I just want to eat! Conference food & race

Last month I said to myself, "you need a new fighting cancer shirt".  The one I had was the basic gray with white lettering from RaygunShirts in Des Moines Iowa.   I asked them to make the print on a black shirt for me, me Melanoma color.  They said "Sure". 

The note they sent along was so wonderful. It made my eyes leak.  

 Stage 1a Acral Lentiginous Melanoma or my "toe cancer" as I called it. I'm at a higher risk to have regular sun melanoma as well.  As a result, I took advantage of the sale Athleta had last month and ordered more of the UPF swim shirts they have (Pacifica, long sleeve and short sleeve).  I wear these out mowing, and in the car on road trips, and for the pool/ocean too. The guy at the camping store said the UPF protection is usually good up to 50 washes.  

A fellow Melanomie shared that Rit Sun Guard can be used to put sun protection into clothing. However,  does say that it's works best on cotton and not synthetics.  j
I was excited for the conference, but also for the race on Sunday. It turned out that America's Finest City half marathon would be on the Sunday after the conference, so I stayed an extra day to run!  I haven't been doing running in training. It hurts to run on the treadmill, even though the pain doc said that the treadmill would be better than running on asphalt. Running on asphalt is slightly better than concrete. I've been working on keeping my head/chin in a tucked in position, so as to not extend my neck in a fashion that pains me post car collision.  I ran a 10K in mid July and was feeling good about it--I even biked to and from the race!  However, I still stuck with weights, yoga and walking for training of this race. I was using it as a guideline for how my body was feeling all over, and gauging if I could work towards running in training too.

I packed single packets of Sunbutter for breakfast on race day, as well as maybe the flight home.  I also had my Tanka bars, cheese sticks, and my 'granola' mix as I call it (sunflower & pumpkin seeds, Guittard chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and Trader Joe's dried coconut flakes).

The flight out was fairly boring.  There was so much cloud coverage for most of the flight, that I kept my window shade closed. I had a Mamma Chia drink before leaving the house in the morning, and then my packed snacks.  

After checking into the hotel and for the conference, I met up with some other folks and had a cheese appetizer. The bread went to someone else who could eat it, and I enjoyed the cheese, olives, and dates. Later I went out and enjoyed a raspberry Mojito, and a huge Paella dinner. I shared the lobster (too much) and the mussels (I don't care for them).   

Paella, SO GOOD!  

The conference started the next day and I was hungry.  I took a packet of Sunbutter down to breakfast with me, and some of my Canyon Bakehouse mountain bread. I had fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, and a Chobani yogurt. However, the bread, as usually in a catering event, was served on top of bread to absorb the grease.  **Always be on your toes at a conference!   Their sign said gluten free, obviously it wasn't.  When I said something to the staff, I was told "eh".  Different chain than we've been at before, and I can say the Marriott folks were very accommodating and said, "oh, I see, yes. Let me get you some fresh bacon."  NOT this place though.

There was a mid morning snack. I had the fruit. I have to wonder why they served fruit ninety minutes after breakfast that had fruit.

Lunch. Failure.  Complete failure.  I had a sticker on my name tag that was suppose to mean "go to the catering staff, show them, and ask for your gluten free and soy free meal".  In reality, when I did that, I was directed to the buffet. After standing in line for twenty minutes, I saw this dish and tag: 

Being a farmer's daughter, I knew that Farro was NOT gluten free. I pointed this out to the catering staff and was told "it is gluten free, we checked everything."  After I sat down with my lettuce and parm cheese, the catering staff gave me a gluten free meal from the kitchen. I was SO mad and upset that I could barely eat, but I needed to eat something, so I ate the chicken only.  

The afternoon snack was not much better. I was jealous because I thought everyone had donut holes, but it turned out they were pretzel balls with cheese for the side, and then packages of nuts (which had soy).  I guess I don't even know why nuts would be served as they are a major allergen for so many people.  I ran up to my room and grabbed a Tanka bar and cheese stick.  

