The Back Room

Last Friday I had a follow-up appointment with the colorectal surgeon. Now, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my surgeon and I would recommend him without reservation to anyone who is looking for a colorectal surgeon, but I am never too excited to go see him at his office. 

My first clue should have been when his nurse said to me, "We're going to put you in the back room." It always makes me laugh when I walk into the room and there is a speculum on the counter draped with a rubber glove. It all looks innocent enough, but I have some experience in these rooms and I have a pretty good idea of what is in store for me.

The doctor comes in with his new "Fellow" - a doctor who is pursuing specialized training in colorectal surgery. I fully support medical education, but I think to myself, "Just one more person who gets to know me in a very personal way!" He checks out my abdominal incisions - everything has healed well. Then he sweetly asks, "Is it OK if I check the internal surgical site?" How do you honestly answer that question? I think to myself, "NO!!! IT IS NOT OK!!!" But when I open my mouth I hear myself say, "Of course, please do whatever you need to do." 

Thankfully, all the news is good. My rectum (yes, I said the word, rectum) is connected at the surgical site and healing well. There should be no trouble for these six months until we are able to put the whole system back in working order.

Again, I am so grateful for my surgeon, for his training, his knowledge, his skill, his desire to train other surgeons, and his genuine compassion toward me and my family. I am very blessed!

Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. I will begin my second round of chemotherapy. We are hoping that most of the nausea last time was due to a combination of surgery, anesthesia, and chemotherapy all in one week; and that this time I will not be so sick to my stomach. 

Please continue to pray for the following: 

no nausea 

no drop in blood cell production

no peripheral neuropathy

no diarrhea or dehydration

that my liver and kidneys will be able to process all these chemicals efficiently

destruction of any cancer cells and protection of healthy cells

I will let you know how it goes!