This week so far...post chemo session 1 of 6, week 2

Ok, so last weekend was not too bad...I was just tired. I was looking forward to being back at work and getting my schedule back in order. I was also looking forward to having my sis, Becky back in town.

I worked all week, at the office, with the exception of Thursday. That was exactly 2 weeks after the 1st chemo, and I felt so freakin' tired I couldn't hardly see straight. I went in for the usual bloodwork Thursday AM, with the intention of going to the office after, but by the time I got out of there, I was pooped. So, I drove home to take a nap...I had intended on sleeping for an hour or so then doing some work remotely from home. I ended up sleeping a full 4 hours...then doing some work from home!!! I guess I really was tired!

That night, I felt a little nauseous. I had taken the last of the diflucan the day before, an I needed to pick up the refill...so I did not fill it until later in the evening. I did take the dog for a long walk in the heat...and we played at the park for a while (he had me fetching the ball, actually)...so I wasn't sure what exactly "caused" me to feel nauseous. I ended up taking some of the anti-nausea meds...and the diflucan...and I felt a little better by the time I fell asleep (around midnight, unfortunately).

Well, Friday started off okay--I did notice my hair was starting to come out (on day 15) a few strands at a time (I'd actually been kind of obsessively picking at my hair to see if it would come out....it surely did start then!) I went up to the office, felt okay, but after I ate (we had a potluck gathering)...the gas, bloating and nausea hit again. Bummer. I hung out in the bathroom for a while and missed the ladies at work giving me some very cool hats! They ended up putting them on my desk, they had assumed I did not feel well (oh, they were right). Funny, I didn't throw up...haven't but one time in the first week...I just farted and sweated a LOT. As my Nana would have said, "A lot of wind, but no storm." Hmmm. Glad I had some of the anti-nausea meds with me. Took one, felt better within an hour.

Friday night was okay, I just had one hell of a headache--mostly a scalpache to be honest. Felt more like a surface or tension headache than a deep headache. Maybe something to do with my hair coming out. Or maybe I need to poke a hole in my skull and let the demons out?

Saturday (this) morning, I got up early and felt a wee bit ambitious. Still fatigued...but got some chores done. Felt good to get more things off of the to-do list. Again, I felt a bit nauseous around mid-day (4 hours after I ate this time...), so I took some compazine. Felt fine within an hour or so. Strange. Hair is coming out more rapidly now...all over. My hair is so thick though, you cannot really tell yet. I was thinking I would have my sister use the clippers on my hair--go for the buzz cut, but earlier today, I felt like I might not do that.

Tonight, I am feeling like I could have her do it soon...I don't know why I am waivering on this so much. I got some more hats (on clearance) at Target...they are fun...I am leaning more toward doing the hat and scarf thing than the wig thing...I just don't like wigs. Hell, it may just not be for me. I am totally and completely confused by wool hats being sold in Florida...okay, one or two...but whole displays? Wool?

I have that damn headache again tonight...I took some advil last night and it did not help, so I think I will pass on it tonight...no sense taking more crap if it won't do anything anyway.

Anyway, it has been a decent week overall...nothing unmanageable. I am having to drink lots of Mylanta every night (and sometimes during the day)...because the reflux and heartburn is in high-gear...daily and nightly.

Strange to be losing my hair though...I am still obsessively pulling some out every little while or so--it is kind of...fun...in an oddly psychotic way. Let me be clear...it does not hurt. It just comes out very easily. Hmmmm, will someone please make me stop pulling out my hair now?

I have been thinking about going back to the gym...or at least exercising more. I miss the gym...I just wonder if I have the stamina. I think I am healed up enough from the mastectomy to get back into the gym routine, so we shall see. Maybe some more walks once it finally cools off? I've been reading some articles and other blogs about folks' experiences relating to exercise and chemo. I will just have to figure out a way to manage the stamina/fatigue issues somehow.

With love, from the boobless and soon-to-be-hairless one in West Central Florida,
Tory

Thyroid Biopsy Scheduled for November 10th...

I finally have a "date" for the Thyroid Biopsy...this will be the morning of November 10th at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. It is an ultrasound-guided procedure, a "fine needle aspiration" of the node in question. Sounds like an absolute joy to have a needle crammed in my neck. Great...lucky me! Bad thyroid...growing danglies.

