Back in hospital now

Was admitted this afternoon after some initial administrative issues. Had the procedure to install my hickman lines and am resting comfortably before moving me to my bed up on Rhoads 7. More to come.

50% solution

Visiting the oncologist today was unlike any other visit: it was actually not just busy, but crowded! And it seemed like quite a social gathering. After a couple of false starts to get my bloods drawn and get in to the the doctor (with my chart missing, nonetheless), we finally heard that the bone marrow [...]

Bone Marrow Biopsy no. 4

Friday I had my fourth bone marrow biopsy. We were testing to find out how much leukemia is still in my bones. Above a certain threshhold, and I’ll need to go back for another round of chemo before the transplant. This will improve my chances with the transplant. Of course, such a circumstance may also [...]

There’s going to be a round 2 of chemo

So my first round of chemo didn’t get the results we were hoping for and I need to have a second round of chemo to try to bring my counts down even lower. Until we get the results of this second round of chemo, we won’t know if I’ll need a bone marrow transplant, and [...]

The anti-nausea drugs have arrived

Three yellow Zofran pills, and five small green pills – can’t remember their name. And the colase — which I’m appreciating more and more.
 The chemo drugs are here. They’ll be hung up on my rod in about an hour.

Day 5 – getting ready for Chemo

I could see in my life getting ready for a lot of firsts: first little-league baseball game, first schoool play, first prom. But to say I’m getting ready for Chemotherapy for the first time sounds odd. It’s so random. And yet, I am. The Hickman line helps to deliver the chemo, and the anti-nausea drugs [...]

Day 4 – early evening

So during the day, I spoke with my oncologist. I have Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. I can’t explain how this is different from the other type. We also discussed treatment. The preferred approach today is to give antitumor anitiotics with antimetabolites (chemical similar to the building blocks of DNA but are changed sufficiently from the natural [...]

Day 4 – mid-day update

This morning, had my Hickman line installed. This means no more IV lines on my arms and hands. These are tubes that enter the body through the chest. I have three tubes exiting the hole. It’s not gross at all – it’s all very clean. And it means no special sticking is needed to draw [...]

Day 4 – good groggy morning

I’m usually up and funcitoning at 8am. I may not be at work, but I am work-ready. On this 8am, I’m a little groggy. I took an extra dose of the sleeping pill which put me right out last night around 11pm. 1am they come in with the platlets so they can do a procedure [...]