ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Nancy Drew on August 22, 2008, 05:31:03 pm
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Hi to all of you out there who have been following my story about what to do with my AN. After gathering all of the information about all of the treatments, I have decided to go ahead with GK. I feel like I have made an informed decision, and I am 99.9% sure I will stick with my decision. I like to leave that .1% so I don't feel trapped! I feel confident with my team of doctors and the GK Center here in Denver, and I now know that I don't have to explain my decision to anyone except that it is my "gut" feeling to go ahead with GK. All of you here who have said you will have a "gut" feeling are right. It took awhile, but I finally got to the "gut". My AN doc is in the process of getting things set up, and the big event will probably take place in mid-Sept. Thanks to all of you for your support, the helpful information, and for listening to my ranting and raving while going through this decision making process. This AN Board rocks!!!
Nancy ;D ;D ;D
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Nancy~
I am so glad that you finally decided on a procedure - I know that you will feel so much better just having made a decisoin. Make sure & put the date on the calendar when you get it!
K ;D
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Nancy, that's huge. Congratulations!
You have made an informed decision, and that is the key thing. (Actually I think all the ranting and raving was kind of fun; it seems quieter now without it. ;) )
I am happy for you, and I think you have made a smart decision. I wish you the very best for your procedure and outcome.
Steve
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Thanks K and Steve,
I will certainly put my treatment date on the calendar. I am ready to be a postie with a positive story. Steve, I am glad you found my ranting and raving to be kind of fun. My husband probably wouldn't agree! Actually he has been very supportive, and I am thankful for his insight to ask all of the technical questions. When we got the tour of the GK Center today, I think my husband was in "engineer heaven". I think he wanted to take that GK machine apart--freaky!
Thanks all!
Nancy ;D ;D ;D
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Wonderful news, Nancy!!!
Congratulations!
IMO "gut" feelings are the best kind!
Jan
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Nancy,
what the heck do I say? I know you have agonized over your decision making process... and ya know what? Hun, you are definately well-informed (I congratulate you for doing all of your research and Nan, it's paid off! :) )and I know that you have made the best decision for you and your situation! Congrats on getting that monkey off your back! Now, onward to wellness! I'm cheering you on in a BIG way and now onward and upward!!!!
Congrats on making your decision.... continued wellness wishes to you.... :)
xo
Phyl
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Congratulations Nancy! We look forward to welcoming you on the other side of treatment soon. Keep us posted.
Francesco
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Thanks everyone,
I am still going forward, but I must admit that I had dreams last night of being trapped in that machine. The docs said they would make sure I am "happy" while I am in there so I hope they give me something good. I would imagine that I will be in a safe place if there is a tornado!!! Yes, the "gut" feeling is key, and I know it is going to be fine. Thanks again for all of your support.
Nancy ;D ;D ;D
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Hi Nancy,
Congratulations on making your decision! I know it's been difficult getting to this point, but I want you to know I really appreciated having you to talk to when I was at a similar point in my journey. (I also started with that .1% of "wiggle room" to make me feel comfortable - then my certainty soared to 110% in the weeks leading up to treatment!)
Now I'm waiting with the others to welcome you to the other side!
(And tell your hubby he can play with the GK machine AFTER your treatment is over. :))
Nancy L
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Congratulations Nancy,
I've been following your posts and know you struggled. I am now there - on the fence - and don't know how to get off. I keep waiting for my "gut" to kick in :-\. I may have to flip a coin. Just kidding. Anyway, all the best. Mona
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From one Nancy to another, thanks for your support. I hope to be at 100% by the time I'm on the GK bed. If they give me something that will make me feel really "happy", I am sure I will be more than 100%. Do you think it is a sign that one of my doctors is Dr. Nancy? She has some weird last name so she said just call her Dr. Nancy.
Mona, yesterday when I saw the neurosurgeon for a consult, he actually said sometimes it comes down to flipping a coin. I think he was just kidding so don't go flipping yet! As I was on my way out of his examining room, I looked over my shoulder and said to him, "I'm gonna do it." It seemed so simple to say it, and I think that was my "gut" speaking to me. Hang in there. Your body and your mind will get together and let you know what to do. If you are really leaning one way in your heart but still have that "tugging" feeling, then maybe a one sided coin will work!!!
Nancy ;D ;D ;D
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Nancy,
WAY TO GO!!! You've done it - you decided and I know you feel better. Now, get the date, put it on the calendar and go zap that thing!
(Mona, I'm with you on the coin flip! But, I'm getting there...)
Cindy
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Nancy Drew,
Here is some humor for you---I know Joe Cocker so, we can go visit him when you are all finished. I just saw him a week ago in concert, up front. You with GK and me CK, we could go together sometime. My great aunt lived in CO., grandmother in Kansas, I had some land in Oklahoma and now live in CA.
