Good Morning All:
Finally. Something to post and its good news! Yesterday I went to Hopkins for the first time since last Monday when I tested postive for the flu virus for a second time. This time they wanted to admit me on the spot since I did not have any of the flu symptoms! I wasn't prepared to be admitted on the spot so we compromised and settled on today. I've already received the call that a bed is open and I will be high-tailing it to Baltimore this AM to claim my spot for the 8th and final round of chemotherapy.
I had to scramble a bit since my logic led me to believe that the earliest I would be admitted was Wednesday. As a result I had several things scheduled for today. But, it seems like it will all work out and more importantly I'm finally back on track to finish up my chemotherapy regimen.
I should be in the hospital through Thursday receiving chemotherapy and released on Friday!
--Russ.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Delays continue - I'm moving on . . .
Good Afternoon All:
It seems that this influenza thing has really derailed the progress I was making. Monday's culture again tested positive for influenza and so the final chemotherapy treatment is again on hold. While this is disappointing because I want to be done with chemotherapy and back into the normal routines, the delays had already made things uncomfortable with appointments that I had originally thought to be safe all of the sudden being made 'up in the air' pending test results. So just about every delay has a silver lining as I am told I'll be able to make some appointment that I had already committed to.
The current plan has me reporting to Hopkins on Monday, March 30 for another test to see if I have finally gotten rid of the flu bug. Perhaps that points to an April 1 (how fitting) admit date but at this point I'm done guessing. Instead, I'm doing the things I had planned to be doing at this point. I'm engaging more at work (even though I'm not going in yet) and getting into full swing with Nolan's baseball team. I'll continue to make plans and to hedge my bets as I make them. Eventually this last round will be underway, then completed. Until then I'll be my antsy self when I'm stuck in the house but at least I'll have several more things to throw my thoughts and energies into.
--Russ.
It seems that this influenza thing has really derailed the progress I was making. Monday's culture again tested positive for influenza and so the final chemotherapy treatment is again on hold. While this is disappointing because I want to be done with chemotherapy and back into the normal routines, the delays had already made things uncomfortable with appointments that I had originally thought to be safe all of the sudden being made 'up in the air' pending test results. So just about every delay has a silver lining as I am told I'll be able to make some appointment that I had already committed to.
The current plan has me reporting to Hopkins on Monday, March 30 for another test to see if I have finally gotten rid of the flu bug. Perhaps that points to an April 1 (how fitting) admit date but at this point I'm done guessing. Instead, I'm doing the things I had planned to be doing at this point. I'm engaging more at work (even though I'm not going in yet) and getting into full swing with Nolan's baseball team. I'll continue to make plans and to hedge my bets as I make them. Eventually this last round will be underway, then completed. Until then I'll be my antsy self when I'm stuck in the house but at least I'll have several more things to throw my thoughts and energies into.
--Russ.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Flu + Suppression of the Immune System = Delay
Good Afternoon All:
Sorry for not posting sooner the results of Thursday's appointment. As expected the team at Hopkins opted to give me the weekend to kick the flu out of the system before re-testing me. I am scheduled to travel back to Hopkins on Monday for an afternoon appointment. By Tuesday they should have an idea as to whether the influenza culture grows or not.
If nothing happens I should be cleared to get admitted on Wednesday. One single complication exists as I see it: Thursday's blood test also showed that my platelets dipped below the threshold again. They weren't far below the threshold and I would expect that as I started to feel better the platelet production started back up again, but . . .
Anyway, I feel pretty good that Wednesday is going to happen and I am looking forward to it. I'll keep you posted!
--Russ.
Sorry for not posting sooner the results of Thursday's appointment. As expected the team at Hopkins opted to give me the weekend to kick the flu out of the system before re-testing me. I am scheduled to travel back to Hopkins on Monday for an afternoon appointment. By Tuesday they should have an idea as to whether the influenza culture grows or not.
If nothing happens I should be cleared to get admitted on Wednesday. One single complication exists as I see it: Thursday's blood test also showed that my platelets dipped below the threshold again. They weren't far below the threshold and I would expect that as I started to feel better the platelet production started back up again, but . . .
