Funny, Colleen!!
Sissy, I can't even imagine having a heart attack before, during or after having a baby! OMG, what a mess that was, and you have your baby in the elevator? How crazy is that? You're in a hospital, and you had a baby in the elevator ... something is definitely wrong with that picture. I guess they were so confused who was going to help you out first, heart doctor or baby doctor! Very glad all went well!
As far as my issue with C, first of all I have a high tolerance of pain, and second, I HATE to vomit! So, I went through 3 surgeries no problem (lumpectomy, put IV port in and took port out) and the chemo was the challenge. I had no idea what to expect, but figured I had too many things going on in my life to get sick. So, I kept busy! My daughter and I were milking I think 8 dairy show goats at that time, plus we had probably 10 "kids" we were raising. On my 4th treatment, I got sick once in the night 2 days later, probably from the flu. The 5th treatment was on a Wed., and Fri. we loaded up 15 goats to go to the National Dairy Goat Show in Des Moines, Iowa for 7 days! My theory was keep busy, no time to be sick. It worked for me, but I know mind over matter doesn't work for everyone. Was feeling really poorly one morning, supposed to go horseback riding with neighbors, called and told them couldn't go, didn't want to puke in front of everyone. Longer I laid on the couch, worse I felt, so got up, saddled my horse, and went riding, and never got sick! Here are some GOOD things about chemo: No mosquito bites for 2 summers! I have allergies to some animals, grasses, etc. Had no allergies while on chemo, and for the next year. I was able to do my chemo and radiation at the Cancer Center in Effingham the same town where I work. They had me come in for radiation before work, and I never had to miss any work for that. I took off just 2 hours in the afternoons for the chemo. Total, including the 3 surgeries and 6 chemo treatments, I only missed a total of about 7 days work! I went to all my chemo sessions alone, as my ex husband was really busy at work .... guess that was more important! I did say "ex" ....
Surgeries were on Thurs or Fridays, and chemo was in late afternoons, always back to work the next day. It helped me to be busy, as I said, so didn't take any extra time off work. One day I may get sick and need all those sick days I've accumulated, but I didn't need them for that!
I'm one of the positive people when it comes to cancer and treatments. I never quit smiling, and never lost hope. It seemed like it was a fairy tale that I even really had cancer! After all, surely I would not be the first in the family, but I guess someone has to be the first. Good news is that I'm not a carrier of any heriditary type of cancer, so my daughter has no more chance of having breast cancer than any other woman.
