No news is good news, right? My mom hasn't yet been called about coming back up to UCSF for transplant. She wants to get it over with, but at the same time it'll be a pretty lousy few weeks.
She's healing well--the blood counts are up. She's still not heading out to the grocery store or running out to Costco. She's been busy sewing and coming up with craft projects. She's taking daily two-mile walks and trying her best to make this time at home as normal as possible.
Interestingly, a family friend who also has Multiple Myeloma and is getting ready for transplant at UCSF mentioned to the doctor this week that he knows of 8! people in Hollister with Multiple Myeloma--that is 8 people he has met. What if there are others?
While we know that this is an environmental cancer (not genetic), why have there been no studies done on its origin? As my mom and I were discussing this she made an excellent point: "Do I want the doctors who treat me to spend money to find out how to cure me or where the cancer comes from? I chose cure me." I certainly can't argue with that.
Showing posts with label blood tests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blood tests. Show all posts
Friday, January 24, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
January 8--day 7 (last day out)
Today is the last day my mom will be able to eat out, go to the store, generally be in public for the next few months. Tomorrow her counts should drop too low to provide much protection.
Today is the second Neupogen shot. She learned last night that she may not need all 6 or 7 shots. It depends on how her blood work looks on Friday. If the counts are unstable, meaning too many white blood cells, then they'd stop because it could be risky to the patient. That doesn't mean she would get the catheter and apheresis earlier. She'd just get to stay home for a couple of days.
If I didn't mention it before, the catheter or pick line, is direct access to her blood. Last time she had one in her chest for several months. They used it for chemotherapy, apheresis, and any other drip/infusion she had to have. This time they'll put the catheter in her neck. Highly uncomfortable, but only required for apheresis this time.
Yesterday she spoke to a man who had had his catheter in only one day. UCSF was able to collect all the stem cells needed for his transplant in one day. Amazing!
The reason UCSF uses the neck is so that they have access to the jugular vein--the big one. This makes it easier to extract the blood. However, the patient cannot shower while the catheter is in. The patient is highly susceptible to infection, unlike with the catheter in the chest. Considering that the neck catheter is only in for a few days this should be manageable.
Sometime this weekend I'll give my dad a break and drive my mom up to UCSF so that I can see where she will be, meet the nurses, etc. I was so much more involved last time, but then again I didn't have two little girls.
I am so grateful to all the scientists, medical personnel, doctors, and brilliant people who discovered stem cell transplantation and those who work in the field today. My mom would not be alive today had this not been an option. And she would not have met my two beautiful girls who love their Gammy more than words can say. She's taught them so much as I'm sure they've taught her. So . . . THANK YOU!
Today is the second Neupogen shot. She learned last night that she may not need all 6 or 7 shots. It depends on how her blood work looks on Friday. If the counts are unstable, meaning too many white blood cells, then they'd stop because it could be risky to the patient. That doesn't mean she would get the catheter and apheresis earlier. She'd just get to stay home for a couple of days.
If I didn't mention it before, the catheter or pick line, is direct access to her blood. Last time she had one in her chest for several months. They used it for chemotherapy, apheresis, and any other drip/infusion she had to have. This time they'll put the catheter in her neck. Highly uncomfortable, but only required for apheresis this time.
Yesterday she spoke to a man who had had his catheter in only one day. UCSF was able to collect all the stem cells needed for his transplant in one day. Amazing!
The reason UCSF uses the neck is so that they have access to the jugular vein--the big one. This makes it easier to extract the blood. However, the patient cannot shower while the catheter is in. The patient is highly susceptible to infection, unlike with the catheter in the chest. Considering that the neck catheter is only in for a few days this should be manageable.
Sometime this weekend I'll give my dad a break and drive my mom up to UCSF so that I can see where she will be, meet the nurses, etc. I was so much more involved last time, but then again I didn't have two little girls.
* * *
I am so grateful to all the scientists, medical personnel, doctors, and brilliant people who discovered stem cell transplantation and those who work in the field today. My mom would not be alive today had this not been an option. And she would not have met my two beautiful girls who love their Gammy more than words can say. She's taught them so much as I'm sure they've taught her. So . . . THANK YOU!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Bend
Tonight I'm trying compression gloves meant for arthritic hands. I can't seem to get the swelling under control. And I feel like it's going to my left hand now, although I don't think it's visible. Could my left hand feel sorry for my right?
The neurologist put me on an anti-inflammatory drug, which keeps the pain under control but does nothing for the swelling. So tomorrow I get to have a whole slew of blood tests to rule out hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis.
I hope I bleed quickly.
The neurologist put me on an anti-inflammatory drug, which keeps the pain under control but does nothing for the swelling. So tomorrow I get to have a whole slew of blood tests to rule out hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis.
I hope I bleed quickly.
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