The Countdown Begins...

I hope you all had a great Monday!

Mine felt like a whirlwind!

Family in Town

We had family in town all weekend!  I love having family in town for many reasons but, one BIG reason is because its IMPOSSIBLE to think about Cancer when family is around!  We had fun at Apple Hill, made lots of food at home, did some shopping, and laughed A LOT!!

The Countdown Begins

Today, I woke up worried.  It hit me... I will be having surgery in 16 days!  Holy Moly! Lots to do before then!!  Starting with my Radiation Consultation this Friday!  BEFORE Friday, I need to have TWO more MRI's.

Dr. O'Donnell ordered two MRI's, one of my abdomen and one of my pelvic region.  You'd think that they would just do one MRI of both regions.  Turns out that is not how the insurance companies work.  Another weird Insurance quirk... I have to have the MRI's done in two different days, Insurance won't allow both in one day just to get them over with.  Interesting, I had no idea.  I called the Imaging center in Sacramento this morning to see if they received my referral for the MRI's from Dr. O'Donnell (the Imaging Center that I found last week with the opening this week).  Jessica told me that they had not received it.  It just didn't sound like Regina at Dr. O'Donnell's office - she's always on top of it!  I must have left her three messages this morning before 9 am.  Seriously, I felt bad because at 9:30 Jessica at the Imaging center called me to schedule one of the MRI's, she told me that they had the referral last week but, they just didn't see it this morning when I called.

Working with facilities outside of UCSF, make me appreciate UCSF even MORE!!

Jessica was able to schedule me for an appointment at 3pm today!  When I got there I filled out more paperwork and then was taken in to a changing room.  I was given blue scrubs to wear and instructed to wait until the tech came to get me.

Ron came about 10 minutes later..  Just enough time for an Instagram #selfie @ST8FARMJEN!  A pelvic MRI is much different than a knee MRI!  I was strapped onto the MRI 'table' in more ways than one, then heavy cover over my pelvic region, then a metal cage over the heavy cover, then my feet were taped together (yes, taped) then I was covered with blankets!!  I was given ear plugs and shooting range type headphones.  I was moved inside the MRI machine and for a small moment alllllmost panicked.  I kinda felt like a trapped miner stuck in a cole mine!  But, I got over it quickly.

About 30 minutes into the imaging, Ron came in to give me the contrast fluid, Gadolinium.  Ron was the BEST at inserting the IV needle in my arm than ANYONE thus far.  To be honest, I didn't even KNOW the needle was in until he told me... I was still looking away! I told Ron over and over how good he did.  The rest of the images went quickly.

Read more about Gadolinium HERE.

Once Insurance approves my next MRI, I will get that scheduled quickly as well!

Huge Cancer Fighting Salad

Since my Surgeon and my Husband won't let me research my Cancer online, I've taken to researching diet and how I can help eliminate Cancer and prevent it from returning.  I'm in the process of getting assigned an Oncology Nutritionist.  I can't wait to share with you all of the information I receive.  Until then here is the deliciously HUGE cancer fighting salad, with over 25 cancer fighting ingredients, I had for dinner tonight (Raw Vegan).  It has been my go-to.

I hope you have a WONDERFUL week!

Love you all!