Nervous about next week

I thought I had a special relationship with my niece because we are both bald... until my sister Monica informed me that Chloe doesn't really know that she is bald... so she probably doesn't realize that we are alike in this way. I feel a special bond anyway and I love her a ton. She is an adorable baby and I miss her already.

Well, my time off is coming to an end and I am back at work on Monday. I think I should be OK. Driving my car is not a joy as I have a standard transmission which causes some pain and turning crossing arm over arm is also uncomfortable but not horrible. I am apprehensive about next week since I have three important doctor appointments.
Monday I start with my plastic surgeon appointment where I think they are going to do my first fill of my expanders. I am slightly freaked out about this because I hear they use a huge syringe to insert saline and my chest still hurts... so I have no idea where they are going to insert that sucker without it being painful. I am also dying to get an OK to exercise again. I have been walking but was told not to elevate my heart rate so I have officially been a total slug for a while now. I also have all sorts of questions about these expanders and want them answered like..."why do I have one spot in my left breast that pokes out and hurts me?", "what did you put in me during the operation?", "can you show me in a diagram what's going on in my chest?", etc.

I am also nervous because I think I am starting up my second course of chemo on Thursday. There will be four rounds and it will last 3 months but what freaks me out is not knowing what will happen to me. Also, when you read up on Navelbine (one of the chemo drugs), it sounds like a pretty scary chemical... It can cause extensive tissue damage and blistering if it escapes from the vein. It told the oncologist that I would need some anti-anxiety premeds before getting that... cripes!

Friday I have an appointment with my orthopeodic surgeon and can't wait to find out how I can get rid of the pain that travels down my leg to my knee. I wouldn't call it back pain at this point... just leg pain. I am really looking forward to exercising again... I cannot wait to get back on my bike. I will be dead slow but I can live with that for now.

Happy New Year! I hope that we will all be healthy(ier) and happy in 2010.
Maureen