Finish the Drill

Bad Habits

I think we all have bad habits.  Mine this week is not keeping my forum updated.  Sorry 'bout that y'all. 

Well, we are finally out of the woods from the last round of chemical warfare.  Probably the worst one yet, but no complaints.  I see folks at the clinic all the time that have it much worse than me.  Whether they are nearing the end of their time on this earth, sicker than I, or just plain feeble.  I am thankful everytime I see someone worse off than me.  I wish I could somehow help them all. 

There is one more round of ICE left for me and then the transplant process- which part of it is, you guessed it- another dose of a different kind of chemo.  Not worried about that right now.  Right now, we are in what is called the collection process.  Today, I started the process of harvesting my stem cells.  For the next week, I will be taking 2 shots a day of something called nuepagen (sp?).   I've had it before- but just one time a day.  It is a growth factor medication that triggers my bone marrow to produce more stem cells and release them into my blood stream.  After next Tuesday, they will start collecting them.  That part is no big deal.  I'll just sit with my central line hooked up to a machine that lets the blood flow through.  It somehow skims the stem cells out.  I believe I'll go daily for collection until they have as many as they need.  Not very exciting. 

Beyond that- all is well on this end with us.  Melissa continues to be the best, most patient nurse.  Especially now, as she gets to have fun sticking me with a needle twice a day.  I'll be sure to stay in line.

Y'all take care.

Day 4.

Hey guys, So we drove up to Northside today to give Jeff a bag of fluid and potassium and they sent us home...he didn't need it today.  So he is resting at home today.  He had a restless night.  I think the steroids are kicking in.  They tend to make him speed.  Ambien and Ativan didn't work last night so I think the roids are pretty strong!  He is doing very well today.  Has some side effects of course.  Extremely weak and out of it.  He is also having a hard time focusing...visually and of course mentally!  He is a bit foggy, but gets better every hour!  He is almost back!  What I mean by that is that he is not himself for a few days and then he comes back after the chemo wears off.  This is so much better than last time where he was gone for much of the 6 months.  I am very grateful for this!  I am sure he will blog for you guys tomorrow.  Thanks for checking in on us, M

Today's pic: our friends Mac & Jeanie went to the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo and hung a prayer for Jeff.

Day 3 of Chemo 3.

Hey All, Jeff is doing well today.  Very, very tired and out of it, but to be expected on Day 3.  We were really nervous because he got pretty sick on Day 1....which was different than before, but he has taken the last 2 days in stride.  He did throw up last night...out of nowhere...we now have one less rug...it was jute for all the moms out there who are thinking it could be saved.  No, no!  He may have to come back in this weekend to check his counts but other than that we are outta here!  It has been such a great experience here at Northside.  The outpatient chemo is such a great idea.  We have both been able to get a good night's sleep, and Jeff really enjoys curling up with Spike the cancer dog.  I am sure he would love to curl up with Scout too, but Scout will have none of it!

Thanks to all the PM Boot Camp instructors for keeping us fully stocked with saucy food!  Your help is so appreciated!  Thanks to all of you for your blog comments, emails and cards.  We so appreciate the support.

Okay, update.  Jennifer, Jeff's nurse just informed us that they will be collecting Stem Cells after this current Chemo treatment.  We are at Day 3 right now and they will begin to collect after Day 10.  This means he will have twice daily Neupagen shots...no idea how to spell that, it is basically human growth hormone, the side effects are bone pain.  He should feel pretty good other than that and chemo side effects.  He will need one more Chemo treatment in about 3-4 weeks after the stem cell collection.  Not sure if they will collect after that one as well....we'll see.  He will then get the BIG CHEMO shock to get every last cancer cell!  They will then stick his own stem cells back in.  

That is the plan for now.  We were hoping to be done with all this before GA football season but looks like we are heading into mid-September.  We are now aiming at being 100% for the GA-FL game!  Take care everyone, M

Today's pics: top is Scout on his way out to the backyard and bottom is Spike on a field trip to Current where Wendy works.  She took him to work off some excess energy while Jeff was in the hospital.

A bit of a new experience

Well, this is the first round of chemo we have been given from Norrthside.  Totally different deal- for the bstter.   Yesterday was the first part of it.  I just went in for a 2 hour bag and some potasisum, and I was on my way.  Previously at Emory, they would have ma check into the hospital at 4:00PM and just sit there until 10:pm when they were ready to give chemo.  Worked that way every time.  Waste of time an money keeping my in the hospital..

Anyhoo, today is the second day.  So, I went in got my 2 hour chemo drip and fluids.  Day 2 is also the day for the 24 hour chemo infusion as well.  Northside has hooked me up with this nifty fanny pack looking pump in a pouch.  It will just keep on pumping through the night.  Its awesome.  I get to sleep in my own bed and all tha good shit.  Soooo much easier.  About the time I get back to the clinic in the AM, the drip will be over and they'll unhook it.  Last thing tomorrow is that 2 hour drug again, and then they will hook a 12 hour medication- it is not a chemo sickie drug.  It helps with a side effect.   They'll send us home with a bag for that, which we'll just unhoolk at home when it beeps like a microvave. 

