Okay folks, I guess I have to apologize, I was naming the
days wrong! The hospital considers the actual transplant as day 0, so
I'll start to use their naming convention.
All right, on to
the news. Great day! First good news, no reaction to the chemo today,
hurray! Did a couple of things different, kept a lot more clothes on.
The nurses were quite grateful for that.....
And really watched
what my body temperature was like during and after chemo. If I felt
cool, put on a blanket, going toward warm, slippers off. Very simple
and common sense, but it worked for me, no chills, no fever! whoo hoo!
Now
on the other good stuff! My brothers donation started approximately
9:30 this morning, and finished at 1:30 this aft. They then cleaned up
the stem cell donation, did whatever else they do to it, then brought
it to me at about 5:00, done by 5:25!!! Yup, that's what I said 5:25!
Two nurses brought it in, hooked me to the iv, took my vitals before,
during and after, and all done! Family was all here, even by skype,
which was awesome. I have the best family, best friends, and best
support network, bar none! I believe that has been one of the guiding
factors helping me along this interesting adventure. Not mention the
best medical team around. I don't think I said it enough, these people
ROCK! 8-)
I am feeling great tonight, and guess what, sounds
like I'm home on day pass tomorrow! They tell me I should feel fine
tonight and tomorrow, then the chemo side effects should start kicking
in. I've already started to think about the process I will need to
follow starting tomorrow and I will document it for posterity, starting
tomorrow! ha! Pretty lackluster day, which for me was fantastic!
JBates signing off till tomorrow and into a new future! 8-)
day 7 and 8
Hi Folks,
Wow, tomorrow is the big day. And what a couple of days the last 2 have been. So last night, Monday afternoon, my body did something I hadn't approved. It had a reaction to the atg chemo. Wich meant some interesting shivers which then turn into a nice high temperature. I peaked at 39.9, a new record for me. So I did my usual response, body too hot, drink lots of cold water, and take (almost) all my clothes off. I created a bit of stir I did. But if anybody knocked and I heard them, I did warn them, semi naked guy sweating like hell. So between nausea, shivers, and then high fever, oh, I forgot I now have a bit of irregular hear beat to. And to add to the humility, I had to ask the nurse about bladder control. People, I may joke about cancer, but it is a piece of crap that needs to be taken care of. I'm going to start a new page outlining the high cost for us, with a bit of humility put in. And buy that, I am talking about the difficulty in coming to terms with this, paying for things a lot of people can't afford, The difficulty of having to accept help. Having to realize that you may be losing control of some your body. (my personal favorite portion of the adventure so far, kidding so much, my head hurts). 8-)
Okay, enough ranting for the moment. Today, Tuesday, day before the transplant, almost same frigging thing as yesterday. Except earlier…..As I type this, the shivers are done, into the fever portion now, down from 38.4 to 38.2. woo hoo! I take my pluses when I gets 'em.
I will update the blog tomorrow and the next day, but will not be sending out any emails for a couple of days, unless someone has any questions. Yes, you in the back? Is there any way we can help John?
1: Lots and lots of prayers and positive energy for the next couple of days, if not week. It does not matter if it is prayer, good thoughts, mantras, good wishes. It all helps and I greatly appreciate all of them.
2: Please do not send flowers, candy (okay maybe a little fudge, no nuts please), not even silk flowers…. 8-(
3: Food, near and dear to my heart. I had an interesting discussion with one of the nurses. Someone may be able to bring in a small deep dish pizza, but we need to organize this, I don't need 20 small deep dish pizzas showing up at once! Well okay, if I wasn't semi quarantined and in the hospital, yes, yes I would, but over the next couple of weeks, let’s organize.
4: I luv cards! Personalize them please, and make them colourful, bright, happy, please and thank you.
Please don’t feel that you have to do any of the above, except #1, that's mandatory for all of you. 8-)
If you want to do any of the above, that makes it special to me, that's awesome it's all greatly appreciate, especially the awesome support I receive from all of you!
If you are thinking of other items, being the brains that you all are, could you please coordinate with Barb T? thanks!
Facebook page setup for me by an awesome granddaughter Adrianna: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=183407786579
Unfortunately you have to have facebook account to access it. Sorry.
So if you want my home mail address, leave me a private comment or sign my guest-book, please.
