Friday, uneventful
day, as busy as Fridays ever get. I had every intention of going home
until the stupid snow hit Calgary. I told my wife to turnaround and
just go home, it definitely wasn't worth either her nor my
granddaughter to get hurt so I could go home. Interesting though, get
woke up every 4 hours or so for blood work, but make sure you get rest.
ha!
Stem Cell Transplant Process - Day 3 Thursday
Wow, busy, busy days! And I haven't even had the stem cell transplant yet!
Ah well, so far, test chemo dose on Tuesday, dose 1 on Wednesday, dose 2 today! I was told to expect some nausea, but nothing. woo hoo! In the hospital at 8:00, gone by 11:15. So I continue to surprise the medical staff. My nurse told me that they were shocked to see me in the ward since I still have hair. Apparently, I get to lose it over the next few weeks again. Personally, I don't mind being bald, it means I don't have to shave as often either, ha! The other thing that surprised her was that my cvc in my chest hadn't bled at all so the dressing didn't have to be changed. Again, woo hoo! Busy day because work was very busy. Helped make the time go by quicker.
Ah well, so far, test chemo dose on Tuesday, dose 1 on Wednesday, dose 2 today! I was told to expect some nausea, but nothing. woo hoo! In the hospital at 8:00, gone by 11:15. So I continue to surprise the medical staff. My nurse told me that they were shocked to see me in the ward since I still have hair. Apparently, I get to lose it over the next few weeks again. Personally, I don't mind being bald, it means I don't have to shave as often either, ha! The other thing that surprised her was that my cvc in my chest hadn't bled at all so the dressing didn't have to be changed. Again, woo hoo! Busy day because work was very busy. Helped make the time go by quicker.
Stem Cell Transplant Process - Day 2 Wednesday
Survived the
night, boy, was my neck ever sore! It felt like I had been wrestling a
pro wrestler! Thankfully, most of the soreness was gone early this
morning, and I didn't have to take a pain pill at all today! woo hoo!
So I had my test chemo, no problems so far. The test chemo lasted about
45 minutes, then they hydrated me for the rest of the day. So I was
still hooked to the iv from 8:30 - 5 today. Oh and then 2 tubes of
blood taken, every hour from 9 till about 5. No wonder I feel tired.
Thank goodness the laptop works like a charm so I can work without any
issues. hmmm, that just doesn't sound right! 8-)
The dressing was taken off of my neck and it was changed on my chest. It's going to take a bit to get used to having something dangling out of my chest, but it's quite doable. The doctor came in, told me the enzyme count in my liver was a bit off, and voila, pills to take! It looks like I better get used to that in a hurry cuz there's a lot more pills coming my way. Saw the physiotherapist also. She was a little surprised my balance was as good as it was and that I still had strength in my shoulders. She gave me some exercises and a band to use during my stay and beyond. I am planning on continuing to surprise them throughout this process! Oh, have I said how much these people rock yet? Very nice people, very caring and supportive. My supper showed up as I was leaving, and the fellow didn't mind that I wasn't going to eat it, but he was quite concerned that I had a ride coming! Wow! I guess he must have seen people stranded!
The incision sites are still a bit sore and the amount of itchiness should drive me nuts by the weekend. But if that's the worst thing I have to worry about, I'm buying lottery tickets this weekend!
The dressing was taken off of my neck and it was changed on my chest. It's going to take a bit to get used to having something dangling out of my chest, but it's quite doable. The doctor came in, told me the enzyme count in my liver was a bit off, and voila, pills to take! It looks like I better get used to that in a hurry cuz there's a lot more pills coming my way. Saw the physiotherapist also. She was a little surprised my balance was as good as it was and that I still had strength in my shoulders. She gave me some exercises and a band to use during my stay and beyond. I am planning on continuing to surprise them throughout this process! Oh, have I said how much these people rock yet? Very nice people, very caring and supportive. My supper showed up as I was leaving, and the fellow didn't mind that I wasn't going to eat it, but he was quite concerned that I had a ride coming! Wow! I guess he must have seen people stranded!
The incision sites are still a bit sore and the amount of itchiness should drive me nuts by the weekend. But if that's the worst thing I have to worry about, I'm buying lottery tickets this weekend!
John and Jaclyn update #3 Tuesday
All good news day!
Jaclyn is improving on a daily basis. She finally gets her son, RJ home to! woo hoo! She is speaking better, walking more, and her appetite has greatly improved.
