Day +15

Happy Halloween! 😈👻🎃. I've been asleep most all day, just super tired I guess.  But two good things came today.  My white count is 0.4!!!  It's amazing!  My doctor says I can be excited but also expect the count to fluctuate up and down a bit.  The next good thing was this:

Got to see my baby girls all dressed up in their ninja turtle costumes.  You may not be able to tell, but I'm super happy and smiling!

The last several days...

Well, not much to report right now.  My fevers finally broke back around Day +4.  I'm otherwise just hanging out, I have some days where I feel pretty good and others where I don't.  My blood counts a pretty good, my main thing right now is platelets, they just refuse to hold at a decent level so I've been getting lots of transfusions. Nothing to be concerned about, just part of the healing process..

So I'll continue to sit and wait for signs of engraftment, which we hope could be in the next couple of weeks.  

Days 0, +1, +2 and some of +3

Well it's been a very interesting few days.  I'm not really sure even where to begin.  Shortly after they finished the stem cell transplant I began to get the shakes and my joints began to ache.  No big deal, the doctor said it was normal and gave me some Demerol and I felt better.  Since then (I am writing this now at midnight on day +3) I have spent my days and nights getting the shakes, having joint pain, nausea, oh and spiking fevers which Tylenol has been unable to bring down, so off and on all day and night long, for hours at a time, I have to lay on a cooling blanket set at 40 degrees.  This stinks, really, really, stinks.  So needless to say I don't sleep well, I'm drugged and I feel like crap.  The bright side to it all though is that it's all completely normal and the symptoms should start to wind down by day +5.

On a different note, I would really like to thank everyone for all their love, prayers, support and good vibes.  Its felt and truly appreciated!!

Day O - My Rebirth (again)

The last week of chemo went very well, my doctors are ver pleased with how I feel, the way I look and how my bloods counts were holding.  I was very lucky to not need any blood or platelet transfusions during this round of very high chemo therapy.

And finally, today is the day in just about 15 minutes I will be receiving my new cells, which my little so generously donated to me yesterday.

Once I'm infused, it will be a waiting game to see how long it takes for the new healthy cells to infusion into my body.  Fingers, ears and toes crossed everyone...HERE WE GO!!!

Day -8 and -7

So far I've made it thru my first 3 rounds of the high dose chemo...only 5 more days to go.  Everything has been going well so far, except for the fact that I'm already sooooo very tired.  I have to sit and eat ice for each 2 hour round of chemo to prevent sores in my mouth.  So trying to stay awake from 3am to 5 am eating this very cold ice is not easy and I'm so, so cold...burrrr!  Had a visit from my doctor this afternoon, she said all looks good, I will need to have one more PE next week before my transplant to get that antigen number down just a tad more.  Anyway, my room is really freaking awesome, it's huge, I know a wish they would let me have a little slumber party or something.  

Got the green light!

I had my final appointment with my oncologist today and she gave the all clear to move forward with transplant.  The plasma exchange (PE) and IVIG therapy have been working wonderfully to bring down my antigen level to where it needs to be for transplant.  My iron level has also come down to a safe level.  My doctor is very happy with my progress pre-transplant and is very optimistic that I will have a successful transplant!  I will do my last round of PE and IVIG therapy tomorrow, then I get a day off (my last day of freedom) on Thursday.  Finally, on Friday morning I will be admitted to the transplant unit at the hospital to begin my next round of therapy.  I will be getting high dose chemo multiple times a day for the next 7 days,  in order to completely wipe out my cells and make way for my new healthy cells to be transplanted.  My transplant date is set for Friday, October 16.

First stage

First stage of the desensitization process was today, one 6 hour round of Rituxan.  And of course I decide to have a reaction to it.  Luckily though it was a very common reaction...swelling in my throat, flushed red face and the chills.  Boy, do I know how to have fun or what.? 😬 We had to pause treatment for about an hour while they pumped me with Benadryl, steroids, Demerol, Ativan and one more thing I don't remember. Once my symptoms were mostly resolved, we were able to continue with the treatment. Monday we'll be onto my first round of plasma exchange and IVIG therapy.  I'll let you know that goes next week.

Have a fabulous weekend all!