You made the right decision now that you are certain and will be happy that the question of what to do is over. I'm thrilled with the job I got at Stanford. It does depend on the "team," though. (getting the best)
If you ever want to gather in Crawford, CO. when Joe is around---let me know and I'll see if I can work something out. I was involved in music so that helps with my AN recovery. I have musical ways of escaping everything, only now with SSD. I do watercolours and don't need my extra ear for that.
Keep busy and keep us informed how you like the GK experience. It's an interesting journey, the radiation.
Good for you and it will all be over soon. Do wonderful things for yourself right up to the very day.
Best wishes,
Palace
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Congratulations, Nancy. You have made a good, wise, sound decision. I think deciding on which treatment to have (and when) is the hardest part.
If you think you'll be nervous when the day arrives, consider getting your "happy drug" 1/2 hour before treatment, so that it's fully kicked in by the time they start the procedure. That really helped me when I got CK. Ask your doctor if you can arrive to your appointment 1/2 hour early and take your pill early.
You're on the right track. Before you know it, you'll be singing " 'bye bye tumor..."
Best wishes,
Tumbleweed
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Nancy
Congratulations on making the right decision for you! I think that is by far the hardest part. You have done so much research, investigated all your options and have made a great decision armed with all of that information. Keep trusting that gut. It is right. We will have to get the Colorado contingency together when we have all recuperated fully! I will be here to support you and cheer you on.
All the best,
Kathleen
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Hi Nancy,
Congratulations on your decision. Feeling your decision is the right one for you in your "gut" is something most of us who have been treated have done. You sound very confident in your decision and your doctors and that is how you should feel.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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I've been following (quietly) your decision making process and am glad it looks as though it's over for you. It is a daunting process, one we have all been through, and happy you feel good about your decision as this is very important!
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Wendy and Arushi,
Thanks for your support. Definitely a long and mentally draining process for me in finally getting to my gut feeling about which route to take. I have definitely burned up this board with questions, and I have gotten some good info and support along the way. Thanks also to my Denver friends. Hope to get my date set up this week. The hardest part of this whole process has been the waiting mode. I am usually an impulsive person so making this decision has gone a bit out of my comfort zone. I am glad I did the research and made an informed decision. Best wishes to those of you who are trying to make your decision. It will come in its own time, and as one of the most helpful posts written to me on this board said, "You don't have to explain your decision to anyone." This statement took a lot of pressure off of me and helped me focus on what was right for me.
Nancy ;D ;D ;D
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Hi Nancy,
Sorry I'm late to the post, but congratulations on making a decision--the hardest part for many of us. I shall look forward to good news from you after the procedure. And I second the early-drug suggestion. I tried for a week in advance but they weren't buying it.
All the best,
Marci
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Hi Nancy,
I second the early-drug suggestion. I tried for a week in advance but they weren't buying it.
All the best,
Marci
That's funny, Marci!
Laughing,
Tumbleweed
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Tumbleweed, happy I made you laugh. What is it Yardtick says, "if I don't laugh, I"m gonna cry?" My boss reports to anyone who will listen that after brain surgery he was pleased to report that they left my smart-ass lobe intact. :D
Marci
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Hi, Nancy:
I'm tardy here because (a) I've been away on vacation and, (b) since I've returned I've been writing my chapter for the AN book and had to stay off the website to get it finished (all 4,757 words).
That said, please accept my congratulations on your decision. I'm well aware of your emotional struggle to get to this point and I know it's based on solid information and, of course, your intuition ('gut'). I'm sure you'll do fine with GK, just as so many others have. Let us know when you have a firm date so we can pray for you and, of course, put you on the calendar.
Jim
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Thanks Jim!
What's with the AN book? I am in the dark about this one. Can I get a signed copy when it is published? My date is Tuesday, October 7th, around noon they say. Thought it would be mid-Sept, but docs had a schedule problem. Was having problems with the wait, but I am doing fine now. Just trying to stay focused. Hope you had fun on your vacation.
Nancy
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Thanks Jim!
What's with the AN book? I am in the dark about this one. Can I get a signed copy when it is published? My date is Tuesday, October 7th, around noon they say. Thought it would be mid-Sept, but docs had a schedule problem. Was having problems with the wait, but I am doing fine now. Just trying to stay focused. Hope you had fun on your vacation.
Nancy
Nancy:
Here's a link to the 'AN Book' thread: http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=6345.0 (http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=6345.0)
I placed your GK procedure date on the AN Treatment Calendar: http://my.calendars.net/an_treatments/d07/10/2008?display=M&style=B&positioning=A (http://my.calendars.net/an_treatments/d07/10/2008?display=M&style=B&positioning=A)
I did have fun on my vacation, thanks. We went to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for six days. Resting up from it, now. ;)
Jim
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Thanks for the link, Jim. The book is a good idea. I added my comment on the post. Also, thanks for putting my name on the calendar. I was wondering who did that. You are so thoughtful. Nancy