So last night was rough and I am just now in the world of the living. I ran a fever, got no sleep, then the chemo came on. I keep getting these crazy sinus problems - which they say are normal. It feels like your sinuses are burning. They finally found the right pain medication and I got a couple hours of sleep this morning.
My doctors are not worried about my fevers. They suspect it is my white blood cells dying. I don't know why mine have to be so melodramatic about it. Whenever you get a fever in the hospital as a chemo patient they have to run blood cultures from my catheter and then poke my arm to make sure it's not an infection in the line of the catheter. This all takes place around 2 AM and I can't get any Tylenol until the nurse is through with the cultures. So I am praying my fever doesn't return this evening.
Good news is tonight is my last night of chemo!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know how bad it gets after they re infuse my stem cells but I will just be happy to be done with cytoxin.
Also realized I was numbering my days all wrong today is -2. Monday was -8 and you count down to 0; then back up again. Hey I never claimed to be the swiftest with numbers.
Funny - all I asked for for breakfast was Cheerios w/milk. I got a full fledged bacon and egg breakfast with coffee cake and 2 juices. I think the kitchen feels like I should be eating more.
HZ
A journal to keep everyone up to date with my Primary Refractory Hodgkin’s, radiation myelitis, and the little Z’s.
Lee
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Charlotte
ALEX
Blog Archive
-
▼
2007
(145)
-
▼
January
(32)
- Day +14
- Darn fevers
- Day +13
- What to bring to the hospital
- Day +12
- Day +11
- Day +10
- Kids
- Day +9
- Day +8
- Day +7
- Day +6
- Day + 5
- Day + 4
- Day +3
- Day+ 2
- Day +1
- Day 0
- Day -1
- Day-2
- Day -3
- Day -4
- Day -5
- The what's next and what if's
- Day -6
- Day -7
- Lee's birthday
- Check in day -8
- Fever and night before check in
- Bone marrow harvest
- Schedule
- Thank god for the New Year
-
▼
January
(32)
Followers
A QUICK TIMELINE
2006
January
Conceived our third child
Began to display symptoms of Hodgkin's - night sweats, itching, swelling, shortness of breath
March
Diagnosed with Hodgkin's and began 6 cycles of ABVD
Pregnant with cancer - what luck
August
Delivered Alex on August 28
PET Scan on August 31 - results that the ABVD did not reduce my tumor
re-diagnosed with Primary Refractory Hodgkin's
September
Consultation with NIH and Hopkins - recommended that I have 2 cycles of ICE then Stem Cell Transplant (SCT).
October
PET Scan results that I could get the SCT
November
Had another cycle of ICE while waiting for transplant (3rd) Began SCT process
December
Final cycle (4th) of ICE
Unable to mobilize stem cells and waiting for bone marrow harvest
2007
January
Harvest bone marrow from bones under twilight meds Admitted into hospital for SCT; new birthday Jan. 16
February
Released from hospital - 2 days later back with VOD
Final release on Feb. 14 (happy v-day)
April - May
Radiation treatments
June
PET scan to see if treatment & SCT worked - it did and I am cancer free!
July
Hospitalized for pneumonia and missed Charlotte Marie's 4th bday.
On oxygen support
August
Alex's first birthday - can you believe it!
September
Returned to work part time
Lee started kindergarten
October
Diagnosed with BOOP - out of work again
Back on oxygen support and steroids
Resigned from job to focus on health
2008
Jan.
1 year anniversary of SCT - still cancer free
April
Diagnosed with radiation myelitis
July/August
Lost moblity in lower extremities - wheelchair bound.
Using Avastin to try to stop progression of myelitis to my arms and hands
January
Conceived our third child
Began to display symptoms of Hodgkin's - night sweats, itching, swelling, shortness of breath
March
Diagnosed with Hodgkin's and began 6 cycles of ABVD
Pregnant with cancer - what luck
August
Delivered Alex on August 28
PET Scan on August 31 - results that the ABVD did not reduce my tumor
re-diagnosed with Primary Refractory Hodgkin's
September
Consultation with NIH and Hopkins - recommended that I have 2 cycles of ICE then Stem Cell Transplant (SCT).
October
PET Scan results that I could get the SCT
November
Had another cycle of ICE while waiting for transplant (3rd) Began SCT process
December
Final cycle (4th) of ICE
Unable to mobilize stem cells and waiting for bone marrow harvest
2007
January
Harvest bone marrow from bones under twilight meds Admitted into hospital for SCT; new birthday Jan. 16
February
Released from hospital - 2 days later back with VOD
Final release on Feb. 14 (happy v-day)
April - May
Radiation treatments
June
PET scan to see if treatment & SCT worked - it did and I am cancer free!
July
Hospitalized for pneumonia and missed Charlotte Marie's 4th bday.
On oxygen support
August
Alex's first birthday - can you believe it!
September
Returned to work part time
Lee started kindergarten
October
Diagnosed with BOOP - out of work again
Back on oxygen support and steroids
Resigned from job to focus on health
2008
Jan.
1 year anniversary of SCT - still cancer free
April
Diagnosed with radiation myelitis
July/August
Lost moblity in lower extremities - wheelchair bound.
Using Avastin to try to stop progression of myelitis to my arms and hands
Good Links
Maple
3 comments:
Hey Heather, you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers -- I really wish there was more I could do for you. YOU have more courage and strength than anyone I have ever met and it humbles me. I look forward to seeing you soon. Remember God is always on your side. Have you found care for the baby when you're in the clinic?
Heather, stay strong! I'm going to follow your postings as I approach where your at real soon. Gosh, I really feel your pain with regard to your kids and leaving them. I have three (older)kids 20, 17 and 15, a 4-month-old grandchild, my 75-year-old mother and one cat and dog that live with me that I have to leave behind. I'm self-employed with no disability policy and I pray daily that God will provide. I will be 6 hours away with very little help. Needless to say I find my self a bit depressed/anxious/overwhelmed thinking about the whole process of SCT and recovery. Good sermon in church today and after reading some of your older postings, I know I have to take one day at a time and be strong~taking comfort that God is in control of ALL Things! Romans 8:28
Blessings to you and your family!
Hi Heather
Found this after you posted on the HDlist. You're in my thoughts and I hope you'll soon be out of there and on the road to recovery, cancer free.
Ian
Post a Comment