Dinner that night was a mixer which was another buffet. I ate some plain rice and a piece of fish, literally was trying to not cry from being sooooo hungry. I stayed for a bit to socialize, and then left for the grocery store a few blocks away. Hormel ham slices, cheese, crackers, chocolate milk, avocado, and a few other things.

The next morning I found someone from the conference and let them know of the issues. They were shocked to hear this.  I know I am not the only celiac at the conference, and I know there are others who have more restrictive food needs than I have (some are gluten, dairy, and nightshade free, some are vegetarian, some are vegans, etc).  The person told me to know that I will have food for lunch and dinner, and that I can send in the receipt for reimbursement.

Knowing I only had two more Sunbutter packs left, I saved then for race day and travel home day, and had the eggs, fruit, and yogurt for breakfast.  Lunch was plain and I did not care. I had something to eat. I had salt and pepper to add some flavor to it.  

Veggies, beef, chicken.  Simple. Edible. Needed 

The afternoon snack was like the hotel didn't even try. I don't get why they had sandwiches only. 

NO thank you.
They kind of look good, but they also look like a whole lot of bread. 

I'll have my usual: 

Rice crackers, cheese, Tanka bar. 

Dinner was hilarious.  I let the catering staff at the table know I was gluten free. I didn't feel I was understood. I wrote on the back of the printed menu, "Gluten Free and Soy Free".
"My" meal was served.

Vegetarian is not gluten free. 

A table mate said, "that'd be gluten free". 

I hope they didn't serve it to someone else. I turned on my phone light and picked it apart. Beans, greens, and squash is not the gluten free meal when others have the meat and fish. 

Sigh.

Frustrated, I said, "I'm going up to the room to get my ham, cheese, crackers".  On the way out of the dinner room, I saw a head catering man. [He had a different jacket on than others]. I showed him the photo and he said, "I will get you your meal. That is not it."  I came back to this:

MUCH better!  Slightly different than every one else's. I was still a bit worried about eating it, but I needed food, I had a race in the morning, and I knew there'd be portapotties on course.  

I stayed for a little dancing, and then headed to the room. I had to be up around 3:30am to dress, get a Lyft, and head to the park for a shuttle to the start.  

Flat Quirky: 

Raygun printed design on my own running tank, and my new Sparkleskirts skort.

I knew the course had a hilly/downhill start and a hilly/uphill finish.
I knew some of the course, as I had run from the Cabrillo Monument back to the hotel two years ago.
I thought I remembered it.
I didn't.
The weather was also muggy/humid. For some reason we in the flyover states haven't had much of it. 

The start was a bit of an undulating road for the first couple of miles. We also didn't actually start at the monument/statue, but in the parking lot of the monument.  I loved the downhills. FLYING. I was FLYING.  The incredible feeling of flying.

Then we got to the Sheraton where the course was a turn right for a loop, and then go the other way for a loop.  With the humidity and sweating, my Glide had worn off. Thankfully there were running paramedics on the course and I asked a couple of them for some Vaseline or some such. 

I've never heard of 2Tom Sport Shield before, but I am a firm believer in them now. The paramedic unfurled it, and then said just to rub it all over. She was going to throw the package away, but I took it and the wipe and put it in my sparkleskirt skort pocket for use later if I needed it. That stuff stayed on and only came off with soap and water.  It was awesome.   

The wipe was still very 'slippery' after the race. I put it in a ziploc and am wondering if I can get another use out of it.  I put an order in for some from Amazon though.  

Race on. We had to get to the 10K by a certain point. I did it, with time to spare! More time than in my July 10K.  The downhills may have had something to do with that, but I was elated nonetheless.  

I had to stop and get a photo at the Cancer Survivor's Park.  The sculpture in the background (blocked off) depicts many entering treatment, but fewer exiting.  I am one of those who exited!

I took excitement and inspiration where I could, because I forgot how long running 13.1 can be.  Running a race with 7,000 friends is different than walking Williams Route 66, or Little Rock half when there are a lot of people around!  

