Friday, February 27, 2009
Sleeping and Waiting
My blood counts are way down as expected, and I'm sleeping a lot and fighting periodic low grade nausea. There's not much to do but to ride out this low point in the cycle. The staff here is great and I'm as comfortable as can be under the circumstances. The PT people are a bit relentless at making me get at least a bit of exercise most days. :)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Day Zero
February 23rd was transplant day, the moment to begin to rebuilt my immune system with the donor cells. My Brother Pete spent six hours hooked up to the machine that extracted the necessary blood components through a port in his neck. They managed to get more than enough in that first sitting, so he had done his part and was a very happy camper.
After several hours of processing, the cell mixture was brought up to my room in the evening for the infusion into my IV lines. The actual process took about 15 or 20 minutes, and Denise, Kaitlyn, and Pete had a toast of Catawba juice, while I fought off drowsiness from a preventative shot of antihistamine. Rather anticlimatic.
Now, I begin the waiting game and the time of greatest risk of infection. It will be a week or two before we see any measurable new blood cell growth, then a bit longer yet to see whose immune system is winning the battle. And it will be months before we know if this is going to attack my cancer.
-Andy
After several hours of processing, the cell mixture was brought up to my room in the evening for the infusion into my IV lines. The actual process took about 15 or 20 minutes, and Denise, Kaitlyn, and Pete had a toast of Catawba juice, while I fought off drowsiness from a preventative shot of antihistamine. Rather anticlimatic.
Now, I begin the waiting game and the time of greatest risk of infection. It will be a week or two before we see any measurable new blood cell growth, then a bit longer yet to see whose immune system is winning the battle. And it will be months before we know if this is going to attack my cancer.
-Andy
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Down for the Count
Sunday, day minus one.
The effects of the chemotherapy and immune suppressant drugs are starting to take their toll. On Friday, I felt achy and flu like most of the day, but managed to get in some exercises and a "bike" ride. My daughter Kaitlyn and her friend Molly came by in the evening to watch a movie, have popcorn, and visit a bit, for a nice diversion.
Yesterday, I was very fatigued all day and just slept most of it away. My appetite has pretty much dwindled away as well, and further side effects are expected to progress for the rest of this coming week. This morning, I had the total body radiation scan to further reduce the immune system and get ready for tomorrow's transplant.
It is ironic to walk into the hospital relatively healthy, only to to be knocked flat on your back, barely wanting to move. But now, as one of the doctors said, we are done tearing you down, and are ready to build you back up. The transplant will be tomorrow evening, the 23rd.
-Andy
The effects of the chemotherapy and immune suppressant drugs are starting to take their toll. On Friday, I felt achy and flu like most of the day, but managed to get in some exercises and a "bike" ride. My daughter Kaitlyn and her friend Molly came by in the evening to watch a movie, have popcorn, and visit a bit, for a nice diversion.
Yesterday, I was very fatigued all day and just slept most of it away. My appetite has pretty much dwindled away as well, and further side effects are expected to progress for the rest of this coming week. This morning, I had the total body radiation scan to further reduce the immune system and get ready for tomorrow's transplant.
It is ironic to walk into the hospital relatively healthy, only to to be knocked flat on your back, barely wanting to move. But now, as one of the doctors said, we are done tearing you down, and are ready to build you back up. The transplant will be tomorrow evening, the 23rd.
-Andy
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