I took an estrogen blocker and during the summer it made me very sick. After a few months I switched to another brand. Same story same terrible side effects so I quit it. We made a big decision in July to take a trip to South America in the fall. It goes all the way around SA and into the Amazon. It was on my bucket list not Dans but I said we better take this opportunity while we can. Maybe in a year we won’t be able to do it. So we took the leap. We left Aberdeen after seeing friends and some new areas and decided to do no more than 300 miles a day. We wouldn’t even unhook. We stayed one night in each spot. Of course we stopped for fuel often and to stretch our legs or have lunch. The weather became increasingly hotter and drier. California got some of the Hurricane effects so we traveled routes where we could avoid any situations related to weather or fire.
This was Circleville. It was a small park with lots of full timers but for one night it was fine
This was the laundry area and restrooms.
The little store but no one was there when we pulled in. I sat on the bench there and took in the view
But I made a friend of this guy quickly. He was on the porch and when I sat down he hopped right up on my lap. He was thin and not well taken care of but when I got up he found a hiding place on the porch telling me he was staying put!
The scenery changed too as we headed south.
Things were greener than I thought they would be.
We saw some great low hanging clouds
Kind of mystic. Rain was coming.
We stayed a night in Brigham City and a night at Page in a brand new park by the marina. We even stayed at a very nice Pilot RV Park that you wouldn’t even know was there but it was easy to get gas!
Finally after 6 days we made it home. The house was fine but the yard was a mess front and back. Lots of things were distressed or dead from the brutal heat or growing where you didn’t want them. I knew it would be a hot tiring day. We parked the camper in front of the house and Dan unloaded all our organized tubs while I put things away. We both were tired and could only do so much each day. But after two days we took the RV to storage and put it away. Dan had already begun to trim and clean up the yard. My big potted plants made it home and look ok. I started back to swimming. I was tired and found myself napping each day but I was still cleaning and doing laundry and packing for our trip which leaves October 6th. We were making progress and it was a good thing we came home early.
Sunday the 9th of September I knew I had a deep vein thrombosis in my left leg. It was swollen double the size from my foot to my groin. I knew Saturday night but Dan had worked really hard and he was snoring away. I decided to take two aspirin walk in the house and then elevate my leg in bed. I had clothes laid out to go to emergency. I waited for Dan to wake up and then quietly told him there was a change of plan. One look at my leg and he said we are headed to the Del Webb Hospital Emergency. They are a Banner hospital and they have all my records. When we got there no one was there. The gal said what brings you in. I lifted my sundress and showed her my leg. I said I think I have a blood clot. She pushed a button and someone immediately came out to get me. I was a priority. I have factor five Leiden single strand. Both my children do too and both have had the DVT. I had appeared always to be a carrier but I have joined the not so popular club now and there is no leaving it. I spent four days in the hospital. I had a vascular surgeon who said we have new technology and we can suck those clots out. We go down thru the jugular , clear to the foot with no anesthesia and we suck them out. A one hour procedure took three hours. I had two surgeons and the surgeon PA and a nurse to hold my hand. It was very uncomfortable. But he took out the most clots from leg that he had ever removed. Then he said you will need a stent in the Groin because you have Mae Thurner Sydrome where the vein crosses over the artery at the groin and it compresses it so the blood flow is greatly reduced. Another surgeon did that procedure on me the next day going into the groin again with no anesthesia. Somehow when he put the stent in with balloon plasty it struck a nerve in my lower back. It felt hot like lightening and it took me into a severe arch on the table. They took me back to my private room where Dan was waiting. My pain level was 10! They gave me morphine plus Percocet and some fentanyl!!!! I was nauseous and still no relief for almost 6 hours. I was a crying mess begging for relief. Dan slept on the couch that night. It took 6 hours to get my pain manageable. They transitioned me to Eliquis at four pills a day. They gave me Percocet to take home and pretty much hastily sent me home with little to no information. I didn’t know who did what to me!!! And once you leave there the door closes.
I have had a rough two weeks now home. I have had terrible cramping from all the opioids. I tried to tough it out and not take any more pain meds. Our priority is getting better for our trip. Hopefully we can do this. We are packed. We don’t take fancy clothes. Our trip is 72 days long. Our flight to Ft Lauderdale has a layover so I can walk and get blood flowing. My biggest issue has been the pain meds given to me after the procedures and getting extreme cramping. I’ve lived in the bathroom for five or more days. Slowly slowly things are moving but it’s the worst experience I’ve had.
This week I have four doctor appointments, my breast surgeon, my primary, my oncologist and my dermatologist!!! Last week I barely made it to get my blood work done. The whole time I was anxiety ridden thinking what if I get the cramps and need to run to a bathroom. I looked pretty rough but thank goodness it’s very close to our home.
So why share all this with you? My daughter has gently reminded me that my body is my temple and it has been through so much over the years. It has given me the joy of children, musical hands and skills, the ability to achieve five college degrees and support and help others, watch my children grow, develop and find happiness…. And then it had gone through surgeries and surprises but still not given up on me. I see a disfigured, worn, torn chubby frame but the soul is what’s important . I’m not a quitter. I’m still a dreamer. I’m going for the trip if I have to drag myself there. If I have to nap more ok. I still want to see and experience new places and meet new friends. Writing this to share is therapeutic for me. Maybe some of you can relate as you too have gone through tough times physically and emotionally. You didn’t plan for those times and you may be feeling angry, let down , depressed and disappointed. I get it. Let that time have its time and then say goodbye to it and let it go. Do what you need to do to get past it. There is no road map or google route for how and where you go.
Be gentle with yourself and realize aging takes us to new advantages, greater wisdom, unpredictable surprises but you are still here and not alone. Everyone had their story. Listen to your friends when they need to release their story. Look for clues in their voice, body language and eye gaze. Be aware. Be open. Be non judgmental…. make everything you do better for others and leave a positive loving aura when you move on.
If you decide to stay with me on this blog you’re going to South America!! Thank you my friends and family for allowing me to share with you. You are food for my soul.
These are the photos from my vascular surgeon of all my clots!!! If you stretch out the photo you can count each one!!! He shared it with me.
Oh!!!! Have you figured out my title or do you even care?? Well not to leave you hanging from the hook here it is…. I had my 70th birthday this year, it was 23 years ago that I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and there were over 70 clots in my leg!!! They are all milestones and all mine :). I choose to grieve or celebrate. For awhile I can grieve but then it’s celebrate!!!!