Wow, tomorrow is the big day. And what a couple of days the last 2 have been. So last night, Monday afternoon, my body did something I hadn't approved. It had a reaction to the atg chemo. Wich meant some interesting shivers which then turn into a nice high temperature. I peaked at 39.9, a new record for me. So I did my usual response, body too hot, drink lots of cold water, and take (almost) all my clothes off. I created a bit of stir I did. But if anybody knocked and I heard them, I did warn them, semi naked guy sweating like hell. So between nausea, shivers, and then high fever, oh, I forgot I now have a bit of irregular hear beat to. And to add to the humility, I had to ask the nurse about bladder control. People, I may joke about cancer, but it is a piece of crap that needs to be taken care of. I'm going to start a new page outlining the high cost for us, with a bit of humility put in. And buy that, I am talking about the difficulty in coming to terms with this, paying for things a lot of people can't afford, The difficulty of having to accept help. Having to realize that you may be losing control of some your body. (my personal favorite portion of the adventure so far, kidding so much, my head hurts). 8-)
Okay, enough ranting for the moment. Today, Tuesday, day before the transplant, almost same frigging thing as yesterday. Except earlier…..As I type this, the shivers are done, into the fever portion now, down from 38.4 to 38.2. woo hoo! I take my pluses when I gets 'em.
I will update the blog tomorrow and the next day, but will not be sending out any emails for a couple of days, unless someone has any questions. Yes, you in the back? Is there any way we can help John?
1: Lots and lots of prayers and positive energy for the next couple of days, if not week. It does not matter if it is prayer, good thoughts, mantras, good wishes. It all helps and I greatly appreciate all of them.
2: Please do not send flowers, candy (okay maybe a little fudge, no nuts please), not even silk flowers…. 8-(
3: Food, near and dear to my heart. I had an interesting discussion with one of the nurses. Someone may be able to bring in a small deep dish pizza, but we need to organize this, I don't need 20 small deep dish pizzas showing up at once! Well okay, if I wasn't semi quarantined and in the hospital, yes, yes I would, but over the next couple of weeks, let’s organize.
4: I luv cards! Personalize them please, and make them colourful, bright, happy, please and thank you.
Please don’t feel that you have to do any of the above, except #1, that's mandatory for all of you. 8-)
If you want to do any of the above, that makes it special to me, that's awesome it's all greatly appreciate, especially the awesome support I receive from all of you!
If you are thinking of other items, being the brains that you all are, could you please coordinate with Barb T? thanks!
Facebook page setup for me by an awesome granddaughter Adrianna: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=183407786579
Unfortunately you have to have facebook account to access it. Sorry.
So if you want my home mail address, leave me a private comment or sign my guest-book, please.
Stem Cell Transplant Process - Day 6 Sunday
My brother and my wife and granddaughter all showed up at the same time! Woo Hoo! Good visit.
Still receiving Fludarabine and Busulfan for chemo. Uneventful day, the Sundays should be. Question of the day: If codeine makes you nauseous, at how much pain would you need to be in to take it? My answer to that, and more riveting questions, next week. Tomorrow they add Antithymocyte and then things get interesting. I'm told to expect nausea, maybe some vertigo and mouth sores within 7 days!
Nurses are still surprised that I'm not really nauseous, I hope to keep surprising them on that! I'm starting to get tired, I am not able to sleep through the night at all. They have me on extra hydration and drinking lots of water so you know where I spend most of my time, every couple of hours at night. Not to mention the iv bag changes, the vital signs being taken and then being told to get my rest! Wow, I love people with a sense of humor!
Feet were swollen up and so I started walking in my room. That fixed up the feet quickly. I tried to do some of the recommend exercises yesterday, but I think I'll hold off on that again until things heal a bit more. Monday, Tuesday, then launch day!
Still receiving Fludarabine and Busulfan for chemo. Uneventful day, the Sundays should be. Question of the day: If codeine makes you nauseous, at how much pain would you need to be in to take it? My answer to that, and more riveting questions, next week. Tomorrow they add Antithymocyte and then things get interesting. I'm told to expect nausea, maybe some vertigo and mouth sores within 7 days!
Nurses are still surprised that I'm not really nauseous, I hope to keep surprising them on that! I'm starting to get tired, I am not able to sleep through the night at all. They have me on extra hydration and drinking lots of water so you know where I spend most of my time, every couple of hours at night. Not to mention the iv bag changes, the vital signs being taken and then being told to get my rest! Wow, I love people with a sense of humor!
Feet were swollen up and so I started walking in my room. That fixed up the feet quickly. I tried to do some of the recommend exercises yesterday, but I think I'll hold off on that again until things heal a bit more. Monday, Tuesday, then launch day!