Hemoglobin 8.3
Platelets 143
WBC 2.9
|Neutrophils| 2.8
Creatinine 1.15
My day started out by me throwing up all over the floor next to my bed. That kinda set the tone for the rest of the day, although the biggest problem I'm having now isn't with nausea. My stomach is really upset, kinda like indigestion. The doctors say the lining is probably irritated from the chemotherapy or other drugs. It really sucks because the anti-nausea medications available are much more effective than anything they can give me for the pains I'm feeling now. It makes eating unpleasant, but I'm getting constipated anyway. Damn fludarabine.
Today was my last day of chemotherapy. Tomorrow morning I'll be irradiated. It should only take about twenty minutes.
27 February 2010
26 February 2010
Day -3
Hemoglobin 8.7
Platelets 174
WBC 4.8
|Neutrophils| 4.7
Creatinine 1.15
Today I began my two immunosuppressant drugs: Cyclosporin and MMF. They make me feel terrible. Just nauseous and ill. Unfortunately I'll be on them for quite some time. The cyclosporin is hard on kidneys too, so they will be even more closely monitored for function while I'm on the drug. The doctors will also closely monitor the level of the drug in my system to ensure proper therapeutic levels (such that the level of the drug doesn't get too high and risk kidney damage).
Today I also went down to the radiology oncology department for final measurements for my total body irradiation on sunday. It only took a half hour or so but I was feeling really ill. I would rather have been sleeping. That's mainly what I do these days, between the chemo drugs dragging me down and the anti-nausea meds making me tired, so I sleep it off.
Tomorrow is my last day of Fludarabine. Then I have TBI on Sunday and cells on Monday. Mitch has been up to receive his growth factor injections over the past few days and will continue through Monday. He says it makes him feel odd, giving him unusual and random body pains. Other than that he says it's not too bad.
Platelets 174
WBC 4.8
|Neutrophils| 4.7
Creatinine 1.15
Today I began my two immunosuppressant drugs: Cyclosporin and MMF. They make me feel terrible. Just nauseous and ill. Unfortunately I'll be on them for quite some time. The cyclosporin is hard on kidneys too, so they will be even more closely monitored for function while I'm on the drug. The doctors will also closely monitor the level of the drug in my system to ensure proper therapeutic levels (such that the level of the drug doesn't get too high and risk kidney damage).
Today I also went down to the radiology oncology department for final measurements for my total body irradiation on sunday. It only took a half hour or so but I was feeling really ill. I would rather have been sleeping. That's mainly what I do these days, between the chemo drugs dragging me down and the anti-nausea meds making me tired, so I sleep it off.
Tomorrow is my last day of Fludarabine. Then I have TBI on Sunday and cells on Monday. Mitch has been up to receive his growth factor injections over the past few days and will continue through Monday. He says it makes him feel odd, giving him unusual and random body pains. Other than that he says it's not too bad.
25 February 2010
Day -4
Hemoglobin 9.0
Platelets 174
WBC 7.8
|Neutrophils| 7.4
Creatinine 1.19
Still having lots of nausea today and high blood glucose. My line is feeling better but still sore where it drops into the vein. Tomorrow I start my meds to further suppress my immune system as well as to prevent rejection of the donor system. Cyclosporin is one of them which is known to be hard on the kidneys. Hopefully it won't begin causing problems, my creatinine has been good so far this round.
24 February 2010
Day -5
Hemoglobin 8.9
Platelets 145
WBC 5.9
|Neutrophils| 5.0
Creatinine 1.26
Today was rough. Not only was my line still sore but I spent most of the day really nauseous and over-all gross feeling. I think the chemo I got yesterday is responsible. Plus today my glucose has been a rollercoaster which hasn't helped anything.
It was an uneventful day. One does of fludarabine all day. Should be the same for the next three days.
Platelets 145
WBC 5.9
|Neutrophils| 5.0
Creatinine 1.26
Today was rough. Not only was my line still sore but I spent most of the day really nauseous and over-all gross feeling. I think the chemo I got yesterday is responsible. Plus today my glucose has been a rollercoaster which hasn't helped anything.
It was an uneventful day. One does of fludarabine all day. Should be the same for the next three days.
23 February 2010
Day -6
Hemoglobin 9.0
Platelets 110
WBC 2.6
|Neutrophils| 1.3
Creatinine 1.33
Today I started two chemotherapy drugs. The first, Fludarabine, I've taken before as part of my previous FLAG treatments. I responded well then, so the doctors expect that I should do well on it again, even though I believe it is a stronger dose. My first dose was today and I'll receive four more doses over the next four days. The second drug is called Cytoxan. This is my first time taking this drug and I only take one dose, which was today. This drugs' major side effect is bladder irritation. It can cause the lining to sluff off, making for painful urination as you pee out the sluffed tissue and, of course, blood that goes with it. I'm on another drug to help prevent any bladder trouble, plus they're pushing fluids and making me pee every two hours for all of today and tomorrow. Continually voiding my bladder should help prevent the drug from accumulating in the bladder and, thus, help prevent irritation.
