The PET scan report said "No evidence of active lymphoma present..."
That's good news as always in the past the lymphoma showed up within 6 months (or less) of treatment.
Thanks for being there for me.
Rick
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
July 2008
Well, it has been over 8 months since transplant and things are going reasonably well. I recently had more GVHD issues and had to start steroids again. I'm sleeping better this time but the leg cramps wake me several times per night. The only way I've found to ease them so I can go back to bed is run warm water over them.
I also had to get another IVIG last week as IGG had dropped to 378. Two days later (last Friday) I had to have an abcessed tooth pulled. I suspect the low IGG had something to do with the infection.
All-in-all I feel pretty good. A week or so after I increased the steroids again I played in a three day tournament. Over the three days we played 81+ holes in 100+ degree temperatures. I survived!
The following Thursday my team (John Chatmas, Troy Geyer, Kitt Griffin & I) won a playoff match to get to go to Pinehurst for a tournament. We'll play 5 rounds+ over five days in early September. This was definitely on my Bucket List!
Since I posted last my grandson, Jacob Richard Ouellette, was born. Brady is proving to be a good Big Sister.
This Thursday Brady & I are going to a Wiggles concert in San Antonio. I am looking forward to it. She likes The Wiggles so much that watching her watch them should be a hoot. She saw her first July 4th fireworks this year. Will & I couldn't watch the fireworks because watching her was so much fun.
Life is good!
My six-month PET/CT is August 13th. I fully expect a clean report.
Thanks for checking in. I appreciate you!
Rick
P.S. If you get a chance, read "Tony Snow's Testimony". He was a great man with great insight and a gift for communication.
I also had to get another IVIG last week as IGG had dropped to 378. Two days later (last Friday) I had to have an abcessed tooth pulled. I suspect the low IGG had something to do with the infection.
All-in-all I feel pretty good. A week or so after I increased the steroids again I played in a three day tournament. Over the three days we played 81+ holes in 100+ degree temperatures. I survived!
The following Thursday my team (John Chatmas, Troy Geyer, Kitt Griffin & I) won a playoff match to get to go to Pinehurst for a tournament. We'll play 5 rounds+ over five days in early September. This was definitely on my Bucket List!
Since I posted last my grandson, Jacob Richard Ouellette, was born. Brady is proving to be a good Big Sister.
This Thursday Brady & I are going to a Wiggles concert in San Antonio. I am looking forward to it. She likes The Wiggles so much that watching her watch them should be a hoot. She saw her first July 4th fireworks this year. Will & I couldn't watch the fireworks because watching her was so much fun.
Life is good!
My six-month PET/CT is August 13th. I fully expect a clean report.
Thanks for checking in. I appreciate you!
Rick
P.S. If you get a chance, read "Tony Snow's Testimony". He was a great man with great insight and a gift for communication.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
MAY 2008
OK, OK. I've been negligent. But, until lately, there really was no news.
The GVHD did get a little worse so LeMaistre started me on steroids. The steroids worked, but I sure don't like the side-effects (sleeplessness, puffy face, weight gain, muscle cramps, etc.). He is weening me off of them now, but it will take 6 to 8 more weeks and then it will be a few more weeks to get beyond the side-effects.
A few weeks ago my energy level started dropping, as did my blood counts. LeMaistre said he hoped it was just a natural transition between the mature stem cells Ann gave me and the new cells created by my new bone marrow. But one reading (IGG) got low enough that he wanted me to get a immunoglobulin IV (IVIG). I was sure surprised to find out it cost $30,000!
About the same time I started getting a pain in my left leg. It was like a muscle pull that started in the calf and radiated up the leg. As a precaution LeMaistre suggested a sonogram and, sure enough, there were two small blood clots in the lower calf. Other than the pain it would be no big deal ... unless one broke loose and traveled to the lungs (not good). So he put me on Coumadin pills and Lovenox injections. It must be working because I really bruise easily and bleed profusely when scratched.
The leg pain is less today, but I expect to be on Coumadin for a while. However, I get to give myself the last Lovenox injection tonight. That's good because they gave me dull needles.
Other news: Chris graduated from the Bush School and will start working for Grant Thornton in Houston June 16th. Regan will have her son (Austin?) some time between June 9th and 23rd. Nick & Kendra are happily entrenched in College Station; both working for A&M.
Thanks for checking in.
Rick
The GVHD did get a little worse so LeMaistre started me on steroids. The steroids worked, but I sure don't like the side-effects (sleeplessness, puffy face, weight gain, muscle cramps, etc.). He is weening me off of them now, but it will take 6 to 8 more weeks and then it will be a few more weeks to get beyond the side-effects.
A few weeks ago my energy level started dropping, as did my blood counts. LeMaistre said he hoped it was just a natural transition between the mature stem cells Ann gave me and the new cells created by my new bone marrow. But one reading (IGG) got low enough that he wanted me to get a immunoglobulin IV (IVIG). I was sure surprised to find out it cost $30,000!