So Tuesday was quite an interesting one for me. Started with a blood test, 10 tubes this time! Then off to get admitted, just a bit of paperwork there. Then up to the unit I will be staying at for awhile, but not quite yet. They put me in a temporary room, told be that unless there were issues, I would go home tonight, hmmmm. Well I wound up in a hospital gown and got wheeled down to radiology for center line (cvc) implant. Very interesting experience. A little different than I thought, it was actually put in the jugular, then tunneled under the skin to exit out in my upper chest. They used a very interesting ultrasound machine to locate the vein, put in the cvc, then tunnel it down to where it needed to go. Way cool stuff, wish I would have had the camera to take pictures of the equipment. The docs, nurses, assistants, and porters were all awesome people. Unfortunately for me, not only do I have strong bones, i also have tough skin and it took a bit more work for them to put the cvc in. No pain from the operation, but my neck is quite sore since it took more work work than usual to get it done. So now I have my teeth healing, my bone marrow biopsy almost healed, and now a new wound! It just doesn't get any better than that! 8-)
My granddaughter Adrianna has started a facebook for me so please check it out, and pass it on!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?v=wall&gid=183407786579
Wednesday is my test chemo day. Should be quite boring (I hope) and yet, another new experience for me!
Jaclyn is improving on a daily basis. She finally gets her son, RJ home to! woo hoo! She is speaking better, walking more, and her appetite has greatly improved.
So Tuesday was quite an interesting one for me. Started with a blood test, 10 tubes this time! Then off to get admitted, just a bit of paperwork there. Then up to the unit I will be staying at for awhile, but not quite yet. They put me in a temporary room, told be that unless there were issues, I would go home tonight, hmmmm. Well I wound up in a hospital gown and got wheeled down to radiology for center line (cvc) implant. Very interesting experience. A little different than I thought, it was actually put in the jugular, then tunneled under the skin to exit out in my upper chest. They used a very interesting ultrasound machine to locate the vein, put in the cvc, then tunnel it down to where it needed to go. Way cool stuff, wish I would have had the camera to take pictures of the equipment. The docs, nurses, assistants, and porters were all awesome people. Unfortunately for me, not only do I have strong bones, i also have tough skin and it took a bit more work for them to put the cvc in. No pain from the operation, but my neck is quite sore since it took more work work than usual to get it done. So now I have my teeth healing, my bone marrow biopsy almost healed, and now a new wound! It just doesn't get any better than that! 8-)
My granddaughter Adrianna has started a facebook for me so please check it out, and pass it on!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?v=wall&gid=183407786579
Wednesday is my test chemo day. Should be quite boring (I hope) and yet, another new experience for me!
John and Jaclyn update #2
So it's good news all around! My daughter has been out of the icu since
Sunday and in her own room. She is now off of the ventilator, fully
conscious and able to speak, use the computer, and swear at people!
Life is good. I still can't see her because she is still contagious,
but at least she isn't in danger anymore! I got to see her last night!
Sort of... I was able to get a webcam system set up and her fiance set
up the webcam on their notebook. Yay for skype! Video and audio was
choppy, but at least we were able to finally talk.
7 days left! Then I start the stem cell transplant process. woo hoo? hmmmm, 8-)
One more of my tests is now complete. I survived my bone marrow biopsy and aspiration on late Monday afternoon. woo hoo! I did not have sedation for it, only local anesthetic. The doctor had a bit of trouble removing a sample of bone from my left hip bone marrow, (my bones are too tough he said) but after the 3rd try was able to complete the task. I was a bit sore from the process, but able to work all day today and didn't have to take any pain pills for it. Either I'm getting used to this stuff, or the pain will kick in this weekend! I am still feeling great, and looking forward to the transplant. Something new to experience!
I would like to thank everybody for the awesome emails and support over the last 10 days. It was a very trying time for my wife and I. Your support was incredible and greatly appreciated and helped to make a very difficult time more bearable knowing that Jaclyn and my family were in so many peoples thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
7 days left! Then I start the stem cell transplant process. woo hoo? hmmmm, 8-)
One more of my tests is now complete. I survived my bone marrow biopsy and aspiration on late Monday afternoon. woo hoo! I did not have sedation for it, only local anesthetic. The doctor had a bit of trouble removing a sample of bone from my left hip bone marrow, (my bones are too tough he said) but after the 3rd try was able to complete the task. I was a bit sore from the process, but able to work all day today and didn't have to take any pain pills for it. Either I'm getting used to this stuff, or the pain will kick in this weekend! I am still feeling great, and looking forward to the transplant. Something new to experience!
I would like to thank everybody for the awesome emails and support over the last 10 days. It was a very trying time for my wife and I. Your support was incredible and greatly appreciated and helped to make a very difficult time more bearable knowing that Jaclyn and my family were in so many peoples thoughts and prayers. Thank you.