You know...something about doctors' attitudes about the Thyroid bothers me. Why are they so quick to just yank it out if something is wrong? Hmmm...must research this more.

Tentative Chemo Schedule...

Here is the tentative schedule for my chemo treatments...
October 15th (DONE!)
November 5th
November 26th (will be moved before or after due to Thanksgiving Holiday)
December 17th
January 7th
January 28th

I "receive" Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin. Herceptin will continue after January 28th...every 3 weeks for a total of 17 doses--roughly 1 year of Herceptin at every 3 weeks.

After the January 28th chemo, I start radiation for 6 weeks, at 5 days per week. I will be getting the Herceptin during these radiation treatments.

Reconstructive surgery will be after radiation is completed.

Fun for all!

a week of mild side effects...thank you anti-fungals

Well, this week started off okay...just some interesting side effects. The "mild bone pain" from the Neulasta shot was delightful. I can't wait to experience that again...I wonder if they will be able to reduce it or something, as that pain was quite interesting. I don't really know how to describe the feeling from that stuff...your bones ache from the inside...I think my marrow was screaming out in some sort of unhappy key. My bloodwork Thursday showed a very high White Blood Cell count...so we'll see how it does over the next couple of weeks...and yes, I guess I have to have WBCs...hmmm.
I bleed very easily right now...scratches, picks, bumps. Lots of fun bruises too. I find that I have to be very careful not to cut myself. I still have a bruise on my inner elbow where Nurse Tech Evilness pulled blood a week and a half ago. I wonder if they can find a good vein in my ass, so I don't have to keep going around looking like a junkie. Hmm.
Starting on Monday, my face broke out...my mouth and nose went completely dry, and my eyes started to get these lovely crusties. Then I started in with some symphonic gas...very pleasant farts, I must say. I wish I could produce those on demand...could end some unfortunate situations more quickly. Must research this. Diarrhea started Monday night...glad it waited until I got home from work. Good stuff. Even better on Tuesday when (while working at home) my body decided that it was gonna let loose right then no matter what. I have to say, my pants did NOT deserve that. And Sarge, I love ya, you are a wonderful dog, but please, if that happens again, I will clean the floor myself. You need not "help."
Truly nothing more disgusting than crapping your own pants.
I called the Doc's office to discuss the gas/bloating before the diarrhea started...they switched me to a bland diet--yum, 36 hours of broth...then Immodium to stop the spraypainting.
So on Wednesday, I realized that I recognized a lot of the symptoms I was having. Lucky me, I had a "Systemic Yeast Infection." Funny, I had it everywhere except where you'd expect. Eyes, nose, mouth, butt? Oh, now that is fun. Apparently, the steroids may have set that off...or my knocked-down immune system.
I had nose bleeds from it on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...fun. Now I was really looking like a junkie, crusty face, crusty eyes, arm bruises and all. I remember having Systemic Yeast Infections like 16 years ago...from steroids then...hmmm. Gave me bad gas and diarrhea and all of the other symptoms except nose bleeds...
Saw one of the other Oncologists at the Dr.'s office Thursday...to be sure it was a Yeast Infection...and it was/is. She started me on fluconazole to kill off the infection...and it is working very nicely. Nose feels about 50% better today, mouth is much better (Thrush sucks), eyes are happier, face still has some issues (hey, that is what makeup is for), butt is happier. I like a happy butt. No more diarrhea, gas or bloating. Doc said that they may have to keep me on fluconazole (an anti-fungal) during chemo to ward off these issues. High dose too...200mg. Hell, if it works, I am not going to complain.
Also during the Dr. visit, she reviewed my bloodwork and the ultrasound results for my thyroid. I have a 3 cm node on my thyroid that needs to be biopsied soon. Doc didn't look worried, and just said that they needed to look into it further. I really hope it is nothing...I don't have a whole lot of body parts left for folks to just keep yanking out of me. If they have to take that...I "get" to have another surgery (on my NECK eek)...and then I would have to have synthroid the rest of my life. Sheesh. Let's just hope it is nothing...OK?
Bloodwork good.
More bloodwork on Thursday...then next chemo on Thursday after that (November 5th). No date/time yet for the thyroid biopsy, but will have that very soon.
Went up to the office 3 days this week...yesterday (Friday) was the longest day at the office...and I really felt pretty well. I do get very tired EARLY...like around 8 or 9 PM (especially if I have not had a nap during the day), and I am waking up fairly early too. Sleeping okay, better the past couple of nights...been taking Ativan to help me sleep more consistently...I had been waking up every 1.5 hours or so.
My sister left on Tuesday to go back to Texas, take care of a few things, get her truck and slowly head back this way to stay with me during this. I miss her already and am looking forward to having her back. Cheri went home very early Wednesday AM. I really enjoyed having her here...it is so nice to have a friend like her my life. I hope to be able to go see her and her hubby Kevin while they are still living in Alaska. And maybe they both can make their way out to FL next time!

