Hello readers
Ya I know I do not post often enough! This one will be short!
Any other Cancer Fighters affected by the weather (More pain, fatigue etc..?)
Checking if it's my imagination or not.
Keep Fighting
Yvon
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog new personal post!
Hello readers and fellow Cancer Fighters
Well today I just want to write about someone else!
Another Myeloma Fighter, His name is John Snippe.
His is undergoing his first stem cell transplant as I write.
He received his Cells on Sept 22. He is too sick to post right now so, My heart and Prayers go out to you Today John.
Been there twice myself! It is a very tough procedure, yet a simple one!
You get Chemo...They Give you the stem cells back and then it's just a waiting game!
It's different for everyone. But I too was very sick for a couple of days during the procedure!
So Sheers to you John Snippe! Hope to hear from your success soon!
Follow John on Twitter: @SnipJ
Or read his very informative Blog where he writes about Stem Cell Harvest as I forgot to write about myself but John has Blogged about it so well that I don't need to anymore...lol!
See: http://www.snippe.ca/
Keep Fighting John! ...and all of you too!
Yvon
Well today I just want to write about someone else!
Another Myeloma Fighter, His name is John Snippe.
His is undergoing his first stem cell transplant as I write.
He received his Cells on Sept 22. He is too sick to post right now so, My heart and Prayers go out to you Today John.
Been there twice myself! It is a very tough procedure, yet a simple one!
You get Chemo...They Give you the stem cells back and then it's just a waiting game!
It's different for everyone. But I too was very sick for a couple of days during the procedure!
So Sheers to you John Snippe! Hope to hear from your success soon!
Follow John on Twitter: @SnipJ
Or read his very informative Blog where he writes about Stem Cell Harvest as I forgot to write about myself but John has Blogged about it so well that I don't need to anymore...lol!
See: http://www.snippe.ca/
Keep Fighting John! ...and all of you too!
Yvon
Monday, June 13, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Comments on Posts
Hello readers
Just as an info, if someone asks a question as a comment below my posts I always reply as a comment below it.
Besides that all is good.
Keep fighting.
Yvon
Just as an info, if someone asks a question as a comment below my posts I always reply as a comment below it.
Besides that all is good.
Keep fighting.
Yvon
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog day +54
Hello readers
I have not been blogging for a while as I took a break from the "Social Networks" while I sort out some personal stuff. Just very tired and no energy. Motivation is hard for now.
It's been 54 days already. But I have had no new Dr. appointments so don't know where things are at for now.
Not an easy feeling since you have to wait 100 days after transplant to know how well the transplant went and where the Cancer is at. But half way there.
My eyes are acting up again so it's a bit painful to see my screen clearly still.
But, never give up!
Keep fighting
Yvon
I have not been blogging for a while as I took a break from the "Social Networks" while I sort out some personal stuff. Just very tired and no energy. Motivation is hard for now.
It's been 54 days already. But I have had no new Dr. appointments so don't know where things are at for now.
Not an easy feeling since you have to wait 100 days after transplant to know how well the transplant went and where the Cancer is at. But half way there.
My eyes are acting up again so it's a bit painful to see my screen clearly still.
But, never give up!
Keep fighting
Yvon
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog day +33 Tips and Tricks
Hello again everyone.
33 days after transplant already. Things are getting better and better. My eyesight is back to what it used to be. Digestion is perfect and my heart seems to be getting back to normal a little more everyday. Feeling a little disappointed about yesterday's post as I expected more feedback and or comments.
Like they say, the only reason we have deceptions is because we have expectations, so It's up to me to keep on rolling no matter what. I do not Blog everyday as I had promised myself but I accept the fact that I'm not always up to it yet. I'll get there soon!
Anyway, as promise a while back, here are some tricks I tried and succeeded at.
When I got back home form the transplant my priorities were to stop the diarrhea and nausea ASAP.
So here's what I did. First I took some Imodium to slow things down the first evening. Then I started taking Psyllium right away. Psyllium has the fantastic virtues of stopping both diarrhea and or constipation. It does that by absorbing and retaining water. You can either get it in bulk at your local health food store and mix it with juice or water or go the lazy way like me and just go to your local drugstore and buy Metamucil Capsules. Psyllium is all it contains! Don't buy the powdered version of Metamucil as it contains artificial flavors and sweeteners. Take 2 capsules 3 times a day with a glass of water and make sure you drink enough throughout the day. I haven't had to take Imodium since that first evening. Psyllium really works! At least for me!
Now for the nausea, well I found that if I waited too long to eat something after getting up in the morning I would spontaneously get nausea and vomiting after just 5 minutes after getting up but with hardly anything coming out! So instead of waiting till I was done washing up and all, I started to make sure I had prepared something the evening before and either eat or drink something as soon as I would get up. And it worked perfectly! So I suggest you do the same. If you like it, simply have a bottle of Insure close by and just have a few sips to get something in your stomach ASAP. After that if it's the first few days after getting back home, make sure you eat small meals throughout the day to keep the nausea at bay! I started by eating small meals every 2 hours until I worked myself up to 3 regular meals a day. I made it and now, no more nausea and or vomiting and no more diarrhea either.
Hope this is helpful to someone!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
33 days after transplant already. Things are getting better and better. My eyesight is back to what it used to be. Digestion is perfect and my heart seems to be getting back to normal a little more everyday. Feeling a little disappointed about yesterday's post as I expected more feedback and or comments.
Like they say, the only reason we have deceptions is because we have expectations, so It's up to me to keep on rolling no matter what. I do not Blog everyday as I had promised myself but I accept the fact that I'm not always up to it yet. I'll get there soon!
Anyway, as promise a while back, here are some tricks I tried and succeeded at.
When I got back home form the transplant my priorities were to stop the diarrhea and nausea ASAP.
So here's what I did. First I took some Imodium to slow things down the first evening. Then I started taking Psyllium right away. Psyllium has the fantastic virtues of stopping both diarrhea and or constipation. It does that by absorbing and retaining water. You can either get it in bulk at your local health food store and mix it with juice or water or go the lazy way like me and just go to your local drugstore and buy Metamucil Capsules. Psyllium is all it contains! Don't buy the powdered version of Metamucil as it contains artificial flavors and sweeteners. Take 2 capsules 3 times a day with a glass of water and make sure you drink enough throughout the day. I haven't had to take Imodium since that first evening. Psyllium really works! At least for me!
Now for the nausea, well I found that if I waited too long to eat something after getting up in the morning I would spontaneously get nausea and vomiting after just 5 minutes after getting up but with hardly anything coming out! So instead of waiting till I was done washing up and all, I started to make sure I had prepared something the evening before and either eat or drink something as soon as I would get up. And it worked perfectly! So I suggest you do the same. If you like it, simply have a bottle of Insure close by and just have a few sips to get something in your stomach ASAP. After that if it's the first few days after getting back home, make sure you eat small meals throughout the day to keep the nausea at bay! I started by eating small meals every 2 hours until I worked myself up to 3 regular meals a day. I made it and now, no more nausea and or vomiting and no more diarrhea either.
Hope this is helpful to someone!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Friday, March 4, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog: Important Questions and Answers for Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients
Hello everyone.
Long time no Post! haha! Finally my eyes are getting better and the heart rate is slowing down! So that's good news!
I received some questions from a newly diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patient. So I am using this as my post today as these questions are very important. I will not name the person until I have his permission.
