Got the last spinal for B1 this morning. I'm chilling in recovery still but it's cool to be done with that at least. Now I have a few days to rest and just do level checks at the clinic and try to not get a wicked headache from the spinal. Thanks also to mom for getting me here and putting some McDs in my mouth while I couldn't sit up 😃
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I hope everyone is spending some time with friends and family this weekend. I just had a clinic visit today to check levels. Natalie drove and got to experience the clinic with me. She made us some awesome burgers last night and we are going to go home and enjoy some time on the patio on this beautiful day.
Tomorrow I have a spinal injection and then I'm offically done with B1. Just gotta wait for levels to be back to do A2 in the clinic. I think that course is 3 hour chemos for 3 days then two days of 20 min chemos. I have an appointment on June 10th or 13th or so with my main doctor to discuss all this and where we go from here. Kaylee came by for a Saturday visit. She loves to swim on the deck. She's having a great Memorial Day weekend.
Today hasn't been awesome from a side affect viewpoint. Headache, nausea, all that yucky feeling in the pit of my ribs when I eat. Bagels and applesauce are going down good though. Looks like I found my "sick" food that I can tolerate. Still thankful that this is the worst of it. Tomorrow and Monday I'll be with Natalie :). Monday I'll be in for a clinic visit and Tuesday I have another spinal, then I'm officially done with B1. Most of you know Jay. Those that don't will know him now. Jay has been a great friend for so many years. He is damn smart and has the drive and passion to accomplish anything. Yesterday he came and donated platelets for me and for others suffering from this disease that desperately need it. I want to make sure he and everyone knows how much it is appreciated and how awesome it is that he and others are
willing to spend the time to donate. Much love and admiration Jay. So, yesterday was up and down. Had some people come by and that was good, but shortly after lunch I started feeling "off". Best I can describe it I was fuzzy and nauseous. I have one more two hour round of chemo today and they think I'll be able to go home after it so that's good news. Kaylee coming by Saturday. Also great news. Hoping the worst of this is behind me. Least fav thing was "lasix". It's something they use to clear the fluids. Makes you urinate every 5 minutes for about 1-2 hours. Very odd feeling. Also not getting full sleep here with the interruptions all night. Hoping to go home today and sleep sleep sleep.
This is Tim. He is am amazing boss and an ever cooler guy. He raised more money on my plum fund by shaving his head!!! Check him out guys!! He pulls off the look, well, like a
boss!!! Thanks Tim. Looking forward to a side by side pic soon!!!! All
So many have asked what you can do to help me. Here it is. At some point I might need platelets. Nancy from atlanta blood services told me today that recently one patient wasn't able to get platelets when she needed it. I have so far not needed it, but many people do. Please please please donate. Come and say hi and head over to the tower. It's not the same as donating blood. They put your blood back and keep only platelets. Here is the email I got from nancy: Hello! It was a pleasure meeting you today! I look forward to meeting your new fiancé, Natalie! I also hope to meet your Mom! I greatly appreciate your sharing your blog with me. I feel like I know you a little! Per our conversation, the need for platelets continues to increase drastically as our patient volume grows. There are many obstacles to keeping a ready supply: · Eligible donors do not donate because they are not aware of the need · Eligible donors do not donate because of a lack of time · Prior donors become ineligible due to illness or travel restrictions · The shortage is not just at ABS but in the state and the country. Please help by educating friends, family and colleagues through social media and word of mouth. Please let us know if there are groups or organizations we can contact to educate and recruit: · Employers (current and/or former) · Church and/or Sunday School · Schools or groups affiliated with a school · Civic organizations I have included some information below about ABS and some general facts about platelet shortages. I have also attached some materials you may share or find helpful. In addition to the ‘general’ patient flyer, I have attached an example of a customized patient flyer where the patient/family were able to tell their story. I would be more than happy to personalize a flyer for you. All I would need is a picture or pictures and ‘your story’! · Atlanta Blood Services (ABS) has been Atlanta’s community platelet donation center since 1998. Located at Northside Hospital and in Marietta, ABS is part of the nationally recognized Blood and Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia, which has the best survival rates for matched related and unrelated bone marrow transplants of any program in the country. ABS is dedicated to serving Atlanta by providing platelets NSH and BMTGA oncology and transplant programs. · Platelets are critical as patients with blood cancers and other critical blood disorders undergo radiation, chemotherapy and bone marrow or stem cell transplants. · A low platelet count can prevent the patient from continuing with the treatment needed. · BMTGA patients may use 50 or more units of platelets during the course of treatment. · ABS depends solely on the generosity and support of volunteer donors to meet the needs of our patients. I know that this is a stressful time. We are able and willing to assist you with recruiting and educating donors if you are willing to provide us with information. We want to sincerely thank you for any help you may be able to offer. Every donor counts! Sincerely, Nancy Nancy Herring | Team Lead – Donor Recruitment Atlanta Blood Services 404-459-8744 Ext: 7004 Give Blood. Give Life. Notice: This e-mail message and all attachments transmitted with it may contain legally privileged and confidential information intended solely for the use for the addressee. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any reading, dissemination, distribution, copying, or other use of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone (404-255-1930) or by electronic mail, and delete this message and all copies and backups thereof. Thank you. I have all the brochures and documentation I will try to share here if my blog will let me. Please donate. It's two hours of your time but it could mean saving someone here or even saving me. I would prefer this over any gifts or anything else. This means a lot. Thanks everyone. Natalie came and visited me tonight for dinner at the hospital. Isn't she beautiful? I sure love spending time with her, even in the hospital.
Tonight's special was bbq pork. Not too bad, but wasn't quite enough. All the medication I am on (especially the steroids) make me super hungry! I guess that's a good thing. Tomorrow I apparently have another spinal chemo. News to me. Right now I'm on a 24 hour chemo slow drip. Back in hospital. They put me in the same room so that's cool at least to have familiar surroundings. They are pumping me full of the sodium bicarbonate as the dosage I got last night wasn't enough. Soon as my levels are where they want them, I'll start the chemo. Hoping for no bad side effects.
Clinic sent me home with a fanny pack of sodium bicarbonate IV pump to prep for the chemo tomorrow. Apparently this stuff makes it so the chemo doesn't destroy my kidneys, so it's probably pretty important. Hope that when I sleep tonight I don't wake up and start walking away without it. Don't really feel like having my picc line tore out.
Five days in the hospital start at 8am tomorrow. Hopefully I react well to the new drugs. |
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