My hair: my scalp has been feeling weird all week...like a dull aching feeling. So, I got a wild impulse to have my hair chopped short...heck, I figure I could try it for a week or so before it fell out. Not really my style, to be honest...it is "fun," but I really do like having long hair. We shall see. Other body hair is starting to thin out, so I am curious when I get to go "monk!" I will give my sis the honor of shaving my head when it starts to go...I think...;-) I am getting the hats ready!

Off to eat some "real food" and not broth. Thank goodness I can eat again!
~Tory

Chemo Weekend Uno...not too yucky...but it sure does smell bad ;-)

Well, this weekend was my first "recovery period" after chemo session 1 of 6. I felt pretty good getting up on Saturday, although I had heartburn and gas times 10. I was able to manage most of the symptoms with the medications that were prescribed...I even felt well enough to go out with Becky and Cheri to have lunch, do some touristy stuff, visit the SunCoast Seabird Sanctuary and the beach! Now, when I got home after that, I slept for about 14 hours (on and off).
The "bone pain" from the Neulasta is the absolute PITS. "Mild" is an understatement from hell. I trudged through it Saturday, but Sunday it was worse. I did some research on the Internet and found that some folks had good results taking Claritin (yep...that stuff). So, I researched that to ensure there were no counterindications with the meds I have had or am currently taking, I found none, so I tried the Claritin. It helped a bit...not a whole lot, but some.
Sunday was mostly a rest day. I napped and played on the computer some. I was really super gassy yesterday...reminded me of when I used to have my gallbladder :-) Oh well...
Battling a little with constipation...taking Colace to help...ate apples and spinach with dinner...I may regret that for a bit today, but it beats being stopped up. Meh. Funny how life changes you...used to be worried about this and that, and now all I want is "normal bowel movements!" LOL.
Still have some bone pain today. Less than yesterday, but the more I move around, the more it seems to alert me to its presence. Sheesh...feels like massive growing pains. I am not in the mood to grow anything, dammit.

~with love from the farty boobless one with "mild bone pain" in Florida,
Tory

The Day After My First Chemo

I have to say that I feel great today. Just a bit gassy (farty and burpy), but for those of you who know me, I doubt that seems abnormal. I will say that I have not been this gassy since I had my gallbladder removed some time ago. I just don't have the stomach problems I used to. I still have reflux and heartburn, and this stuff is pretty bad (what I am experiencing now), but hey, I'm not barfing (which to me, is pretty good!)
I was very "flushed" this AM...red as a beet (nurses later told me that this was likely due to the steroid, Decadron). A little hyper also from the steroid.
I drove myself over to Tampa to get my Neulasta shot and to talk with the woman trying to schedule me for my thyroid ultrasound. The Neulasta shot was quick and easy...nurse told me to take some Advil with food to combat any possible side-effects (mostly "bone pain"). I did and still do have some minor pain in my lower back and pelvic region, but Advil has helped so far.
St. Joseph's Medical Arts folks were able to get me in for the ultrasound right after my injection, so I went over there to have that done. That was fairly quick and easy...the tech said there were quite a few nodules, but that is not necessarily abnormal. Hey, we'll see. At least if there is thyroid cancer, they just yank it out and there is no additional treatment needed other than taking synthroid the rest of my life (that would suck, don't get me wrong, but it beats some alternatives I can think of!!!)
Anyway, went over to the office for a while to check in with folks and catch up with my boss and our CEO. That was nice. My boss and I had discussed a few things earlier over the phone, so I have my marching orders. Started to get a bit tired, so I left for home.
Feeling a bit tired tonight...and intermittently warm then cold...skin feels hot to the touch. I am still very gassy...oh well, I will just let folks know it is my "calling card..." so if you smell something bad, it may have been a small gift from me & my bowels (courtesy of my cancer treatment, thank you!) Ugh, heartburn is the pits though. This stuff is pretty damn harsh. I thought I knew my heartburn...but alas, this shit means business. Must drink more Mylanta. May have to go for the Gaviscon soon.
Oooh...need cold drink now.
More soon!