So here goes:
Thank you very, very much!!! You are very welcome and I thank YOU for your questions. This will help others! If you do not mind I will use these questions for my next Post on my Blog. It’s up to you if you allow me to post your name or not.
Keep Fighting
Long time no Post! haha! Finally my eyes are getting better and the heart rate is slowing down! So that's good news!
I received some questions from a newly diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patient. So I am using this as my post today as these questions are very important. I will not name the person until I have his permission.
So here goes:
Hi Yvon,
I've been recently diagnosed with smoldering myeloma. (15% Bone Marrow infiltrated) I'm 34 with three small kids (1,3,5).
They found the myeloma two weeks after the birth of my third son. My docs at Heidelberg give me 3 years, if I'm lucky,
till the myeloma will be active. So should better think about, what to do. Well frankly Peter 15% isn't that bad. If it was 30 or 40% then you know your in trouble. At that level, they could have done the Marrow aspiration on another location on your body and end up with a different level. (Info I got from my Oncologist). But you also need to know more about your MM (Multiple Myeloma) Which type do you have? alpha [IgA], gamma [IgG], mu [IgM], delta [IgD], or epsilon [IgE]? What is your M spike? What is your Beta-2 microglobulin at? Do you have deletion of Chromosome 13? These are all important factors that you should know and learn. The more you know about your opponent the better. Personally what I would do if I was you is get myself on Curcumin with Bioperine ASAP. I’ve had an M spike of 4.7 for 8 months just disappear...Poufff! So do not focus too much on your 15%. I was at 78% one time! And now with the new average survival rate of a newly diagnosed patient with “active” Multiple Myeloma being 8 years, add that to the 3 years they told you about you’re still around for at least 11+ years. And with all the new developments in the research for a cure. Multiple Myeloma is becoming more of a Treatable Cancer then an incurable one!
I've been recently diagnosed with smoldering myeloma. (15% Bone Marrow infiltrated) I'm 34 with three small kids (1,3,5).
They found the myeloma two weeks after the birth of my third son. My docs at Heidelberg give me 3 years, if I'm lucky,
till the myeloma will be active. So should better think about, what to do. Well frankly Peter 15% isn't that bad. If it was 30 or 40% then you know your in trouble. At that level, they could have done the Marrow aspiration on another location on your body and end up with a different level. (Info I got from my Oncologist). But you also need to know more about your MM (Multiple Myeloma) Which type do you have? alpha [IgA], gamma [IgG], mu [IgM], delta [IgD], or epsilon [IgE]? What is your M spike? What is your Beta-2 microglobulin at? Do you have deletion of Chromosome 13? These are all important factors that you should know and learn. The more you know about your opponent the better. Personally what I would do if I was you is get myself on Curcumin with Bioperine ASAP. I’ve had an M spike of 4.7 for 8 months just disappear...Poufff! So do not focus too much on your 15%. I was at 78% one time! And now with the new average survival rate of a newly diagnosed patient with “active” Multiple Myeloma being 8 years, add that to the 3 years they told you about you’re still around for at least 11+ years. And with all the new developments in the research for a cure. Multiple Myeloma is becoming more of a Treatable Cancer then an incurable one!
I have some questions. Perhaps you could help me a bit, that would be great:
1. After your experience would you have changed the front line treatment? I think about getting treatment in Arkansas? Would you do radical treatment to prolong the remission? Do you think treatment there is better than in Europe? Well, that’s a hard one to answer. From my experience treatments vary from one Hospital to another and even from one Oncologist to another. In a way you have to be your own doctor also. That is why you have to learn as much as possible about your disease. As for me, after my first transplant my M-Spike was still at 4.7 so they told me “Well it might disappear after the second transplant so why wont we do it now? No way I said! I was offered “Maintenance Chemo” I refused that also, and 8 months after the transplant the M-Spike disappeared! And there was no trace of MM for more then 4 years! So it was a good decision on my part.
2. How do you get your positive attitude. I'm thinking the whole day about the myeloma and the dark future. Do you have a trick, how to live your live and to deal with the fear?
I wake up and the first thing I have to think about is myeloma. That’s a pretty good one too. Well, if you think I’ve always had that attitude, you are wrong. The first 6 months after my diagnosis (June 2003) It’s the only thing I could think of day in day out! I was sort of “Shoved” into treatment because I was first admitted for sepsis and 10 days later I was told I had Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma (Had no Idea what it was then, only knew at the time that it was incurable). And then within 24 hours I had a Porth a Cath installed and my first round of Chemo right away! I was I a daze for a few months and then I said to myself “STOP” and that is was I also told the Hospital. My positive attitude was a decision I took period! So I stopped all treatments, had my Porth removed and went on the Alternative Medicine way. I wanted to be able to tell myself “At least I gave it a try”. So I did it, tried pretty much everything out there! Then I came back to Canada in June 2004. Had my first Oncology appointment In Canada August 4 2004. My Bone Marrow Infiltration as you say had went from 11% (After the Chemos in France) to 78%. So I then took the decision to go for it completely. Had more then 10 months of Chemos and my first transplant July 18 2005. Entered the Hospital with a great positive attitude. I also had a Newsletter back then describing my transplant everyday. I even filmed it but never got to transfer the tapes as my camera got stolen! I will get to it eventually, I still have the tapes! To make a long story short Peter...you have to decide to become a Fighter and only you can kick your own butt and do it! Be a Super Hero P.... P.....!!! Before I thought I was a Looser and did think this way about myself for a long time. But now I know I’m a Fighter! And who do I have to thank for that ? Multiple Myeloma!
3. Do you think, doctors do transplants better today than in 2005? I don't see, that it really gets better. Do you see progression? They are speaking myeloma a chronic disease - are you feeling they are there? Personally as far as transplant goes I have not seen any difference in treatments. Same Chemo, Same side effects. The only difference I’ve seen is the quality of the Hospital Staff but I wont elaborate on the subject. Since I know you’ve read most of my Blog, you’ll understand what I mean!
4. How are you dealing with your children and your wife? How are they feeling about your myeloma? How are you living with them? Is it a "new normal" life or a war? Well, very honestly. For my wife and Daughter, I’m their Hero! They are tremendously proud of me. But that is because of MY attitude. And they help me stay positive as I feel responsible for them. If I was always depressed and negative I know for sure it would not be so. So it’s all up to you again! Your family WILL follow you! It’s your decision to make! Of course I have ups and downs but at least I have my wife (My best friend) to talk too and the lows don’t last very long!
I hope it's okay writing you my (personal) questions. It would be very kind, if you are honest to me. Sometimes I'm so desperate, I can't tell you. So I reach out and talk to some colleagues of our exclusive club. ;-)
1. After your experience would you have changed the front line treatment? I think about getting treatment in Arkansas? Would you do radical treatment to prolong the remission? Do you think treatment there is better than in Europe? Well, that’s a hard one to answer. From my experience treatments vary from one Hospital to another and even from one Oncologist to another. In a way you have to be your own doctor also. That is why you have to learn as much as possible about your disease. As for me, after my first transplant my M-Spike was still at 4.7 so they told me “Well it might disappear after the second transplant so why wont we do it now? No way I said! I was offered “Maintenance Chemo” I refused that also, and 8 months after the transplant the M-Spike disappeared! And there was no trace of MM for more then 4 years! So it was a good decision on my part.
2. How do you get your positive attitude. I'm thinking the whole day about the myeloma and the dark future. Do you have a trick, how to live your live and to deal with the fear?