Anyway, I feel pretty good that Wednesday is going to happen and I am looking forward to it. I'll keep you posted!
--Russ.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cold? . . . Let's kick it up a notch, or two.
Good Morning All:
I'm on the precipice of a very rare Thursday Afternoon appointment. You might recall that I had a pretty bad cold over the weekend. That cold included a fever--a major concern for patients with suppressed immune systems. When I went into Hopkins on Monday they ran a number of cultures to try and isolate what was causing the fever. I also got another CT Scan of my chest and sinuses to locate sources of infection. Here is what I have learned so far from that battery of tests.
1. I tested positive for influenza. So I had the flu, not just a wimpy little cold.
2. I have pneumonia.
3. I have a brewing sinus infection.
4. My platelet levels finally got high enough for me to otherwise be admitted for the last round of chemo!
Needless to say they were not so certain that I should be getting that last round of chemotherapy on Monday and I was not admitted. They put me on an antibiotic and told me to come in on Thursday so that I could get a few doses under my belt before they re-evaluate me. When they learned that the influenza culture came back positive they pushed my appointment time from 11:00 to 2:00 so that I would encounter fewer patients and thereby lessen the possibility that I give the flu to someone with a severely suppressed immune system.
I've been down this road several times now and I know that when I walk in at 2:00 they will likely whisk me out of the waiting room and away from other patients ASAP and get me behind closed doors to contain my airborne virus(es). I can't help but appreciate the steps they take to keep bacteria and viruses from putting fellow cancer patients at risk and I am sure that I have benefitted as well (despite the 4 or 5 incidents I have had thus far). I will be interested in watching them 'do the math' on my physical condition today. Once I get the chemo my white blood cells will start dissappearing and my body's ability to fight illness will go with them. Even though my fever is long gone, my nose is running less and my cough less frequent and severe, I would not be surprised if they take a more cautious route and wait a little while longer before hitting me with chemo. This would give my body just a little more time to clear out any/all infections.
But perhaps they'll conclude that since I'm generally getting better, and I have the platelets to withstand the chemo, and will be under 24 hour care for 3 days (which wouldn't be a bad thing either) that they should proceed with my chemotherapy. In that case, I am likely to be admitted tomorrow.
In the end, I am very thankful for the expertise among the nurses and doctors at Johns Hopkins. They can weigh these variables using their long history with patients in my position and make a decision on my behalf that I know I will feel comfortable with. I will appreciate and accept the scenario where there is further delay, but I cannot help but continuing to hope that the delays are over and round 8 begins tomorrow (finally).
I'm on the precipice of a very rare Thursday Afternoon appointment. You might recall that I had a pretty bad cold over the weekend. That cold included a fever--a major concern for patients with suppressed immune systems. When I went into Hopkins on Monday they ran a number of cultures to try and isolate what was causing the fever. I also got another CT Scan of my chest and sinuses to locate sources of infection. Here is what I have learned so far from that battery of tests.
1. I tested positive for influenza. So I had the flu, not just a wimpy little cold.
2. I have pneumonia.
3. I have a brewing sinus infection.
4. My platelet levels finally got high enough for me to otherwise be admitted for the last round of chemo!
Needless to say they were not so certain that I should be getting that last round of chemotherapy on Monday and I was not admitted. They put me on an antibiotic and told me to come in on Thursday so that I could get a few doses under my belt before they re-evaluate me. When they learned that the influenza culture came back positive they pushed my appointment time from 11:00 to 2:00 so that I would encounter fewer patients and thereby lessen the possibility that I give the flu to someone with a severely suppressed immune system.
I've been down this road several times now and I know that when I walk in at 2:00 they will likely whisk me out of the waiting room and away from other patients ASAP and get me behind closed doors to contain my airborne virus(es). I can't help but appreciate the steps they take to keep bacteria and viruses from putting fellow cancer patients at risk and I am sure that I have benefitted as well (despite the 4 or 5 incidents I have had thus far). I will be interested in watching them 'do the math' on my physical condition today. Once I get the chemo my white blood cells will start dissappearing and my body's ability to fight illness will go with them. Even though my fever is long gone, my nose is running less and my cough less frequent and severe, I would not be surprised if they take a more cautious route and wait a little while longer before hitting me with chemo. This would give my body just a little more time to clear out any/all infections.
