Sharing my blog

As I mentioned in the title blurb - I am sharing this blog because I was asked to … NOT to highlight my health problems but to offer hope.
SO- If sharing my journey helps even one person to cope with a cancer diagnosis such as PMP/Appendix cancer then I am very happy indeed!!
Life is such a blessing each & everyday!
Treasure each of the small things life brings
- and always remember -
The small things in life are really the BIG things!!!

LIFE IS GOOD!
Sharing a quote from Stuart Scott of ESPN who passed from PMP/Appendix Cancer after a fight of many years. This quote was part of his speech at the ESPY Awards and is good food for thought!

"You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live!"

Remembering & honouring our PMP Angels everyday - sadly missed.

Magic Moments

Magic Moments

Monday, March 9, 2015

OMGoodness ... another post within a couple of days! That's a shock ;) ;)
I got a bit of sense of 'I need to review this blog' when I read through here yesterday.


As I explained I started this blog (many years ago now) because I was asked to tell my story/share my journey to help others. PMP can often be an 'isolating' cancer to be diagnosed with be cause it is so rare. Back in 2001 I felt very isolated (back then it was said to affect only one in a million - see everyone - I always told you I was one in a million **wink wink**) . I had never heard of it so knew nobody who had it.
I did some searching on the internet (My surgeon had given me a couple of reputable sites to read - one of them being Dr Paul Sugarbaker's surgical oncology site)

 I came across the PMP Pals site a while after my surgery but I was very new to the internet  and was very reluctant to pay for anything online. I think it was 2003 when I discovered PMPBellybuttons on Yahoo. Initially I was reluctant to sign up - still a little afraid of putting my details online. When I did sign up I was so warmly welcomed by  [our now PMP Angel] Kevin & the support group soon became like a lifeline & the members like family!

Over the years more online support groups have popped up & with the extensive use of Facebook there are many PMPers across the globe who are as close as a few keyboard strokes at any time of the day & night!  I have grown so close to so many people whom I may never meet face to face - like  one big global 'PMP family'.   There are also some other wonderful web sites that I have in the links section ... but will talk about them more in the details I put in a section about PMP.

I have edited several sections already & over the next week or so will be editing some more & adding some more information about PMP - along with updated links to websites where people can find more detailed information and support!

UNFORTUNATELY when I edited I lost the few hyperlinks I had already done on the page ... so you can click on the list and go directly to that section instead of having to scroll through all of my 'babble' ...... that took me quite a while to achieve as the only way I can do it is to type in the actual HTML language ... I have not been able to find a 'quick fix' for those hyperlinks ...
so bare with me ... it will come ... eventually (giggles)

JKG (Just Keep Going) everyone
Aussie hugs,
Kay xx


Saturday, March 7, 2015

Hand Surgery - January 2015

Why is it that a "simple surgery" never seems to be so simple for me? Sigh!
I have had 2 cortisone injections to help ease the triggering of my right ring finger (& the ganglion at the base of the finger) last year with no success.
SO with the urging of my Rheumatologist to consider a 'simple surgery' to release the triggering I consulted the same Hand Specialist who repaired my Carpel Tunnel on both hands along with a Synovectomy of the Flexor Tendons and Ligaments back in 2008.
(I developed Duprytren's Contracture of both hands after that surgery ... my right hand is much worse ... and it has developed very quickly whereas it normally takes up to ten years to get to the stage mine is at with many people .... )
He advised me to go ahead with the surgery which was a relatively simple procedure - which I had done on January 19th 2015.
It is now almost 7 weeks post op ....
I initially had my post op check 10 days after surgery and had the dressings off and stitches out. Unfortunately the stitches split open the next day & I steri-stripped it together . I now realise it was because of excessive swelling.
My next appointment was a month later (last week).
To hear these words from a hand surgeon is not a good thing...
"Rampant, impressive scar tissue" and "Never seen swelling this impressive & especially this far out from surgery" along with utterances of 'possible further surgery'  .... not words you want to hear at all!
There is a new post with a bit more information titled “SURGERY Jan 15th 2015 Duprytren’s Contracture/Trigger finger release” on the right hand column .....

Anyway on a more positive note ... I find it hard to believe that life has been so busy that time has moved on so fast! I notice my last blog entry was almost a year ago! WOW!!! & that was me celebrating my 13th Survivorversary!
Isn't life a blessing!!!!  - I will be posting about my 14th Survivorversary on May 25th 2015!!!

I enjoy each & everyday ... REMEMBER life is what happens each & everyday ... enjoy all the small things in life because they really are the big things!!
Aussie hugs,

Kay :)