I wake up and the first thing I have to think about is myeloma. That’s a pretty good one too. Well, if you think I’ve always had that attitude, you are wrong. The first 6 months after my diagnosis (June 2003) It’s the only thing I could think of day in day out! I was sort of “Shoved” into treatment because I was first admitted for sepsis and 10 days later I was told I had Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma (Had no Idea what it was then, only knew at the time that it was incurable). And then within 24 hours I had a Porth a Cath installed and my first round of Chemo right away! I was I a daze for a few months and then I said to myself “STOP” and that is was I also told the Hospital. My positive attitude was a decision I took period! So I stopped all treatments, had my Porth removed and went on the Alternative Medicine way. I wanted to be able to tell myself “At least I gave it a try”. So I did it, tried pretty much everything out there! Then I came back to Canada in June 2004. Had my first Oncology appointment In Canada August 4 2004. My Bone Marrow Infiltration as you say had went from 11% (After the Chemos in France) to 78%. So I then took the decision to go for it completely. Had more then 10 months of Chemos and my first transplant July 18 2005. Entered the Hospital with a great positive attitude. I also had a Newsletter back then describing my transplant everyday. I even filmed it but never got to transfer the tapes as my camera got stolen! I will get to it eventually, I still have the tapes! To make a long story short Peter...you have to decide to become a Fighter and only you can kick your own butt and do it! Be a Super Hero P.... P.....!!! Before I thought I was a Looser and did think this way about myself for a long time. But now I know I’m a Fighter! And who do I have to thank for that ? Multiple Myeloma!
3. Do you think, doctors do transplants better today than in 2005? I don't see, that it really gets better. Do you see progression? They are speaking myeloma a chronic disease - are you feeling they are there? Personally as far as transplant goes I have not seen any difference in treatments. Same Chemo, Same side effects. The only difference I’ve seen is the quality of the Hospital Staff but I wont elaborate on the subject. Since I know you’ve read most of my Blog, you’ll understand what I mean!
4. How are you dealing with your children and your wife? How are they feeling about your myeloma? How are you living with them? Is it a "new normal" life or a war? Well, very honestly. For my wife and Daughter, I’m their Hero! They are tremendously proud of me. But that is because of MY attitude. And they help me stay positive as I feel responsible for them. If I was always depressed and negative I know for sure it would not be so. So it’s all up to you again! Your family WILL follow you! It’s your decision to make! Of course I have ups and downs but at least I have my wife (My best friend) to talk too and the lows don’t last very long!
I hope it's okay writing you my (personal) questions. It would be very kind, if you are honest to me. Sometimes I'm so desperate, I can't tell you. So I reach out and talk to some colleagues of our exclusive club. ;-)
Of course it’s OK. That is what keeps me going, Helping others with the experience I’ve been through.
Thank you very, very much!!! You are very welcome and I thank YOU for your questions. This will help others! If you do not mind I will use these questions for my next Post on my Blog. It’s up to you if you allow me to post your name or not.
Keep Fighting
Yvon Papillon
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog 25 days after Transplant Check-up Day!
Good News and Challenges!
Hello readers.
Well, last Tuesday Feb 22 was my Check-Up day at the Hospital where I got my Transplant. It was a long day. 6 1/2 hours at the Hospital and 5 1/2 hour drive! Man was I tired when I got back.
On a personal level it was a Fantastic day. Every time I go to the Hospital I don't really think about the appointment itself but "What can I do to either make people laugh or change their mind about Cancer"
I succeeded at both! First I asked my wife to draw a big smile with a tongue sticking out on my mask. Had to where one, might as well use it! Got lots of laughs and smiles from that. But still wanted to do more. And it came to me on it's own! After one hour sitting down in the waiting room, a gentleman sat right front of me. He stared at me for a while. I thought it was the mask but after a while he just blurted out to me "How long have you had this?" 8 years I replied. Then he rolled his eyes and sighed deeply. His second question was "What was your first prognosis?" 6 months to 1 year 1/2 I told him! He shook his head staring at the floor again. Then he told me that he had some kind of incurable form of Melanoma and they told him he had only 4 to 6 months to live a year ago. He had tried Chemo but it didn't work, so he went on a trial Protocol and...it worked. He told me that he was so sure he was going to die shortly that he took an early retirement but instead of a monthly paycheck he took a lump sum and almost spent it all...! I asked him to show me where he had his expiration date tattooed? He stared at the floor again saying he wasn't too proud of himself about that. To make a long story short, after talking with him for about 15 min. His name was called out, he stood up, shook my hand and thanked me for changing his mind about Cancer and said that he would make an appointment with his financial advisor to make at least a 3 year plan with what he has left.
Lesson to be learned her for all of you Cancer Fighters: Do not listen to Prognosis. You do not have an expiration date written anywhere! Keep Fighting with all you have.
I have a Twitter follower named Madison Carlista who was diagnosed with Advanced Cervical Cancer with a Prognosis of 3 to 6 months..... That was 9 years ago! So, Never give up! And get a second opinion if you don't like what you hear!
So now, what about the rest of my Check-Up day:
Blood work results were pretty impressive according to the head Nurse and the Oncologist. The Check-Ups are suppose to be weekly for a few months after the transplant. But since everything (Almost) is OK with no nausea or diarrhea my next appointment is in 6 weeks! Whooohooo!
Now for the Challenge: Well my heart isn't doing so well for now! Blood pressure too low and heart rate way too high. Example: Blood pressure this morning 90 over 53! Heart rate at rest 105, Showering 147, getting dressed 125! So I was told to consult with a cardiologist ASAP. But here ASAP can take a while. I finally got an appointment whit a GP next week who will then refer me to a Cardiologist. Until then I was told not to even go for a walk outside. "I still do it anyway but not for very long and always accompanied" It's just to catch some Sun and see the River!
Low Blood pressure on the long run can affect all your organs from the lack of oxygen. Right now it's affecting my eye sight quite a bit. My prescription glasses don't work anymore and I'm constantly squinting so Even Blogging is an effort cause I can hardly see my screen!
But as I wrote, it's just another challenge for me. It's a problem so automatically there has to be a solution.
At least I'm at home and I don't have to go back to Montreal for 1 month and 1/2!
My next post will be about tips and tricks I found but for now that's all the energy I have and my eyes are killing me!
Thanks for reading.
Never give up and Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Hello readers.
Well, last Tuesday Feb 22 was my Check-Up day at the Hospital where I got my Transplant. It was a long day. 6 1/2 hours at the Hospital and 5 1/2 hour drive! Man was I tired when I got back.
On a personal level it was a Fantastic day. Every time I go to the Hospital I don't really think about the appointment itself but "What can I do to either make people laugh or change their mind about Cancer"
I succeeded at both! First I asked my wife to draw a big smile with a tongue sticking out on my mask. Had to where one, might as well use it! Got lots of laughs and smiles from that. But still wanted to do more. And it came to me on it's own! After one hour sitting down in the waiting room, a gentleman sat right front of me. He stared at me for a while. I thought it was the mask but after a while he just blurted out to me "How long have you had this?" 8 years I replied. Then he rolled his eyes and sighed deeply. His second question was "What was your first prognosis?" 6 months to 1 year 1/2 I told him! He shook his head staring at the floor again. Then he told me that he had some kind of incurable form of Melanoma and they told him he had only 4 to 6 months to live a year ago. He had tried Chemo but it didn't work, so he went on a trial Protocol and...it worked. He told me that he was so sure he was going to die shortly that he took an early retirement but instead of a monthly paycheck he took a lump sum and almost spent it all...! I asked him to show me where he had his expiration date tattooed? He stared at the floor again saying he wasn't too proud of himself about that. To make a long story short, after talking with him for about 15 min. His name was called out, he stood up, shook my hand and thanked me for changing his mind about Cancer and said that he would make an appointment with his financial advisor to make at least a 3 year plan with what he has left.