But perhaps they'll conclude that since I'm generally getting better, and I have the platelets to withstand the chemo, and will be under 24 hour care for 3 days (which wouldn't be a bad thing either) that they should proceed with my chemotherapy. In that case, I am likely to be admitted tomorrow.
In the end, I am very thankful for the expertise among the nurses and doctors at Johns Hopkins. They can weigh these variables using their long history with patients in my position and make a decision on my behalf that I know I will feel comfortable with. I will appreciate and accept the scenario where there is further delay, but I cannot help but continuing to hope that the delays are over and round 8 begins tomorrow (finally).
Monday, March 16, 2009
Update - The delays continue
Good Morning All:
Well, Friday came and went and still no hospital admission. My platelets hadn't gotten to the mandatory 60,000 level and the effects of a virus call into question whether I would have been admitted anyway as certain measures of liver functioning were thrown out of whack. I generally felt ok with the exception of a minor stomach ache--until this weekend. I now have a full-blown cold of some sort (I hope it isn't pneumonia again, something I'm sure they'll take measures to confirm or rule out today). I'm coughing so much that my ribs hurt.
I'll continue to go back to the clinic every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until they deem my body ready to receive this last dose of chemo. I suspect that it won't be today given how I feel, perhaps Wednesday.
On a more positive note, the baseball season for my son's team begins tomorrow! We're getting the kids out for a short practice--exciting!
--Russ.
Well, Friday came and went and still no hospital admission. My platelets hadn't gotten to the mandatory 60,000 level and the effects of a virus call into question whether I would have been admitted anyway as certain measures of liver functioning were thrown out of whack. I generally felt ok with the exception of a minor stomach ache--until this weekend. I now have a full-blown cold of some sort (I hope it isn't pneumonia again, something I'm sure they'll take measures to confirm or rule out today). I'm coughing so much that my ribs hurt.
I'll continue to go back to the clinic every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until they deem my body ready to receive this last dose of chemo. I suspect that it won't be today given how I feel, perhaps Wednesday.
On a more positive note, the baseball season for my son's team begins tomorrow! We're getting the kids out for a short practice--exciting!
--Russ.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Update
Good Morning All:
I woke up this AM realizing it has been a while since I posted. There really isn't much that has happened since my posting on Thursday so please try to stifle the yawns . . .
I went to Hopkins yesterday and learned that my platelets hadn't budged from the count taken on Friday. I'm tenatively scheduled to begin round 8 on Friday the 13th (!) but all that depends on my body continuing to make platelets to get me up to the minimum threshold established by my doctors. Since there really isn't anything more to do than wait I've been given off until Friday. It could be worse, though. I have energy and white blood cells so that means that I can get out to run errands, etc. which makes me feel useful and keeps me a bit busier--a very welcome circumstance.
I woke up this AM realizing it has been a while since I posted. There really isn't much that has happened since my posting on Thursday so please try to stifle the yawns . . .
I went to Hopkins yesterday and learned that my platelets hadn't budged from the count taken on Friday. I'm tenatively scheduled to begin round 8 on Friday the 13th (!) but all that depends on my body continuing to make platelets to get me up to the minimum threshold established by my doctors. Since there really isn't anything more to do than wait I've been given off until Friday. It could be worse, though. I have energy and white blood cells so that means that I can get out to run errands, etc. which makes me feel useful and keeps me a bit busier--a very welcome circumstance.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Update
Good Morning All:
Just a quick update of a slightly minor but nice development from yesterday's trip to Hopkins. As you are all aware I have my eyes set on my final hospital admission to begin the 8th and final round of my treatment regimen.
The analysis of my bloodwork yesterday showed that my white blood cells are coming out of neutrapenia (I should be 'out of the woods' today)--the first step in me getting out of round 7 and into round 8.
Avid readers of my blog(s) should recognize that the platelets have been the slowers of progress recently and they may still be a bit of a bugaboo as they are still slowly dropping as a result of the round 7 chemo treatments. The question is whether they will drop low enough to warrant a transfusion that would provide a nice boost toward the threshold levels needed to start the next round or if I will start making platelets on my own in the next few days to where I will likely take a much slower road to getting round 8 started.
