Well, What can I say? This has been a week. A week from HELL. Actually this whole fucking month may as well be put into the amnesia barrel and incinerated.

A few weeks ago I noticed a sore in the same spot that I had the horrible, awful, dreaded Mycobacterium Abcessus infection that I contracted five years ago after my mastectomy. It took 18 months of a cocktail of 3 antibiotics in addition to regular debridements to get it controlled (it never goes totally away). Those strong antibiotics seriously damaged my hearing and left me with permanent neuropathy in my feet. Thanks to Costco hearing aids and box-toed shoes, it’s managable. Yes, I feel like I should be 80 years old, but it didn’t break my spirit nor my passion for life.

So after 2 visits to different infectologists (one was clueless), ultrasounds and other tests, my oncologist told me to prep for surgery in three days to remove a mass that showed up in my (non-cancer) armpit.

Well, I’m just not happy about that at all, especially since I have been diligent about regular, 4/x yearly oncology appointments, in addition to having a big hiking trip planned for November. But, one’s gotta do what keeps one healthy, and I NEVER want to go through the same shit again.

HEre we go!!

Melissa, my dear friend who has hung with me through both hospital stays, was my ears that morning. I didn’t wear my hearing aides, and with the medical masks, lip reading was not an option for me, so every time a nurse, cashier or aide spoke to me, she had to relay it all. Thanks, Melissa.

Oh, boy! Jello!!!

Fast forward to now. I woke up in the hospital and learned that ALL of my lymph nodes had been removed! That was never even suggested to me. When I had BC surgery five years ago, about half of my lymph nodes were removed, and I had tons of problems with lymphedema and post-surgical pain that I still suffer.

My test results should be back late this week or early next, and I’ll just go from there. Like in my older blog posts where I chronicled my “journey” (god, I hate that word. No journey should suck like that…) OK, gonna just say my ordeal. I will continue to update WTF is going on.

I have a great “team” of friends that are helping me out with dog walks, food, comfortable shirts and laughs, as well as a wound care doc that comes to change my dressings. So, I’m good there. Thanks, guys!!!

In the meantime, I am doing all the things I can to prevent lymphedema, and really hoping for some sort of good news resolution to this latest hiccup.

I appreciate all good Juju, light, prayers, whatever ya got. Throw it at me, baby!!!