Then the hills started. . .  gentle climbing, and I enjoyed seeing T-Rex for some laughs.   

and the hills just kept coming. A gradual one to start, and then we turned the corner and it continued to climb. We passed an intersection that reminded me of a San Francisco hill. Then we just continued on this long, so long, a climb. Up and up and up. I was hurting up the hill. I'm not sure I could have run that whole stretch even in my best shape! Up to Balboa Park.  Then we turned on a flat road. Such a beautiful flat road! (Except everyone kept trying to shove gluten pretzels at me).  We went past the Museum of Man.  Beautiful architecture, and I knew we were almost at the finish with all of that.  A turn here, a curve there, a straight away and the finish.  

The beautiful, beautiful finish line!   

I may have burned some calories.

You know I don't post my times, because my time is for me, not for anyone else. Knowing Quirky's time doesn't mean anything when we are racing against ourselves. I am not an elite runner!    

The beautiful disco ball 40th running medal.
It's so much fun to spin! 

After a Lyft ride back to the hotel and a quick clean up, I went to the pool and hot tub to relax and stretch the muscles.  I also had a fabulous Margarita and a bunless cheeseburger with fruit at the pool. Salt tasted fabulous!   I let the jets of the hot tub pound on my feet and thighs, and up my spine. I did lunges and bends in the hot tub and the heated pool. I thought I was feeling pretty good.

A group of us headed over to Coronado Beach and played in the surf. My blister on a blister was popped after the surf play. I usually try not to pop the blisters, but this one was right on the side at the base of the toes and rubbed against the Birkenstocks.  I couldn't travel like that the next day.  I just popped it, kept the skin there, and put a bandaid over it.

That night I wasn't too hungry, and had a cheese and meat tray at the hotel restaurant again. 

It was simple and I had salt :D
Cheese, cured meat, fresh olives, and dates. I didn't have the pickled onions or cauliflower. 

Monday flying home day was also the day of the solar eclipse in the USA. I thought we'd be in the air when the eclipse was happening, but it turns out it started as we were waiting in the airport.  I tried the hole in the paper part and it didn't work too well. A nice young woman had some eclipse glasses she let us use.  I got a nice photo through those glasses. Then the clouds covered the sun and moon, and I could see it with my Maui Jim sunglasses (not that I stared at it), and I tried to take a photo through my lenses.  I think it worked well for being a guessing photo.  

I was a little stiff when I woke up the day after the race, but I stretched and thought I was doing well. I thought wrong.  Even waiting at the airport for a couple hours wasn't bad.  I had a window seat on the plane. The folks next to me didn't get up at all, and one fell asleep. I didn't want to wake him up, and since I'm short, I was able to do some stretching in the chair. Arms up and forward. Legs down and under the seat. After getting off the plane in Chicago, I headed to the yoga room to stretch.  Afterwards I thought I was doing well.

Then our flight was delayed due to a computer glitch malfunction.  I improvised using my orange juice bottle to rub out the muscles like "The Stick". It worked.  I stretched some more and walked a bit. We were finally able to board, two plus hours later.  

I did some yoga on Tuesday and stretched. Wednesday resumed with yoga class and some light walking. Yesterday I signed up for the Williams Route 66 in Tulsa in November.

Run on. 

May brings new adventures

Oh, it's been so long since I've written, and so much has happened!  

I had a meeting with the oncologist. She ran blood work and it was fine. I'm not really sure why they run this, since the cancer wasn't advanced to where it was in my blood system.  I found out eating mac and cheese for lunch (even with half a can of tuna) 45 minutes before a blood draw probably isn't smart. Never thought of what my blood sugar would look like with the pasta carbs!  

I had to ask the oncologist. No one has ever said how advanced it was.  I had Stage 1 melanoma and it was almost to Stage 2.  It was good to catch it early. She said she normally sees people who have Stage III and IV. (EEK!).

The part I was seeing on the preliminary pathology reports was, "Clark's Level II, Breslow's Depth 0.5mm, nonulcerated.  Radial growth phase is present.  Vertical growth phase is absent. . ."

This made me think it was Stage II, but she said Stage I.  :-)  

I am SO lucky to have had that itch on my foot January 16, 2015!  It's the only reason I looked between the toes.  

STITCHES OUT!