Lesson to be learned her for all of you Cancer Fighters: Do not listen to Prognosis. You do not have an expiration date written anywhere! Keep Fighting with all you have.
I have a Twitter follower named Madison Carlista who was diagnosed with Advanced Cervical Cancer with a Prognosis of 3 to 6 months..... That was 9 years ago! So, Never give up! And get a second opinion if you don't like what you hear!
So now, what about the rest of my Check-Up day:
Blood work results were pretty impressive according to the head Nurse and the Oncologist. The Check-Ups are suppose to be weekly for a few months after the transplant. But since everything (Almost) is OK with no nausea or diarrhea my next appointment is in 6 weeks! Whooohooo!
Now for the Challenge: Well my heart isn't doing so well for now! Blood pressure too low and heart rate way too high. Example: Blood pressure this morning 90 over 53! Heart rate at rest 105, Showering 147, getting dressed 125! So I was told to consult with a cardiologist ASAP. But here ASAP can take a while. I finally got an appointment whit a GP next week who will then refer me to a Cardiologist. Until then I was told not to even go for a walk outside. "I still do it anyway but not for very long and always accompanied" It's just to catch some Sun and see the River!
Low Blood pressure on the long run can affect all your organs from the lack of oxygen. Right now it's affecting my eye sight quite a bit. My prescription glasses don't work anymore and I'm constantly squinting so Even Blogging is an effort cause I can hardly see my screen!
But as I wrote, it's just another challenge for me. It's a problem so automatically there has to be a solution.
At least I'm at home and I don't have to go back to Montreal for 1 month and 1/2!
My next post will be about tips and tricks I found but for now that's all the energy I have and my eyes are killing me!
Thanks for reading.
Never give up and Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Monday, February 21, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 18-19.....Travelling Back in time!
Hello again!
Traffic to the Blog has gone Wayyyy down. I feel like I'm letting people down for not posting everyday but I'm doing my best here ! Not going to give up!
Anyway, let's pretend that we go back in time again.
This is Feb 7 2011.
Finally figured out why the diarrhea is still there. Acyclovir! Found out that the most common side effects are Nausea and diarrhea...Duh! I finally convinced the Doctor (after 4 days trying) to give me Imodium to slow things down.
Besides that I slept most of the day. Didn't even watch TV or anything.
Numbers for that day....Neutrophils for sale:
WBC 7.54
Hgb 110
Platelets 39...rising!
Neutrophils....8.92 (Normal range 1.6 to 7.7)
Went to bed at 9 again and slept through the whole night!
The next day Feb 8 2011, I woke up telling myself " Why the heck I'm I still here"
So that was my first question for the Doctor that morning at 9AM.
Answer: "Well, we want to make sure you eat enough".............WHAT???
Are you kidding me I replied. You keep me here for that when everything here tastes like cardboard and expect me to eat enough. Well I put my foot down and said "I want to go home NOW!" My wife is a French Chef, I'll eat much better at home.
The Doctor left with a strange look on his face! I was really pissed off (excuse my language).
Numbers for that day:
WBC 7.54.....Normal!
Hgb 110...a little low but not a problem!
Platelets 51.....still rising!
Neutrophils 6.09...back i the normal range!
The Doctor came back at 11 after consulting with the other oncologists and said right away: You are going home today! We just need to ween you off the TPN and one more bag of Acyclovir. That should only take about 2 hours. Yahoooooo!
Man was I happy. That was day 19 after admission! You can count this 3 ways as I see it. If I count it like the first time. That is from my first dose of Melphalan ( did not get Palifermin on my first Transplant, just Melphalan the day I was admitted) so that would be day 15, just 4 days more then my first Transplant. If you count it like they do, it's Day+11 after Transplant! Pretty good!
We got home at 8:30PM. Haaaaa, the feeling was FANTASTIC.
Everything seems so long when your in the Hospital but once you're out of there it seems like it went by in the blink of an eye! Felt very grateful. I admit, I cried I was so happy.
That will be my post for today.
Tomorrow Feb 22 is my check up day in Montreal 2 1/2 hours away. Missed the last one because of a snow storm. |So I'm not sure if I'll be Blogging or not. But my next Post will be on my first days at home and how we solved the Nausea and Diarrhea whit in 24 hours.
Thanks for reading.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Traffic to the Blog has gone Wayyyy down. I feel like I'm letting people down for not posting everyday but I'm doing my best here ! Not going to give up!
Anyway, let's pretend that we go back in time again.
This is Feb 7 2011.
Finally figured out why the diarrhea is still there. Acyclovir! Found out that the most common side effects are Nausea and diarrhea...Duh! I finally convinced the Doctor (after 4 days trying) to give me Imodium to slow things down.
Besides that I slept most of the day. Didn't even watch TV or anything.
Numbers for that day....Neutrophils for sale:
WBC 7.54
Hgb 110
Platelets 39...rising!
Neutrophils....8.92 (Normal range 1.6 to 7.7)
Went to bed at 9 again and slept through the whole night!
The next day Feb 8 2011, I woke up telling myself " Why the heck I'm I still here"
So that was my first question for the Doctor that morning at 9AM.
Answer: "Well, we want to make sure you eat enough".............WHAT???
Are you kidding me I replied. You keep me here for that when everything here tastes like cardboard and expect me to eat enough. Well I put my foot down and said "I want to go home NOW!" My wife is a French Chef, I'll eat much better at home.
The Doctor left with a strange look on his face! I was really pissed off (excuse my language).
Numbers for that day:
WBC 7.54.....Normal!
Hgb 110...a little low but not a problem!
Platelets 51.....still rising!
Neutrophils 6.09...back i the normal range!
The Doctor came back at 11 after consulting with the other oncologists and said right away: You are going home today! We just need to ween you off the TPN and one more bag of Acyclovir. That should only take about 2 hours. Yahoooooo!
Man was I happy. That was day 19 after admission! You can count this 3 ways as I see it. If I count it like the first time. That is from my first dose of Melphalan ( did not get Palifermin on my first Transplant, just Melphalan the day I was admitted) so that would be day 15, just 4 days more then my first Transplant. If you count it like they do, it's Day+11 after Transplant! Pretty good!
We got home at 8:30PM. Haaaaa, the feeling was FANTASTIC.
Everything seems so long when your in the Hospital but once you're out of there it seems like it went by in the blink of an eye! Felt very grateful. I admit, I cried I was so happy.
That will be my post for today.
Tomorrow Feb 22 is my check up day in Montreal 2 1/2 hours away. Missed the last one because of a snow storm. |So I'm not sure if I'll be Blogging or not. But my next Post will be on my first days at home and how we solved the Nausea and Diarrhea whit in 24 hours.
Thanks for reading.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Friday, February 18, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 17.....Travelling Back in time!
Hi everyone!
I'm finally awake! lol
Man, I thought I was tired before, now I'm re-tired!!!
