I beat Cancer ... I hope :)

ShimmyMommy

imalive wrote:

good morning-

hopefully, my mind has cleared enough for a coherent post.

I was pretty apprehensive when i woke up tuesday morning (pre-surgery)...i didn't figure i would die on the table, but you never know. i woke up after the operation and thought "cool, i'm alive!" (yes, I am )

a few updates on the surgery...what i was beating around the bush about was that i had already decided to get a bag. when my surgeon asked "how many times would pooping your pants be acceptable?" and then kind of laughed when i said once a year, it was because i probably would have had accidents once a DAY :shock: . he said that some people are so freaked by a bag they make a decision that they would rather never leave the house and never be more than 20 ft from a toilet. well, not me! it took me a while to wrap my head around this but I know I made the right decision....and "in the end" a reconstruction would not have been possible after all. to be quite blunt, my anus and rectum are gone...and so is my cancer somewhere along the line, I started calling my cancer "colon" when it was rectal (more tricky) all along.

so, all in all, we DID save the pooper...it just moved to a different spot ! and you're not off the hook on wearing those bracelets because, starting in october, i do 3 more months of chemo.

my surgeon came in yesterday with a BIG smile on his face...pathology is back and it turns out I was stage III :shock: and they found 3 positive lymph nodes in the throw away tissue. but he is VERY positive it's all gone now. trying to pluck individual lymph nodes is not a good idea (or even possible in my area) so my whole rectum is gone. maybe I could have "saved it" in a jar...why didn't i think of that?

i feel pretty good today. after 4 days of liquid, I start on solid food! i'm pretty sore but I walked the halls x4 yesterday and I'll be gimping around again today.

re-reading this, yeah I'm still a little loopy but it's all good. i feel very positive and I could not have done it without you! thanks a million!!!!!

Rob the Bag Man
"if I hadn't told you, you'd never know"




and better than "leaky and stinky Rob" :shock:

This made my day!! I am so pleased that "Papa's got a brand new bag!"
Now it's time to heal! Lots of healing love, light and hugs!! XOXOXO

loveontwolegs

Glad to hear from you today Rob! There are some crafty people on this board, maybe we could cross stitch or knit a bag cozy for you?

EmBleve

This is a wonderful update and I wish you a speedy recovery and much life, love, and happiness. HUGS. You're amazing.

dottles

So glad to hear from you Rob, and that you sound so positive.
A life or an existence was the options really, sounds like you chose life!

Will wear my bracelet at Alpine this weekend...and Kelly will have some more UK mags for you to read

Given to...

Thanks Rob.

One thing about this ordeal, is that we all see how to face a major obstacle with gusto thanks to you and your positive attitude. Life lessons from Rob 101. I'm buying the book!

Seriously, how inspiring it is to see this faced head on and with such tenacity that there was never a doubt. Never a pity party. Never the expression of giving in. I am sure the bad days were there, and hard times are ahead, but they will be handled with the same "in yer face" spirit.

My circle of cancer survivor friends/family continues to grow into my personal list of tough sum bitches you dont want to mess with:
Grandma A kicked breast cancers' Ass at age 81
Cousin Marty is KICKING some serious osteosarcoma ASS at age 16
Co-worker/Friend Joe is kicking Ass on colon cancer at age 32
Best baseball scorekeeper friend Abby is fighting cancers ugly ass in her 50's
And
Rob is kicking cancers ass too!!!

Wobbie

Halifax2TheMax wrote:

Tears of joys Rob, tears of joy! With a few chuckles thrown in for good measure!

A great way to start my day!

Peace!

PS: I like the ring of Rob the Bag Man but you'll always be the Pooper to me.

and i drank the ass kisser IPA the night before. it was very good and took the edge off :thumbup:

GivenToLukinKP

Best news ever today You just made our PJ20 weekend even more special x1000

Its great to hear from you Rob--!! I sent you a PM but I'm going to say it again-- WOOHOO!!!!

Let's get buttons made next:

"Beating cancer, one asshole at a time"

Wobbie

GivenToLukinKP wrote:

Let's get buttons made next:

"Beating cancer, one asshole at a time"

LOVE IT!!!!!

of.the.girl

This update brought tears to my eyes. I'm so happy that you are cancer free and you indeed kicked its sorry ass. You give me hope as I start my journey in kicking cancers ass.

Now time for your recovery. Take it slow and listen to your body. Much thoughts, hugs, prayers and love to you!

DreamOfAngels

I'm so happy to hear this Rob! Take care of yourself and give Codie extra hugs and kisses for sticking with you

What will I call you now? It used to be smart-ass.... suggestions Rob?
DOA

DreamOfAngels

I've been wearing two braclets related to the missing IU student Lauren Spierer (findlauren.com) on my left wrist but the "Save the Pooper" had to go on the right wrist. Didn't think it was appropriate to wear them all on the same one... Again, congrats and good luck.

Halifax2TheMax

GivenToLukinKP wrote:

Best news ever today You just made our PJ20 weekend even more special x1000

Its great to hear from you Rob--!! I sent you a PM but I'm going to say it again-- WOOHOO!!!!

Let's get buttons made next:

"Beating cancer, one asshole at a time"

Sign me up for a button! Glad you liked the beer Rob and I can now take all the credit but really it's been you and your amazingly incredible attitude. Keep that fighting spirit and know more positive Chi being sent your way! Again, thanks for the chuckles as you and the the other Poopstars make me laugh. Off to PJ20 on Saturday morning and I'll be thinking of you and looking for Appie. He owes me a beer.

Peace!

Paulina87

GivenToLukinKP wrote:

Let's get buttons made next:

"Beating cancer, one asshole at a time"

in for one
And so good to hear you're getting better Rob!!!!

Wobbie

because I have been the super patient, they are sending me home tomorrow :shock: . maybe they don't want me hanging around for the labor day weekend :?

my IV is out, my drain is out, I put my own bag on and I'm off the dilaudid.

they keep rolling me on my side and marveling over how "fantastic" my pooper looks :shock: . it's downright embarrassing...now I know how j-lo feels.

my gut hurts bad but I may as well lay around at home as opposed to here. apparently my grandma was in the hospital for 6 weeks when she had a similar procedure in 1942

ShimmyMommy

Glad to hear you will be going home. Being with Codie and your pup will be very soothing. Rest up so you can celebrate at your PJ show! Love, light and hugs! xo



I gotta a see a shark tomorrow about a photo...

DreamOfAngels

Great! Glad to hear you're coming home so soon. I had dilaudid when I had my stroke - it was VERY helpful. I hope they can find something less harmful but just as effective for you at home.

Wobbie

DreamOfAngels wrote:

I had dilaudid when I had my stroke - it was VERY helpful. I hope they can find something less harmful but just as effective for you at home.

no worries - I've got "a guy" :shock:

not too worried...oxycodone will get me thru.

DreamOfAngels

imalive wrote:

DreamOfAngels wrote:

I had dilaudid when I had my stroke - it was VERY helpful. I hope they can find something less harmful but just as effective for you at home.

no worries - I've got "a guy" :shock:

not too worried...oxycodone will get me thru.

Yes I bet it will. lol. Just make sure you stop when you are supposed to!

PJ_ROCKS

Going home is a good thing!!! It will help in the healing.

Had you not requested all those sponge baths, you might have stayed longer. :P

iamica

Great to hear the good news. You and a friend of mine are both kicking cancer's sorry butt this year. Well done.