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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 9, 2010 - 01:35pm PT
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What a curve ball life pitches (yeah, been watching the playoffs)...last several weeks I am romping around Yosemite, picking up trash, hiking, scrambling and climbing around the base of El Cap in 90+ heat feeling great; the next week being told I need imminent surgery. Surgery scheduled for next Thursday. Ferretlegger has been my trusty companion throuugh all this zero to 60 junk ola. I'm not happy missing the remainder of the Fall season in Yosemite; and Ferretlegger's El Cap fall wall plans have been put on hold...ah, spring climbing on the wall gives him a chance to get even more buffed. Glad this all happened after Facelift so I got to connect up with more flesh to flesh folks than cyber folks. Kinda scared but thankful also for what medical science has to offer! Susan
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Swimming in LEB tears.
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I hope your curve ball heals quickly.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Best of luck and a speedy recovery!!
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Bummer, I hope things go well.
Reminds me of an old joke.
A doctor has come to see one of his patients in a hospital. The patient has had major surgery to both of his hands.
"Doctor," says the man excitedly and dramatically holds up his heavily bandaged hands. "Will I be able to play the piano when these bandages come off?"
"I don't see why not," replies the doctor.
"That's funny," says the man. "I wasn't able to play it before."
...
So are you going to able to throw a mean curve ball after this surgery?
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nita
Social climber
chica from chico.. You shall call me..mini moo.
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Susan,
Good luck with surgery and recovery..
Sending healing thoughts your way..
Saludos..
xoxo
nita..
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Susan-So Ferretman will have to do the bottom job on Noir all by himself!
My best to you.
Guido
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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I don’t know you, but after reading your post I am compelled to add a few comments which I hope are constructive.
Three years ago I had to make a similar adjustment, from the certain knowledge that I was in great shape and excellent health to the understanding that my life could end shortly or I might, perhaps, recover. The discovery of my problem took a few days, following a convulsive seizure which got my attention. I learned some things in the process, have undergone remarkable medical traetments, and I am doing really well now.
Be pro-active with your Doctors. Walk in to every meeting with a pen and paper and a list of questions. You certainly must have a lot of questions right now, but when you get that 10 minutes with the Doctors it’s easy to forget what you wanted to ask. Write down the answers. Even better, if you have a significant other or trusted friend get them to write them down too, then take a quick look and see if you both heard the same thing. Bring up any discrepancies on the spot for clarity.
I’m not paranoid about Doctors. To the contrary I have been so very fortunate to be under the care of some great ones. I just know from experience, that if you take the process of communicating with them about your care very seriously they will appreciate it and you also will be in a better position to make decisions.
If you are attuned to and engaged in the process they will be able to do a better job for you.
I hope you experience the best of all possible outcomes.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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I know this olympic marathon runner and medalist that thinks surgery is bad jew jew...some surgeons have great bed-side manners when it comes to padding their bank accounts...try throwing the knuckleball...rj
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Sorry Johnny - If you were in my shoes you would not be making statements like that. And just because someone is an Olympian does not mean that they have experienced everything. Many Olympic athletes are only in the games today due to the work of top notch surgeons.
and BTW it's "bad Ju Ju," not Jew Jew...
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Apologies Ksolem...flippant on my part....don't judge another man until you have walked in his shoes.....rj
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bmacd
Trad climber
100% Canadian
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Wishing you the best in terms of recovery. Though my recent surgery was planned, I totally underestimated the recovery, which has slid me a couple curve balls.
Hang in there bro !
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Best of luck.
Invest in Netflix - their instant view option is a post-surgery head-saver! :) Heal quickly and well!
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Oct 10, 2010 - 12:06am PT
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Johnny - Good one - got it.
Best wishes
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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Oct 10, 2010 - 01:24am PT
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What the heck are they diagnosing and prognosing ??? I feel like family, concerned. Hey, we are family here and besides caring we have alot of collective knowledge. What up my new best girlfriend ??? lynnie
Edit: of course you are now and will continue to be in my heart and thoughts and prayers. Peace.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Oct 10, 2010 - 01:56am PT
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Ksolem...just kidding on the ju ju part....my friend that runs like a deer is jewish....rj
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 10, 2010 - 12:01pm PT
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what the heck are they diagnosing... Ferretleggers love child. I told him to keep the damn Ferrets away from me....