Fludarabine also means I'm back on Decadron (the anti-nausea steroids), and that means I'm back on an insulin drip. My glucose has been bouncing up and down all day, it seems anytime I eat the Insulin I bolus is ineffective at adequately covering the carbs I ate.
I've also been nauseous from one of the drugs I'm on. My line has been hurting today still, not worse than yesterday but it is still very sore. Hopefully tomorrow it will begin to feel better.
Platelets 110
WBC 2.6
|Neutrophils| 1.3
Creatinine 1.33
Today I started two chemotherapy drugs. The first, Fludarabine, I've taken before as part of my previous FLAG treatments. I responded well then, so the doctors expect that I should do well on it again, even though I believe it is a stronger dose. My first dose was today and I'll receive four more doses over the next four days. The second drug is called Cytoxan. This is my first time taking this drug and I only take one dose, which was today. This drugs' major side effect is bladder irritation. It can cause the lining to sluff off, making for painful urination as you pee out the sluffed tissue and, of course, blood that goes with it. I'm on another drug to help prevent any bladder trouble, plus they're pushing fluids and making me pee every two hours for all of today and tomorrow. Continually voiding my bladder should help prevent the drug from accumulating in the bladder and, thus, help prevent irritation.
Fludarabine also means I'm back on Decadron (the anti-nausea steroids), and that means I'm back on an insulin drip. My glucose has been bouncing up and down all day, it seems anytime I eat the Insulin I bolus is ineffective at adequately covering the carbs I ate.
I've also been nauseous from one of the drugs I'm on. My line has been hurting today still, not worse than yesterday but it is still very sore. Hopefully tomorrow it will begin to feel better.
22 February 2010
The Beginning of the End
Day -7
Here I am, coming at you live (again) from the University of Minnesota Medical Center - Fairview. Only this time I'm on unit 4B in room 224 and I'm glad to say it's one of the large-sized rooms. Not that I can have a ton of people in here, but I'll probably have them bring in a treadmill (since I won't be able to leave my room starting tomorrow). Plus I have a table and chairs. Everything else is pretty standard.
My central line was placed this morning. It took about an hour and everything went well. They went in at my neck and inserted the catheter into the vein (the red spot near my collar in the photo, it's actually an incision about a centimeter in length). They then tunneled the remainder of the catheter under my skin down to my chest. It's cool, you can feel the tube running under the skin. The entire area is terribly sore though. My nurse says it'll take a couple days for it to not hurt anymore , but tomorrow the pain will probably be worse. I just can't move my head or arm or swallow without it hurting. Super annoying.
I can't say that I'm thrilled to be back in the hospital, but the feeling is bittersweet. I'm glad that it is finally transplant time but those two weeks I spent out of the hospital were mighty enjoyable. It's hard to get excited for something that will probably be such a challenge; I feel good and I'll be sad to lose that. But it is all in the name of progress and I certainly wouldn't change any of my plans. I'm ready to be cured.
Other than the line placement I didn't have anything done today. Tomorrow I begin chemotherapy. It'll be two drugs, Fludarabine (which I've had before during FLAG) and a new one... but I'll get into that tomorrow.
Here I am, coming at you live (again) from the University of Minnesota Medical Center - Fairview. Only this time I'm on unit 4B in room 224 and I'm glad to say it's one of the large-sized rooms. Not that I can have a ton of people in here, but I'll probably have them bring in a treadmill (since I won't be able to leave my room starting tomorrow). Plus I have a table and chairs. Everything else is pretty standard.
My central line was placed this morning. It took about an hour and everything went well. They went in at my neck and inserted the catheter into the vein (the red spot near my collar in the photo, it's actually an incision about a centimeter in length). They then tunneled the remainder of the catheter under my skin down to my chest. It's cool, you can feel the tube running under the skin. The entire area is terribly sore though. My nurse says it'll take a couple days for it to not hurt anymore , but tomorrow the pain will probably be worse. I just can't move my head or arm or swallow without it hurting. Super annoying.
I can't say that I'm thrilled to be back in the hospital, but the feeling is bittersweet. I'm glad that it is finally transplant time but those two weeks I spent out of the hospital were mighty enjoyable. It's hard to get excited for something that will probably be such a challenge; I feel good and I'll be sad to lose that. But it is all in the name of progress and I certainly wouldn't change any of my plans. I'm ready to be cured.
Other than the line placement I didn't have anything done today. Tomorrow I begin chemotherapy. It'll be two drugs, Fludarabine (which I've had before during FLAG) and a new one... but I'll get into that tomorrow.
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