My Blood Count Numbers all came back up over the weekend after the 2nd round of Chemo.
Since it appears that I can now be without any Antibiotic IV's etc. the Doctor said I could have a change of scenery and spend some time at home.
That is certainly welcome news after being in the hospital 6 weeks on this trip and 4 weeks on the 1st visit with only 6 days at home in between hospital visits.
The Doctors wanted to wait a week for things to settle down before doing the 3rd Bone Marrow Procedure scheduled for next Tuesday in the Doctor's office.
The test results should be available when we meet with the Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist and his staff at 7:30 AM next Thursday.
The Specialist has an upcoming vacation week but we should be able to set an exact date for the Transplant process to begin.
Hopefully I'll be able to post that date sometime later next week.
I'm guessing that I'll be going back in the hospital on June 18th, for some more Chemo while they're harvesting my sisters Bone Marrow and that the actual Transplant will take place sometime in the June 27th-29th range.
I'll be in the hospital for another 14-21 days after the Transplant while the doctors monitor for possible rejection, etc.
Monitoring will continue as an Out Patient 3 days per week for 2 weeks then 1 day per week for 90 days.But in the meantime,
I'm looking forward to Sharon's cooking, sleeping in our own bed, and being able to be outside some enjoying the late fall-early summer temperatures and sunshine.
My bald head can sure use some tanning rays. :-)
Steve and his family are planning on visiting Kings Island and being with us for a week.
Sharon has been collecting/sorting "our stuff/junk" since last fall and it will be good to have them here to help with the Garage Sale on June 7, 8 & 9th.
It was kinda strange to experience Memorial Day weekend from my 6th floor Oncology room.Trying to get a radio station to keep up with the Indy 500 race was challenging.
Thanks again for all your continued thoughts, prayers and remembrances.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Saturday-5/26-Blood Counts are Improving
Haven't totally rounded the corner yet but the Platelet Count went up on it's own without an IV and the White count increased drastically during the past 24 hours.
Still running some low grade fever and hopefully 'this too shall pass'.
My Hematologist, Dr Oscar Oscarson, will be out ot town next week and I'll have the Bone Marrow Transplant specialist covering for him. Hoping that I and the blood count numbers continue to improve during the weekend. I expect that Dr. Birhiray will do a Bone Marrow Procedure on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
There is a growing thread of thought or option fueled by Dr Birhiray's scheduled vacation that I might be dismissed from the hospital and be able to be home for 3- 4 weeks before the actual Bone Marrow Transplant is done
That decision will be made after the results of the Bone Marrow Procedure are available.
Glad that the count numbers have improved to the point that I can now have fresh fruits and vegetables (Been missing Tossed Salads and Bananas) Think that I'll also be able to get off the Oncology floor and even get outside when the weather cooperates. That will a welcome change of scenery.
Have a Super, Fun and Safe Memorial Day Weekend.
Still running some low grade fever and hopefully 'this too shall pass'.
My Hematologist, Dr Oscar Oscarson, will be out ot town next week and I'll have the Bone Marrow Transplant specialist covering for him. Hoping that I and the blood count numbers continue to improve during the weekend. I expect that Dr. Birhiray will do a Bone Marrow Procedure on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
There is a growing thread of thought or option fueled by Dr Birhiray's scheduled vacation that I might be dismissed from the hospital and be able to be home for 3- 4 weeks before the actual Bone Marrow Transplant is done
That decision will be made after the results of the Bone Marrow Procedure are available.
Glad that the count numbers have improved to the point that I can now have fresh fruits and vegetables (Been missing Tossed Salads and Bananas) Think that I'll also be able to get off the Oncology floor and even get outside when the weather cooperates. That will a welcome change of scenery.
Have a Super, Fun and Safe Memorial Day Weekend.
Friday, 5/18/07-Update-Chemo is working
Last week's Chemo is working. Blood numbers are coming down as desired.
