortly after I sacked out for the night, I was awakened to do the vitals and meds! I told them to just take the BP and to do the temp with an ear probe and wait till morning for the meds. Not impressed. And I did take an unassisted walk around the square made by the elevators and nurses station! The best description is way too many sit-ups! Getting to the vertical was a bit of a chore.
More goodness to follow tomorrow, if it suits me.

Red White and Blue!

I think I found the colour palette for this adventure.
For some reason the incision does hurt around the edges. Could be the coughing from the cold/fu that hit me a couple of days ago. I did quit smoking due to the hospitalization but that will be five weeks on this coming Sunday. It could be that I am cleaning out? Possible, ya think?
Anyway on the day of the surgery, it was one of those early mornings. Like the ducks don't even get up this early!(I was a passionate waterfowler) Figure it out, OK?! I hit the check-in desk at 0530 on the morning of September 21. Having been on a clear liquid diet and downing a ten ounce bottle of magnesium citrate the day before, I was in a stirling mood. Hackles up and teeth bared! It went rather assembly line like from that point. Upstairs, shave the belly. Into the nightie and on to preop for all the IV's and then the lights went out! I was in recovery longer than surgery. The surgery started at exactly 0800 and was done at 0945. I didn't get out of recovery until about 1200-1230. I sleep long after general anasthesia.
In the room and hooked up to all kinds of stuff. The Missus was there for the entire show. The nurses were pushing me to take a walk as soon as possible. I had two IVs and a catheter in, for crying out loud! And they wanted me to walk. When I did, it took one RN and two RN students to handle all the tubes! At least when in bed I had a little button to push for pain. Morphine Sulfate, Rah Rah! Push button and feel better! I had visits from two of the kids later that evening. The oldest son and his bride were still in town after the younger son's wedding so they paid me visit before heading home to upstate NY. And the youngest daughter, with granddaughter Piper and the kids' real Dad also stopped by. I can't say I was real good company, if you get my drift. And then there were vitals to be taken. Plus the nexium and zocor that I take regular. The staff had me taking my regular scrips during the wee hours. I finally told them that when they just wanted BP and such to get it and let me sleep. That went over like a lead balloon.
Well that's enough fun for tonight dear readers!

The mass is found on the Left Kidney

On the fourth of September, I went to the doc. I was having digestive issues. It was like lingering intestinal flu. After the pushing on the abdomen, the doc ordered up a CT Scan. About 45 minutes after it was done, I got the good news-bad news thing. The good news was the intestinal thing was diverticulitus. Easily treated at it's early stage. The bad news: You have a mass/tumour on your left kidney.
You know that literative thing about a mule kick to groin? Yeah, it was there. I was seven days shy of my 55th birthday and ten days from starting a new job at Edwards AFB in California. Needless to say it was almost panic mode. I had to go see a urologist the following week on the 10th. The Missus went along with me. Both of us were basically scared shitless. Natural, considering the circumstances, don't ya think. The mass was isolated to the left kidney and no where else. It was however very close to the artery, necessitating it's removal. I had to call Edwards to let them know about the situation and to see if the job would be kept available for me. It is. I start the 9th of November. My appointment to get my release is tomorrow.
It has been just over a month since the surgery. I have soreness around the large incision that was made to take the kidney out. I will add more details in another post. I have come down with a head cold. Itchy eyes, throat, cough and general soreness and feeling like crap.