It was such a great feeling to walk out of the doctor's office without the stitches!  Unfortunately, getting them removed was a different story.  It looked like I had 5 or 6 stitches. Turns out I had 8 and a couple were sunk in a little bit, one was sunk in even more.  Turns out the scab I kept having show up was where the worst offender was located.

Doc had a student/resident with him again, different one this time (third so far).  The nurse just stood to the side, as did the resident, so I held my pinkie wide open from the ring toe in order for the doc to have access---good think I wore a skort, lol.  I watched him remove most of them, but told him I was being a chicken and couldn't watch him dig for the hidden one. He finally got it and I assume I held the toe and foot steady for him.   I had bleeding afterwards from the hidden stitch and left the office looking like the above in my favorite Born sandals.  Doc commented on the "polish".  I told him I had to do something and since I couldn't use the toe spacers for polish, I opened my Jamberry stash of peel, heat and stick "wraps" for polish.  Above is Cabana.  They stayed on for about a month.

I have to go back in 3 months (not really sure why) to the surgeon.  I had to ask when I can run again and he said to wait at least another week to ensure I don't burst open my new seam.  Hmmm, I think I'll wait a few more weeks!  

Weekend breakfast:  Beelers Bacon, scrambled eggs with a bit of cheddar cheese, fruit, and UDIs whole grain with seedless blackberry jam. 

After the wound cleared up:  The toe had skin peel/exfoliate from the top and bottom.

The skin at the base of the toe is pulled tight. This is where the skin was removed on the interior of the toe webbing in the largest diameter.  

As such, the bottom is pretty painful and I'll have to work up to getting a callus or thicker layer of skin from where the outside layers came loose.  

Don't laugh:  I think my foot looks stained, but that's just how it always looks. 

TA DA!   Running shoes!  I can't get my Injinji toe socks on, so I went with my second best, Fox River no show ankle socks. Love these for under 5 mile runs.  No run today, just a nice long walk.  

May 13:  It felt SO good to get the shoes on. I was PUMPED for a walk. Figured a couple miles. Put on my sunscreen, my waist belt with a 8oz bottle of water and my cell phone and out the door I went. 

Um, yeah, so that didn't go so well. I wanted to turn around a couple blocks away. I made it half a mile away, to the trail head, and turned around to come home. Total time:  30 minutes. Yes, it took me that long because I kept stopping to adjust my left shoe.  Still too much pressure over the toe area. I think I'll sit with the foot propped up for a bit more.
  

Hubby and I did a new project. We had to move the grape vine fence in about a foot --something about 50 years ago they didn't really survey the property when it was created and the end post was an inch on the other property.  Hubby researched and created a nice tight fence for the vines and we strung them up properly. Then we added some pizzazz to the posts with the copper tops :-)

By "we" I really mean "him".  I should say hubby did this. I pretty much watched from the house. I think I was out on my feet for maybe an hour one night when we were stringing up the vines.

May 15: I decided to try this walking thing again!  One of the local jewelry stores has a treasure hunt contest. It takes the advertising dollars and puts them into cash or store credit and hides them around town on the trail/park system.  I went out looking today for the treasure. Pretty much a very slow walk with lots of stops. I found the following, but no real treasure. I was out longer than I expected (two hours, versus the planned one hour) and the toe was tender, but not completely angry with me. 

May 17 weekend was graduation for my hubby's oldest nephew!  Can't believe M is old enough for graduation, nor that The Mike and I have been together as long as he's been around!  

My sister and niece came to the open house and my niece--while she didn't say this to me--said that she was surprised to see me without a bandage on my foot!  I still was wearing open toed 'dressy' thong/flip flops with ankle strap, but the suture wounds had healed and I was going with no gauze.  It felt good to be that way, and I was surprised anyone noticed!  

After driving home, hubby and I went treasure hunting for a nice walk. Two hours in a car was long enough for my legs/ foot and his sore back.  

Beautiful river sunset.

May 19:  a chilly cold bicycle ride

Hubby laughed at me. . .I don't know why. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Most of my long socks are toe socks, which I still can't wear.  Thus, I wore my Susan Komen breast cancer socks my sister --fighting breast cancer--gave me.  The regular mountain bike cycling shoes are a little hard on the toe area still, so I am wearing my cycling sandals. 