Anyway, let's move back in time and pretend that it's Feb 6 2011.
Wake up feeling like crap again and very tired. But cant wait to get my Blood Work results. Still feeling nauseous and have Diarrhea. Not much appetite but I eat fruit salads, yogurt and stuff like that. They decide to put me on TPN (total parenteral nutrition). See Wiki for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenteral_nutrition
I dont really like the idea! Why I was put on this is because I do not eat enough according to them. No kidding!!! Well let me tell you that this is my 8th hospital stay in 8 different Hospitals and the food here is just truly AWFUL! It's all reheated stuff. And it's not just me. It's their no 1 complaint at this Hospital. The Hospital where I got my first transplant is just 1 mile away and I was told that the patients there eat an average of 30% more! No kidding!
Great news though, Guess what my Neutrophils just 10 days after transplant are at? 6.23...Wow! 0.51 yesterday!
And to say I had a talk with a nurse 2 days ago about my numbers climbing already and she said it would go back down, it was just a twitch. But I did not believe her, I know my body. Numbers Jumped up just like my first Transplant. Yahoooo!
So, Blood counts:
WBC 7.29
Hgb 110
Platelets 31 ....a little low!
Neutrophils 6.23, Bingo!
I slept through most of that day. My only thoughts were: I wanna go Home....... ET go home!
Nothing much more happened that day. I knew I was on my way back and did it again. Felt Proud of myself!
Went to bed at 9.
Thanks for reading again.
Catch you tomorrow for day 18.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
I'm finally awake! lol
Man, I thought I was tired before, now I'm re-tired!!!
Anyway, let's move back in time and pretend that it's Feb 6 2011.
Wake up feeling like crap again and very tired. But cant wait to get my Blood Work results. Still feeling nauseous and have Diarrhea. Not much appetite but I eat fruit salads, yogurt and stuff like that. They decide to put me on TPN (total parenteral nutrition). See Wiki for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenteral_nutrition
I dont really like the idea! Why I was put on this is because I do not eat enough according to them. No kidding!!! Well let me tell you that this is my 8th hospital stay in 8 different Hospitals and the food here is just truly AWFUL! It's all reheated stuff. And it's not just me. It's their no 1 complaint at this Hospital. The Hospital where I got my first transplant is just 1 mile away and I was told that the patients there eat an average of 30% more! No kidding!
Great news though, Guess what my Neutrophils just 10 days after transplant are at? 6.23...Wow! 0.51 yesterday!
And to say I had a talk with a nurse 2 days ago about my numbers climbing already and she said it would go back down, it was just a twitch. But I did not believe her, I know my body. Numbers Jumped up just like my first Transplant. Yahoooo!
So, Blood counts:
WBC 7.29
Hgb 110
Platelets 31 ....a little low!
Neutrophils 6.23, Bingo!
I slept through most of that day. My only thoughts were: I wanna go Home....... ET go home!
Nothing much more happened that day. I knew I was on my way back and did it again. Felt Proud of myself!
Went to bed at 9.
Thanks for reading again.
Catch you tomorrow for day 18.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog, Back Home
Hello everyone.
Well, excuses, excuses, excuses! Sorry for not posting!
Reason, well I got back home Tuesday night. Didn't sleep too well. Too happy to be home I guess. So on Wednesday I rested and slept between meals....Man it's good to be Home.
Thursday was a FANTASTIC day spent with my 20 year old beautiful Daughter.
Here is a Pic:
Well, excuses, excuses, excuses! Sorry for not posting!
Reason, well I got back home Tuesday night. Didn't sleep too well. Too happy to be home I guess. So on Wednesday I rested and slept between meals....Man it's good to be Home.
Thursday was a FANTASTIC day spent with my 20 year old beautiful Daughter.
Here is a Pic:
She is my pride and Joy. But I over did it that day and ended up sleeping all day Friday and this morning too. Catching up on lost sleep from the Hospital I guess!
So now I am re reading my notes to get everything in order to Blog about the rest of the Hospital stay and I will have some tips and tricks to share soon.
Until then....Keep Fighting!
I'm going for a nap again! ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Yvon
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog, Back Home
Hello Everyone.
This is just a quick post to let you know that I've been back home since Tuesday 8:30PM.
I not going to blog much more today as I have my 20 year old daughter who is coming to visit. I do not see her very often so I wont spend my time on the computer.
But please check back tomorrow for all the Juicy details from thew past 5 days.
Keep Fighting! I did and I won again!
Yvon
This is just a quick post to let you know that I've been back home since Tuesday 8:30PM.
I not going to blog much more today as I have my 20 year old daughter who is coming to visit. I do not see her very often so I wont spend my time on the computer.
But please check back tomorrow for all the Juicy details from thew past 5 days.
Keep Fighting! I did and I won again!
Yvon
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 16
Wake up little Stem Cells...Wake up....I wanna go home!
Well today still feeling like crap but!!! Neutrophils are on the rise...Hiiiiiii Haaaaaaaa!
No need for platelets today . Still nauseous and very tired but the good news is Awesome.
Counts for today:
WBC 0.82
Hemoglobin 106
Platelets 38
Neutrophils........0.50!
I am also felling periods of lower back pain but that is a side effect from Neupogen. It's a good sign that it's doing it's job.
Besides that, the rest of the day I rest,rest,rest! Very important.
That's it for today. I know it's a short one but I'll catch up when the Brain end energy are a little better. Any day now!
I also have 237 emails in my inbox to take car of!
Thank you all for reading.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Well today still feeling like crap but!!! Neutrophils are on the rise...Hiiiiiii Haaaaaaaa!
No need for platelets today . Still nauseous and very tired but the good news is Awesome.
Counts for today:
WBC 0.82
Hemoglobin 106
Platelets 38
Neutrophils........0.50!
I am also felling periods of lower back pain but that is a side effect from Neupogen. It's a good sign that it's doing it's job.
Besides that, the rest of the day I rest,rest,rest! Very important.
That's it for today. I know it's a short one but I'll catch up when the Brain end energy are a little better. Any day now!
I also have 237 emails in my inbox to take car of!
Thank you all for reading.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Friday, February 4, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 13-14-15
Hello to you all.
First I'd like to apologies for not blogging for the past 3 days.
Wednesday, no Internet connection because of the snow storm.
Thursday, No Brain connection because numbers were so low. haha
And today, well I am receiving my first Platelet infusion of my life, I just see it as another life experience. The bag of platelets to my surprise if the color of Mango juice.
Despite all of this. By this I mean all the nausea and diarrhea and tiredness. To my great joy I still make people laugh. I was told today that I was the funniest patient the Chaplin had ever met. By the way call him Charly..Chaplin!
Hopefully energy will be better tomorrow. As there are some subjects that I'd like to Blog about.
NEUTROPENIA:
No it's not a far away Planet. It's when your Neutrophils are at their lowest. Yesterday the were at 0.01!
So I'm Neutropenic.
Yesterdays numbers:
WBC 0.15
RBC 3.31
Hgb 111
Platelets 32
Neurophils 0.01
Today
WBC 0.21
RBC 3.41
Hgb 116
Platelets 21
Neutrophils 0.05
Moral still 200%.
That's all for today. Peace and Prosperity to you all Neutrophillians!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
First I'd like to apologies for not blogging for the past 3 days.
Wednesday, no Internet connection because of the snow storm.
