It's official. We knew it was coming, there had been rumors for weeks that another big layoff was in the works at Mark's job, but we had no idea it was THIS BIG! I'm sure many of you have seen it on the news and it was on the front page of the paper today that Toyota is getting rid of it's entire variable workforce of 370 people.
Mark said they will be getting rid of the people by department and that his will be one of the first. Mark was told his last day will be May 11th.
My surgery is next week, so at least we will still have health insurance for that. I'll be in Deaconess Hospital monday & tuesday.
MY GOD! I think I'm starting to break! Everyone always asks me how I've managed to hold myself together thru Mark's near death accident, over a month in ICU, the quarter million in medical bills, my current struggle with cancer, surgery, chemo, radiation, trying to take care of the kids, doing daycare to help pay the bills and now Mark losing his job and us losing our health insurance!
I think I've finally hit my breaking point.......
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Pre-Testing for surgery today
I meet with Dr. Moore today, my orthopaedic surgeon. He is going to perform my open biopsy surgery next monday at Deaconess. My biopsy the week before last showed no definate signs of cancer, which was great news!
But the doctors are now saying that they still haven't solved the problem of what is going on in my hip. All the scans and previous biopsy show some abnormality & activity, but they don't know what it is yet. Dr. Browning, my oncologist, wants proof that it isn't cancer, just to be on the safe side.
So I'm back in surgery again! This will be regular surgery where they knock me out, the last biopsy I was awake the whole time & it wasn't a big deal compared to all my other surgeries.
Hopefully the surgery next monday will give proof that I have no active cancer! Hopefully, whatever is wrong with my hip is just some side effect of the radiation or something.
Let's keep our hopes up! :)
But the doctors are now saying that they still haven't solved the problem of what is going on in my hip. All the scans and previous biopsy show some abnormality & activity, but they don't know what it is yet. Dr. Browning, my oncologist, wants proof that it isn't cancer, just to be on the safe side.
So I'm back in surgery again! This will be regular surgery where they knock me out, the last biopsy I was awake the whole time & it wasn't a big deal compared to all my other surgeries.
Hopefully the surgery next monday will give proof that I have no active cancer! Hopefully, whatever is wrong with my hip is just some side effect of the radiation or something.
Let's keep our hopes up! :)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Biopsy last friday
Hi friends & family, my home computer needed repair & upgraded so I put it in the shop on thursday and has been in since then. I just now got it back, so that's why I've been unable to email or update these last few days.
Last friday was my biopsy. I was told this would be a biopsy where I'd be asleep & they would take sufficient samples from my femur bone & surrounding tissue. When I went in friday, the doctor told me I'd be awake the whole time. It was called a 'skinny needle biopsy'. But there was nothing skinny about the straw sized T handled tool he used to drill down thru the top of my thigh into my femur on my right hip area. I could feel the pressure as the tool popped thru my layers of flesh on the way to my bone, yuck. Very painful in the beginning until the 3 numbing shots started to take effect. This was done on the Ct scanner platform so they could keep running me back and forth into the scanner while the big T handle was poking out of me, so the doctor could see inside my hip where he should be aiming.
Anyway, after all that, I was told no results until the following monday. So we went all weekend worrying. On monday, Mark, me and the boys all went to Dr. Browning's office together to hear the news. Well, still no more answers. The biopsy shows some 'lymphicite filtration' in the right trochanter (thats the bone under the hip, top of femur where all my trouble is). It also showed a small blood clot. These things weren't too serious but were of some concern to the doctor.
The main thing he said is there is definately some activity in my trochanter and the biopsy failed to prove wether it is or is not cancer. It's more likely that its not cancer he said, but they want proof.
Dr. Browning, my oncologist, sent me back to my radiation doctor, Mr. Miller for another opinion. So me, Mark & the boys headed across town to meet with him. He was concerned also. He reviewed all the tests, scans and biopsy and agrees with what Dr. Browning had said. They both also spoke with my Orthopedic Doctor, Mr. Moore and have all decided I need an "Open Biopsy."
An open biopsy is what I thought I was getting friday. It will be regular surgery in an operation room under anesthia (spelling?). The Doctor will make a larger incision than he did friday and retrieve larger fragments of my bone, bone marrow & tissue, in and around my trochanter.
I don't really understand how a larger piece is going to make a difference.
Anyway, the nurse called yesterday wanting to schedule surgery for next tuesday. I just told her I'd like to wait and think about it a couple days.
This is all so very frustrating for me and Mark. In the last couple weeks, I've had 2 ct scans, a PET scan (which took 5 hours), an MRI (which took 4 hours), 2 xrays, bloodwork done, urine tests and a biopsy with STILL NO definate ANSWERS??!!!!
The only good news is that my little baby Edan started daycare this week, I have him tues-fri. I was also hired as the new Clerk-Treasurer for the town of Darmstadt this week. They congratulated me after the town board meeting last tuesday evening, that I got the job! It's a job I can do from home. I am trying to help bring in enough income to cover us when Mark gets laid off.
I sure hope my health stays stable so I can keep these jobs.
Last friday was my biopsy. I was told this would be a biopsy where I'd be asleep & they would take sufficient samples from my femur bone & surrounding tissue. When I went in friday, the doctor told me I'd be awake the whole time. It was called a 'skinny needle biopsy'. But there was nothing skinny about the straw sized T handled tool he used to drill down thru the top of my thigh into my femur on my right hip area. I could feel the pressure as the tool popped thru my layers of flesh on the way to my bone, yuck. Very painful in the beginning until the 3 numbing shots started to take effect. This was done on the Ct scanner platform so they could keep running me back and forth into the scanner while the big T handle was poking out of me, so the doctor could see inside my hip where he should be aiming.
