This Pilgrim's Progress

Apheresis

Today was my third day of apheresis (stem cell harvesting). It's going well, apparently the neupogen is doing it's work and I'm producing a good quantity of stem cells.  Today might be my last day, if not then tomorrow will be.  It is pretty boring being hooked up to the machine for six hours, but I have a nice thick history/biography book (parallel biography of Hitler and Stalin)  to read.  I haven't had a re-occurrence of the severe bone pain, just minor twinges now and then.  Debbie has been keeping me company and she's been reading a nice thick bio of Teddy Roosevelt.  The nicest part is being able to come home to my own bed each day (instead of staying in a hospital).    Next  Thursday I'll be checking into the hospital for the next phase,  4/5 days of BEAM chemo, followed by the stem cell transplant and recovery.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Bone Pain

Last night the bone pain from the neupogen came on in a big way.  Thankfully, I had darvocet to help with the pain, so I mostly slept through the night.  Last night most of the pain was coming from the sternum, which felt like I was having a heart-attack.  This morning it's mostly coming from the pelvic bone, so it feels like I have arthritis in my hip joints.  The positive out of this is that obviously the neupogen shots are working, and my bone marrow is producing more stem-cells. Next Tuesday I start the harvesting of the stem cells (apherisis) at the Moores Cancer Center. It's an out-patient deal, but I'll be there a good portion of the day.  My daughter is home from college this weekend (and for the summer), so it's been wonderful to have her here. 

Blessings to all our family and friends, and be sure to fly the flag and remember our veterans and their sacrifice for our country's freedom!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Neupogen shots - piece of cake!

Well, Debbie gave me my neupogen shots yesterday, and my arm didn't fall off or anything!!  She did a good job, and I really didn't experience any pain.  As the neupogen starts to take hold though I'll probably feel some side-effects from it, especially the bone pain.  They didn't give us pre-loaded syringes, so Debbie had to fill them from these tiny little glass bottles or vials. That was probably the hardest part. I'm feeling pretty tired today and the catheter still bothers me. I'll probably do a lot of sleeping today again.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Same - o Same - o

Nothing new to report today. I had a pretty good weekend.  Yesterday I was pretty wiped out from the Cytoxan chemo that I was given Saturday.  Slept alot, took tylenol and darvocet when I needed it.  The central venous catheter is still bothering me, and I actually have an aching pain on the right side of the chest, and when I swallow. RN at the infusion center said that it was normal to experience that. It's a Hickman tunneled catheter that goes up to my jugular vein. So instead of a "Harkonnen Heart Plug" I have a "Harkonnen Neck Plug".  Today I got to take a shower after taping the catheter with saran wrap so it wouldn't get wet. Much more satisfying than a sponge or washcloth bath!!

This evening I start the neupogen shots. That should be "interesting", either Debbie has to give the shots or I have to do it myself.  I get 1080 mcg. which is a pretty hefty dose. The neupogen is supposed to cause your bone marrow to produced excess stem cells and throw them into the veins where they can be harvested.  One side-effect is bone pain, so I probably won't be a very happy camper the rest of the week. I hope I have enough darvocet!!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Small chemo today

Went into Moores Cancer Center today for some chemo. It was cytoxan to encourage production of stem cells.  Also had the dressing changed on my catheter.  The ends of the two tubes  are red and blue, so it kind of looks like I'm wired for stereo!!  They have a very large and very nice infusion center.  Tomorrow I have to go back to get the dressing changed again, and the same drill on Monday. Also on Monday I'll get the Neupogen and they'll show me how to do the injection.  I'll probably not go to church tomorrow. I want to stay as healthy as possible, and it's a good idea to avoid crowds.  My son is playing the drums at church, so I regret missing that, but Debbie will be there. 

Soli Deo Gloria!

Catheter Placement Today

I went to Thornton Hospital today and they placed a central catheter in/on me. This will be used for harvesting stem cells and for chemotherapy as well as anything else where they need to get something into me, or obtain blood for labs. It went pretty well. I'm feeling a little achy pain in my neck, and I hope it will go away soon. The pain is where the catheter actually goes into a vein, the other end is fine (where it comes out of a tube beneath the skin on my chest).

Tomorrow I go in for some chemo (cytoxan) and to have the catheter dressing changed. The following 3 days I go in to have the dressing changed. Then next week I give myself daily neupogen injections.

Yesterday was my last day of work before going on medical leave/disability. Our boss treated the whole department (7 of us) and we all  went to see the new Star Trek movie. It was a good time, and the move was terrific. The director did a fantastic job and the script wasn't too hokey.  I work with a great bunch of dedicated IT professionals, and they all work very hard. I hope our company realizes how fortunate it is to have such a good IT team. I've been in IT for about 25 years, and this is the best team I've ever been part of. Unfortunately the department is way understaffed, so I hope and pray that they won't get burned out this summer. We have hired on a remote DBA services company, so I'm more relaxed this time that I don't have to worry about work as much as I did last winter while going through CHOP. I plan to focus on just getting well this time around.

All through this time (since last August) my family and I have been sustained by all your prayers.  We've definitely been blessed by the Holy Spirit during this difficult time and in ways that I can't even describe right now. So, be assured, your prayers are at work and are working!!

Soli Deo Gloria!!

Transplant schedule

Reading over the last few posts, I realized that we know people who've been battling cancer or other diseases for a lot longer than I have. Not that it invalidates the stress I've been feeling, but it helps me to remember that I need to keep my eyes on the path and on the Lord! Life is an endurance race, not a sprint!!

Transplant Schedule:

May 13 - CBC lab

May 14 - Last day of work, leave of absence starts 5/15/09

May 15 - catheter placement

May 16 - Cytoxin infusion (mini-chem0)

May 19-23 - Daily self-injections of Nuepogen.

May 26-30 - Stem cell harvesting (apheresis)

June 3 - Appt. with Dr. Ball

June 4 - Admission to hospital, Thornton

June 5-9 - Chemo (BEAM)

June 10 - Rest Day

June 11 - Reinfusion of stem cells

June 12- 27 - Recovery in hospital

June 28 - August 30 - Recovery at home until I'm ready to go back to work.

(recovery times are variable, depending on how I'm doing and how fast it takes for my blood counts to start returning to normal).

Soli Deo Gloria!!

Good News

We met with my oncologist at UCSD today. He gave the go-ahead for the bone  marrow transplant!! Debbie and I are very encouraged by this, we've been waiting what seems to  be a long time. The process won't start until May 15, so we also get to go to Heidi's Junior Recital on May 10!!  I'll post the schedule for everything later. We are very happy we'll get to go the recital, Heidi has been working very hard on it. We are very proud of her!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Last of the tests today

I go in today for an echocardiogram and EK.  Last week I had a CT and PET scan and a CBC lab done. My blood counts are good, and the scans showed just two small areas of cancer left. Tomorrow I see the  oncologist at UCSD, and hopefully we'll go forward with the BMT.

I'm doing pretty well.  Physically I tolerated the ICE chemo pretty well, no nasty side affects. Idid lose most of my hair, and the neurapthy is very noticeable in my feet.

But I guess the stress of it all is wearing on me. I had a meltdown yesterday, so I think it finally built up to a point, and then something triggered the meltdown.  I've been working full time, so its probably not surprising to have things pile up on me. 

We are all so ready for this lymphoma thing to be over with so we can get back to some semblance of a normal life.