Dear Ones:
A total of 8 Nupegen shots in the tummy ended Monday night with the addition of another drug called Plexifor....which is another word for "Holy Toledo! That's EXPENSIVE!" The nurse said that this is THE drug that gets the stem cells swimming readily, but that it's expensive. I remembered that I had once had some heart med that started at $1,800, so I started there. Her sad look made me make a couple more bold guesses. "No," she said, "it's $40,000 a vial and you're getting two vials."
We almost needed CPR at that point! $80,000 worth of clear fluid got poked into my tummy Monday night! Then after almost nine hours of stem cell spin-off the next day, I was advised to get another round of that liquid gold! I told Amy she ought to take me to the Antiques Road Show and ask them what they thought my tummy was worth and see how close to 160,000 they came!
But, the good news is that the drugs did their job and after a second day of 7 hours, enough stem cells had been harvested! Yea God! Now what I need is a keester transplant after all those hours of sitting on mine through the apheresis (spin off)
Part of the long time spent is apparently due to some problem with the thingy in my chest (central line - trifuge). So, the first day, the machine spent some time balking at my low production. The second day, they used my arm vein for collection and the central line for return.
Anyway, I'm all set for the chemo on Monday, after they determine if my central line can be cleared or needs to be replaced. (Oh joy! The first one hurt a'plenty....they'll need to knock me out for the removal of the first and replacement with a second line!)
Oh, I did find out why I couldn't sleep well....hot flashes! One of the side effects of the Nupegen. Ladies, you have all my sympathy!! I leaped up at 2:30 this a.m. thinking the bed was on fire!
Eldest daughter Katie is coming in Saturday. Happy day.
Thanks for the love, prayers and encouragement.
Yours in Christ's love,
Dick
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Blog #6 July 25 Shots in the tummy
Dear Family and Friends:
This being Sunday evening, we've just returned from the hospital for the 6th of 8 shots of Nupegin I am to receive (2 per day at 7:30a.m. and 7:30p.m.). This drug causes the sterm cells to come out of the bone marrow and flow in the peripheral blood stream. Even so, this twice a day to the hospital for shots in the tummy get old fast. BUT, that's better than them having to get the stem cells out of the marrow, as that's a major ooowie!
Turns out this thingy in the chest isn't so bad after a day or so....maybe it softens up with the body temperature, or gets more flexible with movement. Anway, sleeping on it hasn't proven difficult....just sleeping is. Don't know why, but I seem not to get to sleep very thoroughly before I'm awake again. Maybe it's this medication.
This is the week of apheresis - the spinning off of the stem cells: that's a 4-6 hr/day for three days process, much like kidney dialysis. Now that's going to get boring, I think.
In specifics, please pray that I have the ability to produce enough stem cells, and only healthy stem cells are spun off and harvested. Thanks!
To God be the glory! Amen!
Yours in Christ,
Dick
This being Sunday evening, we've just returned from the hospital for the 6th of 8 shots of Nupegin I am to receive (2 per day at 7:30a.m. and 7:30p.m.). This drug causes the sterm cells to come out of the bone marrow and flow in the peripheral blood stream. Even so, this twice a day to the hospital for shots in the tummy get old fast. BUT, that's better than them having to get the stem cells out of the marrow, as that's a major ooowie!
Turns out this thingy in the chest isn't so bad after a day or so....maybe it softens up with the body temperature, or gets more flexible with movement. Anway, sleeping on it hasn't proven difficult....just sleeping is. Don't know why, but I seem not to get to sleep very thoroughly before I'm awake again. Maybe it's this medication.
This is the week of apheresis - the spinning off of the stem cells: that's a 4-6 hr/day for three days process, much like kidney dialysis. Now that's going to get boring, I think.
In specifics, please pray that I have the ability to produce enough stem cells, and only healthy stem cells are spun off and harvested. Thanks!
To God be the glory! Amen!
Yours in Christ,
Dick
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Blog #5 - July 22, 2010 The Central Line
Dear family and friends:
Now we're really in this for keeps! Now they've messed with my body in a serious way, for sure! Now I've got this "thingy" hanging out of my chest, and it's danged uncomfortable! Further more it's going to make many things inconvenient if not impossible.
On the "off the list of things I can do" is much activity involving my arms...like golf , swimming, swatting at flies, etc. Also, taking a shower is out! I have to keep the area clean and dry, so it's tub baths or wash rags or stinkin'! Since going outside at this time of year involves persperation, I reckon I'm also sorta housebound, too. Mutter, mutter.
Then there's the whole process of trying to sleep with this contraption and the potential of rolling over on that side - that's going to startle me wide awake, cause this thing hurts a bit.
But listen to me crabbing, in the middle of a medical miracle! Just a few years ago, I'd have been on the other side of the turf, nine years after diagnosis with bone cancer. Forgive me Lord!
But even so, Lord, I'd like to get a little better accustomed to this, please! And, next week, when they go to spinning off my stem cells, please let there be only cancer free stem cells collected, and re-introduced into my body on Aug 5th. And all to your praise and glory! Thanks!
Now we're really in this for keeps! Now they've messed with my body in a serious way, for sure! Now I've got this "thingy" hanging out of my chest, and it's danged uncomfortable! Further more it's going to make many things inconvenient if not impossible.
On the "off the list of things I can do" is much activity involving my arms...like golf , swimming, swatting at flies, etc. Also, taking a shower is out! I have to keep the area clean and dry, so it's tub baths or wash rags or stinkin'! Since going outside at this time of year involves persperation, I reckon I'm also sorta housebound, too. Mutter, mutter.
Then there's the whole process of trying to sleep with this contraption and the potential of rolling over on that side - that's going to startle me wide awake, cause this thing hurts a bit.