Appointment with the Oncologist, Test Results, and Chemo 1 of 6

So, October 15, 2009 was my first date with Chemo. The afternoon of the 14th, the Dr.'s office staff called me and asked me to come in earlier. I failed to ask "why" they wanted this, so I proceeded to freak myself out about the reason they may want to have me come in earlier (this appointment was also where I would hear about my PET/CT/Bone Scan tests.) Yeah, Josh, my Mom and Cheri worked on convincing me that it was just because of cancellations or needing to move around the schedule for something.
I put the Lidocaine Cream on my port area about 1.5 hours prior to my appointment...my mom suggested this based on her experiences with her Dialysis.
Anyway, had my usual bloodwork then my meeting with Dr. Wright, my Medical Oncologist. Cheri and my sister Becky were there with me and they both met him. I asked immediately about my test results, and he said I was "fine." He was surprised I had not been called with the results. I was so relieved to hear that there were no other cancers showing up on my tests...so freakin' relieved!!! There were a couple of anomalies...some nodules on my thyroid, doc said he does not think they are cancer...lots of folks have nodules there, but he wants an ultrasound done "soon." There were some other minor things that I can follow up on later, but my bloodwork was just fine, so there are no real concerns. No other cancer...no metatastes. Thank the universe!!!
So, lots more questions for the doc--mostly about what to expect from the meds, when I should call or be concerned about side effects, etc. He basically said that he did not want me to have side effects or be too affected by them, so he said to let the nurses or him know right away. The nursing staff would be going over all of the potential side effects, when to take the additional medications I had picked up the day before (on what schedule, etc) and other issues.
Went back to the chemo-administration area...nurse put some spray on the site they "jack in" to, and I did not feel a thing when they went in. Hmmm. Not so bad! So treatment started with Aloxi (anti-nausea) then Decadron (steroid to combat any possible reactions to the meds). Then the Chemo: Taxotere...next was the "Loading Dose" of Herceptin (was supposed to get Carboplatin first, but it was not ready yet, and the Herceptin was), then the Carboplatin. About 20 minutes into the Carboplatin, I started having a weird reaction...I felt so freakin' hot from the inside (like a Hot Flash times 10), this weird pain down my left arm...and I started to get tunnel vision. AND, my eyes felt like this strange "wetness" behind them...like cold wetness behind my eyes (weird?) I think I could have passed out, but then again...I may have been able to keep from doing it. My sis went and got the nurse who stopped the meds right away. She gave me some Saline fluids until they could get the doc to check on me. We decided to start again, and I got the same type of response but cut in about half. So, they gave me an IV Push of Decadron. Now...earlier, I had the Decadron over about 20 minutes, this was a push--immediate, and no one told me that there could be some side effects from that!!! Such as: my crotch suddenly felt like I had fire ants biting me all at once!!! Then it spread to a couple of other spots, including the top of my head. That was freaky...I guess if I had known I was going to have "ants" in my crotch and on the top of my head, it would have been easier to handle mentally!
Well, after that wore off a bit, they started me back on Carboplatin again slowly...then they sped it up, no weird response. The Nurse Oncology Trainer sat with me and indicated that she though it might have been the Herceptin that caused me to have the response. Who knows. I suppose I will find out next time.
Anyway, Chemo lasted until 5:45 PM...so I was on the IV from 12PM until then. Wow. Long time. Oh well...one chemo down, just 5 to go of these combo treatments. Still have 16 doses more of Herceptin though.
Ok...so my hair will be gone sometime between 10-18 days after the treatment yesterday...I've decided I am going to be a monk for Halloween. Just need some orange fabric to make a sheath to wear--with my bald head!
After Becky, Cheri and I left, I had Becky go through the drive through at Wendy's...my friend (and fellow Breast Cancer Survivor) Cindy K told me that I might want cold things...she was so correct! I got a Frosty and finished it within about 6 minutes. Damn, that was good. We also went to the CVS on the way home to pick up some Benadryl...to counteract some of the additional side effects I tried to have during treatment.
So, last night was okay really. I just had to take all of my anti-nausea meds and Benadryl...and I slept GREAT. I really did not expect to, and the nurses told me that I may not--but I was fine!
Still felt like I had a furnace burning inside of every single cell of my body...hotter than Hell...oh well. Just keep that fan on me and sweat it out! Drinking lots of fluids to stay hydrated and work everything out.
No real nausea last night...just gassy in my lower intestines and burpy with lots of heartburn. That, I can handle.
Cancer Sucks...at least it appears to have all been cut out so far...now we are covering the "just in case" portion. I really could be quite happy never doing this over again!!!