Perfectly formed (okay, the roundest I have made in a long time) Chebe pizza crust with milled chia seed in the mix.  

Memorial Day weekend:  May 23 we worked on replacing our really old fence. Not sure how old it is, but we had it when we bought the house.  The nice older man-backyard neighbor said it had been there about 30 years if not longer.  I have been feeling pretty good about the foot. Friday night The Mike and I were out working on tearing the old fence out and the toe felt good for those three hours in my old ROTC boots. 

Saturday, I wore a cushy pair of my Fox River socks and we were out there for a good solid day--over twelve hours-- with breaks for lunch, dinner, and a few moments where I sat on a bucket.  For the most part the toe felt good. Mostly this was due to the whole foot hurting from being in the boots all day. The feet felt like I'd run a marathon.  The toe was red, but it didn't hurt any more than normal. [Fence is still not done]  

Sunday it rained all day and Monday morning. We spent Memorial Day watching PBS shows on those who Gave All so we can be free. Monday afternoon we went back out to do some tidying up. After about an hour my toe was getting rubbed the wrong way. It felt like a blister had formed at the knuckle/joint with the foot, but there wasn't anything there. I had on different socks I rarely wear and wonder if that played into the pain.  When I started favoring the foot, I called it a day, which was really only an hour after that. 

The toe is healing. 

This is about what the toe looks like most any day. Still red below the toe knuckle. A little weeping still occurs at the one suture site (the red dot if you can see that).  

Beautiful evening for a walk.  

[No, we did not walk along the tracks, nor did we cross the bridge. Safety First!]

This morning, Thursday, I decided to try on my other Born sandals. . .these are obviously a little more tricky to wear than my normal pair. 

First thing, I did GET my foot into the position and it felt okay. 

Second thing I noticed, when I tried to walk I knew that wasn't going to go well.  

Baby steps in the progress. I'm happy to know I can at least get the foot into the straps.  

The strap on top of the toe is going to take a bit longer before it'll be happen for an outing.

Interestingly, the strap between the toes didn't bother me. I wasn't sure since that's the suture site.

I have my dermatologist appointment this afternoon for my three month checkup. I can't believe it's been three months since I found out I had cancer and had my initial full body check for any other abnormalities.  Hopefully he'll give me something for my irritated skin from the Virginia Creeper that was growing on the north side of  the fence.  It's like poison ivy to me.  Even with full length pants, snap full length shirt, gloves and such, I still managed to get a case of the itchies.  It's actually the mildest case I've had though :-) 

Happy days. Explore new foods with the gluten free lifestyle and embrace change: it will happen whether we want it to or not. 

Surgery day. April 9.

You all remember this adventure started out with such a small colored piece of skin, in the shape of Saturn. A little round spot with 'edges' that resembled -to me- the rings of the planet. 

After my 'punch biopsy' the area slowly healed.  

The general surgeon I met with explained there is a nerve that runs right along the toe in this area, and that is why it had been a painful recovery from the punch biopsy.

The surgery was pushed out a little bit for several factors doctor's  schedule, my schedule, hubby schedule, and with the OK of the general surgeon.  

One of the last "hurrahs" of springtime toes.

I used my Jamberry wraps (2013 ones) that just scream summer.  

Also, I enjoyed wearing my Born sandals as much as I could in the chilly spring air.  It doesn't seem like I wore them as much as I wanted.  It'll be a while before I can wear them again. 

Since surgery was pushed out an extra week, it was convenient for a sibling:  I spent a week in the D.C. metro area, hanging out with sibling and watching her son for his 'spring break'. My fee was spending time with nephew,  food, and trips to thrift stores :-)  
I scored a brand new pair of Fidji shoes with the sticker still on from Nordstroms---for $25!  

While the planes traveled through some turbulent clouds, when I got back to Iowa, the clouds were moving on in a perfect line.  Gorgeous skyline.
It reminded me of ocean water meeting the sandy beach. 

The Mike and I spent Easter with his parents. He drove back on the 'back roads' and we found a nice river overlook.  We usually travel the roadway/bridge that is in the far background. 

