Healing

I feel that each day I get a little bit stronger and feel a little bit better. This week Sharon and I went to UCHealth for blood tests and a visit with our favorite nurse practitioner, Keri. My blood counts are doing very well and Keri says I am ahead of the curve. It has now been 30 days since my stem cell transplant. I still have daily nausea, but not as bad, my taste buds are recovering but not there yet, my neuropathy is still there with sensitivity in my hands and tingling in my feet. I do not have my strength back but it is coming.  I am walking faster but not yet to my normal speed. Sometimes a little wobbly but not too bad. One month down and only two to five to go. Yep, three to six month recovery.

Yesterday I had an outing all on my own. I drove to Rocky Mountain National Park to visit with Joan who was camping there. I managed an hour drive each way and about an hour visiting with Joan and took a short walk while there. Trekking poles come in handy when walking. Then in the evening we went to Comida and met Chris, Amanda, and Judy. I wasn't fully able to enjoy the food but it was nice to get out. Sharon especially needed a night out away from home and socializing with someone other than me.

Today while trying to figure out why out solar shades would not come down I discovered that the GFI in he basement that controls one basement outlet and our outdoor outlets had tripped. The freezer was plugged into this in the basement. Oops. Everything was done for and at room temperature. The biggest loss was the gravy that Larry made when he was here last. I think we will put him to work when he visits this weekend. I have switched the freezer power to another outlet. Hopefully we will not see this happen again.

How is it that a restaurant advertises "tapas" when there is little to nothing on their menu that would or should be considered tapas? Why do so many people fall for it? I've been to Spain, I know tapas, and what is generally advertised here is NOT tapas. Rant over.

Still No Hair!

 

A Week At Home

Biggest news this week is that the tri-fusion line is out! On Thursday morning the line was removed so that I no longer have a Christmas ornament dangling from my chest. Wednesday's blood tests were all good with my white blood cell count at 3.1, red blood cell count at 3.37, hemoglobin at 9.9, platelets at 240 and neutrophils at .07. I did need a neupogen injection to bring up the neutrophils but all the other numbers are looking good. 

I have been eating more but I still have no appetite. I've had bouts of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Yuck but they are getting better. I sleep a lot during the day, but do get out for short walks. Sharon continues to put up with me, she is tougher than I am. Today she booked flights for John, Kristie, Avery, and Anika to come here at the end of July. Larry and Dave are coming next weekend, Peg and Suzanne will be here sometime in July and maybe we'll even see Katie this summer. Lots of visitors!

Bird Watching

101°

Guarding the Stairs

 

Yuck

I woke this morning to dry heaves. I am wondering how long these will continue. Nausea, no appetite, listless, no energy, neuropathy, and no taste. I feel I am still feeling the effect of melphalan and to tomorrow makes three weeks since they gave it to me. Sharon is doing her best to feed me but it is hard with no appetite and few working taste buds. 

Home!

Ah but it is nice to be home. I slept well last night and woke up feeling more energy than I have in a while. It is good to sleep in my own bed, shower in my own shower, cook chicken on my grill! I have had not problems walking up and down stairs which means I am getting stronger and more exercise than I got in the hotel or the hospital. I am laying low today and taking it easy. I've had two naps already and it is just now noon! My exercise has been going up and down stairs and walking around the house. Yep, taking it easy.

We spent all afternoon at UCHealth getting IV antibiotics (the last round) and blood tests and an interview with the Nurse Practitioner. My numbers are all good and rising. I was happy to get out of there and head home.

 

Recovery

Sharon just informed me that recovery from melphalan takes 40 - 50 days. This could explain how I feel and what it going on. It is far and away the nastiest chemo drug I have been exposed to. I am now 16 days out from my stem cell transplant, 17 days from melphalan and am still experiencing nausea, loose stools, and fatigue. I also have almost no appetite, no taste, still losing hair, and generally feeling yucky.Tomorrow evening we will head home. Perhaps that will help!

In The World

I escaped my three week confinement. I left Percy behind in the hospital room and made a run for it - though in a wheelchair. I am now sitting outside in the sun in the courtyard of Homewood Suites.

Sharon busted me out around 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, got us checked into the Homewood Suites and me settled in the room. I felt bad that she has to do everything. because I still have little strength. She then went to the store and got us fixings for dinner - my first non-hospital meal. I couldn't eat much but I was happy to be out!

It was odd sleeping in my non-hospital bed because it did not continually inflate and deflate and no one came in to give me meds and check my vitals through the night. Because I the lack of interruptions I didn't sleep as well! 

Sunday was great. I had coffee and cereal an the morning then had the best shower in weeks. Showering with Percy was a pain. Now I don't have to drag an IV pole with me into the shower. After showers we went downstairs and tried to sit outside - but it was a bit too chilly. But, within minutes there was lots of excitement at the Homewood Suites - no power. Xcel Energy had a local outage and we were included. No lights inside, no elevators, and the fire department came to visit - people were stuck in the elevators! Sharon and I hung out in the lobby and watched the excitement.

We went to UCHealth for a scheduled appointment which included a blood test and an IV antibiotic. Walking here and through out the  day provided me with more exercise than I have had in weeks. It was good for me.

• Blood test results: 
• Red blood cells 2.74
• White blood cells 3.5
• Hemoglobin 8.1
• Platelet 10
• Absolute Neutrophils 2.7

All of these number are good except for the Neutrophils. Hopefully those will be up tomorrow.

I rang the bell as I left the isolation unit.

First glimpse of freedom

 

Friday June 9th - Day 10

First, blood count updates. White cells up to .6 and red at 2.5 with platelets at 14 and hemoglobin at 7.6. I've got improvement and did not need whole blood or platelets today. The doctors are encourage and today told me I would be out of here this weekend which certainly energized me! They have been doing some wavering and saying perhaps Sunday, but they are doing everything to get me out of here on Saturday. All I have to do is get through tonight without a fever and for my blood counts to continue to improve. Here's hoping!

