Nov 06
We got to the hospital by 8am this morning. My bloodwork looks good. We’ve been waiting to see the doctor all morning. I worked a 250 piece jigsaw puzzle while waiting for him. He JUST appeared. Hopefully we can see him soon and then go home and have breakfast.
250 pc jigsaw puzzle
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Nov 06
Sunday, November 6, 2011 – Yesterday’s chemo was rough! Though it was only supposed to be a half day, the IV chemo was alcohol based and I got a bit loopy. On top of it, I had a drug reaction which made things a lot worse. My heart started racing at 110 BPM (my normal is 55) and I felt pretty bad. They had to slow the chemo way down and give me some extra drugs (a LOT of Benadryl and some Ativan) for the reaction. Nevertheless, we finished the chemo and then went home where I melted into the couch to sleep away my drunken stupor.
I woke up around dinnertime, and we had the most amazing steak dinner with baked potatoes, peas, and cottage cheese. My steak had to be cooked well done, because of my weak immune system, but it was still very juicy and very delicious! I perked up a lot after eating dinner.
After dinner, Jacqui and I played several fun hands of bridge with her parents. Then we took the dog for a short walk. The oncology nurse explained to us that even though I would not feel good during the next few weeks, that it would be important for me to keep moving and to exercise my lungs. We’re going to try and walk the dog around the block twice a day to this end. I have to wear my mask while being outside, but it is an important step in being safe and taking care of me during the next few weeks while my immune system is rebuilding.
This morning, we are going in to the hospital to check my bloodwork, make sure I’m doing alright, and then we’ll come home and rest. And have a fabulous breakfast. And a fabulous dinner tonight. Today is going to be a good one. I can feel it. I hope you have a good day too.
Tomorrow is my transplant day. November 7, 2011. My DAY ZERO. My new birthday! Jacqui and I are looking forward to celebrating with all of you.
Peace and Love,
-A
PS. I must admit that I am pretty nervous about the next several weeks. It is when I will get the most sick, and it is the unknown… Thank you for keeping me company as we begin our walk into the shadowy places.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.andrewmacdonald.com/day-minus-one-day-of-rest/
Nov 05
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, 4AM – The first sentence of this post consists of me spending 20 minutes telling you how thankful I am for anti-nausea medicine and how much of a difference it has made in my life during the past few days by keeping my GI tract in line.
The Next Few Days
Today is Day Minus Two! The four long days of chemo (Etoposide and Cytoxan) are over. They consisted of getting to the hospital at 730AM, getting fluids, zofran, decadron, emend, etoposide, mesna, cytoxan, mesna, fluids, mesna, and lots of fluids on between. We usually got done around 430PM each day. Today we have a shorter day. We don’t have to be there until 8AM, and hopefully we’ll be finished around 1 or 2 this afternoon.
Today I get BCNU, or Carmustine, to finish out the high dose chemo portion of this stem cell transplant process. The schedule is pre-drugs plus 1 hour of fluids, 2 hours of BCNU infusion with fluids, and 1 hour of fluids. Four hours total, plus we have to see the doctor. The funny thing about the BCNU is that it is alcohol based, so I may get loopy during chemo and provide entertainment. The GOOD NEWS is that we will be done with chemo after today!
Tomorrow is my Day of Rest. Fitting that it is on a Sunday. We will still go in to the hospital to have bloodwork done and make sure I’m doing ok, see the doctor, and then we can go home.
Monday is my Day Zero! My transplant day. My New Birthday! I’ll get fluids and my stem cells (autologous transplant). Then we get starting counting our days upwards instead of downwards. Day 1 through Day 30. The goal is to be a lot better by Day 30, and that is the schedule for the next few days.
A Big Thank You!
It is amazing how supportive everyone has been during this time. Cards, comments, phone calls, text messages, email, facebook postings… they do so much to brighten my day, and Jacqui’s as well. It means a lot to know that you care, and that you are in our corner supporting us. Thank you.
I want to also send a special shout out to Jacqui’s parents, who live in Nashville and have opened up their home for us to stay with them during this time. They have bent over backwards to get the house ready for us, to make sure that we are taken care of, and to be careful about keeping the house clean, etc. They are AMAZING!
We know that my immune system is going to be greatly compromised for the next month, and we are very appreciative that those of you who want to visit are taking extra steps to make sure you have your flu shot, you have not been around any sick people, that you are willing to wear a mask and gloves around me if necessary, and that it may not even work out for you to visit depending on how my body is doing. Gosh, I’m so high maintenance right now, aren’t I? However, Jacqui and I both GREATLY APPRECIATE the steps that everyone is taking to be careful in their interactions with me. It means more to us than you can probably imagine.
Secret Wedding Pictures
You’ve made it to the end of this post, and we have a surprise for you! Jacqui has uploaded our wedding pictures to her Flickr page!We hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed the wedding.
Happy Days!
Permanent link to this article: https://www.andrewmacdonald.com/day-minus-two/
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