My sister in law's church made a prayer shawl for me--

and she got one for me in my signature purple (for pancreatic cancer)

All the fun out of the way and it was time for surgery. EEK.   One of the hospital nurse's called the day before to run through my medications, vitamins, and allergies.  Reporting to the hospital time was changed from 5:30am (GASP) to 11am. I still couldn't eat past midnight (sigh). 

Surgery time itself was changed from 9am to 3pm.  

Last Hurrah of toe socks for weeks to come. 

Pre-Op

The hospital intake was interesting and different.  Most of my colonoscopies have been in the doctor's ambulatory room.  The only surgery I can recall 'checking' into a hospital for was my breast reduction and that was a different hospital.   The intake person was fairly new, and she kept reiterating that.  I was told to bring copies of my Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney, and she apparently had never had to scan a document into the file for this.  

She then sent us down the hallway to the surgery wing.

In the hospital room I had an intake nurse  who promptly started getting things ready. First, I let her know I had brought food for the recovery room/post surgery when they always try to get a person to eat crackers.  She said just to leave those with The Mike as I'd get those when I came back to the same room after surgery.  Next, she verified medication/vitamins and then tried to get me to give a 'water' sample (which I wasn't told of and couldn't give for at least an hour).  

Before she even had me in a gown, transport was there to take me to nuclear lab for the lymph node mapping.  Even though they said there was no rush, the fact that these transport folks waited by the door while the nurse was doing her work was annoying to me, and must have been to her as well. While this was going on and the nurse was verifying info, an older nurse came in and just "had" to see my cancer spot on the toe as she thought it was a misprint. [okay, maybe she was a heavy smoker and had aged skin, but she seemed about 60].  I honestly have no idea if she was a nurse, I remember her saying her name, but for all I know, she probably was the busy body at the reception desk.

To my intake nurse, I verified that no I.V. can go in my left wrist due to scar tissue from my very first I.V. experience in August 1993. Most nurses don't believe me on this. Today I had medical tape with "NO I.V." written on it slapped on to my wrist vein :-)  My intake nurse believed me and tried to get the I.V. into my right wrist, under and around the name badge and allergy badge. It didn't go well, The vein blew. This means the vein got a hole in it and they would have to go in another place. It doesn't really hurt when this happens, but it is inconvenient.  Another nurse was called in -who apparently can do I.V.s under extreme pressure, and my IV was put in the inside elbow vein.  

I was quite impressed to get an allergy band that had not only Ibuprofen on it, 

but also gluten and soy!

Lymph node mapping. 

Mapping is . . . interesting.  I was taken down to the nuclear med floor and left in an actual waiting room which was vacant except for yours truly.  After about five minutes I was rolled down the hallway to the mapping room. The surgeon was there and he and I confirmed together where the Melanoma spot was located, he marked it for surgery, and then another spot (also between the toes) for the tech to inject the mapping dye. I was asked if I was pregnant.

The tech injected the dye, which was just a little twing, and then did a preliminary scan. After that, I was taken to have a chest X-ray performed. I assume this is because I'd be intubated for the surgery.  The technician there came out to verify my bracelet ID, even after I stated my name. As she was looking at it, she said I looked 25. WOOT!   Probably had something to do with the ponytail on top of the head and the Lululemon headband :-)  I was asked again if I was pregnant. Ah! Maybe this is why they wanted me to give a urine sample up in the intake room!

After a few chest xrays, I went back down the hall to the mapping room.  This whole time I just tucked my gown around my body to prevent a show. After 20+ years of showing myself for colonoscopies, I wasn't concerned with having my legs exposed, nor interested in more laundry for the hospital with extra gowns--but I did want to maintain modesty for the hospital workers. 

In the mapping room I was set up on a skinny table/bed/tray with warm blankets and there was a tube/machine I'd be fed into for scanning where the dye was in the body as it worked its way up from my toes to the pairing lymph nodes.  It was possible for these to be behind the knee, or by the groin area.  Eight photos were taken over a period of about 40 minutes.  During the second or third photo, the room was called by someone to see if I was done. HA! I'd barely been started upon!  A computer screen above the scanning area showed the starburst of the dye as it moved through the body. As each photo took about a minute to process, the starburst effect would be concentrated in a certain area for the nodes. 