Shew!

Bone Scan, Monday, 10-12-09

The Bone Scan was scheduled for 9:45 AM on Monday, 10/12/09...my friend Cheri came in to town on the afternoon of the 11th, so she accompanied me for this test. This was again done at St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Arts Building. We went upstairs fairly quickly, I was ushered back to the same place where they did the PET Scan on Friday...they gave me the shot (again, it was encased in a leaded sheath)...then they told me to leave for 3 hours...walk around a mall or something, and drink lots of fluids. I had no idea that we had to come back after the injection! Oh well...Cheri and I went and hit the local JC Penney...heck, they were having one of their killer sales, so we went to town! On the way back to the test...we stopped in for a snack at Sonic.
So, the Bone Scan itself was a bit strange...this large plate comes down toward your face while you are laying down on the table...it takes about 30 minutes or so for all of the pics to be taken. The computer was near me, so after the pics of my head and upper torso were done, I was able to crank my neck around to look at the screen. Odd...I got to see my skeleton. That was cool. I could also see my bladder very clearly...the contrast was really hanging out in there. At first it freaked me out, but I figured...yeah, that would be my bladder.
So, Cheri and I left after this to go by Whole Foods...and then head back to the house. I was extraordinarily tired after this. I just lay down in bed and chatted on the phone until I crashed out. I felt like I had been hit by a truck by about 8PM that night. I slept until about 2AM, woke up and went back to sleep until about 9AM. I felt much better Tuesday morning...did a bit of work from home.
Anyway...still on the waiting game for results...

ECG and PET Scan 10-9-09

On October 9, 2009, I went in to St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Arts Building for my ECG and PET Scan. My friend, Lynda R. met me there to keep my nerves from going too crazy. I am glad she was there, although, I did feel kind of bad for her having to wait on me so long. The ECG was fairly quick...and there were no problems with the technician getting an image of my heart.
The PET Scan was interesting...this was the test I had to stay away from pregnant women and small children after the test...they brought the contrast injection out in a lead sheath...funny...they can inject me...! Well, I had to lay down for 1 hour and be as still and as quiet as possible for that time. Lynda got to watch me nap for an hour while the contrast worked through my system. So then, the PET Scan. I had to hold my arms above my head for about 25 minutes...they would have let me hold them to the side, but they get better images with the arms up...I am supposing they did the CT then the PET together. It was uncomfortable, but it was not too bad. My arms were totally asleep afterward though.
Anyway, just have to wait on results...

More tests...or how to make Tory glow?

On Monday, 10-5-09, I got a call from St. Joseph's Hospital to set me up for an Echocardiogram, a full-body PET Scan and a Bone Scan. The PET and Bone scans are both "nuclear" tests that involve injections...so they cannot be done on the same day. Luckily, the folks at St. Jo's were nice enough to lump a couple of them together for me.

I have my Echocardiogram at 10:30 AM on Friday, 10-9-09, and, after a short break, I get injected for the PET Scan that I will have at about 1PM. In preparation for the PET Scan, I have to be super "lazy" all day today (Thursday), the day before the test. I also have to fast for 6 hours prior (except for water), and I am not supposed to "hang out" with small children or pregnant women after the test. The small children/pregnant women thing is a bit disconcerting. I mean...inject ME with the stuff...but then don't get around munchkins after...you might royally screw them up!!! I did ask if I could "plug myself in" to the hospital power grid and run the facility for a while after the test...um, they told me I might just be able to do that! Hell, if I have to have the stuff...at least make it useful...gotta love "nuclear medicine!"

