Cytoxin. It caused a horrible headache and a couple bouts of vomiting. The
vomiting stopped around 5 PM, but the headache lasted until late into the
night. The only thing that controlled the headache pain was morphine
injections into my port. The doctor did neurological tests to be sure I
didn't have cranial swelling. I didn't.
Another challenge was the hiccups. We're not talking about quite, short
lived hiccups. Rather, shake your entire body, induce vomiting, hours on end
hiccups. The hiccups combined with a pounding headache made resting
impossible. I was in misery. A couple hiccup medications finally brought
results late in the night. After midnight I managed to sleep comfortably.
I took many medications again yesterday: Mesna (3 bags of 200 ml) to
protect kidneys from Cytoxin, Dexamethasane, anti-nausea drug, given with
Cytoxin, Allopurinol to keep dead cancer cells from accumulating in my
kidneys and bladder, Flucanozole - antifungal (preventative) , Acyclovir -
antiviral (preventative), Ativan and Zofran (Nausea...misery without them),
Salagen - helps salivary glands, and Thorazine & Baclofen for hiccups.
Finally, they have fluid flowing through me continuously at 250ml/hr to
keep me hydrated and to wash the Cytoxin through my system. It cracks me up
when Dr. Petersdorf says, "Chemo given in outpatient treatments is like water
compared to the high dose stuff we're giving you.."
The radiation and chemotherapy has done its job and my blood counts show
it. I am now in a state doctors call "Neutropenic" which mean my blood cell
count is so low I cannot fight infection. Normal Hematocrit (Red Blood Cell
Count-RBC) level is about 43% and mine is at 34% and falling. They will
transfuse at 26%. My platelets, which cause blood to clot when you bleed,
are at 53,000 (normal is around 150,000). When my platelets drop to 10,000,
I will be transfused with platelets. My white blood count (WBC) and Polyfill
count (type of WBC) are at .800 and .750 respectively. Normal is around
6,500. WBC's fight infections.
Because I am neutropenic I have to be very careful about infections. I
wash my hands all the time, wear a mask when I leave my room, can't have
fresh fruit or vegetables, and can't have fresh flowers in my room. People
visiting me should wash their hands when entering room and not give me big
kisses. Too bad. If you are a little sick you could stand outside my door
with a mask on. I won't be in a bubble chamber or anything like that.
Tomorrow I will get my bone marrow cells back. The cells have been
frozen in two 500 ml plastic bags for the past five years at Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Center. I had them extracted from the back of my hips in February of
95. I was in remission then so my marrow was cancer free. To remove the
marrow they made two incisions in my back. Through these incisions they
inserted a large syringe into the back of my pelvis and sucked out about 50
ml. Then they would stick me again in a slightly different spot and suck 50
ml more out, continuing until they got about 1500 ml of marrow. The process
left my backside very sore. Clearly, I was asleep for the procedure.
When I get my cells back they will thaw out the bags and infuse the
cells into my Hickman port. It'll take about an hour to infuse the cells
into my blood. The marrow (stem) cells will then take about 14 days to
migrate to the bone marrow in my pelvis and other large bones. Once the
cells find their way, they will begin to produce the blood products I need:
RBC, WBC, platelets, etc. The time from transplant of my new cells to
when I have normal blood levels again can take about 21 days, so I should be
able to leave the hospital soon after that. Everyone is slightly different
so it could take a little less or a little more time. My goal is to be home
by CJ's birthday on March 16th.
During
this neutropenic state I will: get sick from time to time, need
some transfusions, and probably spend a lot of time resting. This is clearly
the riskiest time. Whenever possible I will ride my bike on the trainer in
my room, even if it's just for a few minutes. I will also take walks around
the hospital floor. Important to move around...keep going physically and
emotionally.
This whole journey is going to be long and difficult, but the end result
of being cancer free is worth the struggle. Special thanks to Jeff Nelson
for stopping by yesterday. It was such a tough day, Jeff, and you always bring me up.
One of my favorite Bible verses: I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13