In any event, round 8 is before me!
--Russ.
Just a quick update of a slightly minor but nice development from yesterday's trip to Hopkins. As you are all aware I have my eyes set on my final hospital admission to begin the 8th and final round of my treatment regimen.
The analysis of my bloodwork yesterday showed that my white blood cells are coming out of neutrapenia (I should be 'out of the woods' today)--the first step in me getting out of round 7 and into round 8.
Avid readers of my blog(s) should recognize that the platelets have been the slowers of progress recently and they may still be a bit of a bugaboo as they are still slowly dropping as a result of the round 7 chemo treatments. The question is whether they will drop low enough to warrant a transfusion that would provide a nice boost toward the threshold levels needed to start the next round or if I will start making platelets on my own in the next few days to where I will likely take a much slower road to getting round 8 started.
In any event, round 8 is before me!
--Russ.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Lasts
Good Morning All:
My neutropenic bones are back on the steroids as of yesterday and so the energy levels are spiking!
I wanted to give a quick update that all continues to go well. My counts are pretty low across the board (white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, neutrophils--makes you wonder what I do have in my veins) and tomorrow is shaping up to be a long transfusion day--somewhere on the order of 7 or 8 hours to get red blood cells and platelets.
I wanted to share with you one of the recent joys as I finish my last A-cycle of treatment and move into the final B-cycle and cycle number 8 of 8. It is realizing that I have finished or will be finishing some of the more unpleasant parts of the process. For example, yesterday I had my last dose of Vincristine, a particularly nasty chemotherapy drug whose more sinister side effects is to cause feeling loss in my finger tips. For a time this feeling loss had extended to the first knuckles of each each finger. I still have baseline numbness in the tips themselves. There was always a chance that the nerve damage caused by this drug could be permanent but the fact that mine seems to ebb-and-flow based on the proximity to the treatment of the drugs seems to point that I should recover the feeling. Good thing, Audrey gets frustrated with how long it takes me to button the backs of her dresses.
Despite the energy boosts I get from these steroids, it also naturally causes sleeplessness. I get up in the morning with lots of ideas and the energy to act on them but you should see me crash around 9:00. This is my last 4-day dosing cycle of these steroids--I will take great joy in throwing away my empty pill bottle on Thursday afternoon.
These are the most recent 'lasts' that I can point to. I'll be making mention of them as they occur so you can all share in the satisfaction of these successes even if it might not mean quite as much to you as the larger milestones achieved so far.
--Russ.
My neutropenic bones are back on the steroids as of yesterday and so the energy levels are spiking!
I wanted to give a quick update that all continues to go well. My counts are pretty low across the board (white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, neutrophils--makes you wonder what I do have in my veins) and tomorrow is shaping up to be a long transfusion day--somewhere on the order of 7 or 8 hours to get red blood cells and platelets.
I wanted to share with you one of the recent joys as I finish my last A-cycle of treatment and move into the final B-cycle and cycle number 8 of 8. It is realizing that I have finished or will be finishing some of the more unpleasant parts of the process. For example, yesterday I had my last dose of Vincristine, a particularly nasty chemotherapy drug whose more sinister side effects is to cause feeling loss in my finger tips. For a time this feeling loss had extended to the first knuckles of each each finger. I still have baseline numbness in the tips themselves. There was always a chance that the nerve damage caused by this drug could be permanent but the fact that mine seems to ebb-and-flow based on the proximity to the treatment of the drugs seems to point that I should recover the feeling. Good thing, Audrey gets frustrated with how long it takes me to button the backs of her dresses.
Despite the energy boosts I get from these steroids, it also naturally causes sleeplessness. I get up in the morning with lots of ideas and the energy to act on them but you should see me crash around 9:00. This is my last 4-day dosing cycle of these steroids--I will take great joy in throwing away my empty pill bottle on Thursday afternoon.
These are the most recent 'lasts' that I can point to. I'll be making mention of them as they occur so you can all share in the satisfaction of these successes even if it might not mean quite as much to you as the larger milestones achieved so far.
--Russ.
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