Day +5 - +13

Hey everyone. Everything has been such a blur over the past few days so I'll put as much as I can remember.
Day +4: Was an ok day. My WBC were at 0.19 and all of my other counts looked ok. I couldn't eat anything because I couldnt swallow because of the mouth sores. I felt ok otherwise. That is reallly all that I can remember from that day.

Day +5: I cant remember what all happened that day but I can tell you that it was one of my low days because my WBCs were at 0.09.

Day +6: On this day I had to get platelets because mine were too low at 26.8. My WBC hit their lowest point at 0.07. I really dont remember what all went on this day. I know that I couldn't eat because of the sore mouth. and was literally drained of all energy. Mark left on this day to go home to take care of a few things and to spend time with Allie. Mama came over to stay with me.

Day +7: This day my WBC was .11. Starting to come up a little bit. All that I  know is that I was feeling bad and couldn't eat. Also, on all of these days I was walking at least once or twice to get a little bit of exercise. And I have to do mouth care 3-4 times a day. The doctors all said that it helps get out of the hospital quicker. I think this was the day that I let mama shave my head. My scalp began to hurt pretty bad and my hair was coming out onto the pillow and when I would shower. She used her clippers to shave it using the #1 blade. That made things a lot easier and my scalp didn't hurt near as much.

Day +8: This day my WBC was .13. Still coming up but not by much. I don't remember much about this day other than the crappy stuff.

Day +9: This day mama went back home and Mark came back to be with me. Mama left pretty early in the day and I slept until Mark got here around 5:00pm.  My WBC was 0.22. Slowly coming up.

Day +10: My WBCs were .85, nearly quadrupling from the day before. This is the day they call engraftment. This means that my stem cells have made it to my bone marrow and are now making new cells.

Day +11: This day my WBC jumped all they way to 2.91. My hemoglobin was 6.7 so I had to recieve a unit of blood. They transfuse if it is less than 7. I started to feel a little better this day. My tounge and throat started to produce a lot of secretions and the old skin started to peel off. I was able to eat a little this day.

Day +12: My WBCs were a whopping 6.23 on this day. My mouth was a lot better on this day, all new skin on my tongue and I could swallow without it hurting so bad. I ate cherrios for breakfast and then a little mashed potatoes for dinner. I was feeling much better this day. The docs told me today that all of the antibiotics especially the Zosyn and Vancomycin had done a number on my kidneys. Thankfully they said the damage was reversible but it would take a few days of watching the numbers to get them flushed out and back to working properly.

Day +13: Today was a good day all in all. My WBC are 4.61 and all other numbers look good. My kidneys still aren't looking the best but the Creatinine shows to be leveling out and the doctors think that they will soon clear themselves. They gave me a bag og IV Sodium Bicarb tonight to hopefully help the kidneys flush themselves. The good news is that the doctors have plans on discharging me tomorrrow if all of my numbers look good in the morning. I pray they do because I'm so ready to get out of here and see my sweet Allie. The plans are for her and Nana to come over tomorrow and we have gotten a hotel for 4 days. I have to stay in Birmingham for another 1-2 weeks for daily clinic visits to check my numbers and make sure everything looks ok. When Allie and Nana go back home we will stay at the townhouse until I'm released to go home home (back to Columbus).

I want to thank you all for the support and prayers throughout this whole process. It means the world to me. I feel much better although I am still pretty weak and get fatigued very easily. I have basically no appetite or desire for food but eat because it will make me stronger (and my tummy lets me know its hungry). I pray that this is the end of my journey with cancer and I can go on to live the rest of my life without worrying about that. Thank you all again for the overflowing prayers and support. Much love to all of you.

Day +1, Day +2, Day+3

Day +1 was pretty much uneventful. I felt pretty good and was about to eat a little grits and drink a naked juice. I haven't gotten the expected mucositis. I think it will be here soon as my mouth is mildly tender and I'm having really thick saliva. All signs pointing to mouth sores. No bad nausea today. Was able to do my walking around the unit. Daddy and Sandi came to visit. It was nice to see them but I hurt a little inside to see them go. My WBCs are still stable at 5.32 (normal is 4-11) Dr. Shelton says that the steroids I got during transplant yesterday could of causes the increase in the WBCs but they would definitely drop in the coming days.

Day +2  Another uneventful day. Mama and Meagan came to see me around lunch time. It was nice to see them and I wish they could of stayed longer. I was very happy to have company. We had a good time while they were here. We played UNO and it was fun watching us alter the rules and get competitive. I enjoyed that. Before they left, Meagan walked the halls with me for a bit. After they left, Mark went to the gym and I took a nap. My WBCs were 1.4 and now I'm considered neutropenic. I have to wear a mask whenever I'm out of my room to keep me from breathing in any germs. I also had to get some Potassium IV and was hooked back up to continous fluids to keep me from getting dehydrated.