Girlie stuff....I"ll email you
Guido....yep I"m not going near that boat bottom...the boat is long and beamy...too much surface area
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Oct 10, 2010 - 09:32pm PT
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Best of luck and best of wishes to you.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 24, 2010 - 12:39am PT
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A short retrospective…
June 30: yeah early retirement, things look good, no more crowding fun time into holidays or weekends; long ocean cruises without need to have regular contact with the “bosses” … even an early retirement incentive.
July 28: sad day, loss of my beloved 11 ½ year old yellow lab. She lived a great life, but shucks we were going to have more time, not the rushed a.m. and p.m. walks. She was brave and strong and did live a wonderful life.
August : 3 weeks in Montana hiking everyday the M trail, Sacajewa Peak, hikes out in Hyalith. Ferretlegger working a project at the U. Not much sailing this summer as Ferretlegger plans a Fall solo El Cap and we spend lots of time in Yosemite practicing set up of new gear, refreshing aid climbing and such. Oh well, not a problem, Hawaii and Alaska beckon in the Spring.
September: Eastern Sierras backpacking; Palisades Glacier. Brand new backpack because geez…now lots of time. Facelift: wow, I can be there the whole time, no need to rush up for the weekend because of work. Lots of time to work out to get ready for an epic ski season…we plan the building of sledges because we are tired of hauling packs for extended back country trips.
October: WTF is this digestive issue that won’t go away? OK the spring colonoscopy diagnosed some diverticula with the recommendation…eat more fiber etc. etc. An attack of diverticulitis? Dr. puts me on Flagyl and Cipro. Oh crap, the side effects are demoralizing and creepy but it’s only for 10 days. We are headed to Moab mid Oct for our annual mtn. bike and Indian Creek trip so I’ll concentrate on getting stuff ready for that trip. Oct. 6th my regular annual girlie checkup. I have been working out like a demon trying to get my abs REALLY strong after having hernia surgery in May. I point out to the Dr. that it seems like something is getting hard but it’s low and only on one side. She concurs that it isn’t muscle tissue and appears to be an “enlargement” in my pelvis. Sent for a special ultra sound confirming a very large ovarian mass. Stunned. October 8th I am at Stanford’s Center for Advanced Medicine (formerly Cancer Clinic) signing up for surgery on October 14th.
October 14th: Surgery at 1:30; Ferretlegger there with me until I can’t remember. Doc leans over me sometime later in recovery confirming an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Likely clear cell. I recall moaning, “it hurts, and oh shit”
Surgery recovery: several days in the hospital, now home resting, and getting some walks around the block (wasn’t it just 2 weeks ago I was running 5 to 6 miles down to Capitola beach and back?) arrrgghhh…Pins and needles waiting for path report: 10/20 Clear Cell Ovarian Cancer; Stage 1C. Mixed news, but on the uptick. Clear Cell is rare and can be aggressive but stage 1c has good prognosis...perhaps even the surgery cleaned it all, but chemo follow up is always recommended. Starts Nov. 19th. Then regular follow up via CT scans.
Life isn’t grand right now, but it’s good. I am so thankful my son is grown and in college. Around the hospital and clinic I saw too many sick young people; some who probably had young children at home and my heart would absolutely break.
I’ve sailed oceans, climbed (to me) mountains; rolled in the snow, spent time at the bottom of the ocean; rode mountain bike trails that seemed like they would never end; had a career that I absolutely loved; and a cherished son that has successfully “launched” and a partner that is tough as any granite wall. Everything that is left for me is frosting on the cake. So time to slow down a little bit and not always try to have my cake and eat it too. Things do seem to happen for a reason…don’t they?
And besides that….I just saw the Giants win the pennant. Things are definitely up!
To my ST friends that have been in contact via Ferretlegger…I’m on the mend and will get to all of you soon…and to my hero Paul (Disaster Master)…thanks for your personal words of encouragement…you have touched so many people not only with your spirit but in a very practical sense of become attuned to your body…and to other women on ST, some of you already know this, but ovarian cancer is called the cancer that “whispers” because one day you think you have indigestion and the next day you are told you have cancer. And there is no screening like a Mammography.
I remember years ago, after a difficult time, a cherished mentor said to me: “Susan, you have always landed on your feet”. I don’t expect anything differently now.
Looking forward...to the next time I am able to rope up.
Ferretlegger and I on Sacagewa Peak, Bozeman, August 2010; this time a different mtn. to climb, but climb it we will.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Oct 24, 2010 - 12:56am PT
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Susan - we are all here for you. Thanks for letting us be here for you. cg
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Oct 24, 2010 - 12:58am PT
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Positive Vibes your way, Susan!
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