Scheduling Mayhem!
Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Time for another episode of Medical Mayhem!
Actually, things are calming down. Not that my blood pressure agrees, but maybe after I get some sleep.
Let's cut to the chase, shall we? I have a port implantation scheduled. Sorta. First it was one day, then it was another, due to ever-shifting surgery schedules. It's not just the surgeon. It's scheduling the facility and making sure there's enough staff. Lots of moving pieces.
Anyway, we're set. I thanked the surgeon's scheduler profusely as I know she worked hard to find an open slot so I didn't have to change my chemo start date again.
Actually, this schedule is pretty convenient as I'll not be having infusions Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks, and FenCon
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Filed under: Life
9/30/2025 9:03:02 PM
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More Medical Mayhem
Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Got up this morning, had a cup of coffee and my limited meds, started in on the water, and the phone went off. Turns out my PCP is not in today. Hey, she's good people and I've no doubt she's out for a good reason. Getting my appointment rescheduled among all the uncertainty was a challenge, but the office employee was patient and had a sense of humor about it.
All this was on top of another anxiety dream last night. This one was in the category of being invited to attend an event and then being totally ignored when I got there. This time some people were going to hold one last Quantum Leap convention. I flew out and then few people would acknowledge I existed. Most of the other pros there acted like they didn't know me. I was on no programming. I was finally given a panel at 9:00 PM on Saturday, but had to find out about it second hand. I got there and the room was empty.<
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Filed under: Cancer sucks
9/30/2025 8:50:39 AM
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Health/Life Update
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Julie Barrett
Monday, September 29, 2025
Medical/life update:
When we last left our thoroughly frustrated cancer patient, she was begging for doctors to talk to each other to get a port implant so they could start chemo. Let's listen in on her current troubles:
It's been a Monday, folks. This morning I went in to check on my appointment with the surgeon tomorrow, and noticed the appointment said "Port placement." So they're gonna do it? Wait! Don't I need to prep for that? It's an outpatient procedure, and shouldn't I have some instructions?
I called his office. The employee I spoke with said she didn't think any prep was necessary, but that a member of their care team would call back.
And they did, just as I was about to sit down for lunch.
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Filed under: Life
9/29/2025 9:07:30 PM
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Health Update
Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Thursday, September 25, 2025
A lot has happened in the past eight days, and it's been terribly frustrating. The oncologist sent the order to the surgeon to have the chemo port inserted - twice - and the latter either never got it or they lost it. When I called the surgeon's office this morning (the second time this week) to follow up, they finally said they'd schedule me. "We don't have an opening until February." But my chemo is scheduled to start Monday.
Please hold.
I now have an appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday at his office that's about a 40 minute drive from here. I have a plain vanilla medical appointment that morning to see if other meds are doing their jobs. Gonna be a busy day.
My chemo now starts on October 7, assuming they can get the port in next week. This is incredibly frustrating, and I did let some people know about it. In as kind a way as I could manage, of course. After all, the people answering p
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Filed under: Life Cancer Sucks 9/25/2025 8:44:21 PM
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Health Update
Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
It's been a while since I posted a health update.
I had a follow-up visit with the oncologist today. Last week, he told me that I probably wouldn't have to have chemo. Today, the tune changed. I'm going to have preventive chemotherapy. To be honest, I figured this was going to happen. I won't say I'm fine with it, but I understand why they're doing it.
The next few months are gonna be fun!
Next week I get a PET scan. While there's no evidence that the cancer has spread, this will provide a baseline for future imaging. I'm okay with that!
Not much else to say at this point, but there ya go.
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Filed under: Health
9/17/2025 9:32:29 PM
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Some Good News on the Medical Front
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Julie Barrett
Monday, August 18, 2025
Friday was my follow-up with the oncologic surgeon. This doctor has not sugar coated anything so far, so you might imagine how pleased I was when, after we got through the pleasantries, he told me he had some good news for me.
They got it all! He said they took something like 47 lymph nodes along with the tumor, and every single lymph node was clear.
What's next? He is referring me to an oncologist. There may or may not be a round of "just to be sure" chemo in my future.
Friday the staples come out, and I'll be very glad. He removed the dressing on Friday, and now they hurt more than ever. But hey, it beats the alternative, right? I should be cleared for normal activities on September 1.
Tomorrow I go to the PCP for a follow-up on the more "mundane" medical stuff.
Once this is all out of the way I get to follow up with a GI specialist about my u
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Filed under: Life 8/18/2025 2:56:53 PM
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Time For a Health Update
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Julie Barrett
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Y'all, I've been pretty quiet lately, and with good reason. I'm trying to stay upbeat about this, but the fact is that part of the reason I'm in this position is that I've avoided self-care because I'm either caring for other people or doing work for other people so they could go take care of their third side hustle, take a vacation, avoid answering emails, whatever. And yes, I am just a tad resentful.
Okay, so that's out of the way. What's going on?
I started to get sick in May. I thought it was a vaccine reaction, and it probably was - at first. I finally said screw all the people and tasks that people wanted me to do and got myself to the PCP. My hemoglobin level was at 3. Normal for a woman my age is at least 12. People were shocked that I was able to walk into the hospital on my own, much less be coherent - not to mention actually alive.
Cut to the chase: I'm home after a colon resection. And yes, it's what you think it means.
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Filed under: Life Fuck Cancer
8/7/2025 4:59:24 PM
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My Soonercon Schedule
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Julie Barrett
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Hey, Soonercon is this coming weekend, and I'm on some cool panels. Plus, the radio show is back! Here's where you can find me:
Friday 2:00 PM, Crimson Meeting Room Reclaimed Fabrication: Turning Trash into Treasure
In the world of sci-fi, nothing is truly useless. This panel explores how unlikely, repurposed items are transformed into iconic props and set pieces, proving that in the future, trash can become treasure. From makeshift tech to salvaged spacecraft, we'll dive into the art of reclaiming and reimagining everyday objects to create the futuristic worlds we love. Join us as we celebrate creativity, resourcefulness, and the brilliance of sci-fi design.
Fellow panelists: Collin Samonowicz (moderator), Selina Rosen, Divine Creations Cosplay
Saturday 10:00 AM, Crimson Meeting Room Radio Play Open Casting & Rehearsal |
Catching Up
Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Friday, May 9, 2025
For an old sorta retired lady, I've been busy!
I have a couple of convention appearances coming up, and we'll be taking K-9 to Fan Expo Dallas again this year. Stop by the British Emporium booth.
I'm working on a new electronics prop project that I hope to debut at SoonerCon. It's been a real challenge!
(Warning: Geek Speak ahead!) I'm working on a presentation on wireless control for props and costumes. The current project uses ESP-Now to "talk" between three ESP-32 boards that control or take input from various things. Non-geeky description: Push a button and watch things happen! I'll also have some lighting controls to show off. How about touching an item with a sensor, having it pick up the color, and send that color to your clothing - and everyone in your costume group! I'll also be showing a couple of ways to set lighting colors from your phone, including one that won't require soldering or programming exper
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Filed under: Life 5/9/2025 9:17:39 AM
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Comments Are Back!
Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Monday, April 7, 2025
At last! Comments are back.
I need to manually approve each one, so your patience is appreciated.
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Filed under: Housekeeping
4/7/2025 4:21:36 PM
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