Here Goes
Comments
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Yeah, come hang out with the midnight crew! You'll find us on a thread called Who Else Can't Sleep
K xox 3 -
I am SO sorry you’ve ‘joined the club’!! It really is a roller coaster ride, but with the hints & tips the girls have already given you …… it will make it that much easier - and having like minded people ‘watching your back’ - we are all here to help.
All the best for your surgery tomorrow & a good recovery afterwards. I’d suggest you get a small ‘1/4 or 1/2 pillow’ that you can tuck under your arm - to help support it ‘level’ when you sleep, as the angle of the dangle can sometimes cause some discomfort otherwise.
I think you will feel a certain amount of relief once the surgery is over - tho, I must admit that as I left my family in the ‘Waiting Room’ - I dissolved into tears as I was led to my ‘prep room’ prior to surgery. They gave me a whole BOX of tissues, which I thought was hilarious, not just a few!
I’ve actually got a BIG BOX to put ‘all my bits’ in - including X-rays, scans, receipts etc ….. one day, it will live under my bed. Right now - it is in the lounge & everything goes in it!
If you live 100k or more from the place of your treatment, specialist, etc - you should be able to get a portion of your travel & accommodation expenses reimbursed in Vic Gov - check here for info:
https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/rural-health/vptas-how-to-apply
But you WILL NEED to get your surgeon/BC Nurse to fill them out for you - and keep track of each visit with dates etc - as they need to sign off on them. With a bit of luck, they will have copies available at their offices. I’ve just had $300 worth of fuel reimbursed for all my trips to Port Macquarie for 4 weeks of radiation. I was lucky & able to stay at very little cost at the Rotary Lodge there - and I have more forms to lodge re my actual initial surgeon appointments & surgery back in Jan! (Yeah, slack, eh!?)
Re finances - I was assisted by the Cancer Council with a one-off payment of one of my ‘house bills’ - council rates, power, water rates - if they fall due whilst you are having treatment, the CC may make a 1 off payment on your behalf of about $350 The Social Worker who will be checking up on you during treatment should be able to advise you on this.
Thinking of you for tomorrow’s op .... all the best. Make haste slowly afterwards xx-2 -
@eastmum @kmakm I managed to get to sleep finally with the help of a Valium from my daughter! Just want today over.
@arpie Thanks so much for all of that information. I have to be at the hospital at 7:30am for an appointment at imagining. Not 100% sure what they are doing there. Then I have to wait until the arvo for the op. Bag packed with book, power bank to keep phone charged, robe and slippers (may as well be comfortable). So glad my daughter is here. She has kept my mind busy. Will let you all know how I go!
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@TabooGal - good luck for today xoxoxo1
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Almost there!0
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8 hours and still waiting. ☹0
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@TabooGal. I have had 3 surgeries - the first wait was about 3 hours, second wait was 6 hours and 3rd wait was about 4 hours. So frustrating especially when u r dying of thirst.0
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Oh,do they give you an idea of when? It will soon be here and over with
Take care
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Oh good grief! You poor love
K xox 0 -
Finally went in at 7.30pm. 12 hours of waiting. Am now doing an overnight in a surgical ward because it was sooooo late. Did a blue wee *proud look* no food around. May start gnawing on my arm. My beautiful son Ryan appeared out of nowhere mid afternoon after driving over 4 hours from Melbs. Stayed a bit over an hour then headed back. My daughter Sammy has been amazing. I got me some special chillen.6
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That's so lovely to hear Jenny! You clearly did a spectacular job raising them. Well done! Hope the drugs are good, that you get some sleep and food and that tomorrow is a better day.
K xox 1 -
@TabooGal I hope you are recovering well from your surgery. Years ago, I lived in Wangaratta but moved back to Queensland in 1984 where I feel I belong. I was diagnosed with BC in February so I am a relatively new girl to this site. After visiting here initially, it took me a couple of months before I could return. I am now so pleased that I did. If I can be of any help with Medicare or health fund claims, please let me know. Before being diagnosed with BC I worked as a Practice Manager for an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist/Fertility Specialist. I have worked in the medical field for about 25 years, so I am extremely familiar with lodging health care claims and dealing with the health care professionals. Please write down all of your questions before you see your Specialists. They are used to patients bringing in lists and it makes it easier for every-one. A lot of doctors don't respond to emails (either a time factor or they don't like "phone or email consults) so be prepared for a Secretary to sound reluctant. It is not her, she is following the Doctors' instructions. A lot of Doctors prefer that you make an appointment to discuss things face to face, by doing that you also know that they are concentrating on you when you are there. Just a few little hints that I thought you might find useful. Let me know if there is anything I can do. I am keen to find out the results of your surgery. Regards, Ann4
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Hi @taboogal, I went through the waiting not that long ago and the denial, and I am still in denial now, the amount of information that gets thrown at you is mind boggling.
I had my operation on the 2nd May 2018 to remove both my breasts and all my lymph nodes in one arm. I found out after the operation it had spread t more lymph nodes and my liver.
The operation for me went smoothly, the worst part for me was the drains, restriction of movement and as I had never had an operation before kind of freaked me out, thankfully my sister came home with me as I live alone.
As some others people mentioned, i found keeping a folder with all my results and having a pad and pen in there to write down questions very useful. Definitely take charge of your treatment and decisions - be informed.
I have listened to podcasts, BBC - The Big C, read books from the Library - The Cancer Whisperer is a great inspirational read and has some amazing thoughts in there on life and cancer in general - a thing from that book that stuck with me was one of her Doctors saying to her "Don't become a patient"
Hope it all goes well with you, I spent my Uni years down at Albury/Thurgoona, loved the Beechworth Bakery, it was my special trip if I did well at Uni lol
Sending you warm hugs, sunshine and light xxxxx
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@annsan. Finally home after waiting 12 hours for surgery. Ended up having to stay overnight. Got an app with surgeon next Wednesday so will know what go is then.
@ShellSurfing you should see Albury Wodonga now! Beechworth bakery is always packed! I hope you're doing much better now. It's a journey none of us want to take but we are warriors
@jennyss aww that is beautiful. Am feeling less pain with endone and a good bra!
Am I meant to be exercising my arm? They had to go real deep for the SNB. A nurse in the day unit was going to tell me but day unit shut down and I ended up in a surgical unit that was just too busy.
Part 1 down. Bless all of you amazing ladies and gentlemen.
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