Thursday, No Brain connection because numbers were so low. haha
And today, well I am receiving my first Platelet infusion of my life, I just see it as another life experience. The bag of platelets to my surprise if the color of Mango juice.
Despite all of this. By this I mean all the nausea and diarrhea and tiredness. To my great joy I still make people laugh. I was told today that I was the funniest patient the Chaplin had ever met. By the way call him Charly..Chaplin!
Hopefully energy will be better tomorrow. As there are some subjects that I'd like to Blog about.
NEUTROPENIA:
No it's not a far away Planet. It's when your Neutrophils are at their lowest. Yesterday the were at 0.01!
So I'm Neutropenic.
Yesterdays numbers:
WBC 0.15
RBC 3.31
Hgb 111
Platelets 32
Neurophils 0.01
Today
WBC 0.21
RBC 3.41
Hgb 116
Platelets 21
Neutrophils 0.05
Moral still 200%.
That's all for today. Peace and Prosperity to you all Neutrophillians!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 12
Hello everyone.
Today I thought I'd write simply about my day so far.
Morning started at 5 AM with Blood Work
8:30 Vitals plus blood work results.
9:00 Meds + added Pentoloc for terrible heart burn. Seems to be doing it's job finally!
9:15 Breakfast
10:00 Nurse visit to see how I'm feeling. OK!
10:30 Meet with Cardiologist for irregular and high heart rate.
11:10 Meet with Docs to talk about Meds adjustments.
12:00 Meal......At least that's what they call it!!!!
13:20 Student Doctor Exam!
14:00 Shower!
And now on the Internet for the past hour.
Blood work results:
WBC 0.47
Hgb 122
Platelets 77
Neutrophils 0.40
As you can see numbers have come way down. Not much of an immune system left, so, extra careful not to catch anything. Numbers should start raising again any day now.
Besides that feeling OK. No more nausea but still diarrhea.
I heard from the Docs that they will put me on a cardiac holter Monitor for 24 hours just to check my heart out carefully. Not quite sure if that's today or tomorrow.
I do feel tired but with those numbers it's understandable.
This is my 12th day here so far. I was told my stay would probably be another 10 days approx. Sure can't wait to go home. I received my Cells 4 days ago. I'm Cheering them on the best I can!
That will be it for today. Going for a nap.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Today I thought I'd write simply about my day so far.
Morning started at 5 AM with Blood Work
8:30 Vitals plus blood work results.
9:00 Meds + added Pentoloc for terrible heart burn. Seems to be doing it's job finally!
9:15 Breakfast
10:00 Nurse visit to see how I'm feeling. OK!
10:30 Meet with Cardiologist for irregular and high heart rate.
11:10 Meet with Docs to talk about Meds adjustments.
12:00 Meal......At least that's what they call it!!!!
13:20 Student Doctor Exam!
14:00 Shower!
And now on the Internet for the past hour.
Blood work results:
WBC 0.47
Hgb 122
Platelets 77
Neutrophils 0.40
As you can see numbers have come way down. Not much of an immune system left, so, extra careful not to catch anything. Numbers should start raising again any day now.
Besides that feeling OK. No more nausea but still diarrhea.
I heard from the Docs that they will put me on a cardiac holter Monitor for 24 hours just to check my heart out carefully. Not quite sure if that's today or tomorrow.
I do feel tired but with those numbers it's understandable.
This is my 12th day here so far. I was told my stay would probably be another 10 days approx. Sure can't wait to go home. I received my Cells 4 days ago. I'm Cheering them on the best I can!
That will be it for today. Going for a nap.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Monday, January 31, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 11
Hello Everyone.
Sorry for not Blogging much yesterday. Just too tired. Feeling a little better today. I feel like a Lion in a cage in here. Can't Wait to go back home. I keep imagining myself in my living room next to the fireplace just "being there"! Just a little more patience....Ommmmmmmmm! haha!
Besides that, physically still a little nausea and diarrhea but allot less then 3 days ago. I go for my daily walk on the hospital floor with a Mask for protection of course. But I do it everyday. There is also a tiny bicycle. I do 15 min. every 2 days now. Exercise has been proven to accelerate recovery, so keep moving. Of course I don't always feel like it but I still push myself to do it.
Appetite is still not quite there yet. I do eat a little but not much for the last few days. Mostly Fruit salad, soups, porridge and Boost drinks to compensate. It's like I wrote before "The greatest diet in the world"!
I have to be grateful for my Wife who takes care of so many little details. Having a Picc Line makes it a little harder to shower. Having to wrap the upper left arm with plastic and tape so no water goes on the dressing for the Picc Line. So I have to leave my left arm up while showering just to be on the safe side. While still being hoocked up to Gertrude my dancing partner!
If you read this and are scheduled for a Hospital stay like me, bring a good deodorant soap because you end up smelling pretty weird with the Chemo and also from the Preservatives that your Stem Cells have been bathing in while frozen. As soon as you start receiving the cells you can actually taste it. I can't find a way to describe the taste or the smell. My wife says it smells like Artichokes!?! Ok...sure didn't taste like it! lol
So, here are the numbers for today:
WBC 2.71
Hgb 121
Platelets 108
Neutrophils 2.63
As you can see if you compare from day to day it's pretty much a roller coaster for now!
Well, I will try to eat something now!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Sorry for not Blogging much yesterday. Just too tired. Feeling a little better today. I feel like a Lion in a cage in here. Can't Wait to go back home. I keep imagining myself in my living room next to the fireplace just "being there"! Just a little more patience....Ommmmmmmmm! haha!
Besides that, physically still a little nausea and diarrhea but allot less then 3 days ago. I go for my daily walk on the hospital floor with a Mask for protection of course. But I do it everyday. There is also a tiny bicycle. I do 15 min. every 2 days now. Exercise has been proven to accelerate recovery, so keep moving. Of course I don't always feel like it but I still push myself to do it.
Appetite is still not quite there yet. I do eat a little but not much for the last few days. Mostly Fruit salad, soups, porridge and Boost drinks to compensate. It's like I wrote before "The greatest diet in the world"!
I have to be grateful for my Wife who takes care of so many little details. Having a Picc Line makes it a little harder to shower. Having to wrap the upper left arm with plastic and tape so no water goes on the dressing for the Picc Line. So I have to leave my left arm up while showering just to be on the safe side. While still being hoocked up to Gertrude my dancing partner!
If you read this and are scheduled for a Hospital stay like me, bring a good deodorant soap because you end up smelling pretty weird with the Chemo and also from the Preservatives that your Stem Cells have been bathing in while frozen. As soon as you start receiving the cells you can actually taste it. I can't find a way to describe the taste or the smell. My wife says it smells like Artichokes!?! Ok...sure didn't taste like it! lol
So, here are the numbers for today:
WBC 2.71
Hgb 121
Platelets 108
Neutrophils 2.63
As you can see if you compare from day to day it's pretty much a roller coaster for now!
Well, I will try to eat something now!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 10
Good afternoon to you all.
Well today I took a day off sort of. Just slept more then usual. Feeling tired. i was asked how long my hospital stay would be. I have no idea so far!
I took the time to shave my head off today, That way I won't end up with hair all over the place.
Here is the result:
Well today I took a day off sort of. Just slept more then usual. Feeling tired. i was asked how long my hospital stay would be. I have no idea so far!
I took the time to shave my head off today, That way I won't end up with hair all over the place.
Here is the result:
Ya, I know I've looked better! Gotta go with the flow. Another temporary physical side effect! Doesn't bother me at all. I find it Funny!
