Sunday, August 12, 2007

Symptoms

Hello Everyone- I hope you all had a great weekend. I had a good but difficult weekend. I can't really talk about the difficult part because it affects others than just me. We did go to Pittsburg/Frontnac for the weekend which was fun. We stayed with Doug's Nanie and Papa and had a wedding on Saturday evening. I danced and had a great time. I did have some other things on my mind, but I still had a great time! I want to thank Brandi and Jan for your help this weekend. I appreciate you both so much!!
This week is fairly low key. I did talk to my surgeon on Friday. She wants to take me back the OR for another procedure under anesthesia, tomorrow (Monday). She is going to another exam, similar to the endoscopic ultrasound, but not the ultrasound part. She is going to take more biopsies with larger amounts of tissue. From what she saw when I had surgery in January, she is very skeptical that this recent mass is not a cancerous tumor, even though the biopsies came back negative. She also thinks that the scans and CEA marker are not truly showing what is really there, she thinks there is more cancer than what all these tests show. So tomorrow I will not eat again before the procedure, pretty much from the time I wake up. Then I have to be there at 1100, they will put me under anesthesia again and they will take the samples and then I will wake up. Hopefully not a big deal. She might know something after she does the procedure, but again I will probably have to wait for the biopsy results.
I wanted to address a question several people have emailed me lately. I have had several women ask what my initial symptoms were that led to this diagnosis. I have addressed this before, but that was much earlier on in my blog. I don't expect everyone to be able to read all that! My initial symptoms were about 6 months after I had my daughter. I had abdominal cramping (pretty severe, doubling over in pain), constipation (pellet stools or even dust, not being able to get it all out, straining, going several times to try to get it all out) and eventually I had blood in my stool. I have had several people email me that are concerned that they have these symptoms and what to do if they do. Please, go see your doctor right away, if they brush you off saying it's nothing but you don't feel like it is nothing, push them or go see a GI specialist and get a COLONOSCOPY! Truly, it isn't horrible, the worst part is the prep but it is a nice nap, you don't even know they are down there! Please don't ignore it!!! If it is caught early, it can save your life. I hope this helps all of you who do have symptoms. If you have more questions, please email me! I did find out that the girl I was recently asking for a prayer request for did find out she has cancer and I believe is undergoing surgery tomorrow to remove it. Please pray for Michele that her surgery goes without complication and that they are able to remove all of the cancer! I will be praying for you Michele! Have a great week. Good luck to all the kids going back to school and all the parents taking there kids back to school. Please keep my family in your prayers, we continue to need them! We appreciate all of your support, again I feel like Bartles and James when I say that,hehe. shawndra

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

We will keep those prayers coming from our house. These will span both your illness as well as whatever other issues you and your family are encountering. We will also continue to pray for Michelle, that her surgery goes well, and they are able to remove all the cancer. It seems that the ball semms to roll like this.....some good news, some not so good. The key has got to continue to be positive attitudes and lots of prayers. Keep that chin up!

Anonymous said...

Shawndra We are thinking about you and praying for you and your family every day. We love you guys and are here for you all.Please stay positive and know that God hears our prayers. The Ellingtons

Anonymous said...

Shawndra, Continuing to think and pray for you and your family daily. I'm praying hard that this will not be cancerous tomorrow.
Love, Julie

Astraea said...

You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. Can't wait to hear your results. God bless.

Anonymous said...

Shawndra, Sweetie, you have been on my mind everyday. Your strength and determination are what will get you through this and all the love that is coming your way. I watched a movie yesterday and it had to do with what you are going through, what my Mom went through and I had a good cry and then said my prayers for all that have suffered with this horrible disease. I wish you peace and wonderful news from your reports. Please know that you are so loved. Melodie Chrisman

Anonymous said...

Shawndra...You are continually in my prayers and whatever the difficulty is, I am praying for peace for everyone involved. Thank you for your brave committment to sharing about colon cancer. Your courage and willingness to discuss this so openly helps so many others. I will be praying later this morning again when you have your procedure.
Hugs,
Jean, an email friend in Blue Springs

Anonymous said...

I agree with Shawndra. I'm a 32yr old nurse who had symptoms for quite a while. I was having blood in my stool and passed it off for hemmorhoids,knowing in the back of my mind that I needed to be checked. As soon as I called my GI doctor for my initial appointment, I fealt a burden lifted. I had a colonoscopy and they found a large polyp that he said probably would've become cancerous. Shawndra's right...the prep IS the worst part of it, and you wake up after the procedure feeling "really good"! Ha! So go get your colonoscopy's! Peace of mind is SOOOO worth it!!

Anonymous said...

Good luck, I'm praying!
God bless :)

Anonymous said...

Shawndra-

Wanted to let you know we are thinking of you! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!

The Mudge's

Anonymous said...

Praying for you and your family.

Nicole M.

Anonymous said...

Shawndra, you continue to amaze us all who read your blog, everyday you sound strong, positive, and we can almost see your smile through the words that you type. You are an inspiration to us all. I wish you good news with this new biopsy, Good luck!
-Allison H. 2 Henson

Anonymous said...

Shawndra,
Your strength, dignity, and positive attitude are so admirable. I hope that all goes well today.

Anonymous said...

Praying for GREAT news from your biopsy today. Please keep us updated.
A friend in Nebraska

Anonymous said...

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dee Smith

Anonymous said...

Ditto, Sweetie! DITTO :-)

May continued prayers and support
fill your heart and put your mind at ease.

Brandi

Anonymous said...

Shawndra, I have been reading your post for a while now and wanted to send you my prayers. Even though we have never met, I feel like I know you and I think of you often. I often ask my Guardian Angel to take a break from me and help to comfort you. I thank you for sharing your moments with us strangers who can offer our prayers up for you. You have a beautiful family and I wish you many blessings.

BKNRC said...

I am praying for you Shawndra!! I hope today went well.