Well, house arrest, as I call it, officially started today. It is 9:24 AM, and I'm already getting fidgety. Guess I'll just have to get used to it. I took the test dose of the Busulfan yesterday. A long day but no big deal. The Busulfan is simply a pill. It is a clear capsule, with like 10 little tablets stacked up. The nurse came and got a blood draw from me about every 1/2 hour. There are tests run on the blood to see how quickly I metabolize the drug. Once they determine that, they will adjust my dosage accordingly. I'll get a pic and post it up when I get the official doseages to bring home and start taking tomorrow.
I guess the good news with the house arrest is that for the first 21 days or so after the transplant, I'll have to go to the clinic every day at 7AM and hang around for fluids, plateslets, etc until 4PM. So, I'm at least getting to get out of the house. Kind of like a full time job I guess.
I feel kind of funny linking this- and most of you probably already know about it, but I will be in need of platelets over the next couple of months. Melissa has organized a sort of a drive with the blood clinic across the hall from my clinic. Here is the link to the BTB site with all the details. http://blog.btbfitness.com/2008/07/got-platelets-w.html If you live in the area, Clint is providing a taco and free margarita over at FROGS Cantina. There is no guarantee I will receive your platelets, but nevertheless, you would be helping out a fellow patient at the clinic who is not so lucky as me and doesn't have as good a support network to get donations from. Even if you don't live in the area, you should consider platelet donations from time to time. One fact about platelets that I didn't know is that the shelf life for platelets is only 5 days. They cannot be frozen like other blood and blood products. So, there is a need for a constant fresh supply.
Hi again Jeff! Can I follow up your suggestion of donating platelets with a suggestion, too? Anybody that reads this blog--GO DONATE BLOOD! And tell everyone you know that can donate to go donate! I work for the old oncologist that Jeff got his first treatments from and I will tell you that there is always a blood shortage, it's worse in summer and we give blood products every single day in the U.S., to people like Jeff. Even if Jeff doesn't get your platelets, someone else's husband, wife, son, daughter, friend, brother or sister needs them. AND, when you donate blood, you help multiple people with one donation. The blood is processed into platelets, packed red blood cells and plasma so we give the specific component that the person needs. You donate once, you help at least three people! Everybody wins! Thank you. Terri Stewart RN
Posted by: Terri Stewart | July 23, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Hey Jeff,
If anyone is apprehensive about donating platelets it's no big deal. I've donated them about 5 times. It takes about 1.5 hours. They take some blood spin the platelets out in a centrifuge and put it back in. A single apheresis donation of platelets can provide as many platelets as 5 whole blood donations and you can give about once a week I think.
You can donate at the Red Cross of course.
But, Lifesouth is a great place to donate as well. They have a tv and head phones at each apheresis chair and it's a very nice professional environment at the center I used to frequent in Gainesville.
Posted by: Gary Shaw | July 23, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Hey Jeff,
I did the Jeff workout of the day (WOD) today, after the main WOD (Fran) which kicked my a$$!!
By the way, I have a six pack of Hoegaarden in my fridge, ready to deliver whenever you are ready!!!
Stay thirsty my friend!
Matt
Posted by: Matt E. | July 24, 2008 at 12:57 PM