Platelet Count seems to drop to the teens every day with a normal range of 150-450. They want this clotting factor above 20 for any possible bleeding so I've been getting a daily Platelet transfusions. White Blood Count is around 0.2 with the normal range 4-10.5 which means my body's infection fighting ability is practically nil.
They tell me that the effect of the Chemo in the body will diminish by mid next week and the numbers should start to increase. That will take approximately 1 week when they will do another Bone Marrow Procedure to see exactly how effective the Chemo was in getting rid of all the bad Leukemia cells. Hopefully then the date for the Bone Marrow Transplant with my younger sister, Nancy, can be scheduled.
The 8th week in the hospital has had it's ups and downs.
Felt great for about 3 days with lots of energy. Was able to walk the hall ways for a total of 50 minutes on Tuesday . :-) and do some other exercises.
Then suddenly fatigue & exhaustion set in on Wednesday. This was accompanied by some chills, fever and erratic pulse rate, and blood pressure. My resting pulse rate is normally around 60 and I was wondering what was happening when the nurse kept reporting that it had climbed into the 90's, then low 100's and finally in the 130's throughout the day and evening while I was resting in bed.
I'm grateful that I haven't lost my appetite (even though I'm losing weight) and I've not experienced any nausea during the process so far.
Hopefully next week's post will be able to report that the numbers are going up and my strength and ability to fight infection is increasing.
Sharon is doing well.She is able to join me for lunch everyday.
When she is home, she is busy sorting some of "our stuff" preparing for a garage sale that Steve's family from Alabama are helping with when they visit for a week the 1st part of June.
Continued Thanks for keeping Sharon and I in your thoughts and prayers.
Platelet Count seems to drop to the teens every day with a normal range of 150-450. They want this clotting factor above 20 for any possible bleeding so I've been getting a daily Platelet transfusions. White Blood Count is around 0.2 with the normal range 4-10.5 which means my body's infection fighting ability is practically nil.
They tell me that the effect of the Chemo in the body will diminish by mid next week and the numbers should start to increase. That will take approximately 1 week when they will do another Bone Marrow Procedure to see exactly how effective the Chemo was in getting rid of all the bad Leukemia cells. Hopefully then the date for the Bone Marrow Transplant with my younger sister, Nancy, can be scheduled.
The 8th week in the hospital has had it's ups and downs.
Felt great for about 3 days with lots of energy. Was able to walk the hall ways for a total of 50 minutes on Tuesday . :-) and do some other exercises.
Then suddenly fatigue & exhaustion set in on Wednesday. This was accompanied by some chills, fever and erratic pulse rate, and blood pressure. My resting pulse rate is normally around 60 and I was wondering what was happening when the nurse kept reporting that it had climbed into the 90's, then low 100's and finally in the 130's throughout the day and evening while I was resting in bed.
I'm grateful that I haven't lost my appetite (even though I'm losing weight) and I've not experienced any nausea during the process so far.
Hopefully next week's post will be able to report that the numbers are going up and my strength and ability to fight infection is increasing.
Sharon is doing well.She is able to join me for lunch everyday.
When she is home, she is busy sorting some of "our stuff" preparing for a garage sale that Steve's family from Alabama are helping with when they visit for a week the 1st part of June.
Continued Thanks for keeping Sharon and I in your thoughts and prayers.
Saturday, 5/12/07-Update-Final Round Chemo Completed
I’m relieved to have the final round of Chemo completed this morning about 4:30 AM.
This round consisted of Two-3 hour infusions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
So far, things have gone well. Somehow they didn't get the 1st one started until 1:00 PM on Monday which meant the 2nd one started 12 hours later. Kinda made for some interrupted sleep for 3 nights.They do vitals, about 10:30 PM, install a pre chemo IV an hour ahead of the Chemo at midnight, return at 1:00 AM for the Chemo IV, back at 4:30 AM to remove the Chemo IV and draw blood for the daily lab report. Then the Doctor makes his morning rounds sometime between 6:30 and 7:30. Glad I was able to work in some naps during the afternoons. :-)
The Doctors are glad that the blood count numbers have already started to fall and expect them to bottom out in about a week to 10 days before starting to climb again.
