Well, I ain't gonn a lie and say this trip around the block is easier than last time because it is shorter in duration. ICE chemo over a 4 day period sure aint no joke. I still feel like a slug, except with a headache to boot. Not drinking enough liquids- so I am working on that. I've got a big lemonade I'm sipping on today. Need something with strong flavor like that, or else it is kind of disgusting.
I think I've found a better way to develop abs than the exercises we use in CrossFit. Its called chemo. From about hour 3 'til day 4 of getting the ICE blast, I develop an incesant case of hiccups. They are non-stop and there is no cure. I've tried every home made remedy there is, and the doc even gave me Thorazine. They say it is very common, and it normally subsides as soon as the drip is pulled out- which was Monday. I awoke today feeling like my abdomen had been CANED! My belly is so sore, you wouldn't believe it. Sore to the touch. However many thousand of hiccup contractions- I don't know. Killer though.
In an earlier post, I discused purposely with very little detail our displeasure with the Emory Winship Center. No offense guys- I know lots of folks working at Emory, that I am sure are reading this. After doing much research and speaking with several folks/survivors we have decided to move our camp over to the Bone Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia. They are a private practice located at Northside Hosipital. I don't do well being treated like a number, and most of you know, I like to know whats going on and like to keep a certain amount of control. The practice at Northside is very much like the original practice where I underwent my first round of treatments. Nice, homey, and they know your friggin name. Heck, the nurses I spoke with actually knew my diagnosis without asking me. How's that for novel? (Insert sarcastic grin here) Another comforting factor is that my doctor at BMTGA has been doing this for years, and was one of the original pioneers in setting up the process for BMT. He's one of the OG's.- for those tragically hip enough to catch that. Further, much of his research has been in Hodgkins Disease, which is the cancer I am getting ready to beat again.
The process of the Bone Marrow Transplant is relatively the same anywhere you go. 2-3 cycles of ICE, collect stem cells, knock out chemo punch and then put cells back in. The big difference at Northside is that they do their transplants more on an outpatient basis than an in. In other words, I'll be in the hospital for the transplant, and then back out after a few days. From there, it will be daily trips to the clinic to get fluids, platelets, red blood cells, etc. This will last for about 6 weeks, then the visits become every other day, to twice a week, then once a week, then follow up. This is all over the course of 100 days from the transplant. I'll be kind of on house arrest during that 100 days, but can have all the visitors I want- just no snot nosed kids. I was kind of excited to hear this approach, as the alternative of staying in the hospital at Emory for 25-30 days minimum does not excite me in the very least. At least this way, I'll have my own bed, my own TV, hobbies etc. If there are any complications, then Northside is just a short trip up the road. They say the common thing to happen is to get a fever. If this happens, they get you in and infuse you with a strong antibiotic and send you back home. Presto.
Thats it for now I guess. Talk at y'all soon.
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