Yesterday was a good day. All counts were up again so Ann's stem cells are definitely growing and taking over. LeMaistre was pleased. He even said I could eat salad again.
Apparently the infection risk is back to "normal", so I am out of the woods there. I asked him about being in crowds and he explained that crowds in confined spaces increase risk of getting a cold or the flu. He said I would tolerate a cold or the flu OK now but that fever usually comes with them and if I get a fever he's putting me in the hospital. So I'll continue to avoid crowds in close quarters and sneezy/sniffly people. I'll also avoid handshakes and hugs and I'll wash my hands a lot. I guess I'll miss all the parties this year. Oh, well!
If things continue as they are now I expect to be back in Austin around December 15th. I'll need to drive back to SA twice a week for a while after that, but that's better than living here in this apartment! It sure is getting small!
Thanks to all of you for your good wishes and prayers. They've meant a lot to me!
Rick
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Wednesday, November 21st
Well, like the stock market, I guess my counts won't go up every day. Today the HGB dropped to 8.1 so I had to get a blood transfusion. They say that is expected.
WBC stayed at 0.9 so I am still somewhat at risk.
PLT went up to 123.
We have the day off tomorrow, so we won't check progress again until Friday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rick
WBC stayed at 0.9 so I am still somewhat at risk.
PLT went up to 123.
We have the day off tomorrow, so we won't check progress again until Friday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rick
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Monday, November 19th
Well, we finally made the turn! The white blood count went up from 400 to 700 and platelets went up from 30 to 58. That's not much, but it's the right direction. The nurses also said that's not possible unless the bone marrow is working again.
The hemogloben count (HGB) was down a tick to 8.5. If that doesn't improve by tomorrow I'll need a blood transfusion. Oh, well.
I'll put up more frequent brief postings over the next week or so.
Thanks for checking in.
Rick
The hemogloben count (HGB) was down a tick to 8.5. If that doesn't improve by tomorrow I'll need a blood transfusion. Oh, well.
I'll put up more frequent brief postings over the next week or so.
Thanks for checking in.
Rick
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Thank you for supporting Prop. 15
I've been remiss in thanking all of you for your support...
I am so glad this passed. I think it will make a big difference in cancer research and I think it will be very good for Texas economically. This money and almost this much again in matching dollars will be spent creating jobs here. We will attract doctors, researchers, and support staff from around the world. This will be really good for Texas!
Our next job is to be sure the money is spent well. The Board in charge of allocating this money will be very important. I'll be checking into that process and will keep you posted. You may need to write letters to polititians or letters to the editor.
Speaking of the editor... I want to thank Rich Oppel for his support, too. He and the Austin American Statesman were strong advocates of the Proposition and will be a good source of information about the Board. When you see something about an appointee or the process that doesn't look right to you, be quick to write Rich. It is critical that this Board be done right the first time and not be filled with political 'favors'. It's your money!!
As always, I appreciate you more than you can know!
RICK
I am so glad this passed. I think it will make a big difference in cancer research and I think it will be very good for Texas economically. This money and almost this much again in matching dollars will be spent creating jobs here. We will attract doctors, researchers, and support staff from around the world. This will be really good for Texas!
Our next job is to be sure the money is spent well. The Board in charge of allocating this money will be very important. I'll be checking into that process and will keep you posted. You may need to write letters to polititians or letters to the editor.
Speaking of the editor... I want to thank Rich Oppel for his support, too. He and the Austin American Statesman were strong advocates of the Proposition and will be a good source of information about the Board. When you see something about an appointee or the process that doesn't look right to you, be quick to write Rich. It is critical that this Board be done right the first time and not be filled with political 'favors'. It's your money!!
As always, I appreciate you more than you can know!
RICK
Happy Birthday, Rick!
I have a second birthday now. On November 8th we infused Ann's stem cells into my blood. Hopefully, it has already found my chemo-dead bone marrow and has started growing. We'll know in a few weeks.
This whole process was started with two rounds of rather caustic chemo in Seton Hospital. That part turned out to be the hardest. Being tethered to the wall via the IV tree (Charlie) was a little too confining for me.