Besides that not much new today. Blood work results show that the Neupogen is already working if you compare it to yesterday's results.
WBC 10.94
Hgb 120
Platelets 139
Neutrophils 10.82
I was told that Neutrophils should go back down though. We will see.
Catch you tomorrow.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 9
Happy Saturday to you all.
As promised I will share some pictures with you guys.
First of all, let me introduce to you Gertrude, My dancing partner for the next few weeks:
She beeps once in a while but besides that she is a sweetheart!
The next one is the nurse inspecting my Picc Line:
As promised I will share some pictures with you guys.
First of all, let me introduce to you Gertrude, My dancing partner for the next few weeks:
The next one is the nurse inspecting my Picc Line:
Picc Line looks fine so let's prepare the Melphalan Chemo:
You can see by the way the nurse dresses up with full face mask and all. That shows you how Toxic the Melphalan can be! I asked her if she was about to solder something?!? lol
Next, well it's me getting the Chemo...gotta keep smiling!
And the last one is just me Blogging:
Have to keep your mind Busy!
Besides that feeling not too bad. Still Nausea and a little diarrhea. Still have alot of heartburn though!
But this is all a question of time before it all gets back to normal. I guess that's why we are called "Patients".
Numbers for today:
WBC 3.08
Hgb 121
Platelets 168
Neutrophils 2.85
My Potassium levels were a little low yesterday and today too so I am getting Potassium supplements intravenously today.
Oh ya , Have you noticed the Award I received! Up left corner. Pretty proud of that!
Well that's it for now. Might Blog later.
Have a great weekend.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Friday, January 28, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 8
Hello Friends.
Well, finally got my stem cells back. Very happy about that! Now they are warm and cosy at home!!!
The procedure went very well. Still a little nausea from the Chemo but not as bad as yesterday.
Now I just have to wait for the cells to migrate to the bone marrow and become whatever they need to be!
Blood counts for today:
WBC 3.54
Hgb 124
Platelets 183
Neutrophils 3.24
Slowly going down. Tomorrow I will start the Neupogen to help the Stem Cells .
Tomorrow I will also share some pictures my wife took while I was getting the Chemo.
That's it for now.
Keep Fighting
Yvon
Well, finally got my stem cells back. Very happy about that! Now they are warm and cosy at home!!!
The procedure went very well. Still a little nausea from the Chemo but not as bad as yesterday.
Now I just have to wait for the cells to migrate to the bone marrow and become whatever they need to be!
Blood counts for today:
WBC 3.54
Hgb 124
Platelets 183
Neutrophils 3.24
Slowly going down. Tomorrow I will start the Neupogen to help the Stem Cells .
Tomorrow I will also share some pictures my wife took while I was getting the Chemo.
That's it for now.
Keep Fighting
Yvon
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 7
Hello everyone.
Well today was my "Day off" like they said. I've had better days off believe me. The side effects of the Chemo kicked in last night. Nausea BIG Time.The next days will be the toughest ones but this is all temporary. The Anti nausea meds make me very sleepy and drowsy. So the energy I had ordered today is Back Order. lol
Her are the Numbers from this morning blood work.
WBC 4.79
Hgb 126
Platelets 184
Neutrophils 4.16 (Higher then yesterday, weird!)
Tomorow is the big day. Should get my Stem cells around 10AM.
I will also get Allopurinol. It's a drug that helps eliminate faster all the dead cells killed by the chemo and lower the uric acid in my Blood. You will find more accurate info on this on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopurinol
Moral is still 200%. It's only my Body that is sick, not my Spirit!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Well today was my "Day off" like they said. I've had better days off believe me. The side effects of the Chemo kicked in last night. Nausea BIG Time.The next days will be the toughest ones but this is all temporary. The Anti nausea meds make me very sleepy and drowsy. So the energy I had ordered today is Back Order. lol
Her are the Numbers from this morning blood work.
WBC 4.79
Hgb 126
Platelets 184
Neutrophils 4.16 (Higher then yesterday, weird!)
Tomorow is the big day. Should get my Stem cells around 10AM.
I will also get Allopurinol. It's a drug that helps eliminate faster all the dead cells killed by the chemo and lower the uric acid in my Blood. You will find more accurate info on this on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopurinol
Moral is still 200%. It's only my Body that is sick, not my Spirit!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 6
Good evening Fighters
Well so far so good! Pretty much all the side effects from the Palifermin are gone.
Finally had my first good night sleep last night. Felt much better this morning. Had my second round of High Dose Melphalan at 11 am. Went very well again. Had a little nausea last night but that's it so far.
Blood counts are starting to lower quickly. So they moved me in an isolation room this afternoon.
WBC going down now at 4.72
Hemoglobin going down now at 132
Platelets also Now at 194
Neutrophils at 3.85
That was this morning. Numbers will most likely be much lower tomorrow. I'm happy the Melphalan is over with! Probably my last High dose Melphalan for this life! Appetite has decreased allot. Still have to eat though. Lots of protein rich meals to minimize muscle loss. Feeling physically tired tonight of course but that is normal. But the Moral is 200%! Today was a busy one again! Funny thing though. The toilet broke again in my old room! Glad to be out of there!
Thanks for reading.
With no Chemo tomorrow I should have more energy and time to Blog.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Well so far so good! Pretty much all the side effects from the Palifermin are gone.
Finally had my first good night sleep last night. Felt much better this morning. Had my second round of High Dose Melphalan at 11 am. Went very well again. Had a little nausea last night but that's it so far.
Blood counts are starting to lower quickly. So they moved me in an isolation room this afternoon.
WBC going down now at 4.72
Hemoglobin going down now at 132
Platelets also Now at 194
Neutrophils at 3.85
That was this morning. Numbers will most likely be much lower tomorrow. I'm happy the Melphalan is over with! Probably my last High dose Melphalan for this life! Appetite has decreased allot. Still have to eat though. Lots of protein rich meals to minimize muscle loss. Feeling physically tired tonight of course but that is normal. But the Moral is 200%! Today was a busy one again! Funny thing though. The toilet broke again in my old room! Glad to be out of there!
Thanks for reading.
With no Chemo tomorrow I should have more energy and time to Blog.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 5
Good evening my friends.
Well, finally got the Internet connection solved! Total access!
So today I received my first round of Melphalan at 11 am. No side effects so far. Probably thanks to the Zofran (Anti Nausea Medicine).
I did have a nice conversation with the pharmacist yesterday or as they call him here “The Master of the Meds.” about the Pros and Cons of Palifermin. The reason why, well personally I find that the side effects from this medication are worst then having sores in your mouth like I had during my first transplant.
To my surprise he agreed with me and himself was questioning the usefulness of this medication. This medication has only been around for less then 5 years and is still in it’s trial period. The average wholesale price of Palifermin is approximately $1700 per 6.25 mg vial dose. Pretty expensive stuff!
So conclusion. He cancelled the next 3 doses that I was suppose to get as I posted yesterday.
I’d rather suck on ice cubes during the Chemo and he also told me that this was very effective.
He suggested that I start this half an hour prior to the Chemo, During the Chemo and about 15 minutes after. So that’s what I did this morning. I have to admit that I was a little nervous prior to the Chemo but everything went very well.
Tomorrow same plan But Coumadin (Blood thinner) will be added the the chemo to prevent Blood cloths around the Picc Line.