After the photos were taken, the tech then had to mark on my body the locations of the three main lymph nodes that were marked with the dye.  I had no idea what was really going on, but it tickled and felt like a marker.  She was using a skinny marker to mark three locations on the groin area and then the doctor would take from each area.  The tech explained the nodes are basically a string of pearl like items and the surgeon would take out some from the three marked areas.

After this was done, I was taken back to my hospital room. I was able to give the sample they had wanted, and I got to wait until surgery time. While all this was "hurry up, hurry up, hurry up" time, now it was "wait, wait, wait".  Time was now just after Noon and I wouldn't be called back for surgery until 3:15pm.  

The Mike and I  were in the room together for a little bit when a nurse came in and asked if the doctor had been in yet. Well, I saw the doctor down at lymph node mapping, and he had been in about the same time to see my husband, but haven't seen him since then. My understanding was he was suppose to come in with both of us here. The nurse was just very terse and asked , "So he hasn't been in".  He was in to see my hubby about an hour ago, he saw me down at the lymph node mapping. Terse Nurse: (harumph/sigh) and sort of huffed out of the room. 

The Mike and I thought that was quite strange. 

tried watching tv, we tried reading magazines, and we generally just sat there and held hands, waiting for them to come and take me away for my cancer surgery. Even though it wouldn't be as invasive or as scary as my sister's mastectomy the next day, it was still cancer surgery for me, in an unusual location.  

For surgery, this is what I remember. We were taken out of the hospital room. The Mike was informed of the waiting room for family members, and they have a television screen to show my initials, color coding where I was (in surgery, in recovery, in hospital room).  The nurse transport team wheeled me past the cleaning/scrub stations for medical personnel, I was taken into the surgery room which was cold for me, but I'm sure it would be warm with the spot lights lit up for surgery.  I repeated my name, birthday, why I was there, which foot would have the surgery. I was transferred from the moving bed to the surgical bed, laid upon it, warm blankets given, and I exposed my thigh/groin for the techs, I breathed into the mask and that's it.

The next thing I know it's 5pm in the recovery room and I'm being fed ice chips in between quick naps.   After so many ice chips I'm taken back to the hospital room where The Mike is waiting for me and my foot is bundled as below: 

All this bandaging covers the fourth/fifth toe area/surgery location. 

Hanging out with my prayer shawl --which was perfect for the chilly room--and my Kinnikinnick graham animal crackers and Snyder GF pretzels.  (both of these have soy lecithin, but that is one thing my body can tolerate, it's soy oil and protein that I can't). 

Another nurse was caring for me when I returned to the room. I enjoyed a small orange juice, water, and my crackers and pretzels.  Then we had to wait for my RX to be filled at the pharmacy hospital. Normally I'd take it to Target ---especially in April for double points month--but it was going on 6pm and I couldn't remember when the pharmacy there closed 6pm or 7pm).  After twenty minutes the nurse comes back to say the fax RX didn't get sent.  She gave me a pain pill while we were there, and then I had my RX delivered about 20 minutes later. After this, it was discharge time!  

Finally, we were heading home. No plastic boot or shoe for the foot. . .nope, just the bandage wrapped foot that I'm not suppose to walk on for 3-4 weeks!  

First, a wheelchair ride to the entrance, followed by hopping one footed into the car, and then we were on our way :-)   The Mike pulled up as far as possible to the sidewalk and I one foot hopped (with his support) into the house and to the couch.
The comfortable couch is where I'd be for the next couple days. The Mike set up my phone charger, electric blanket, and beverage station, along with a small end table with my magazines and note pad to keep track of when I took my medication. I highly suggest this for anyone who has surgery and has to take sleepy time pain medication. Otherwise, the hours seem to blend together the first days.


Disclaimer: My apologies for any misspellings or grammar mistakes.  I'm still on pain pills :-)  

Surgery is tomorrow!

