Ice packs, Netflix, OnDemand, Ipad, and an Iphone . . . crucial items needed during post surgery recovery.

I haven’t posted any updates to my blog in a few months. Two weeks after my most recent post I received a phone call from my doctor. She stated that the results of an ultrasound confirmed her suspicions of Testicular Cancer. I was to visit with an oncologist to determine my next steps. My oncologist immediately scheduled a surgery after a physical inspection and I was on the operating table within 3 days.

My Thoughts - Cancer? . . . Really?

I have read and been told that my type of cancer has one of the highest survival rates but I have never had to think about my life as one with an expiration date. I know I won’t live forever but the diagnosis and the word CANCER weighed heavily on my heart. My thoughts were of my wife and daughter. I thought of the possibility of not getting to see my daughter grow up. I thought of how I was going to leave my wife alone to raise our baby(my baby is a teenager). Things seemed to be escalating in my mind the morning of the surgery, I had to keep my headphones on all the way to the hospital to keep my mind still and keeping the tears held back so that I wouldn’t let this get the best of me.

While at the hospital waiting for surgery, my mind was restless and playful (maybe just nervous). Even as I was being wheeled to the operating room (under anesthesia) I asked my daughter to take a picture . . . I do love pictures!

Recovery - Mind & Body

After surgery . . . I was quite a bit less playful. My mind was cloudy and all I wanted was to see my beautiful daughter. I have never had surgery or even a broken bone in my life. This was a major speed bump in my life. This thing got the best of me that day. My mind wandered and I no longer wanted to listen to audio books or podcasts. I didn’t want to think too much so I immersed myself in tv shows and movies. I stayed home and tried to get around the house as much as possible. My day consisted of couch time and dining table time.

Pain

After surgery, I felt that this was one of the longest walks of my life.

The day of surgery wasn’t too painful as long as I didn’t try to move too much. The pain medicine didn’t make me sick but one night I tried to do without and I realized the next morning that it was a bad idea because getting out of bed brought tears to my eyes. I went another day with pain meds and then I moved to Tylenol. I wasn't in constant pain, it only hurt when I had to use my stomach/abdominal muscles. So basically when I had to sit up, lay down, or bend. I tried my best to avoid sneezing for at least 3 weeks. I sneezed the 1st week and tears followed. I had to get major assistance in order to get in and out of bed and it was painful no matter what. By week 3 I was able to move much easier and get myself out of bed with minor pain in the abdominal area.

Next Steps:

During my recovery I followed up my surgery with a CT scan 2 weeks later. This was painful since I had to lay down and the nurse had to get my wife to help me up after the scan. We later found out that the results of the scan were negative (no cancer found).

5 weeks later came the blood work and this one was important. We prayed for no indicators of Cancer in my system. Our prayers were answered. I now have to decide the next step in my treatment in order to keep the Cancer from attacking my body again. So I will be visiting with 2 Oncologist to determine if I will get radiation, chemotherapy, or what they call surveillance (frequent ct scans and blood work).

It has now been 6 weeks since my surgery and I am beginning to feel normal again. I still get lost in thoughts of the future but now I feel the hope working its way back into my thoughts. I know the fight isn’t over but my outlook is much better.

Friends & Family, thank you for your thoughts and prayers.