About the same time I started getting a pain in my left leg. It was like a muscle pull that started in the calf and radiated up the leg. As a precaution LeMaistre suggested a sonogram and, sure enough, there were two small blood clots in the lower calf. Other than the pain it would be no big deal ... unless one broke loose and traveled to the lungs (not good). So he put me on Coumadin pills and Lovenox injections. It must be working because I really bruise easily and bleed profusely when scratched.
The leg pain is less today, but I expect to be on Coumadin for a while. However, I get to give myself the last Lovenox injection tonight. That's good because they gave me dull needles.
Other news: Chris graduated from the Bush School and will start working for Grant Thornton in Houston June 16th. Regan will have her son (Austin?) some time between June 9th and 23rd. Nick & Kendra are happily entrenched in College Station; both working for A&M.
Thanks for checking in.
Rick
Friday, February 22, 2008
CR
Wednesday Dr. Doty told me I have achieved "CR". I know I've had "CRS" disease for years and thought he meant that was getting worse. The "chemo brain" that Doty has caused over the last 2 years would explain the worsening condition. But then he said "No, Dummy! CR stands for Complete Remission!"
What a relief! I was so concerned that my CRS was approaching Alzheimer's level and that Cindy would be putting me away soon.
Dr. LeMaistre also said the latest scans showed "No evidence of active lymphoma in the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis." The report generously used words like normal, clear, stable, and resolved.
Thank you, Ann! And thanks to all of you that have supported us and prayed for us. You are all greatly appreciated!
Now I have a little time to work on my Bucket List.
I'll post again when I have new news.
Rick
What a relief! I was so concerned that my CRS was approaching Alzheimer's level and that Cindy would be putting me away soon.
Dr. LeMaistre also said the latest scans showed "No evidence of active lymphoma in the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis." The report generously used words like normal, clear, stable, and resolved.
Thank you, Ann! And thanks to all of you that have supported us and prayed for us. You are all greatly appreciated!
Now I have a little time to work on my Bucket List.
I'll post again when I have new news.
Rick
Monday, January 14, 2008
Monday, January 14th
Not much is new, but I thought it about time for an update.
I now go to San Antonio only once a week and LeMaistre has already said we can cut back on that soon. He said I am doing so well there is no reason to come down so often. I like that.
We will do scans mid-February. Neither Doty nor I can feel any swollen nodes and I was like a bag of marbles before. The February tests will create a baseline to compare to in subsequent quarters.
I have played 5 or 6 rounds of golf since transplant. The first round was on Day 30. Yesterday I walked the front 9 at Fazio Canyons. The hills nearly killed me, but I finished. Cindy said I moaned in my sleep all night, though, and I am still very sore today.
My legs are weak, so I am trying to get my strength back in them. I started exercise class again last week. I've been twice now and plan on continueing a Tue/Thur routine. I will also try to walk 9 once a week.
This weekend my SSP (Scum-Sucking Pigs) Study Group will be in from Houston. We'll have dinner and some fine wines Friday night and talk business. Then we'll play golf the next morning. We've been doing this a couple of times per year for over 20 years.
Next week is our 27th annual quail hunt. This group is our old San Antonio neighborhood. Gary & I will be in Freer Wednesday through Saturday. Our cell phones do work there if anyone needs anything.
Cindy turns 60 on January 30th. If you want to send her a card, address it to my office and I'll take them all to her that day.
Cindy Kilmer c/o Rick Kilmer
609 Castle Ridge Road, Ste. 315
Austin, TX 78746-5126
This is a busy January. I'm thankful to be able to enjoy it.
I appreciate you checking in and I appreciate your friendship.
Rick
I now go to San Antonio only once a week and LeMaistre has already said we can cut back on that soon. He said I am doing so well there is no reason to come down so often. I like that.
We will do scans mid-February. Neither Doty nor I can feel any swollen nodes and I was like a bag of marbles before. The February tests will create a baseline to compare to in subsequent quarters.
I have played 5 or 6 rounds of golf since transplant. The first round was on Day 30. Yesterday I walked the front 9 at Fazio Canyons. The hills nearly killed me, but I finished. Cindy said I moaned in my sleep all night, though, and I am still very sore today.
My legs are weak, so I am trying to get my strength back in them. I started exercise class again last week. I've been twice now and plan on continueing a Tue/Thur routine. I will also try to walk 9 once a week.
This weekend my SSP (Scum-Sucking Pigs) Study Group will be in from Houston. We'll have dinner and some fine wines Friday night and talk business. Then we'll play golf the next morning. We've been doing this a couple of times per year for over 20 years.
Next week is our 27th annual quail hunt. This group is our old San Antonio neighborhood. Gary & I will be in Freer Wednesday through Saturday. Our cell phones do work there if anyone needs anything.
Cindy turns 60 on January 30th. If you want to send her a card, address it to my office and I'll take them all to her that day.
Cindy Kilmer c/o Rick Kilmer
609 Castle Ridge Road, Ste. 315
Austin, TX 78746-5126
This is a busy January. I'm thankful to be able to enjoy it.
I appreciate you checking in and I appreciate your friendship.
Rick
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