The best news in a long time
Posted: May 6, 2011 Filed under: breast cancer, drugs, infection, tennis | Tags: Antibiotics, infectious disease, mycobacterium, nosocomial infection, Pommery, post-mastectomy infection, Seinfeld, tennis, witch is dead, Wizard of Oz 16 CommentsAfter 267 days, I finally heard the words I’ve been dreaming about: “We are discontinuing the antibiotics.”
Cue the hallelujah chorus.
I saw Dr Samo instead of Dr Grimes today, and he delivered the most-excellent news. He is my new best friend. All of the cultures run during The Big Dig came back negative, which means we can safely assume the post-mastectomy infection is gone. Yes, at long last, the mycobacterium has been vanquished.
Let me say that again: the infection is gone. I’m cured.
No more twice-daily dose of minocycline and bactrim. No more nausea. No more planning my consumption of food & drink around my doses. No more remembering to take my drugs. No more antibiotics.
Oh, happy day!
I’m still in a mild state of shock, or maybe just slightly buzzed. Could be the celebratory champagne straight away after returning from the medical center (duh), and the margarita at my tennis team’s end-of-season lunch. 
We broke out the good stuff and gathered our close circle of friends who would never say “it’s too early” and question the wisdom of popping a cork at 11 a.m. To Amy, my chief medical correspondent and chauffeur to & from appointments: thank you. For everything. To Jill & Keith: thank you for rushing right over, then leaving as soon as the bubbly was gone. But for planning to come back with dinner.
My tennis team’s luncheon was already planned, but how fun to celebrate my big news with some of my favorite girls? And how cool that they gave me a huge, signed tennis ball? Thanks, girls!
The infection is gone. Ding dong, the witch is dead.
sodahead.com
I half expected the citizens of Munchkin Land to come out and dance their little legs off and sing in their froggy voices to celebrate.
bufordbetty.com
I admit, I’ve been wondering all week if my visit to the infectious disease doc today would result in the end of the abx. I was trying to not get my hopes up, and while I knew not to expect it, I would have been disappointed if they’d said keep on swallowing those pills. No matter. It’s all good now.
I will also admit that when the nurse was taking my BP and temp and asking me the reason for my visit, I felt funny saying “yes” to her question of “are you here to see if it’s time to get off of the antibiotics?” It was almost too much to hope for. Almost.
Then when Dr Samo uttered those glorious words of “We are discontinuing the antibiotics,” I was stunned. It was a bit surreal. Once I grasped what he’d said, my first thought was that “discontinuing” meant taking a break, not stopping them altogether. 
It was almost too much to take in.
As my best buddy Ed said, “I feel I should shove you and yell ‘Get Out!’ like Elaine on Seinfeld.
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“Get Out!” indeed.
The end of the antibiotics is like an end of an era. My life has revolved around them for so long now–one week shy of a year, in which I’ve been on some form of abx, whether oral or IV. Nearly a year on some pretty powerful drugs, and none of them the fun kind. Nope, these are the ones that tear up your stomach and make your insides cry like a baby.
But no more.
Big sigh.
The fat lady can sign her heart out right now.
bufordbetty.com
The Pink Underbelly 
Can you say that again, please??? I’ll drink to that!
On another note:
I especially like the breastacles on the singing fat lady picture. She’s obviously had some work done!
It’s a Festivus miracle!
Finally. Hallelujah!!! Pop the cork on another bottle, and I will pop one too!
So thrilled for you girlfriend, just in time for Mother’s Day!!!!!!!!
Glory Hallelujah!!!
Way to go! I have to hand it to you! Drugs don’t usually get me, but Bactrim made me absolutely miserable, and that was just a seven day prescription. You are definitely brave and strong and I am so happy for you.
I am so glad for you! Best news of the day for sure!
Wooohoo!!!!
Halleluia!!! I cannot imagine the joy you are feeling (though I have a pretty good idea from the hints you gave in your post, lol)
Thank GOD!!!
On to the rest of your life now…
This is such wonderful news. Congratulations!! I’m SO happy for you and your digestive system! xoxo
Amazing news. I am so happy for you, the kids, Trevor, Pedey…. Hope you guys had a great first day of the rest of your life today!
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