Tonight we start

Tonight I get the beginnings of my chemo for tomorrow. They will give me a large dose of prednisone at midnight after they take blood. It has to be given 12 hours before they start the chemo and again 30 minutes prior to chemo. The scheduled time to start the infusion is noon and it should take about 2-4 hours to complete it. My platelets are low today meaning that my immune system is already going down. Should be down significantly by this time tomorrow. Marc and I got a surprise visit from Amy and Sam today and we spent the afternoon visiting with them. It was a nice visit and took my mind off of what's to come.

Another delay?

On Tuesday my research nurse, Sally, told me that my Geiger number would not be down to 2 until 8pm on Wednesday (the day I was scheduled to get my stem cells back). She also told me that the type of transplant I'm getting (auto) is not done at night therefore I would get my cells back on Thursday. Since then I have asked the doctor and several nurses if we were going to set back the day to start chemo to Sunday instead of Saturday so that I would not have two days rest between the chemo and the transplant. They have told me repeatedly that this is not a big deal and the chemo would take place tomorrow and Monday as planned with my cells being returned on Thursday. So mentally, I've geared up to get this thing moving tomorrow - then my nurse for today informs me at about 6pm that the orders have been changed and the chemo won't start until Sunday! I'm frustrated that it took that long for them to decide this and for them to tell me. I'm bored as can be and tired of sitting around - that's not me! I go for walks now that I am free but the halls are getting pretty old. Marc came and I got to hug him and I could have done that forever. Deb came to visit and we enjoyed a lengthy chat. It was a good time and made the afternoon disappear. I want to get this thing going!!!

New Surroundings

It was a quick swift move from isolation to my new "normal" room at about 9am today. All I was able to take with me was my laptop, glasses, and the clothes that I wore in to the hospital which had been kept in a closed closet. Feels odd to be back in the normal world without plastic surroundings, plastic rustling on the phone when I'm on it, and plastic on the floor. The good side is I don't have to squirt iodine in the toilet each time I use it any more. It's kind of weird but it took me a while to actually touch things in my room after being in isolation. But now I get a real hospital tray with real plates and real silverware. No more cardboard trays, Chinet plates and plastic utensils for me! AND...I can close my door if I choose to. On the medical side of things, they had some initial problems taking blood from one of my lines but with a little work, out it came! I didn't want to know so I didn't ask what they would do if it didn't work. After they checked me out today they found my tongue is starting to show signs of the mucositis starting - oh boy here it comes. Still on schedule to start the chemo on Saturday.

Bonus post - New Phone & Room Numbers

Just got moved and settled into my new room. Still working out the details in here but here's the info:
Room 7234 Phone #206-598-7620

Last night in isolation

Had a new different nurse today that did things a little differently than the rest of them. She came two hours later than the others have, had me check my vitals and said she would be right back then returned two hours later. When she brought my medications they were all still in their packages (everyone else brings them in a small cup ready to go). This would not be a normal issue, but I've been in here for a week now and my garbage cans are quite full (and not smelling great). All in all, she came to my door a total of three times for the entire day. Good thing I didn't need anything. On the up side, I had two great visits today from my special brother-in-laws - John and Mark. It was great to see them both and we each had a good time. Somehow, I must have slipped through the cracks today and they did not come to take my Geiger reading. I asked about it late afternoon and was told that by their calculations it didn't need to be done because I'd be ready. The numbers are pretty important to me and I would have liked to have known where they were at. Seven is the number I need to get out of isolation, but two is the number I need to get to (or below) to get my stem cells back. I am scheduled to get out tomorrow but they are full right now and waiting for a room on this floor for me. May not be first thing in the morning but I will be sure to post my new phone number and room number as soon as it's all figured out.

Numbers are shifting

Slept well last night even with all the comings and goings next door. Today was the day the dressing on my Hickman needed to be changed and I, of course, was not allowed to do it. My nurse had me go up to the shield and she stood on the other side and changed it from there. That was the closest I've been to anyone in almost a week. Shortly after that the best thing happened...the Geiger counter lady appeared. My number is now down to 12.8! BUT...I got a call about an hour later and they told me I would be down to 7 at 8am on Thursday!!! So that's the day I will be out of isolation and in a normal room and back around people. The not so great news was that I would not reach the number 2 until about 8pm on Wednesday, March 4th. Unfortunately, I can't have my stem cells back until I'm at 2 and they won't give me the infusion at night so I won't get my stem cells until Thursday, the 5th. Naturally I won't just be sitting idly waiting for the stem cells. First I have to get two mega doses of Chemo with a day of rest between each dose. That should start this Saturday. That's when I will probably feel the worst of it all. Marc mentioned to my doctor at SCCA that since I tolerated the R-CHOP chemo treatment pretty well, could we assume I will do all right with this one as well? Her response was the R-CHOP was like getting hit by a truck. These drugs will be like getting hit by a train.
Oh Boy. Marc and Jen came to visit tonight and as always it was great to see them. I am so ready to be close to them again.

Number seven is still a bit away

Since I posted pictures yesterday, I forgot to give an update. The nausea seems to be a slight ongoing problem, but somewhat kept under control with medication. Today was the first day since Friday that I kept everything in. Other than that I feel good but, of course, bored. I applied my MacIver skills and worked on the bike some more and can now ride it with little difficulty. Diana came to visit yesterday and brought fresh reading material. Marc came and spent several hours with me as well. Kind of tough to visit when he has to sit at least 10 feet from my door and I'm 10 feet away from the door on the inside. I'm sleeping pretty good - if only they would stop interrupting me for my vital signs every 4 hours. The garbage is starting to accumulate but they've graciously given me more garbage bags to tie off the full ones. I have a new neighbor who I think is getting his transplant tomorrow. LOTS of people in and out of his room throughout the day and night. They didn't take my Geiger reading over the weekend, so today it was down to 18.6 - still quite a way to 7.