Update on that stitch

If you read my last post, You'll know that one of my stitches was giving me problems......so....I did my homework, looked online enough to learn what they are, and how long it should take for them to go away. And seeing as I have had mine for a little over a month, I figured it was time for it to go. First......let me gross you out and let you read part of what I read:

­http://health.howstuffworks.com/question611.htm
To your body, stitches are a foreign substance, and the body is programmed to destroy foreign substances. Dissolvable stitches are made from natural materials, such as processed collagen (animal intestines), silk and hair, ((OK, Now that's just nasty!!))as well as some synthetic materials that the body can break down. This allows the body to dissolve the stitches over time. Usually, by the time the stitches are dissolved, the wound is completely healed.

Occasionally, a stitch won't dissolve completely. This usually occurs when part of the stitch is left on the outside of the body. There, the body's fluids cannot dissolve and decompose the stitch, so it remains intact. A doctor can easily remove the remaining piece of stitch once the wound is closed.

So, first thing this morning, I called the dr. office and spoke with the nurse who told me to come on in, and she'd pull it out for me. So, off I went, was there all of 5 minutes........and she pulled most of it out, and cut it. She said that my body would either dissolve the rest of it, or it would push it out. Fun! I will say, my boob is a little sore, and the area is a little red. So I will keep me eye on it and see what it does. Time will tell, huh!

And while I'm here.......I've also been doing a lot of research on information I will need to make the final decision on hormones/verses surgery. I will say this I DO NOT want to go back on Lupron shots- it shuts down your cycle and throws you into a temporary menopause. I have to done 2 cycles of these in the past....and from what I've read, I should of only done one cycle. There's some more tests I want run.....for example, a simple blood test to check and see if I'm anemic. I know when you bleed internally, that it can cause problems, and I want to know if mine is causing this kinda problem. I also need to get a bone density test done to see where my levels are with that. With those 2 cycles of Injections, I was suppose to get tested and I never did, so I'd like to know where I'm at to see how much damage there is, and if I can handle any more damage. Am I making sense.....I sure hope so. See, this is what goes on in my head.......Questions, questions, questions. But, I have them all written down, actually they're typed up now.....And separated into 3 sections. One is general questions that any OBGYN could answer...another section for hard questions, that I think only the Professor Dr could answer, and another section for all those weird symptoms I'm having. I also have lots of little notes written in the margin. I want to make the best out of the time I get with these doctors so I can make a very informed decision as to what I want to do.

I do know this much. I really don't want to try hormone therapy again. It only post-pones the final decision, and there's no real benefit to taking it other than to hopefully shrink the cyst, and from what I've read it really isn't meant to be used for treatment of cysts. I'm really not ready to lose my only ovary, however......this thing hurts. And I truly believe that my bowels are somehow involved. And I'm really not trying to go through what I went through back when my insides came out. No one has been inside my abdomen since that surgery, and I'd be curious to know what kind of damage having that Foley balloon in my abdomen for a month could of done. I've got so many questions, my head hurts!!

So......until then I will keep trying to read every thing I can get my hands on. I want to make sure I am making the best choice! Well, the best choice for me that is!

OK....until next time:)

....Oh, and one more thing. I know a few of you out there have read my blogs enough to know that this surgery was number 18 for me. And yet, I've never had to have stitches taken out! This was a first for me, mine have always dissolved......and most of my surgeries were laproscopic, so my incision were really tiny. As they say, there's a first time for everything!!

Pictures of my scar.....

So...

At first, I wasn't going to share these, I felt it was a little too personal to post 'online'. And Now....well, it's gotten a little weird, so I thought what the hell........ Plus, if you ever need to have a mass removed and your in the Tidewater area of Va....I can recommend a great surgeon, just email me! She does really great work....remember now, this is my second surgery......she went right over the original scar, and you can't even tell....

So...Here's day one. Bruising hasn't started yet....But everything is swollen!

...one week post surgery, and everything started bruising up.

And here we are 1 month post surgery, and my scar looks great! Well....except that little white thing over there on the right. It's a dis-solvable stitch that doesn't want to dissolve. Last night I was scratching what was left of my scab.......

and this came out.....

Kinda looks like thin fishing line. Anyways....I scratched one out...and I seem to still have one stuck in there~ the one in the picture above. Kinda new to me....not to sure what to think of it....it's just weird and it itches. We'll see what it does over the weekend and if it's still there Monday, I'll call the nurse to see how long before it actually dissolves or see if they can just pull it out. I have tried to pull it, but it seems to be in there pretty good. And I'm really trying hard not to mess with it....but it itches, darn it!

And on another note.....cause I just feel like complaining right now........ My freaking insides are killing me! Lots of pressure, and pulling. I go Wednesday to talk to the '2nd opinion doc', and I've got my list of questions ready. Hopefully I can get her to run some tests, so I can be better informed as to the decision I have to make. I want to know whatevery thing else is doing, so I know how much this cyst is effecting me. I will be back with that list when I get it written down....for now....it's still in my head. So.......

I'm off to go write down whats on my mind before I forget!!!

Talk to you soon! :)

To do or Not to do....

Well........ Life is getting exciting again, and I really don't know if I want to go along for the ride.

So, I spoke with my heart doc this morning. And had the same conversation I had with him the last time. You see...I have SVT, which means my heart is going to fast, and they want to do an ablation to slow it down. However, with this type of surgery, there is no guarantee that it will work. Well, it seems to work for a little while, but then the patients have to come back and have another, and eventually end up with a pacemaker. However!! The patients that end up with pace makers have a much better quality of life then before. Yes, I have done my homework about all of this, and I Really do trust the surgeon with my life. He's not telling me what to do, just suggesting a way to take a chance at a better life.

I have had 3 ablations before, for another problem......and I'm not too excited about going back to the Cath Lab for more. But, I'm tired.....and I want more out of life......so decisions have to be made. And the good news about this surgery is they only have to use 2 catheters, instead of 4 like they normally use! LOL, I'm trying to find the bright side of things here, can't you tell.....LMAO!!!

I also spoke with him about the PVC's coming back....and told him that they weren't really bad enough to complain about yet, but that I know how this story goes. I asked him if they could do both ablations at the same time...and he explained to me why they really couldn't. For one ablation, they'll put me totally under, and the other one has to be done awake~ Or in my case, sedated. I can't do them awake, it hurts too much!!! LOL...Oh well, I was trying to 'kill two birds with one stone' here..... He's curious to see where the new PVC's could be coming from, so I'll get another 21 day event monitor in a couple of weeks, and hopefully we can catch them. I used to get them so bad, I only had to wear the monitor for 24 hours and would have 30 pages of BS!! LOL....So, I'd say I'm moving up in the world!! Woooooo-Who! In the back of my mind, I was already prepared for them to come back....I'm a realist! And I've learned to expect the worst, and pray for the best!

I've managed to put this stuff off for over a year now, It's time to stop 'playing' and get on with it. Part of me was just hoping it 'would go away' and the other part of me just wanted to enjoy a year without being cut open!! Dang it!!! Now I get to think about making one of the biggest decisions of my life. Man, am I overwhelmed!!! Between my bladder, my boob and my heart, I swear.....

OK...I'm off to go watch a 'happy' movie and pretend for another hour or so that life is normal.
:)

*And I won't talk about that fact that my breast is hurting today from this stupid cyst!! can't a girl get a break??? Hahaha