Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The Next Beginning
Today I'm heading toward the next step. I'm heading to a hotel in Hasbrouck Heights NJ. I have a very early appointment at Hackensack University Hospital. It's quite far from my home so it makes sense to be up there in the morning.
Since I need a set of eyes on me during the chemo and transplant phases, my Dad has offered to take on the job as caretaker
I'll have a class tomorrow on what to expect with the chemo and transplant, and then I'll have a PICC line placed. Tuesday, the fun begins.
So for now I'm gonna eat up, do some relaxing and get ready.
Time for cancer to get outta my body.
Since I need a set of eyes on me during the chemo and transplant phases, my Dad has offered to take on the job as caretaker
I'll have a class tomorrow on what to expect with the chemo and transplant, and then I'll have a PICC line placed. Tuesday, the fun begins.
So for now I'm gonna eat up, do some relaxing and get ready.
Time for cancer to get outta my body.
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Next Step
Here in NJ, we're having yet another Nor'easter. It's not so bad as far as those storms go. It doesn't matter to me today, though. I have the day off. No tests, no needles, no hospitals. Nope, none for me today.
The stem cell harvest is complete. Took a little longer than planned, 5 days. You'd think being plopped in a recliner chair or 6 hours a day would be my perfect job, but it's not as fun when you can't move a muscle for those hours.
The perma-cath that had been placed became infected. I spent a week in Jersey Shore University Hospital while the team there fought the infection. I had no immune system as a result of the previous week's chemotherapy, so they were giving me Neupogen injections and IV antibiotics. The plan didn't work, so the catheter was taken out. This required the harvest to be done with a needle in each arm. The needle drawing the blood out was a large one, requiring me to sit as still as possible. Boring!
But I survived somehow. We really need to work on the quality of daytime television though. Will talk about that at another time though.
But now everything has been resolved and everything is in place for the stem cell transplant. I will hang out at home until Sunday morning. Then I will be heading up to Hackensack University Hospital. I'll get everything in order up there and then wait until Monday morning to start the stem cell transplant process. First they'll place the PICC line, then I'll get a dose of Melphalan. That should clean out as much Myeloma as possible, along with the bone marrow. I should also finish losing the rest of my hair. That's been coming out in a rather unusual pattern that's not the most stylish, bad enough that I've not even wanted to post any pictures. That's bad.
I hear Melphalan does the job, but I hear it beats you up pretty good, too. We'll see I guess.
The stem cell harvest is complete. Took a little longer than planned, 5 days. You'd think being plopped in a recliner chair or 6 hours a day would be my perfect job, but it's not as fun when you can't move a muscle for those hours.
The perma-cath that had been placed became infected. I spent a week in Jersey Shore University Hospital while the team there fought the infection. I had no immune system as a result of the previous week's chemotherapy, so they were giving me Neupogen injections and IV antibiotics. The plan didn't work, so the catheter was taken out. This required the harvest to be done with a needle in each arm. The needle drawing the blood out was a large one, requiring me to sit as still as possible. Boring!
But I survived somehow. We really need to work on the quality of daytime television though. Will talk about that at another time though.
But now everything has been resolved and everything is in place for the stem cell transplant. I will hang out at home until Sunday morning. Then I will be heading up to Hackensack University Hospital. I'll get everything in order up there and then wait until Monday morning to start the stem cell transplant process. First they'll place the PICC line, then I'll get a dose of Melphalan. That should clean out as much Myeloma as possible, along with the bone marrow. I should also finish losing the rest of my hair. That's been coming out in a rather unusual pattern that's not the most stylish, bad enough that I've not even wanted to post any pictures. That's bad.
I hear Melphalan does the job, but I hear it beats you up pretty good, too. We'll see I guess.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Update time
I was scheduled to begin the stem cell harvest today, up in Hackensack University Medical Center. Right now, I'm starting my seventh day in Jersey Shore Medical Center instead. My immune system crashed, they call it "neutropenic" and to make matters more fun, I tested positive for staph infection.
So I sit here and try to get better. I'm getting a lot of IV antibiotics, Heparin, and Neupogen shots. It's kind of incredible how there are medicines for just about anything. In lay terms, Neupogen is a blood-building medication. That, to me, is very cool.
I'm not scared. So that means I'm very confident in my doctors, or completely insane. I'm going with "confident". They're on top of things, and this hospital is terrific. I know food isn't usually anybody's favorite hospital topic, but Jersey Shore Hospital has brought in real chefs, and the food is outstanding.
Ok so it's going to take a while longer, that's all.
So I sit here and try to get better. I'm getting a lot of IV antibiotics, Heparin, and Neupogen shots. It's kind of incredible how there are medicines for just about anything. In lay terms, Neupogen is a blood-building medication. That, to me, is very cool.
I'm not scared. So that means I'm very confident in my doctors, or completely insane. I'm going with "confident". They're on top of things, and this hospital is terrific. I know food isn't usually anybody's favorite hospital topic, but Jersey Shore Hospital has brought in real chefs, and the food is outstanding.
Ok so it's going to take a while longer, that's all.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
So, about my life...
Today I'm going up north. I have to go to Hackensack University medical center for a whole day of pre-transplant tests. All my blood test came back with the right numbers, so we're ready for the next step. The stem cell transplant isn't any more difficult than donating platelets. It's not like having to do a bone marrow transplant, and they're using my own stem cells.