Then we moved to San Antonio on November 1st. We have the largest 2 bedroom apartment I could get just across the street from the La Cantera shopping mall. Oh, and right next to the La Cantera Resort Golf Course. I'll practice there when I feel better.
On November 2nd I started 5 days of outpatient chemo. That was designed to kill as many cancer cells that were left as possible and to wipe out my bone marrow while not quite killing me. That is the doctors' balancing act. I don't think they give enough chemo that it kills directly, but they are constantly worried that it will damage some other organ or initiate some other illness that kills. Consequently, they are constantly measuring and testing through the process.
They needed to wipe out my bone marrow (or very nearly so) to create a blank slate where my donor's (Ann's) cells could take up residence. I understand her DNA will actually replace mine. I also assume her allergies and a few other things. If I start cross-dressing, just shoot me! It takes about two weeks to know it is working and about a month to know to what final extent.
To give me her stem cells Ann had to endure a lot. She started with five days of growth hormone shots that caused her bone marrow to over-produce stem cells and force them out into the periphery blood system where they can be more easily harvested (no bone marrow tap). This process causes headaches, bone-aches, and other uncomfortable side-effects before and after collection; but the hard part was collection.
On collection day they put a large straight needle (a transfusion needle) in each arm and hook them to a centrifuge machine. The blood comes out of one arm, the stem cells are spun out, and the processed blood (less stem cells) is put back in the other arm. Ann had to lay in a hospital bed, moving very little, while they collected as many stem cells as possible. The first day was about 8 hours.
Usually one day is enough, but I think Ann's cells knew where they were headed and they were reluctant. We wanted 5 million + cells and only got about 3.5 million volunteers. Consequently, it took a second day. Her two days were far worse than my five days of chemo. I sincerely appreciate that she was willing to do that for me.
The first batch had to be frozen because it was collected more than 24 hours prior to use. The second batch was kept thawed and was infused into me first. They used several large turkey basting syringes to "push" this fluid that looks like thickened blood into the tubes in my chest. I had no reaction at all to that batch. I guess my bone marrow really was dead because it never saw Ann's cells coming!
The frozen cells were different, but the reaction was to the preservative they add when they freeze it, DMSO. Yes, that is the horse liniment we used to rub on sore joints! I immediately got a dry cough, a tightness in my chest, and became very flushed. Is that what menopause feel like?? Are you that old, Ann?? As soon as they were done (about 10 minutes) the reaction stopped. I ate a late lunch and took a drug-induced nap.
I've felt a little better every day since, though Dr. LeMaistre says I will probably get more fatigued for a week or so before I really start improving.
From here a whole lot of measurin' will be goin' on. I'll go to the hospital every day, give blood and see the doctor. If anything is out of kilter, they'll adjust medicines, give me a transfusion or put me in the hospital. By Thanksgiving, those visits may be down to every other day and by early December, twice a week (I hope).
During this and for the next year or so, we'll have to watch for signs of Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD) or rejection. It can be treated, but must be dealt with quickly. And, since the greatest risk is closer to transplant we will have to live in San Antonio, close to Texas Transplant, through December. For most of 2008 I'll make frequent trips to San Antonio to see LeMaistre. I'll take advantage of that to see my clients here.
Well, it's time to go to the hospital for my daily visit. More later...
RICK
This whole process was started with two rounds of rather caustic chemo in Seton Hospital. That part turned out to be the hardest. Being tethered to the wall via the IV tree (Charlie) was a little too confining for me.
Then we moved to San Antonio on November 1st. We have the largest 2 bedroom apartment I could get just across the street from the La Cantera shopping mall. Oh, and right next to the La Cantera Resort Golf Course. I'll practice there when I feel better.
On November 2nd I started 5 days of outpatient chemo. That was designed to kill as many cancer cells that were left as possible and to wipe out my bone marrow while not quite killing me. That is the doctors' balancing act. I don't think they give enough chemo that it kills directly, but they are constantly worried that it will damage some other organ or initiate some other illness that kills. Consequently, they are constantly measuring and testing through the process.
They needed to wipe out my bone marrow (or very nearly so) to create a blank slate where my donor's (Ann's) cells could take up residence. I understand her DNA will actually replace mine. I also assume her allergies and a few other things. If I start cross-dressing, just shoot me! It takes about two weeks to know it is working and about a month to know to what final extent.