Day +3 Today has been a good day! We woke up and listened to some music and ordered breakfast. I had a little bit of grits and Mark had his 4 hard boiled eggs and oatmeal. I then took a much needed walk around the unit and just hung out a little. Dr. Shelton stopped by see us and she said I was doing well but that I would get more Potassium today. My eyes have been bother me when I tried to read close up, like a text or small writing. She looked in both eyes with and said they look like the text book lol. We are assuming that it is a side effect of one of the chemos that will go away with time. Or it could be associated with my WBC counts dropping drastically to 0.25 today. I also was started on my Neupogen shots today to help my body to produce more wbcs. Mark went to they gym but he just called to see what I wanted to eat from Cracker Barell. Never in a million years would i think the he would like Cracker Barrell. I think it is one of his favorites now. We have eaten there the past 3 nights. I'm not complaining but he has been here for me anb I could'nt ask for a better husband. And it's so much better than the cafeteria food here :)

 

Transplant Day - Day 0

Transplant day started off as any other....I got sick, go figure. I didn't eat much because of the nausea and just felt blah.

Around 10:00, the nurse brought this cyclinder like thing into my room. My stem cells were inside there. My WBCs were at 3.12, not as low as they will get in the coming days.  Before they started, I took a few laps around the unit and then they began.

I was given some premeds to keep me from having a reaction to the preservative that they use. The drugs were Benadryl, Demerol, and Solumedrol. That knocked me off of my feet as well. I slept during pretty much the whole process (it only took 30 minutes to transfuse) and until about dinner time. When I woke up I felt refreshed and 10 times better than I did before the transplant.


Now is just the watch an wait period. My blood cells will eventually over the next few days plummitt to near nothing. Then gradually they will start replenishing themselves with the helps of my newly transfused stem cells. I am so happy that the transplant went well. I've been told what to expect in the days to come but I pray that it will go by a smoothly and fast as possible. I've been ready be done with the big C word and I pray that this is it and our relationship is over!!!

My Re Birthday sign from the BMT team!

Re Birthday Cake from the staff

Day -3, Day -2, Day -1

Day -3 began with Mama and I waking up and ordering breakfast. Around lunch I got my 2nd dose of Thiotepa. I just rested while it was infusing. It was pretty much and uneventful day. Other than, my right Chestwall Hickman catheter started giving me a little trouble. The area around it began to swell a little compared to the other side and when the IV fluids were infusing there was a weird feeling. They disconnected that line and have only been using the left hickman since. Dr. Shelton ordered a chest X-ray and Ultrasound of the area. I also got to skype with Mark and Allie. Made my night!! I love that little girl so much!

Day -2: I woke up with the worst nausea that I have ever had. I vomitted a few times but I felt better afterwards. I got the chemo Mephalan 1/2 and it went well. The infusion was only about1 hour total. I have been told by many to suck on ice or popsicles while recieving the med and so I did for about half of the infusion. The reason for this is that the cold decreases the amount of blood flow to the mouth, this decreasing the amount of the chemo that the mouth gets. In turn this is suppose to help prevent the mouth sores. Only time will tell. It was determined by chest X-ray that the hickman catheter tip was in the right spot but there is a clot. Therefore, I have been started on a blood thinner, Lovenox. It will help to prevent any new clots from forming. I was also given many different medicines to try to combat the nausea that lasted pretty much all day. I was able to keep down some mashed potatoes and jello for dinner. I went to bed pretty early.

Day -1: Today began with nausea yet again. I got sick once i woke up but felt better afterwards. I hate Nausea with a passion and I wish it would just go away. I had a quarter of a bagel the slept. I also got my 2nd dose of Mephalan today. Mama went home today and Mark came back over to stay the next week or so. As soon as he got here I drank my Naked Juice and ate 3 peanut butter crackers then went on a walk. The hardest part so far is being away from home and my Allie. The nausea and crappy feeling suck too. I have to keep reminding myself that I can do this and I have to do this! NO turning back now. Transplant day is tomorrow Jan 5,2012. Please everyone say a prayer that everything goes well and this process is over sooner than later. Much Love.

Day -6, -5, -4

Day -6 cont.... After finishing my infusion of Busulfan on Day -6, we went back to our hotel to get Allie and took a trip to the Birmingham Zoo. Allie loved it! We got there at around 3:00 and it closed at 4:00 so we didn't have much time. However, we were able to see a lot of the animals and it was enough for an almost 2 year old to take in. She kept waving and saying "hey" to each different animal. It was so much fun watching her. We hope to take her back once I get out of the hospital and we have the whole day to spend there. That night we just relaxed and ordered a pizza. It was nice to just be able to sit back and enjoy the evening.

Mark and I decorated my room!!