But listen to me crabbing, in the middle of a medical miracle! Just a few years ago, I'd have been on the other side of the turf, nine years after diagnosis with bone cancer. Forgive me Lord!
But even so, Lord, I'd like to get a little better accustomed to this, please! And, next week, when they go to spinning off my stem cells, please let there be only cancer free stem cells collected, and re-introduced into my body on Aug 5th. And all to your praise and glory! Thanks!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Blog #4 - July 19
Dear Friends and Family:
Getting into the week of "real stuff" happens. Wednesday, I get the results of the last of my tests done last week. The bone marrow biopsy, last week, was painful, particularly since they had to do it twice. Double oowwwie! But the results were very good - the numbers are way down: less than "point one percent" malignancy in the marrow. Lungs and heart muscle checked out, too.
I also have my veins (in the arms) examined - if they are big enough, I won't have to have a centrol line placed in my chest. If not big enough, I'll have the line put in Thursday - day surgery..
I get four days of Nupegin shots - twice a day, 8a.m. and 8 p.m. That draws the stem cells out of the marrow into the periphery blood system. I don't know exactly how I'll feel at that time, but I guess I'll feel something!
Apherisis, the drawing out of my blood, spinning off of the stem cells, and the return of the remaining cells (red, white, platelets) to the blood system is next. Takes 3 or 4 days, four hrs/day (like dialysis). We're looking to harvest 2 million stem cells, 3 million is better, 5 million gives us enough to repeat this 5-8 years down the path. Of course, we're praying that it will never need to be repeated!
On the 2nd of August, I enter isolation and begin 2 days Melforin, the "killer drug" that kills off all cells in the marrow. 4th is a day of rest. August 5 is "day zero," the reintroduction of my stem cells into the blood stream, and the beginning of my body healing itself by these stem cells making healthy new white and red cells, and platelets in the correct number and balance.
Sometime during that process, I or Amy will let you know how it's going.
Thanks for many expressions of love and prayer,
In the Lord's peace and love,
Dick
Getting into the week of "real stuff" happens. Wednesday, I get the results of the last of my tests done last week. The bone marrow biopsy, last week, was painful, particularly since they had to do it twice. Double oowwwie! But the results were very good - the numbers are way down: less than "point one percent" malignancy in the marrow. Lungs and heart muscle checked out, too.
I also have my veins (in the arms) examined - if they are big enough, I won't have to have a centrol line placed in my chest. If not big enough, I'll have the line put in Thursday - day surgery..
I get four days of Nupegin shots - twice a day, 8a.m. and 8 p.m. That draws the stem cells out of the marrow into the periphery blood system. I don't know exactly how I'll feel at that time, but I guess I'll feel something!
Apherisis, the drawing out of my blood, spinning off of the stem cells, and the return of the remaining cells (red, white, platelets) to the blood system is next. Takes 3 or 4 days, four hrs/day (like dialysis). We're looking to harvest 2 million stem cells, 3 million is better, 5 million gives us enough to repeat this 5-8 years down the path. Of course, we're praying that it will never need to be repeated!
On the 2nd of August, I enter isolation and begin 2 days Melforin, the "killer drug" that kills off all cells in the marrow. 4th is a day of rest. August 5 is "day zero," the reintroduction of my stem cells into the blood stream, and the beginning of my body healing itself by these stem cells making healthy new white and red cells, and platelets in the correct number and balance.
Sometime during that process, I or Amy will let you know how it's going.
Thanks for many expressions of love and prayer,
In the Lord's peace and love,
Dick
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Blog #3 Time gets neaerer 13 July
Dear Ones:
When last I blogged, I was on the cusp of what I had heard was going to be a terribly painful prostate biopsy. Done week before last, it's hardly worth mentioning. Uncomfortable, a bit, but painful...not in the least. Of the dozen snipits taken, however, one had a 1% malignancy. So, the urologist says we should repeat the biopsy in another couple of months, but that's when I am going to be rather puny from the stem-cell transplant.
So, what to do about the prostate cancer in the meantime? Urologist says, and myeloma doctor concurs, I take a series of shots of Luperon that stymies (stultifies? freezes?) the prostate cancer until I am well enough recovered from the stem-cell transplant to address it. More stuff in the system. Doc says a possible side effect is like "hot flashes." Am I going to get weepy, too? O boy! Nuff said about that.
Tomorrow, I begin the x-rays, the MRIs, the lung and pulmonary tests, plus another bone marrow biopsy (ouch!). Prayers then are going to be very helpful! Thanks!
The Lord is our great physician! He will be with us throughout, but thanks for your love, prayers, concerns, and support. We really feel them!
Blessings and peace to you all,
Dick 'n Amy
When last I blogged, I was on the cusp of what I had heard was going to be a terribly painful prostate biopsy. Done week before last, it's hardly worth mentioning. Uncomfortable, a bit, but painful...not in the least. Of the dozen snipits taken, however, one had a 1% malignancy. So, the urologist says we should repeat the biopsy in another couple of months, but that's when I am going to be rather puny from the stem-cell transplant.
So, what to do about the prostate cancer in the meantime? Urologist says, and myeloma doctor concurs, I take a series of shots of Luperon that stymies (stultifies? freezes?) the prostate cancer until I am well enough recovered from the stem-cell transplant to address it. More stuff in the system. Doc says a possible side effect is like "hot flashes." Am I going to get weepy, too? O boy! Nuff said about that.
Tomorrow, I begin the x-rays, the MRIs, the lung and pulmonary tests, plus another bone marrow biopsy (ouch!). Prayers then are going to be very helpful! Thanks!
The Lord is our great physician! He will be with us throughout, but thanks for your love, prayers, concerns, and support. We really feel them!
Blessings and peace to you all,
Dick 'n Amy
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