In the clear.... whew.

Just laying around, killin' time. 

ok, so, if you want the short 'n sweet: body scan clear, tumor marker also clear.  I'm clear.  In the clear.  Yes, feel free to do your happy dance if you like.  I did.  After crying of course. 

Aaaaaaaand here's where the cancer patient/Doctor has to insert the whole, yes, prognosis couldn't look better BUT we have to do the tumor marker test every 6 months for 5 years blah blah blah.... whatever.

Aaaaaaaand there's technically one other tumor marker test I have to do (a different, newer one) to compare to my last one and that has to also be clear, or at least better.  I think I'll do that one right before my B-day in May.  Then I get to really celebrate.  Again.

Had champagne last night.  And I'm not gunna lie-  I smoked a cigar too.  (Didn't inhale and didn't finish it, more of a symbolic gesture.)

I'm just so FREAKING HAPPY!

Breakfast is served.

Longer version of the story:

Went to hospital Friday thinking I take a pill in the afternoon, do a scan the next day (Sat) and go home.  Then they inform me, that by law I have to stay 48 hours after swallowing something radioactive.  And since that 48 hours is up on a Sunday, when there's no Dr.'s around to discharge, I'll stay till Monday.

I was caught off guard.  A bit pissed at the system etc.  But blew it off fast.  It is what it is.

SO, new plan.  Swallow radioactive pill Friday afternoon, wait around my room all weekend (I was allowed 'outside' Sunday so I got some fresh air at least) and do one body scan Monday morning, meet 2 min with Dr, go home by 9am.

Monday morning I go get my 15 minute laying-as-still-as-you-can scan at 8am.  Come back to my room, bags packed, Sebas on the way to pick me up, thinking I'll see the Dr in a matter of minutes and be released.

While in the hallway to drop off my empty water bottle n whatnot, I see the Head Doctor.  I met him the very first time I was considering doing RAI.  And I'll just say, from my long list of direct questions, he remembered me.  Also, a few months ago when I actually did the RAI treatment he was answering quite some questions from me as he did rounds one day.  But walking down the hallway I didn't say more than 'good morning' to him.  I'm on my way outta here.  Who wants to small talk?

Then, after having done the body scan a nurse comes in the room.  I'm expecting her to say 'the Dr will see you now'... and she says 'in 15 minutes you can go downstairs for a second scan'.

SECOND SCAN!?  uh, what?  No one ever said anything about a second scan.  I asked why.  She said she didn't know.  I said I would like to know why.  She said she didn't know and just knows the Head of the Department ordered it.

"  'the F%*$ you mean second scan?"

Uh, are you KIDDING me?

Insert freak out.



Thankfully, literally 2 min later another Dr came in and said that the Head Dr saw me and knew he wanted to be able to answer all my questions... a second scan will be done, a close up, of just the thyroid area, to 'put me at ease'.... there's no indication for anything negative, this is just to make sure.

Goodbye huge hospital room.  Good riddance!

ok.  Freak out over.  And after a few minutes of reflection... it's actually nice.  Almost sweet that he ordered the extra scan.  Like, so we can say, LOOK, see!?  RIGHT THERE.  It's OK.  Yeah, then my cynical part piped in 'they probably get more money for another scan' blah blah.  But I didn't care.

Second scan done, talked to Dr.  Prognosis couldn't be better.

I come back in my room to pick up my bags in go... my roomy was still there and obviously knows everything... I'm like BALLING crying and she thinks the worst.  I can tell by her face.  And I just blurt out: 'Everything's ok!'

Everything is OK. 

Thank you to those who kept me in your thoughts.  Everything is going to be ok.  And what comes up when I type that.  'would only be better if Saranda was here'...

I love you all.

Stacy

Clinic stay, Aquarium and other news

So, this is what happens when I "do yoga" at home. (pic right)

I think you all know why the words -do yoga- are in quotes.

But I get ahead of myself.  This Friday I have the honor of going to the hospital for a night.  This is a planned stay.  Long story short: I have to swallow a pill so they can do a body scan and see - like really see - that the radioactive iodine therapy worked.  100%.  Then I can do the old, standard, tumor marker test.  It's kinda a big deal.



That is, of course, the best case scenario.  It could go differently, depending on what exactly they see.  But I'm just going to leave that at that and expect the best.  With a folded up piece of paper in my bag that has all the questions on it for other scenarios, that I will never actually need cuz the best case scenario is the one that will happen.



And here's my box of pills/vitamins/supplements/essential oils/probiotics blah blah blah.  (above pic)  fun huh?

So, we went to the Aquarium.  The kids LOVED it, of course.  And besides the guilt that follows seeing captured creatures put on display for our amusement and feeling like a cattle lead to slaughter (lay out of the building is only one way through from beginning to end)... we enjoyed it too. 

They're just so gosh darn cute.  I'm slowly getting better at realizing just how precious this age is... I hope not too slow.  Otherwise I'll miss it.  They start to really surprise me with what they know/figure out/ask. 

I feel like maybe I should be a little bit more freaked out about this whole thing I'm going to do Friday... and I feel more emotions and stuff coming up as I get closer... AND having, basically, NO thyroid hormones doesn't help.  But, at least the weather has been nice.  Man, when I get outside, kick off my shoes and can just sit in the sun I'm like a whole new person. 

I even got to grill!  Everyone laughed... haha, yes, the American has to grill on the first sunny day.  Yeah.  And!?  I remember Sebastian telling me the weather would be beautiful on Friday (the day we ended up grilling) and I told him... "you know what I'm going to do if the weather is really that nice, right?"  He, laughed, rolled his eyes, and then in all seriousness said something like "I know honey, we'll grill."  I love him so much.

I'll update briefly when I'm home on what the outcome of my Clinic stay was.

Much love
Stacy