I've been really bad at blogging this week. Part of my reason is not having a comfortable place to sit and type. Working on a hospital bed table while sitting on an uncomfortable chair does not encourage writing. I have been distracted yesterday and to a lesser extent today my the Comey testimony to Congress.

After hearng I may leave!

Sharon is at Comida.

 

Wednesday June 7 Day +8

Blood count updates. Hemoglobin 7.5 platelets 12 red blood cells 2.42 white blood cells <0.1. I am feeling better but by no means normal. I know that the past two or three days have been at the bottom and I get better from here. Now if I could only eat. A bowl of Cheerios all I have had to eat today.

Tuesday June 6 DAY +7

I hit bottom Sunday and Monday. My blood counts have tanked and yesterday they gave me two units of whole blood and today platelets. I've got not energy, no appetite, nothing.They say I should start coming back tomorrow. I hope so. All I am good for now is sitting on my butt and napping.

June 3 Day +4

This has been my worst day so far. First, my blood counts are down more - white blood count at 0.4, red at 2.64, and hemoglobin at 8.4. With these counts I am whipped. I've got no energy today and have only been for one walk but have slept a lot.

Last night was marked by loose stools twice at 1:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Because of this I have an isolation cart outside my door and anyone that comes in has to put on a gown and booties and a mask. I had to gown up to leave the room. No fun either way.

The doctor visiting this morning said than between the chemo and meds they were giving me, I could have gone somewhat lactose intolerant which contributed to my problem. And when you consider that Sharon made be quiche and I had ice cream for dessert last night could partially explain my problem. That and the fact that I have eaten very little since my "birthday." I blame a lot of the discomfort and lack of appetite and certainly the lowered blood counts to melphalan, the worst of the chemo that was pumped into me.

My high point was a visit from Sharon and she brought me fresh bread and chicken noodle soup. Love that woman!

I am hoping this is my nadir and counts don not go lower. They should start the recover over the next week. And, if they do I can get out of here in a week.

June 2 - Day +3

Made it through another night! Sleeping here is not great but luckily I have a knack for falling asleep anytime, anywhere according to Sharon.

My blood counts continue to fall. White cells 0.7, red cells 2.69, hemoglobin 8.4, platelets 91, and neutrophils .6. Tonight they start me on neupogen which does work on my to promote the growth of white blood cells. So tomorrow morning I may be down more or starting the come up - if the stem cells have found their way home and are ready for work. I do not want to have to have a transfusion of red blood or platelets. One key to recovery is to keep moving - walking and other exercise. I've got a positive attitude also and a great bunch of friends providing support.

I am reading and enjoying my new cookbook "Meathead". I am working through the techniques chapters and have some disagreements with Meathead Goldwyn, but I am learning also.

Sharon made my day today by showing up with a quiche she made. Of course it was delicious and the best thing I have eaten since I got here. And, because I have not had any desire for food since the stem cell transplant, it was especially good. I ate and enjoyed it.

Other than her visit this has been a low key day with a number of walks and some pulls on the stretchy bands. I had a nap and have been online on Facebook, email, the news, and reading my book.

Looking East

 

 

June 1 Day +2

Last night while dozing I oddly started thinking of our home phone number when we moved to Houston in 1960. SUnset 2-8405. I also dreamed about my Stetson cowboy hat which has not fit me since I started chemo. No hair = no fit. I want my hair back. I've got two or three Stetsons and none of them fit me right now. I guess on the positive side, I have no need to a hat while I am confined to the BMT Isolation section of this hospital. My hope is that a week from tomorrow they will let me out of here and I can move in with Sharon at the Homewood Suites for a week, then home.

Muscle tone has suffered in here. I suppose it is a combination of the chemo and lack of activity. I can see it in my arms and body and feel it all over. I can walk around the hallways here - they say that 24 laps is a mile but it is a pain because I have to go through multiple pressure doors to do it. And, I am pushing Percy, my IV stand and wearing a procedure mask. I've got some elastic bands that I pull on and I can sit and stand and march in place. But, none of this really compares with doing simple things at home like walking up and down stairs, doing dishes, sitting outside, walking to the mailbox, bike riding.

My blood counts continue to fall and the doc says they will continue to go down. Today my White Blood Cell count is 2.0, my red count is 2.84, hemoglobin is 9.2, platelets are at 112, and neutrophils at 1.9.

Typing on this blog helps me pass the time but must be boring for those of you who read it. 

My gut is not normal and they won't let me have probiotics. Sharon and I discovered how effective probiotics were when I was doing the ABVD chemo in 2010. Chemo kills your gut flora. Gut flora promotes digestion, elimination, and general well being. My stomach is somewhat upset and all they will give me is Tums and some other meds. They don't want live bacteria introduced. I guess I have to regrow them myself.

I had a very nice visit with Chuck and Joan today and then Sharon joined us. It is good to have good friends and a loving wife! Joan brought me coloring books and a word search book to keep me occupied. I also texted with Katie, and John, and the BVSD crew. 

While Sharon was here I got an email from Wyoming Tourism which lead me to look for rooms at Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone for September 1-3. They are available but they are not cheap at $262 per night plus tax. I would like to go to Yellowstone again as well as Grand Teton. I've been also eyeing Rapid City for a long weekend trip and Sante Fe and Phoenix. Since I won't be able to fly for quite a while, road trips are it. We will do a day trip into Wyoming on August 21, 2017 to see the total solar eclipse.

Just me and Percy 

Sharon brought me my new cookbook.