This will probably be the period that I’m most susceptible to un-expected infections, Chemo reactions, and just those unique things that seemto happen to specific individuals.
A definite Bone Marrow Transplant date with my sister, Nancy, can’t be predicted until the blood count numbers come back up, and another Blood Marrow Procedure completed to verify the status on any remaining Leukemia cells.
Glad the hospital food menu has a good selection as I’ve now tried about every combination. J
For variety, Sharon has brought in some of my favorite items as “Take Out” several times. (ie: Biscuits & Gravy, Spaghetti, Milk Shakes, etc.)
Continued THANKS for the many expressions of support.
Hope everyone has a Super week.
This round consisted of Two-3 hour infusions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
So far, things have gone well. Somehow they didn't get the 1st one started until 1:00 PM on Monday which meant the 2nd one started 12 hours later. Kinda made for some interrupted sleep for 3 nights.They do vitals, about 10:30 PM, install a pre chemo IV an hour ahead of the Chemo at midnight, return at 1:00 AM for the Chemo IV, back at 4:30 AM to remove the Chemo IV and draw blood for the daily lab report. Then the Doctor makes his morning rounds sometime between 6:30 and 7:30. Glad I was able to work in some naps during the afternoons. :-)
The Doctors are glad that the blood count numbers have already started to fall and expect them to bottom out in about a week to 10 days before starting to climb again.
This will probably be the period that I’m most susceptible to un-expected infections, Chemo reactions, and just those unique things that seemto happen to specific individuals.
A definite Bone Marrow Transplant date with my sister, Nancy, can’t be predicted until the blood count numbers come back up, and another Blood Marrow Procedure completed to verify the status on any remaining Leukemia cells.
Glad the hospital food menu has a good selection as I’ve now tried about every combination. J
For variety, Sharon has brought in some of my favorite items as “Take Out” several times. (ie: Biscuits & Gravy, Spaghetti, Milk Shakes, etc.)
Continued THANKS for the many expressions of support.
Hope everyone has a Super week.
Monday, 5/7/07-Second Round Chemo to start today
With the irritated esophagus improving , I'm able to resume eating/ drinking pretty well and no longer require IV nourishment.
So the Second Round of Chemo is scheduled to start today.
Believe they will be in Two-3 hour treatments on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of this week.
Then another week for the Chemo 'to do it's thing' against the remaining Leukemia Cells before the blood count numbers begin to increase in the 3rd week.
Hopefully my body will be able to tolerate the Chemo as well this time as the initial 24/7 treatment with no surprising side effects.
Enjoy the sunny Spring time weather.
So the Second Round of Chemo is scheduled to start today.
Believe they will be in Two-3 hour treatments on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of this week.
Then another week for the Chemo 'to do it's thing' against the remaining Leukemia Cells before the blood count numbers begin to increase in the 3rd week.
Hopefully my body will be able to tolerate the Chemo as well this time as the initial 24/7 treatment with no surprising side effects.
Enjoy the sunny Spring time weather.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Friday, 5/4/07 Update-Sister is Confirmed Transplant Match
It was great news yesterday to get confirmation that my younger sister, Nancy, who lives with her husband, Albert, near Corydon is a perfect match for a Bone Marrow Transplant.There was ONLY a 50 percent chance that either of my sisters would be a sibling match so we and the Doctors are elated for the match and for Nancy's willingness to be a donor.It seems that there is always something new coming along that needs to be resolved before being able to get back toward a hopeful Bone Marrow Transplant time schedule.
One of my un-expected surprises last week was the development of some esophagus irritations that not only kept me from eating but also not able to even sip/drink water without severe chest heart-burn. So I've been on IV nourishment for several days now.