The Echocardiogram is basic stuff...an ultrasound of my heart. Goopy goo--hope they warm it, I have been so cold-sensitive lately. I have had one done once before...I just remember being told my ribs are very close together, so they had trouble getting a good looksie at the ol' ticker...they ended up doing a lot of the looking from the bottom of my ribcage. We shall see how it goes this time.

The PET Scan sounds rather entertaining...laying down for up to 45 minutes with whirring/banging and other fun stuff similar to the MRI. Oh, that is after being injected with the radiotracer glucose stuff. Fun fun! It is interesting to note, that the PET Scan cannot detect cellular-level cancers...it locates masses...they can be small masses, but as I was keenly made aware, much of the cancer in my left breast was so new it was only detectable on the cellular level...the pathology studies were key in seeing all of the processes going on. So, we are looking for masses...breast cancer likes to spread to the liver, bones and brain...no more cancer dammit...mine is not allowed to have spread! If so, the chemo will kill it. I am determined!

Since I feel so great (sarcasm) about tests like these, I asked my friend Lynda R. to accompany me Friday. She will meet me at St. Jo's in the morning...I know it will probably be a bit boring for her (I know, I get to have all the fun!); however, I am truly grateful that she will be there with me. It just helps my nerves to not sit there all quiet...reading some goofy article in "Redbook" and psyching myself out in the worst way. Thank you Lynda! You will help to preserve what little sanity I have managed to maintain this year!!!

Ok...Monday the 12th is when I get the Bone Scan. Same place, at St. Jo's in Tampa...I get more radioactive tracer injected into me (woo hoo!) and they look for both "hot" and "cold" spots on the imaging. Interesting...tumours (benign and malignant) are indicated by hot or cold spots depending on blood supply to the area or the amount of the tracer they absorb. Hmmm...learning more than I ever wanted to know about nuclear medicine...

My friend Cheri F. is coming in to town on Sunday the 11th, so she will have the treat of hanging out with me on Monday for the Bone Scan stuff. Again...I can literally drive myself bonkers during tests like these...I have a tendency to pull inward emotionally and sleep for ridiculous amounts of time after even basic tests. It will be nice to have Cheri there with me!

Well...that's all on the upcoming tests for now...I am off to be super lazy. Hmmm...what to do?

NO MORE DRAINS!!!

YEAH! Those darn drains came out yesterday without too much fanfare. The doc just cut the stitch and pulled back quickly. I felt no pain from him removing the drains...just a strange funky feeling under my skin. I did not watch them come out...I really did not want to. I have watched other folks have various surgical drains removed...seemed horrific to me, so I just watched the ceiling. Not bad. I really had no idea what it would feel like, as I had heard all sorts of things. One person told me it tickled. I suppose that could be...but no tickle for me, just strangeness.
The stitch on the left side did give me a bit of a start...just a sharp jab-like pain after he cut it. The doc was nowhere near me when it hit, so I really don't know what that was about. Just decided to jab a bit.
So, the doc just put bandages over the sites and sent me on my merry way...after he asked me about what I thought of his friend, and my new Medical Oncologist, Dr. Wright. I told him that he seemed very bright, friendly, and he seemed to know his stuff. I told him I appreciated the referral to him and would let him know how things go over time.
So, how does it feel to have my damn Jackson-Pratt drains out? Just WONDERFUL!!! It is so nice to be able to put on "normal" clothes and not have to cover up lines and bulbs. It was just so freakin' discouraging every time I would get caught on something. And, when you had to shove them up against you to try to "hide" them to go out in public...well. Makes me think there has to be some way to create something that would work better...maybe my sister and I could develop something for other folks...something to help out in the shower too...that was a royal pain in the ass having to figure out what to hook them to while I was showering. I ended up using black satin cording around my neck or a lanyard to hook them on while in the shower...but really? There should be something that would work better and be more comfortable. Must remember to research this. Hmmm...
Anyway, I feel like a new woman! Boobless (for now), but a new woman nonetheless!

My Drains are coming out!!!

Yay! My drains are coming out tomorrow! They are each draining less than 30 ml per 24-hour period, so it is time for them to remove the Jackson Pratt Drains. I've had them for just over 2 weeks now...hell, I've had one on the left for 4 weeks so far. So, at 1PM, they are coming out. I will be going over to Tampa to see Dr. Cox, who will be removing them for me.

Aaah...no more drain lines or bulbs to try and hide through creative wardrobing. No more danglies. Woo hoo!