Anyway, after all that, I was told no results until the following monday. So we went all weekend worrying. On monday, Mark, me and the boys all went to Dr. Browning's office together to hear the news. Well, still no more answers. The biopsy shows some 'lymphicite filtration' in the right trochanter (thats the bone under the hip, top of femur where all my trouble is). It also showed a small blood clot. These things weren't too serious but were of some concern to the doctor.
The main thing he said is there is definately some activity in my trochanter and the biopsy failed to prove wether it is or is not cancer. It's more likely that its not cancer he said, but they want proof.
Dr. Browning, my oncologist, sent me back to my radiation doctor, Mr. Miller for another opinion. So me, Mark & the boys headed across town to meet with him. He was concerned also. He reviewed all the tests, scans and biopsy and agrees with what Dr. Browning had said. They both also spoke with my Orthopedic Doctor, Mr. Moore and have all decided I need an "Open Biopsy."
An open biopsy is what I thought I was getting friday. It will be regular surgery in an operation room under anesthia (spelling?). The Doctor will make a larger incision than he did friday and retrieve larger fragments of my bone, bone marrow & tissue, in and around my trochanter.
I don't really understand how a larger piece is going to make a difference.
Anyway, the nurse called yesterday wanting to schedule surgery for next tuesday. I just told her I'd like to wait and think about it a couple days.
This is all so very frustrating for me and Mark. In the last couple weeks, I've had 2 ct scans, a PET scan (which took 5 hours), an MRI (which took 4 hours), 2 xrays, bloodwork done, urine tests and a biopsy with STILL NO definate ANSWERS??!!!!
The only good news is that my little baby Edan started daycare this week, I have him tues-fri. I was also hired as the new Clerk-Treasurer for the town of Darmstadt this week. They congratulated me after the town board meeting last tuesday evening, that I got the job! It's a job I can do from home. I am trying to help bring in enough income to cover us when Mark gets laid off.
I sure hope my health stays stable so I can keep these jobs.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
I must be the definition of flexibility
Changes again ... Well, I was calling yesterday to double check on my surgery and insurance coverage and it's a good thing I did.
Come to find out, our insurance is the same company but they changed our in-network providers from Sagamore to Indiana Health Network as of April 1st (last week). Which I knew about and had already checked that my oncologist, Dr. Browning was still in-network for me and he is.
BUT, St. Mary's hospital is NOT!!!!! UGH! What awful news. So from now on, I have to go to Deaconess, which I have never been there for any treatment and Mark's Dad died there, so its just not a comfortable place for us.
Anyway, guess we'll have to get use to it, no other choice. Just be glad we have insurance, right?! :)
So, the surgery is CANCELLED for today and is now scheduled for friday at Deaconess! Which also messed up my daycare schedule for the girls I watch on friday. I felt so bad to have to call their mom and mess up her plans also on friday.
I'll post the results of my surgery as soon as I can. They should be able to tell me the same day if it's the cancer again that's eating up my hip or something else.
Come to find out, our insurance is the same company but they changed our in-network providers from Sagamore to Indiana Health Network as of April 1st (last week). Which I knew about and had already checked that my oncologist, Dr. Browning was still in-network for me and he is.
BUT, St. Mary's hospital is NOT!!!!! UGH! What awful news. So from now on, I have to go to Deaconess, which I have never been there for any treatment and Mark's Dad died there, so its just not a comfortable place for us.
Anyway, guess we'll have to get use to it, no other choice. Just be glad we have insurance, right?! :)
So, the surgery is CANCELLED for today and is now scheduled for friday at Deaconess! Which also messed up my daycare schedule for the girls I watch on friday. I felt so bad to have to call their mom and mess up her plans also on friday.
I'll post the results of my surgery as soon as I can. They should be able to tell me the same day if it's the cancer again that's eating up my hip or something else.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Back to St. Mary's for Biopsy Tuesday
After meeting with my oncologist monday, he sent me to the orthopedic doc tuesday. They both are concerned about the scan & xray results. They have talked and decided to send me for a trochanter biopsy.
I go into the hospital for surgery this Tuesday.
I go into the hospital for surgery this Tuesday.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Met with Dr. Browning
Dad took me today to see Dr. Browning (Mark was at work). Doc says the Mri & scan results definately show a questionable abnormality in my right hip. He says from what he sees he can still not determine if it's the cancer again or not at this time.
My hip is becoming increasly more sore. Doc is sending me to an orthopedic specialist to examine my hip bone, review the scans and then probably also schedule a biopsy at the hospital in the next few days.
It is so frustrating not knowing. I am stressing out, losing sleep & just generally worried like crazy. It seems like it takes forever for a diagnosis. Hopefully we will know more soon. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for everyones concern & support.
My hip is becoming increasly more sore. Doc is sending me to an orthopedic specialist to examine my hip bone, review the scans and then probably also schedule a biopsy at the hospital in the next few days.
It is so frustrating not knowing. I am stressing out, losing sleep & just generally worried like crazy. It seems like it takes forever for a diagnosis. Hopefully we will know more soon. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for everyones concern & support.
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