Day 43: Bad Nausea Week

It can be really hard to be positive after a 4 day long week of chemotherapy. This week has really taken its toll on my body. They tell me that Monday was the day I received the nastiest drug - Cytoxin. I'm not sure if I spelled that right...but either way, I've been battling nausea all week long, all week strong. It's that feeling of whether or not you can't tell if you're hungry or if you're going to hurl. The past few days I haven't ate much at all. It's so hard to try and force food down when you don't know if it's going to stay there.

It's so nice outside too! I keep taking my dogs out just to feel the nice warm air. I know it won't last, but it's nice while it's here. And I know the dogs love it.

It's nice to not have any sort of chemotherapy today. Hopefully this weekend I can recover a little before starting another 4 day stint of it next week. The good news is, is that so far we don't have to go back to Chicago until the 18th. That's when I'll get another bone marrow biopsy and catch up on some preliminary tests for a bone marrow transplant. It's possible I could be in remission by then too. Time will tell.

More later.

Day 42: Chicago Not as Planned

Today did not quite go as planned, that's for sure. On the way to Chicago, I developed some serious nausea. In the first hour that we were there, I lost my lunch twice in the bathroom. And that was even with taking anti-nausea meds. After they drew my blood, we found out that my hemaglobin level had dropped to 7.4, so I had to have a blood transfusion with two units of blood. Unfortunately, each unit of blood takes about 3 hours to administer, so much of our time was spent waiting for that to take place. Much of the other tests that were scheduled for the day had to be rescheduled for a later time. I still have quite a few bone marrow transplant tests to do...most of which are pretty simple...it was just a matter of there being enough time in the day to get it done.

I do feel a little better having gotten some blood and the nausea seems to have subsided for now. But I've still got one more round of chemo to get through this week later today. We go to see Dr. Park first and then we're going to Mishawaka for the chemo again.

At least Friday I get a day off from all this.

More later.

Day 41: Tuesday's Gone

Even though I had shorter day of chemo today, it was harder to get through. I felt the effects much more than I did yesterday. I've been nauseous most of the day even with the anti-nausea meds. My stomach is stuck between that state of not knowing if I'm going to throw up or if I'm just hungry. It's not a good feeling.

Other than that, my energy level was okay throughout the day. I felt like I could walk around and do minimal activities. But now it's 8pm, and I feel very tired and exhausted.

Tomorrow is going to be a long day in Chicago with lots of preliminary bone marrow transplant tests and more chemo. I'm trying to look forward to the weekend when I won't feel like so much like a pin-cushion or a lab rat. That's about all for now.

More later.

Day 40: One Day Down

After a really long day of hospital visiting, we're back in the comforts of our home. The day began at the South Bend Clinic, at 7:30am where they administered the chemo through my port for the first 4 hours. Which, basically meant sitting there twiddling our thumbs all that time, while the IV ran its course. Thankfully the night before I uploaded most of my music to my iPhone, which made the time pass a little faster.

From there we went to St. Joe Med Center for a lumbar puncture with chemo. The doctors finished with me around 3pm, and then I was required to lay on my back, completely still for 2 hours afterwards to avoid any harsh side effects. So much of this treatment is really just waiting and waiting. We're constantly searching for things to do while we sit and wait.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Mishawaka Clinic for more chemo, but it's only for half the day. I will most likely be home by noon. So, it won't be nearly as intense as today was.

Earlier this evening I received a call from the University of Chicago to discuss some insurance issues and the nurse told me on the phone that they have 19 preliminary bone marrow matches for me! Now, these people are just preliminary matches so far, but that's good news and a good start nonetheless. So, it was nice to get some good news today.

Day 39: Rigorous Week Coming

This week is going to be a busy one, that's for sure. Tomorrow begins Course 2 of my treatment, and it's going to be filled with chemotherapy. Monday we start at the South Bend Clinic at 7:30am for the start of the chemo. We'll be there for 3-4 hours, we're told, and then from there we go to St. Joe Med Center for a lumbar puncture with chemo. Tuesday will be the same thing, except without the lumbar puncture.

Wednesday, my parents, Katie and I will go to Chicago, where I will undergo more chemo and have preliminary bone marrow transplant tests done. I don't know what that entails just yet, but I'm sure the details will be forthcoming. My parents will also be tested for bone marrow matches.

Thursday, we'll be back here in town for another morning of chemo.

I'm worried about how my body is going to handle 4 days straight of chemotherapy. Never before have I had this much chemo in that short amount of time. I guess I'll find out soon enough. I do know that the chemotherapy drugs they are using this week are different than what I've received before, but I don't know the dosage amount.

I'll try and update you guys as best I can this week based on how I'm feeling. If I can't personally post, I will try and have Katie update this blog with what's going on.

Thanks for reading...again.