To give me her stem cells Ann had to endure a lot. She started with five days of growth hormone shots that caused her bone marrow to over-produce stem cells and force them out into the periphery blood system where they can be more easily harvested (no bone marrow tap). This process causes headaches, bone-aches, and other uncomfortable side-effects before and after collection; but the hard part was collection.
On collection day they put a large straight needle (a transfusion needle) in each arm and hook them to a centrifuge machine. The blood comes out of one arm, the stem cells are spun out, and the processed blood (less stem cells) is put back in the other arm. Ann had to lay in a hospital bed, moving very little, while they collected as many stem cells as possible. The first day was about 8 hours.
Usually one day is enough, but I think Ann's cells knew where they were headed and they were reluctant. We wanted 5 million + cells and only got about 3.5 million volunteers. Consequently, it took a second day. Her two days were far worse than my five days of chemo. I sincerely appreciate that she was willing to do that for me.
The first batch had to be frozen because it was collected more than 24 hours prior to use. The second batch was kept thawed and was infused into me first. They used several large turkey basting syringes to "push" this fluid that looks like thickened blood into the tubes in my chest. I had no reaction at all to that batch. I guess my bone marrow really was dead because it never saw Ann's cells coming!
The frozen cells were different, but the reaction was to the preservative they add when they freeze it, DMSO. Yes, that is the horse liniment we used to rub on sore joints! I immediately got a dry cough, a tightness in my chest, and became very flushed. Is that what menopause feel like?? Are you that old, Ann?? As soon as they were done (about 10 minutes) the reaction stopped. I ate a late lunch and took a drug-induced nap.
I've felt a little better every day since, though Dr. LeMaistre says I will probably get more fatigued for a week or so before I really start improving.
From here a whole lot of measurin' will be goin' on. I'll go to the hospital every day, give blood and see the doctor. If anything is out of kilter, they'll adjust medicines, give me a transfusion or put me in the hospital. By Thanksgiving, those visits may be down to every other day and by early December, twice a week (I hope).
During this and for the next year or so, we'll have to watch for signs of Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD) or rejection. It can be treated, but must be dealt with quickly. And, since the greatest risk is closer to transplant we will have to live in San Antonio, close to Texas Transplant, through December. For most of 2008 I'll make frequent trips to San Antonio to see LeMaistre. I'll take advantage of that to see my clients here.
Well, it's time to go to the hospital for my daily visit. More later...
RICK
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Infusion Day
Well, this is I-Day!
I expect it to be anti-climatitic, but everything we've done so far has been for this day. The actual process will be to take a blood sample, start an IV (get fluids flowing), see Dr. LeMaistre, start IV of Ann's stem cells about 10:30 (should only take 30 minutes), and continue saline IV for several hours while they monitor my reaction. Piece of cake!
I think Ann suffered most for this. She had to lay around in a hospital bed for most of two days with a large straight needle in each arm. She is certainly my hero! Bill was a real trooper, too, as he sat with her and took care of her while we were doing our things elsewhere in the hospital. I sincerely appreciate both of them.
It is almost 6 AM and Mother just got up so I'll close this for now. Later today or tonight I'll post a blow-by-blow of these last few days.
Thank you all for your good wishes and prayers. I am doing very well and I believe mostly due to your support. I appreciate you!
Rick
I expect it to be anti-climatitic, but everything we've done so far has been for this day. The actual process will be to take a blood sample, start an IV (get fluids flowing), see Dr. LeMaistre, start IV of Ann's stem cells about 10:30 (should only take 30 minutes), and continue saline IV for several hours while they monitor my reaction. Piece of cake!
I think Ann suffered most for this. She had to lay around in a hospital bed for most of two days with a large straight needle in each arm. She is certainly my hero! Bill was a real trooper, too, as he sat with her and took care of her while we were doing our things elsewhere in the hospital. I sincerely appreciate both of them.
It is almost 6 AM and Mother just got up so I'll close this for now. Later today or tonight I'll post a blow-by-blow of these last few days.
Thank you all for your good wishes and prayers. I am doing very well and I believe mostly due to your support. I appreciate you!
Rick
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