Delayed by cancer

[Urbanlamb 56]

Y'know that saying, "You can't keep a good woman down"?

Well I am woman, hear me roar!

Only my roar goes sorta like "Grrrr...hic...rrrrrr"

I started the process of getting approved for RNY 2.5 years ago and everything was going really well. No sleep apnea? Check!! Crazy as a loon? Check, but well medicated. *smug smile*. Meet all of the requirements? Check!! I'm morbidly obese, but generally pretty healthy.

Then I was waiting for the final appointment when all heck broke loose. Last October, I started peeing blood. Tiny amount, but blood nevertheless. I didn't eat asparagus, and it couldn't be a UTI, because I was just finishing antibiotics for a chest cough. Hmmmmmm.....

I work in a hospital, so got my lil' butt down to emerg, peed in a cup, and went back to work. The next day, WHAM! ultrasound...then WHAM...cystoscopy (camera to look up into my bladder).

Then two weeks later...THUD!!!!! I have aggressive papillary non invasive bladder cancer. Like, what the heck??? I'm only 39 and I don't smoke, and other than being obese, I'm the picture of perfect health!!

We had the tumor removed, and I'm on a three year regimen of treatments called BCG and I examine the toilet bowl every single damn time I pee now. I'm like a toddler who looks at her accomplishments in the bathroom with pride. Look ma!! Yellow pee!!!

I had to have a follow up appointment with the WLS surgeon. He told me that I need to be cancer free for two years before weight loss surgery. I was devastated...this kind of cancer has 80 percent chance of coming back...the oncologist wants me to lose weight so that he can take out the bladder and make me a new one from my lower intestine called a 'neo-bladder'. So I went running to my oncologist, he had an intense discussion with the WLS doc and the new game plan is not to have an RNY, but to go ahead with a sleeve. That way there will be enough guts for the neo bladder.

So now, I'm back on track. Final hurdles have been jumped. Waiting for the call to book me for surgery. It should be sometime soon...before August. I can't wait! It's already been a long road, and it's going to be an even longer road ahead of me But I take it one day at a time, and am grateful for my daily gifts. And for pee. Yellow pee.

[Susan-031314 179]

Wow! Yours is not the usual story. My Daddy is a 15+ year bladder cancer survivor, stage 3. He had his bladder removal long before your potential procedure was created. Best of wishes to you and your journey. You can do this!!!!!

Welcome to the community.

[missbrown30 148]

I wishing for only the best outcomes for you Urban. You are very strong.

[BeagleLover 1,020]

Great to hear that you've finally been approved and things have been worked out to keep your options open! Best wishes.

[sleeve30 33]

That's the attitude!!! You got this!!!

[chris1142 148]

Love your attitude and sense of humor. I'm happy you will get your surgery. I am a 10 year breast cancer survivor and a 5 year lymphoma survivor. The lymphoma has a good chance of a return performance so I know what you are going through. Here's hoping we both beat the odds.

I was sleeved 4.5 months ago and am very happy with the results. I will be stronger and healthier if I have to do battle again. And so will you.

All the best to you.

Chris

[4me4them 381]

Thanks for sharing...you'll be in my thoughts and prayers...good luck!

[SusinMichigan 76]

Keep on roaring ... meow a minute if you must then roar again. Wish you nothing but the best in your journey.

[fat_free 463]

Wow Urbanlamb, incredible story. I wish you all the best in your recovery and battle against bladder cancer! Glad to hear they approved you for the sleeve procedure it will be so worth it for you! God speed

[Pkdvm 175]

You go ahead and roar. I'm impressed by your strength and sense of humor- both of which are handy tools to have with major health challenges. Wish you all the best.

[LivingProof 31]

Wow, you go, Lamb! After this, I'm thinking drinking Protein Shakes and sipping an endless amount of water--I was sleeved six days ago--will seem like heaven. Like, 64 oz.? That's all I've got to worry about today? Congrats! Love your spirit!

[JCP 619]

Courage like this makes me so ashamed of worrying about anything. Thank you, folks on this thread, for sharing. You are an inspiration.

[Urbanlamb 56]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement....I'm so thankful and humbled! Humour is ESSENTIAL!! I have a Mum with bi-polar and learned a long time ago that when things get tough, it's best to find the humour in the situation and to laugh. It's either that or throw her out the window.

If I look at the big picture and at all that I have to deal with down the road, I'll drive myself crazy. So....I look at now. Today is what I have, it's a gift, and it's all I have to deal with. Tomorrow is not here yet, so I don't worry about it, and deal with only today.

There's a little plaque that I have on my wall, right above my coffee maker. I see it every morning and smile with a grateful heart. It says "Good Morning! This is God! I will be handling your problems today, and I don't need your help...have a good day!!

So...like a little child, I trust God to handle things, and live each day with a grateful heart.

I'll let y'all know when the surgery is scheduled and I'll be on this board with tons of questions and observations. I hope that during the process, and as time goes by, that I can in turn, support some of you.

Life is a wild ride eh? Hang on, have fun, and enjoy the day!!

[Urbanlamb 56]

_{I promised to let you know when the surgery is scheduled..I got the news this week. August 18th!!}

_{OK...now I'm scared. But it's a happy scared.}

_{One other bump has happened since I started this thread. I lost my hearing due to a virus. I was always Deaf in one ear, but got along in life quite well. But now the hearing in my good ear is gone, and we're not too sure if it will come back. Currently on a regimin of prednisone and prayers.}

_{Seriously, I'm like 'holy crap' how much can one person take?}

_{Amazingly, this girl can take a lot.}

_{I'm still standing.}

_{I'm still roaring.}

_{I'm still dancing to my own music and living each day as the gift that it's meant to be.}

_{My work has been so supportive and I'm still working. Going on week three with no hearing, but coping amazingly well with reading lips, scribbling notes, and making phone calls through a relay service for the Deaf.}

_{I got this....I can do this....what else ya got? Throw it at me.}

_{Grrrrrr...hic....rrrrrrr}

[awold0 246]

I promised to let you know when the surgery is scheduled..I got the news this week. August 18th!!

OK...now I'm scared. But it's a happy scared.

One other bump has happened since I started this thread. I lost my hearing due to a virus. I was always Deaf in one ear, but got along in life quite well. But now the hearing in my good ear is gone, and we're not too sure if it will come back. Currently on a regimin of prednisone and prayers.

Seriously, I'm like 'holy crap' how much can one person take?

Amazingly, this girl can take a lot.

I'm still standing.

I'm still roaring.

I'm still dancing to my own music and living each day as the gift that it's meant to be.

My work has been so supportive and I'm still working. Going on week three with no hearing, but coping amazingly well with reading lips, scribbling notes, and making phone calls through a relay service for the Deaf.

I got this....I can do this....what else ya got? Throw it at me.

Grrrrrr...hic....rrrrrrr

Wow you are amazing. It's post like these that keep me coming back after being a year post sleeve surgery. When I'm feeling a little down and then read your inspiring words it lifts me up. You go!!!#