Chapter 23
The summer of 2014 flew by very quickly. I was regaining my strength, my weight and I had fully regained my loud voice back. Once again, I was a loud talker. I still had major issues with fatigue, but that too was slowly subsiding as the summer progressed. I was pretty much back to working full time and on each of the eight Fridays I had my chemo, I took the day off. I don’t work on Mondays, so I would be feeling much better by the time Tuesday arrived. I spent all of my eight Friday Folfox treatment weekends at Sherry’s place in Edgar.
My first CT scan since diagnosis was clear and my CEA levels were still low. Going forward, I would now be receiving the standard Ontario Cancer surveillance protocol for the next five years. Every six months, I would need to submit my blood work a week in advance before meeting with my oncologists. During each our semi-annual meetings they would touch base with me, discussing my progress and recording any new side effects on my file.
For the most part, the only side effect I still had was the numbing neuropathy in my feet. Dr. N mentioned that whatever side effects I had still lingering after eighteen months from my last treatment would most likely be permanent. I could live with the numbness, but if it got progressively worse going forward it definitely would be affecting my quality of life.
I guess time will tell and if I am lucky maybe it will subside a bit.
I would also be getting a CT scan annually.
At the end of July, I met with Dr. G to get prepped for my upcoming reversal surgery which was now scheduled for August 27th. Like my first big operation, I would need blood work and another EKG. I also needed to wait a few weeks after my final Fragmin injection. I could not have any surgery while I was still on blood thinners, my last injection was in early August.
I would also be having a sigmoidoscopy to determine if there were any leaks and check to see if everything had healed internally. Any leaks, I could go into septic shock once everything was reconnected.
If too much scar tissue was present, it could potentially cause a blockage requiring another surgery before my reversal.
Although, I was not much of a fan for having a rigid pipe with a lighted camera up my ass without sedation, it had to be done. Once my bowel becomes reconnected, waste will begin to move through the colon again after a six month hiatus.
It can take years for the bowel to establish your new normal. One thing for sure, I would not be seeing my old normal ever again. I would also be spending a lot more time in the washroom over the next few months.
My first CT scan since diagnosis was clear and my CEA levels were still low. Going forward, I would now be receiving the standard Ontario Cancer surveillance protocol for the next five years. Every six months, I would need to submit my blood work a week in advance before meeting with my oncologists. During each our semi-annual meetings they would touch base with me, discussing my progress and recording any new side effects on my file.
For the most part, the only side effect I still had was the numbing neuropathy in my feet. Dr. N mentioned that whatever side effects I had still lingering after eighteen months from my last treatment would most likely be permanent. I could live with the numbness, but if it got progressively worse going forward it definitely would be affecting my quality of life.
I guess time will tell and if I am lucky maybe it will subside a bit.
I would also be getting a CT scan annually.
At the end of July, I met with Dr. G to get prepped for my upcoming reversal surgery which was now scheduled for August 27th. Like my first big operation, I would need blood work and another EKG. I also needed to wait a few weeks after my final Fragmin injection. I could not have any surgery while I was still on blood thinners, my last injection was in early August.
I would also be having a sigmoidoscopy to determine if there were any leaks and check to see if everything had healed internally. Any leaks, I could go into septic shock once everything was reconnected.
If too much scar tissue was present, it could potentially cause a blockage requiring another surgery before my reversal.
Although, I was not much of a fan for having a rigid pipe with a lighted camera up my ass without sedation, it had to be done. Once my bowel becomes reconnected, waste will begin to move through the colon again after a six month hiatus.
It can take years for the bowel to establish your new normal. One thing for sure, I would not be seeing my old normal ever again. I would also be spending a lot more time in the washroom over the next few months.
I, was sure looking forward to finally ridding myself of the bag.
I, was sure looking forward to finally getting off my couch and sleeping back in my bed.
I, was sure looking forward to using toilet paper again.
I, was sure looking forward to farting out my butt again.
It's amazing all the little things that I once took for granted.
I was also looking forward to having my own family doctor. Dr. G had set me up with a family doctor he knew pretty well in Bracebridge. He was able to pull a few strings since he knew I would never go back to Dr. B at the clinic again.
However, I would first need to contact the Ministry of Health and discharge Dr. B as my primary care provider. I still can’t help but think if I had just accepted to live with those pinworms Dr. B told me I had. I probably would be a stage IV cancer patient by now.
I could not discharge Dr. B fast enough.
Before my reversal, I was also discharged from Homecare. Homecare was such a lifesaver for me. Being diagnosed with cancer, without employer benefits comes with so many unexpected financial burdens. Potential lost wages eating up your savings. Prescriptions and insurance deductibles will also take a big bite into your savings.
With everything on a cancer patient’s plate, not having to deal with financial worries is a huge mental burden lifted off your mind.
My biggest expense during my whole journey was hospital parking. Seriously, with everything I went through parking my car was the only expense that I really had to pay for out of pocket.
It takes just a quick visit to the Colon Talk site to read of the tragic stories of cancer patients not being able to afford expensive treatments. Yes, we have many problems with our healthcare system in this country, but I will never complain about how I was treated for my cancer. I will always be eternally grateful for everything that was provided to me including Homecare.