Surgery for the "toe cancer", actually known as a Melanoma on the webbing of my left foot ring toe, is scheduled for tomorrow.  Originally it was set for me to arrive at the hospital at 5:30am. Eek to the time, but at least the no-eating thing wouldn't be an issue.

Now, surgery is set for 3pm with me to arrive at 11am, and no eating or drinking or chewing gum or having a mint after midnight--except for a 'sip' to take two giant RX oblong pills for my colitis. I hope the nerves will take care of the "h-angry".

Super Toe update

Super toe, so named from the cape during the biopsy procedure, needs to make a reappearance.  

I downgraded the "fingertip" bandaid to a regular bandaid.  . . but I ordered more of the fingertip ones from Amazon to get just those (since I dislike the knuckle ones with the four tabs of adhesive). 

I even managed to get toe socks on with the regular bandaid:  

WOOT! toe socks return to the foot

I was feeling pretty good. The toe area still is sensitive to pulling on the skin. I haven't run on it yet. I had the biopsy on Monday and on Thursday I did yoga. The doc said I'd be able to go on Tuesday morning, but I kept waking up in the night and bumping it, so that was a no-go.  I have worked up to 7 miles walking on the treadmill and it tingles/throbs after about an hour.  

The white area is the biopsy section. I've kept it covered with Neosporin and bandaids.  

Wednesday --fifteen days after the procedure--we decided it was healed enough I could go without bandaids. This is what it looks like now.   That little spot of color at about the 1o'clock position? Yeah, it needs to come off, as well as more skin. 

A week after the biopsy I called the doc's office expecting to have had the results the Thursday or Friday before.  No results.  I called again last Thursday, the 5th, and they said the results were sent to Mayo. Hmmm. Didn't tell me why though. 

My doctor called me on Saturday --thought it was about the biopsy. Nope, it was to tell me my measles tiger test was showing the vaccine was still working.  --yeah, my doctor herself called to tell me that--on a weekend to boot! 

Tuesday of this week, the 10th, I had a message from my doctor to call her back.  EEEK!  That's never good news.  

I called back. said I was returning a call to her. She came on the line quickly, so I hope she was at the nurse's station and not in with a patient.  

The long and short. I have Melanoma. Probably from my immune-suppression medication for my colitis which can cause it--as I referenced in my earlier post about Super Toe.    

Wow. (gulp) I have skin cancer. 

Superficial Malignant Melanoma 

Apparently it was only 1/2 millimeter deep, considered small, and just "removing it should be the cure" for this, per my doc.  

The bad:   I have to get a "wide margin" of skin removed to ensure that all the melanoma cells are removed. Doc said they'll go in at least once, and probably twice more, to remove skin. 

My response:  Glad I haven't registered for any races this year (laughed). 

Dr. reply:  Oh, you can run. (cheerleader doctor). You can do this. Your race is in May?  

LOL.  I want to do a race at the end of March, plus one in May, plus one in June, and every month, but I have to be able to run without too much pain to do the training! 

So much information is available at skincancer.org

The most dangerous form of skin cancer, these cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations (genetic defects) that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors.

From the American Academy of Dermatology:  

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Anyone can get melanoma. When found early and treated, the cure rate is nearly 100%. 

Family/medical history:  

• Melanoma runs in the family (parent, child, sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle had melanoma).

• You had another skin cancer, but most especially another melanoma.

• A weakened immune system.

Now, my "saturn" shaped spot just appeared, as far as I know. I last had a pedicure in June and nothing was said then. I've painted my nails since then and don't remember seeing any spot there. I probably hadn't done a nail job since October.

My symptom:  an itch of the toe which felt like a hangnail rubbing the other toe.  I scratched and scratched then yanked the foot up to inspect--saw the spot and was quite happy that I already had an appt with the doctor three days later for my sinus infection.  

From my dermatologist's office: "While melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, it is by far the most dangerous."   

The Mike and I were already trying to figure out which dermatologist to head to for full body checks based on our age and what we've always heard for that.  We picked the doctor and will have our full body exams the morning of my toe excision.  

Source

More to come in March on the Super Toe saga.