Hopefully my irritated esophagus will be healed and I can be taken off IV feedings over the weekend and the Chemo can start on Monday.The doctors are anxious to begin my next round of Chemo to kill off the balance of the bad Leukemia cells so I can receive the Bone Marrow Transplant.They estimate that it will probably be the end of May or 1st of June before they'll have me through the Chemo, do another Bone Marrow Procedure and have me ready for the actual transplant.Sounds like lots more hospital time before as well as after the transplant. :-(
It hardly seems possible that that we're beginning May with the Mini-Marathon activities scheduled for this weekend.
The Sunny weather looks delightful from my 6th floor vista point in the Oncology Wing of St Vincent hospital.
Sharon & I really appreciate all your prayers, thoughts, e-mails and cards of encouragement. They mean so very much to us.
One of my un-expected surprises last week was the development of some esophagus irritations that not only kept me from eating but also not able to even sip/drink water without severe chest heart-burn. So I've been on IV nourishment for several days now.
Hopefully my irritated esophagus will be healed and I can be taken off IV feedings over the weekend and the Chemo can start on Monday.The doctors are anxious to begin my next round of Chemo to kill off the balance of the bad Leukemia cells so I can receive the Bone Marrow Transplant.They estimate that it will probably be the end of May or 1st of June before they'll have me through the Chemo, do another Bone Marrow Procedure and have me ready for the actual transplant.Sounds like lots more hospital time before as well as after the transplant. :-(
It hardly seems possible that that we're beginning May with the Mini-Marathon activities scheduled for this weekend.
The Sunny weather looks delightful from my 6th floor vista point in the Oncology Wing of St Vincent hospital.
Sharon & I really appreciate all your prayers, thoughts, e-mails and cards of encouragement. They mean so very much to us.
Shocking News!!!!!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
"Living in the present" has had no more meaning than with the surprising Acute Leukemia diagnosis on March 16, 2007.
It came as a complete surprise after thinking I was in pretty good physical shape doing two 26.2 miles marathons last fall, the Disney Half Marathon in January and was riding 30 miles for 3 hours on Florida Rails to Trails in February while missing the Indy blizzard.
I finished the 24 hour continuous 7 day Chemo treatment about 6:00 Saturday night March 24th.Having lots and lots of transfusions and then Lasik to flush the fluids from the body-----Continuous through out the night with only small segments of sleep.Believe they said I returned the equivalent of 9 coke cans the other night so many trips to the bath room---Guess I just have to "Keep Going The Distance" :-)
Understand they will continue to twink with the transfusions, etc., for the next couple weeks before doing another Bone Marrow Procedure to see how effective the initial Chemo regimen has been and evaluate possible future options.
Sharon and I have perfect peace about the whole situation .
Thanks so much for the many many expressions of encouragement, support, prayers and thoughts from you all.
Continued best wishes to you all.Bob & Sharon Thompson
"Living in the present" has had no more meaning than with the surprising Acute Leukemia diagnosis on March 16, 2007.
It came as a complete surprise after thinking I was in pretty good physical shape doing two 26.2 miles marathons last fall, the Disney Half Marathon in January and was riding 30 miles for 3 hours on Florida Rails to Trails in February while missing the Indy blizzard.
I finished the 24 hour continuous 7 day Chemo treatment about 6:00 Saturday night March 24th.Having lots and lots of transfusions and then Lasik to flush the fluids from the body-----Continuous through out the night with only small segments of sleep.Believe they said I returned the equivalent of 9 coke cans the other night so many trips to the bath room---Guess I just have to "Keep Going The Distance" :-)
Understand they will continue to twink with the transfusions, etc., for the next couple weeks before doing another Bone Marrow Procedure to see how effective the initial Chemo regimen has been and evaluate possible future options.
Sharon and I have perfect peace about the whole situation .
Thanks so much for the many many expressions of encouragement, support, prayers and thoughts from you all.
Continued best wishes to you all.Bob & Sharon Thompson
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