Wednesday August 27th, finally arrived.
I, was sure looking forward to finally getting off my couch and sleeping back in my bed.
I, was sure looking forward to using toilet paper again.
I, was sure looking forward to farting out my butt again.
It's amazing all the little things that I once took for granted.
I was also looking forward to having my own family doctor. Dr. G had set me up with a family doctor he knew pretty well in Bracebridge. He was able to pull a few strings since he knew I would never go back to Dr. B at the clinic again.
However, I would first need to contact the Ministry of Health and discharge Dr. B as my primary care provider. I still can’t help but think if I had just accepted to live with those pinworms Dr. B told me I had. I probably would be a stage IV cancer patient by now.
I could not discharge Dr. B fast enough.
Before my reversal, I was also discharged from Homecare. Homecare was such a lifesaver for me. Being diagnosed with cancer, without employer benefits comes with so many unexpected financial burdens. Potential lost wages eating up your savings. Prescriptions and insurance deductibles will also take a big bite into your savings.
With everything on a cancer patient’s plate, not having to deal with financial worries is a huge mental burden lifted off your mind.
My biggest expense during my whole journey was hospital parking. Seriously, with everything I went through parking my car was the only expense that I really had to pay for out of pocket.
It takes just a quick visit to the Colon Talk site to read of the tragic stories of cancer patients not being able to afford expensive treatments. Yes, we have many problems with our healthcare system in this country, but I will never complain about how I was treated for my cancer. I will always be eternally grateful for everything that was provided to me including Homecare.
Wednesday August 27th, finally arrived.
Sherry and I arrived at 9 am for my 10 am surgery. I was already used to the routine, although this surgery would be on a much smaller scale. I had put on a brand new bag for this special day. I drew a big happy face with the words ‘Bag ‘B’ Gone’ in black Sharpie on the front of my final bag. I wanted to give Dr. G and the nurses a chuckle when they saw it.
Dr. G did smile when he saw it in the O.R.
The reversal surgery, would be just over a couple hours long and require a hospital stay of two days up to a week. It is not so much having bowel movements before you are discharged, but passing gas was most important. Passing gas, was a signal that everything was back in working order.
I would be eating a pretty bland diet at first. Once my bowel movements started back up, it would be trial and error as to what my diet would look like in the weeks, months and hopefully years ahead.
The surgery was a success.
Dr. G did smile when he saw it in the O.R.
The reversal surgery, would be just over a couple hours long and require a hospital stay of two days up to a week. It is not so much having bowel movements before you are discharged, but passing gas was most important. Passing gas, was a signal that everything was back in working order.
I would be eating a pretty bland diet at first. Once my bowel movements started back up, it would be trial and error as to what my diet would look like in the weeks, months and hopefully years ahead.
The surgery was a success.
My bag was now forever gone, I had a four inch stapled wound where the stoma had been. Dr. G told me everything went well on his first visit to my room later that day. Once again, I was back up in the maternity ward.
Maybe, this time I will hear a baby crying.
A necessity after reversal surgery, is to bring the softest toilet paper you can find and I literally felt every brand. You do not want to use the cheap hospital paper, your ass will be raw within a couple days. I brought with me a double roll, I think it was the softest Charmin brand. You know the one with the talking bears in the commercial.
For two days, I spent most of my time in the lounge watching daytime television shows or I was walking all over the hospital. The food was absolutely terrible, but it did get the plumbing working again and I was soon blissfully farting everywhere, all the time. After three days Dr. G discharged me. I was still in a bit of pain from the surgery, but I was happy to be going home. He told me to come back to his office in a week and that he would remove the staples.
I shook his hand and thanked him once again for everything he had done for me on my journey. From here on out I most likely would not be seeing much of Dr. G after he removes my staples in a week. With the exception of future colonoscopies, I hope that there would be no reason for me to see him.
Besides, he would be busy saving other people like me with cancer.
After my two surgeries, I had now spent a total of five complete days up in the maternity ward. As Sherry and I left the hospital that evening, I still hadn’t heard one baby cry.
I thought that was very, very strange.
Maybe, this time I will hear a baby crying.
A necessity after reversal surgery, is to bring the softest toilet paper you can find and I literally felt every brand. You do not want to use the cheap hospital paper, your ass will be raw within a couple days. I brought with me a double roll, I think it was the softest Charmin brand. You know the one with the talking bears in the commercial.
For two days, I spent most of my time in the lounge watching daytime television shows or I was walking all over the hospital. The food was absolutely terrible, but it did get the plumbing working again and I was soon blissfully farting everywhere, all the time. After three days Dr. G discharged me. I was still in a bit of pain from the surgery, but I was happy to be going home. He told me to come back to his office in a week and that he would remove the staples.
I shook his hand and thanked him once again for everything he had done for me on my journey. From here on out I most likely would not be seeing much of Dr. G after he removes my staples in a week. With the exception of future colonoscopies, I hope that there would be no reason for me to see him.
Besides, he would be busy saving other people like me with cancer.
After my two surgeries, I had now spent a total of five complete days up in the maternity ward. As Sherry and I left the hospital that evening, I still hadn’t heard one baby cry.
I thought that was very, very strange.