I'm actually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel here. I've heard a lot of good things from my doctors. While the chemo was rough, It was hardly unbearable. I had a few days of being sick here or there, but the care has been outstanding. I'm actually getting a little bit excited about this. I've encountered some side effects; the coolest-sounding one is peripheral neuropathy, which is just some odd pain in my legs and feet. It's like what I'd describe as bee stings. Your legs get twitchy and it's not awesome, but it's not anything too terrible. And I've had to struggle a little to keep my weight up, but of course you fix that by eating. A lot. Being that I love food, a lot, I could think of a lot worse.
I'm determined to kick this cancer, and I've had a lot of help in the fight. Things are looking so good.
Let the fun begin.
I'm actually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel here. I've heard a lot of good things from my doctors. While the chemo was rough, It was hardly unbearable. I had a few days of being sick here or there, but the care has been outstanding. I'm actually getting a little bit excited about this. I've encountered some side effects; the coolest-sounding one is peripheral neuropathy, which is just some odd pain in my legs and feet. It's like what I'd describe as bee stings. Your legs get twitchy and it's not awesome, but it's not anything too terrible. And I've had to struggle a little to keep my weight up, but of course you fix that by eating. A lot. Being that I love food, a lot, I could think of a lot worse.
I'm determined to kick this cancer, and I've had a lot of help in the fight. Things are looking so good.
Let the fun begin.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
One Giant Leap...
...ok not that giant a leap, but good news came today.
My blood numbers weren't perfect, but they are within the right parameters. Soooo, that means I can continue to the next phase of the chemotherapy treatments, which will begin prepping my body for the first of two transplants. This one is my own stem cells ( autologous ).
I'll go through about a month of treatments. I'll be receiving Cytoxan, Dexamsthasone, Etoposide, Neupogen and Levaquin. I have no idea what the drugs will do, except make me better, so it's all good
Once that's all done, I'll go into the hospital to begin the stem cell harvest. That can be a 2 to 5 day process. Once that is done I will enter the final phase of chemotherapy treatments. That's when they'll use Melphalan on me. In addition to making me better, it'll make me baldy, too.
The final step of this phase will be the transplant of the stem cells that were harvested from me. The harvest and transplant are done through a catheter, so the process isn't much different than someone who is donating platelets.
I'm so excited to be advancing to the next step. There is a definite finish line in sight. I have to keep in mind that I'm still up against a cancer without a cure, but at the same time, I have to remember that every cure starts with one patient.
The fight goes on, and I'm thrilled for the chance to slug it out.
My blood numbers weren't perfect, but they are within the right parameters. Soooo, that means I can continue to the next phase of the chemotherapy treatments, which will begin prepping my body for the first of two transplants. This one is my own stem cells ( autologous ).
I'll go through about a month of treatments. I'll be receiving Cytoxan, Dexamsthasone, Etoposide, Neupogen and Levaquin. I have no idea what the drugs will do, except make me better, so it's all good
Once that's all done, I'll go into the hospital to begin the stem cell harvest. That can be a 2 to 5 day process. Once that is done I will enter the final phase of chemotherapy treatments. That's when they'll use Melphalan on me. In addition to making me better, it'll make me baldy, too.
The final step of this phase will be the transplant of the stem cells that were harvested from me. The harvest and transplant are done through a catheter, so the process isn't much different than someone who is donating platelets.
I'm so excited to be advancing to the next step. There is a definite finish line in sight. I have to keep in mind that I'm still up against a cancer without a cure, but at the same time, I have to remember that every cure starts with one patient.
The fight goes on, and I'm thrilled for the chance to slug it out.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Odd occurrence
Tonight I can't sleep. I'm actually scared for the first time since I was diagnosed. My life span is shortening significantly because of a number of factors. But what's scaring me is the fact that I might not have enough time to get some things done.
The pain is quite bearable and manageable for me. I see so many people who are so worse off than I am. My bones in the legs are giving me trouble, swelling, some pain but mostly just unsteady. I've been Informed that I have chromosome 17 delete and this going to complicate things a little. I'll need two transplants now instead of one. My doctors, at my request, are being very forthcoming and honest with me. 62 months is looking more and more appropriate as my story's title, haha.
I just have so much to do. I want to have some sort of vacation with my kids, just us. I want to see my friend Cassie and her baby. I want to hang out in my friend Emily for a few days In Indiana. I also want to spend time with my Janice out in Indiana as well. I owe Emily and Cassie some meals and some foot massages lol. I always pay my bets off!
But honestly, tonight I'm just wimpy and scared.
The pain is quite bearable and manageable for me. I see so many people who are so worse off than I am. My bones in the legs are giving me trouble, swelling, some pain but mostly just unsteady. I've been Informed that I have chromosome 17 delete and this going to complicate things a little. I'll need two transplants now instead of one. My doctors, at my request, are being very forthcoming and honest with me. 62 months is looking more and more appropriate as my story's title, haha.
I just have so much to do. I want to have some sort of vacation with my kids, just us. I want to see my friend Cassie and her baby. I want to hang out in my friend Emily for a few days In Indiana. I also want to spend time with my Janice out in Indiana as well. I owe Emily and Cassie some meals and some foot massages lol. I always pay my bets off!
But honestly, tonight I'm just wimpy and scared.
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