30 December 2016 And home again...

Wow I can hardly believe that I am home again.
Christmas Day was spent recuperating in the Geelong hospital - and that was certainly a first! It began with an early morning Christmas Day breakfast hand-made and prepared by Jen - and how could  resist the delectable Portland strawberries and raspberries to nibble on during the day! 

Christmas Day - attached to my tube, and wearing a Christmas hat strategically designed (unsuccessfully)  to hide the curly, wiry tufts of hair appearing under my hats and wig!

The doctors who performed the pleurodesis were both surprised at how well it all went, so I was happy with that. Unfortunately for 4 days I had to remain attached to a suction tube approx 4 metres in length - just long enough for me to hobble into the en suite, but otherwise most inconvenient! So when it was finally removed early on Boxing Day, it was just a matter of going through all the discharge paperwork - and head for home. What a relief that has been, for Brian as much as for me. 
Since arriving home, I have been managing pain fairly successfully, the stitches have been removed - and then Christmas has begun! With visits from Sonya, Scott and 4 children, Dale and Kodey, Simon and Caitlin, and Adrian - we had a lovely time enjoying the children's excitement and playing inside - as the weather was decidedly damp and humid. 
And now for a few Christmas pics. Quite honestly I didn't know how pale and scrawny I look until seeing these photos, but then again, it's not all about me - rather the family fun we were able to share. I have lost around 5 kg over the past few weeks, (normal for me after surgery) but that will change as my appetite improves. 

All the family - with the five grandchildren

The children always love a story..

 

23 December 2016

Hi, Brian again,
                          Just re-reading the last blog again - found an error in the dates - Lorraine's operation was on Wednesday not Thursday, as I had written.

                          Blessings to you all for Christmas.

23 December 2016

Hi, Brian again,

                         Lorraine is still in Geelong Hospital recovering from her operation on Thursday evening. The following are her words:-

                        "At last it feels like things are on the mend. Despite some early negative predictions from two surgeons, all went ahead on Wednesday evening ("night -Brian") with very pleasing results. Pain is decreasing every day, and each surgeon had the grace to say that it went much better than they expected.
                         So on Christmas Day I will have the lovely present of removal of all drainage tubes, and all being well we will head back home to Portland on Boxing Day.
                        Christmas lunch has been posponed for a week or two. Back in Portland we will look forward to catching up with children and grandchildren, but will sadly miss our Miller Christmas gathering in Melbourne........ perhaps next year.

                        Meantime, crank up the air conditioners, out with the Aerogard and have yourselves a very Merry Christmas."

19 December 2016

Hi again from Brian

Lorraine's Words:

"How very bothersome!!!
I am reposing here in Geelong Hospital, having travelled via ambulance transfer vehicle on Friday evening. No major ambulance 'stories' this time, but I was sure glad to arrive in Geelong at 10p.m. and move positions. On arrival I had to wait until 2.30a.m. before a doctor was available to admit me - and by this time my pain was through the roof because I couldn't access any of my meds until I was admitted!
Saturday morning saw me in a pretty poor state, dealing with pain and difficult surgeons - but I won't even go there! However a Portland 'angel' popped in to see me, saw that I was in a pickle, and promptly changed her travel plans to stay with me until Brian's arrival on Sunday afternoon.
I am (probably) to have the pleurodesis procedure done, so today (Monday) I fasted - only to be told mid-afternoon that they won't do the procedure until late on Wednesday.
This is getting very close to pushing all our Christmas plans into complete disarray, especially as we don't know how long my hospitalised rehab period will be (anything from 1 to 3+ days). It's tough on Brian too.
Meantime I have to let the 'timing' go, but some prayers for patience and peace wouldn't go astray!
My days are also being brightened by some lovely visits, calls and texts - THANK YOU"

14th December 2016

Hi Everyone - Brian here - Lorraine wrote this out while sitting in Portland Hospital waiting for an ambulance trip to Geelong.

"I know that the word is out that we are having an unexpected "mini-crisis", so I will update to where things are at (so far!)
Just over 2 weeks ago I had a build-up of fluid over my right lung, and this required a "drain" of 3.8 litres, which made me immediately more comfortable. However a week or so later I was annoyed that the breathlessness which I had been experiencing before the "drain" hadn't gone away,  and 'as you do' I put up with increasingly worsening of symptoms (breathlessness, total lethargy and a sharp pain in the right shoulder) until Brian was able to drag me to my GP where things moved quickly - and yes, another massive fluid drain! Happily, this drain (I'm getting quite practiced at it now) caused an immediate release from the shoulder pain, and I started to feel human again.
So next?
I now await word of when Geelong Hospital is ready to take me, and when an ambulance transfer is available. (Hopefully one that doesn't have to circumnavigate Victoria)
In Geelong I will have a procedure called "pleurodesis" done. This will hopefully stop the continued build-up of fluid (caused by the cancer irritating the space between the lung wall and chest wall - in lay terms).
Not sure how long this will take - maybe 3 - 5 days in hospital, and then I expect to be right as rain."

Brian again - Please continue to keep Lorraine in your prayers - it is a great comfort for us to know so many people are praying for her.

12 December 2016

It's been a very sluggish lead-up to Christmas this year.
In fact I don't think I have fully recovered from the draining of the lungs a week or two ago, and I still experience some breathlessness and have a distinct lack of energy. I'm to have a follow-up chest xray on Friday, so we'll see if that reveals anything further. If the fluid has continued to build up, I will probably be referred on to Geelong for a procedure called pleurodesis, to reduce the space around the lungs where the fluid accumulates, and hopefully stop the build-up of fluid. 

Some people don't like cancer being likened to a 'journey'. Well I can certainly see some relevance for myself, as one never knows what new symptoms requiring new procedures are waiting around the corner. This, however, does not mean that I sit and contemplate the negatives of what might happen next. Rather, I do know that if I do begin to experience some new symptoms, well I know that other people have had this before me and so doctors are now able to offer new ways to help.

 

Meanwhile, the pace might be slow, but I'm still anticipating the wonders of the Christmas season, and know that the birth of Jesus has made all the difference to my life - and I look forward to celebrating this with family and friends very soon.