Day -5: Yesterday I woke up with my 2 favorite people laying beside me. Allie's angelic face was so beautiful as she slept and I could of just stayed there all day. We woke up around 9:00, got dressed and packed and checked out of the hotel. We decided to have breakfast at my favorite, Cracker Barrell. It was nice but I had to tell Allie goodbye after that. It was just as hard this time as the last. Just sucks. However, I know that I have to stay strong for her. She is my world and one day she will understand. I'm just glad that she doen't know everything now. I hugged Nana and Jeannie goodbye as well. Thank ya'll for bringing my angel to see me. Then we headed to the BMT unit for my last dose of Busulfan and I was put into my room as soon as we got here.The last dose went well and we Mark and I just hung out in my room. We watched the movie, Terrible Bosses and stayed up to see the ball drop.  Also, thanks to all of my family and friends for your continued prayers and support. Happy New Year!

Day -4: Today started with waking up to many different people coming in and out of my room. Between the Patient Care Tech, Pharmacist, Doctor Shelton, Nurses, and Janitor I wanted to scream. The last person to visit me was Eucharistic Minister from a Catholic Church nearby. I recieved the Body of Christ (Communion) and we prayed together for a few minutes. It was a very nice way to start the day. Mark left shortly after. He went home to take down the Christmas tree and decorations and to spend some time with Allie. I just finished my 2nd drug Thiotepa 1 out of 2. I will get the 2 dose tomorrow. It takes 3 hours to infuse. The main thing with this drug is that a large portion of it is excreted through the skin. Therefore, I have to take at least 3 showers a day to help avoid the rash or any irritation. My chest is still itchy, red, and tender. I will never never ever use tegaderm for myself again. My chest looks like it is sunburned because it is so red. I've been using the Eucerin dry skin cream and it has helped some. After the Thiotepa finished I began to feel nauseus. I asked for something for nausea and was giving Phenergan IV. My first time getting this one and it knocked my off my feet. I just feel dizzy and can't hardly concentrate. I'd rather feel like that then to get sick to my stomach. Mama just got here a few minutes ago. She will be staying with me until Mark comes back on Wedsnesday. We are making progree, my counts are a little down from yesterday but I am not neutropenic yet. So ready for this to be over with. Will blog again soon! Be blessed xoxo

Day -8, -7, -6

Day -8 was considered a "rest day" so Mark and I just enjoyed the day. We slept late and then had a late breakfast at Cracker Barrell. We shopped around a little and got some things done. Target, Hobby Lobby, Dicks, Walgreens, etc. At 330 we saw the new Mission Impossible Movie which was pretty good if you like action movies. We finished off dinner at Pizza Hut. It was a pretty good day of just being out and about and hubby and me tme.

At Outpatient BMT getting my chemo

Day -7: Yesterday we had to be here at the BMT unit early to get my 2nd dose of Busulfan. It went well. I started out with my premed of Zofran IV and then the Busulfan went in over 3 hours and I got to go home. I forgot to mention the horrendous reaction that I had to the tegaderm where my right hickman line is. My skin is all red and blistered. I took the dressing off and refuse to wear another one. Hopefully it will get better. When we left the BMT unit we headed to our hotel The Hyatt Place where Nana, Jeannie, and Allie were waiting on us. Allie was standing just inside the hotel with Nana and she smiled from ear to ear when she saw us and I hugged her so tight. So happy to see my baby. We spent the night playing and then went and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. It was a nice night and I really enjoyed spending it with my family and especially sweet Allie. Before going back to the hotel we stopped at Walgreens and got some Eucerin cream to put on the rash. Hopefully, that will do the trick!

Day -6: We are here at the BMT unit now, my 3rd dose of Busulfan is infusing as I type. No bad side effects now. A little nausea at times that I can handle but mainly the Ativan makes me feel woozy and a little out of it. I've only got about 30 minutes left of the 3 hour infusion. We plan on taking Allie to the Birmingham Zoo if we have time today. I think she would love that. I will blog more about that next time.

Outpatient Chemo for SCT Day -9

Hey Peeps! Today begins my outpatient chemo portion of this process. My day didn't quite start as I had hoped. First,we woke up late, like 3 hours late. OOPs...I was extremely tired from cleaning and packing all day yesterday. I set my alarm at 4am to take my scheduled Ativan (seizure prophylaxis bc the Busulfan can cause seizures) and woke up on time for that. I also set it for 5am but somehow hit the snooze and went back to sleep. It was no big deal when I called the BMT unit, they said just come on over.

BTW, Leaving Allie was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. She just held onto me so tight and was crying right along with me. I love that little girl so much. She is my whole world. Nana and Meagan came to pick her up and that helped me a lot. I know she will have a great time playing with everyone and I'll skype with her as much as possible. I just miss her so much already..

On another note....

Upon arrival, I had blood drawn, IV fluids started, and saw Dr. Salzman. She is a very nice doctor. I started my first dose of Busulfan around 130pm. It was a 2 hour dose but then I have had to have labs drawn after it was finished and every hour until 730. This helps them to see how my body metabolizes the medicine and so they can make each of my other doses specific to me. Make sense?

Anyway, today is considered Day -9......We count backward to transplant day which is Day 0 and then we count it + days after transplant. My hope is to be out of the hospital by day +10 - +14. We will seee. I'll update again soon ! :)

Gotta have a little fun :)

Always by my side

1st day of chemo shot :)