Was lucky enough to see my big brother, Mitch last week.  He came into town for Mothers Day last weekend.  Since my chemo had been delayed due to the scans, I was feeling great and was able to spend some family time- unsick.   I hope all that come across this are well.  Spirits are very high on this end. 

Results are in

Well, I finally got word back from the PET scans that I had on Monday.  Good news and not as good news.  No bad news. 

The Good- The infection that they found in my lungs from the other week is now completely gone.  Scans showed no more inflamation.  I never felt anything wrong other than fever.    Also, the disease is responding well to the chemotherapy I have been given so far.  The nodes in my chest are not showing any diseases. 

The not as good:   I didn't make it to complete remission from 2 cycles of ICE.  There are still a couple of nodes in my neck and armpit area that are affected.  The doctor has prescribed 2 more cycles of chemical warfare.   They are pretty confident that will do it- then I can move on to the stem cell transplant and be done once and for all. 

See- no bad news today.  Just not everything I wanted to hear.  I was hoping I'd be able to go straight into the transplant.   I am to start back up on chemo Monday- which means ANOTHER few days of feeling great!   I'll keep y'all updated. 

Happy Friday

Sorry for being slack on the posts.  After the craziness last week, nothing too exciting going on this week.  Normally, this would be a chemo weekend for me.  But, this is the time when I get restaged.  I've got PET/CT scans set for Monday.  Depending upon the results from those tests, I may or may not need a 3rd round.  If it is determined that I do not, then I will go straight into the transplant process.  If I need a 3rd, then it is what it is.  That was the original plan.  If I can get out of one- then it is a bonus.  Keep your fingers crossed for us.  Hoping for best possible results from the upcoming scans. 

I would like for folks to go out and try something new this weekend.  Go out and kick some ass.  Oh, and Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there.  Especially mine!

I've been sprung!

Well, finally back at home after our little fever ordeal.  We got home Saturday around 1:00 PM.  The doc was waiting on the blood bacteria cultures before allowing us to leave.  They came back negative of any blood infections and there were no more fevers- so off we went.   I didn't like one bit being cooped up in that little room for 4 days straight.  Since I was in for an infection, I was on confinement.  I guess a little preview into the upcoming stay after the transplant.  Although for that stay, they get you in a routine, make you walk laps around the unit, etc.  It won't be as bad.   

Along with all the bullshit that I've been griping about lately, there are some pretty cool things that come along with the Chemo package deal as well.  For instance, I hadn't shaved in about 7-8 days.  I was looking a little gruff- but not what I would normally be after that long.  After I got home today, I took a shower and shaved.  The shaving was so weird- it was like shaving through melted butter.  What was going on was that I wasn't "shaving".  The razor was just pulling the whiskers on out- with absoultely no resistance.  My entire face and neck is baby smooth.  I haven't felt this clean in 20 years.    I believe that is probably the last time I am going to have to shave for the next several months.  Who's jealous?   I think it rocks.   

Clinic vist coming up on Tuesday.  Until then, just normal life- as normal as it can be.  I'll update y'all on Tuesday as to upcoming schedule of events.  I should know more then.   

Another First

So...after our big high from deciding to move to Northside...we decided to change Jeff's catheter dressing Wednesday night.  During the change I noticed one of the clips was broken (it had actually never been installed correctly..just didn't notice).  I was changing the caps on the catheter...which is when the line into his vein is actually open and he coughed.  The pressure caused blood to flow out & scared the crap out of both of us!  And, since the clip was broken, I couldn't figure out how to stop the bleeding!  Poor Jeff was so freaked out!  Anyway, we figured it out.  The scare caused him to cough and we couldn't get it to stop.  Then he started shaking from chills, couldn't get that to stop.  We kept a watch on his temperature as it slowly rose.  So, at about 1:30 AM we paged the doctor on call.  He suggested that we admit him to Northside.  We are really glad we did.  Turns out he has a bit of inflammation in his lungs &/or an infection in his catheter line.  He felt horrible Wednesday night but within a few hours felt really good after receiving some potassium, fluids and antibiotics.  We spent the day here yesterday.  Neither one of us slept more than 2 hours Wednesday...so we slept really well here last night!  We thought we might be released today, but the doc wants to have one more chest X-ray today.  We hope that will lead to a release on Sat.  So that is the update.  I am sure Jeff will blog to y'all as soon as he is up to it.  He is doing really, really well.  He is upbeat, joking with all the nurses and staff (all are wonderful by the way).  He is pretty tired but that is to be expected.  He decided to do a mini-Murph in the room today: He just finished 50 squats and 50 push-ups leaning on the sink...he is done for the day!  He can't do pull-ups for a while due to the catheter and doesn't have any interest in sit-ups today.  WOD time: about 5 minutes?  Pretty good for a Chemo Kid!

Today's Pic: I am the worst mom ever...I forgot about the kids until 10:30 Thursday morning when Wendy emailed asking if we needed them to be left out.  The pic is Spike wondering where the heck we are!  I'll post Scout later, M