Good day - and night

Another easy day with just a blood draw on the schedule. Did go up and get checked by a doctor though since I developed a rash near the Hickman. They didn't see it as a problem - just something to watch. All is good! Enjoyed a great dinner and great company with Mary and Don (with his famous lasagna), Brian, John and Connie (with homemade bread and brownies). Nice, laid back evening. Great day and night!

Easy Day!

Today was a breeze. Jane drove me to SCCA for a blood draw and that was it! The body is feeling much better with the end of the growth factor shots.

Another data review

Met with the nurse from UW today that runs the isolation room. She was able to answer my questions which included: can I take in books and needlework - yes but they will be contaminated and have to be held for up to six months until they are no longer radioactive. Can I take in my laptop - yes, but it has to be wrapped in plastic, cannot be on my lap and I have to use gloves. How does my food get into my room - there's a lead lined doorway that they will put my food into and I will pick up. One interesting thing - anything that comes in my room stays in my room until I leave including garbage. So any food I don't eat, I have to put in a Ziploc bag (which I have to provide) and keep it in a open garbage can in my room. With all the extreme cautions we have to take in keeping my surroundings bacteria and germ free, it just doesn't make sense to me to keep garbage in my room for up to two weeks! Let's hope the radioactive stuff leaves my body in a timely manner. The nurse did bring pictures of the room and that was helpful for me mentally. I was also told there would be a exercise bike in my room but that's not quite true. There is one exercise bike available to the two isolation rooms but it is a first come first serve basis. So if the other room is occupied the day before me and they want it, I guess I'll just walk circles around my room while watching a VHS movie (they only have VHS players) to get my exercise (which they strongly encourage you to get plenty of exercise!?!). After the nurse we waited for 45 minutes (after my appointment time) for the doctor to arrive to go through the data review and sign consent forms. She explained all the forms but unless you're a doctor, it's hard to keep up and follow along. I think I got it all and signed the forms I selected.

10.5 Million stem cells - We're there!!!

NO MORE SHOTS!!! Had my last three growth factor shots this morning for a total of 30 shots in my tummy over the last 5 days. Thankfully I no longer have to watch the nurses wind up and stick me then inject it slooooowly. Don't want to ever have to repeat that! Received more platelets this today as my numbers were again low. Then it was off to apheresis for more collection. The doctor came in and said today would be the last day and that we were really close to the goal. My body feels good but I'm very tired tonight. Heading off to bed.......

Collection - Day 2

Showed up today at 7:15 am, waited for blood draw. Got to infusion at 7:45 to receive platelets and - SURPRISE - 3 more growth factor shots. I feel like the shot up cartoon character who drinks a glass of water and it all comes out of the holes in his body. Up to 24 shots and my tummy is bruised and showing the grief I've put it through. After the infusion, I was back at apheresis (collection) to spend another 5 hours on the machine. Got home around 3pm and waited for them to call me back to let me know if I had to get more shots tonight and do more collection tomorrow. The call came in at 7:30pm that I needed more so off we went back down to SCCA to get poked 3 more times (up to 27 now if you're counting). Yesterday they collected 3.9 million cells, today it was 3.7 million. They want to collect between 8-10 million stem cells from me so back down for another day tomorrow. We're "close enough" but it would be best if we had a few more. Since I have no plans of getting another 30 shots of the growth factor, we decided just to go in tomorrow and collect the additional amount needed. Did get to talk to the nurse who is in charge of the isolation rooms at UW and she was able to answer some of my questions. I will actually get to meet her on Thursday when I have my next data review.

Not enough :(

Arrived bright and early (7:30am) at SCCA for my stem cell collection day. I've been told this can take anywhere from one day to a couple of weeks. It all depends on how much the body is putting out. We knew that they were going with the high flow collection today and hopeful it would be enough, but it wasn't. I received yet another three growth factor injections (now totalling 21) and then they hooked me up to the machine for collection. One great thing about the Hickman is I didn't feel a thing! Just had to try not to watch my blood flowing out in the tubes, through the machine, then back in all day. Finished up feeling pretty good, but still stiff in the bones. They called this afternoon to tell me it wasn't enough and I get to go back tomorrow. However, I don't have to go back for more growth factor shots tonight (they will give them again in the morning). Let's hope they get enough tomorrow!

Bone pain!

Got out of bed for my morning visit today and OUCH! The bones are definitely talking. Rib bones, pelvic, breast and head all are feeling the expansion in the marrow. Think of it as just nasty flu-like aches but pretty much limited to the bones. Definitely moving slowly today. Tired of getting poked - between Friday, Saturday and today, I've been stuck 18 times in my tummy (they have to inject the growth factor in fatty tissue and I was able to supply plenty). Hopefully after the six shots tomorrow it will be the last day of those injections. On the good side, my white blood numbers have skyrocketed - literally! That's what we were hoping for. Plan for tomorrow is to try to collect the entire amount of stem cells. Could take up to six hours to complete the process. If not, I go back on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to keep collecting until I have enough.