Then Thursday I will be moved to the isolation room and start Acyclovir (Antiviral Drug) for prevention and also Zofran .
Friday my little baby cells will be given back to me. They have been frozen for 7 years, I bet they can’t wait to get out of that cold spell!
Saturday will be added Neupogen injections daily Neupogen is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. In other words it stimulates the bone marrow to increase production of neutrophils.
The injections of Neupogen will continue daily until the numbers start to climb up again.
I have to apologize for not answering my emails to all of you who have written to me. I’ll be catching up on this as soon as possible.
I have to thank LLS Canada (La Société de leucémie et lymphome du Canada) and Illumine La Nuit Quebec for posting on Facebook for me. Also thank you to Gabi Vermaak and Denis P. Muller.(Also Cancer Fighters) for Tweeting for me on Twitter for the past 5 days. Now I'm Back online!
Also thank you to CanSupport for the Free TV in my room and also for the Parking Pass so my Wonderful wife can visit daily. Greatly appreciated. At $18 dollars a day I could not afford it.
Thank you little Angels!
So this will be my post for today. I’ll go and take care of some of those emails.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Monday, January 24, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 4
Good evening everyone
Finally got the schedule for the coming week.
So today was a break from the Pelifermin.
Still had Blood work, vitals etc.
Tomorrow I will receive my first High dose Melphalan.
Then another dose on Wednesday.
Thursday I start the Antibiotics to prevent infections but no Chemo.
Then Friday is the day I get my Stem Cells back!!!
After that It’s again a waiting game. I will receive other medications but I will get the schedule for that tomorrow.
I still have not resolved the internet connection problems but I’m working on it.
I need to have it solved because once they move me to the isolation room I wont be able to have access to this computer.
Hopefully everything should be fixed by then. If not I wont be able to Blog so I HAVE to solve this!
That’s it for Tonight.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon or...Angelina Ugly!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day 3
Good Sunday to you all.
Things are much quieter today. Yesterday was Rock and Roll enough.
So today so far, had blood work done at 5am only 2 vials this time. Later today I will receive my 3rd dose of Palifermin. Then on Monday I get a day off from it and then 3 more days of Palifermin. I will probably have a bunch of other tests to do this coming week but I will only know tomorrow what they are.
So far some common side effects are starting a little. Change in pigmentation of the skin. Like if you were out in the sun too long and also a little swelling of the lips.
In other words I look Like Angelina Jolie back from a vacation in Cuba. lol
I have a recommendation that came to me last night. If you really wish to prepare yourself for a Hospital stay, well if you are like me and are used to sleeping in a dark cool quiet room. You might want to start getting used to sleeping with some noises and some lights at least one week before your Hospitalisation.
This will help you sleep better. Hospitals are noisy places and lots of little lights everywhere. Just a suggestion.
Sorry I couldn't write earlier, the computer was not available.
That’s it for now.
Thanks for reading.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Day 2...Surprise!
Well, well, well...what a day.
Believe it or not, I'm back in the Family room. The toilet in my room gave out! They have to put a new one in completely. There is water all over so I'm in here for a couple of hours.
So...Be ready for anything! But stay Positive+++, Hey I'll have a Brand new Toilet! Whoooohoooo!
Have to leave the computer to someone else for now.
Have a great evening!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Believe it or not, I'm back in the Family room. The toilet in my room gave out! They have to put a new one in completely. There is water all over so I'm in here for a couple of hours.
So...Be ready for anything! But stay Positive+++, Hey I'll have a Brand new Toilet! Whoooohoooo!
Have to leave the computer to someone else for now.
Have a great evening!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Stem Cell Transplant day 2
Hello everyone.
I have some suggestions for you if you are ever admitted for a Transplant.
Do not take for granted everything they tell you over the phone!
Here is what I mean by that: I was told by phone that I had to be here before 11 AM....ended up waiting till 2 PM to have a room! Gave my list of Meds from the Pharmacy but for some reason everyone is in a hurry on a Friday afternoon! They mixed everything up! So (BRING YOUR MEDS!!!) just in case the same happens to you. You will have them at hand if this happens to you! Things aren't totally sorted out yet for me. Just met with the Nurse and the Weekend Doctor to sort it all out now waiting for the Pharmacy downstairs to prepare them but of course they too are short handed being the weekend!
My Picc Line was bleeding all night but has stopped now! That too was done in a hurry! But all fixed thanks to the wonderful nurse!
I was also told there was wireless Internet but...NOT! So I have to use the hospital computer still and it is not always available!
I was also told that the bottled water was included....NOT!
Don't get me wrong, I'm in a good mood and making the staff laugh and all but just wanted to let you know to keep an eye on everything. That is why we say "Knowledge is Power" Learn ALL you can about your Cancer and double check everything. When a Hospital is at 218% Capacity like here, errors can happen! Try to make friends with the Nurses and they will help you and keep an eye on you! Insist on getting all the info on what is happening or side effects of what they give you etc...!
Today, not much happening, Had a Chest x-ray last night around 6PM. Had Blood work done at 5:30 AM (14 vials this time).I Will receive another dose of PALIFERMIN late afternoon. I do not have any side effects form this so far!
If any of you wish to ask questions in French please find my email address in my Profile and send me an email. I will reply to the best of my knowledge as soon as I can. In French: Ceux qui veules me poser des questions en Francais SVP allez dans mon profile et envoyez moi un couriel et je vais y repondre du mieux que je peut le plus tot possible. MERCI!
Wishing you all a great afternoon!
Keep Fighting
Yvon
I have some suggestions for you if you are ever admitted for a Transplant.
Do not take for granted everything they tell you over the phone!
Here is what I mean by that: I was told by phone that I had to be here before 11 AM....ended up waiting till 2 PM to have a room! Gave my list of Meds from the Pharmacy but for some reason everyone is in a hurry on a Friday afternoon! They mixed everything up! So (BRING YOUR MEDS!!!) just in case the same happens to you. You will have them at hand if this happens to you! Things aren't totally sorted out yet for me. Just met with the Nurse and the Weekend Doctor to sort it all out now waiting for the Pharmacy downstairs to prepare them but of course they too are short handed being the weekend!
My Picc Line was bleeding all night but has stopped now! That too was done in a hurry! But all fixed thanks to the wonderful nurse!
I was also told there was wireless Internet but...NOT! So I have to use the hospital computer still and it is not always available!
I was also told that the bottled water was included....NOT!
Don't get me wrong, I'm in a good mood and making the staff laugh and all but just wanted to let you know to keep an eye on everything. That is why we say "Knowledge is Power" Learn ALL you can about your Cancer and double check everything. When a Hospital is at 218% Capacity like here, errors can happen! Try to make friends with the Nurses and they will help you and keep an eye on you! Insist on getting all the info on what is happening or side effects of what they give you etc...!
Today, not much happening, Had a Chest x-ray last night around 6PM. Had Blood work done at 5:30 AM (14 vials this time).I Will receive another dose of PALIFERMIN late afternoon. I do not have any side effects form this so far!
If any of you wish to ask questions in French please find my email address in my Profile and send me an email. I will reply to the best of my knowledge as soon as I can. In French: Ceux qui veules me poser des questions en Francais SVP allez dans mon profile et envoyez moi un couriel et je vais y repondre du mieux que je peut le plus tot possible. MERCI!
Wishing you all a great afternoon!
Keep Fighting
Yvon
Friday, January 21, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog day 1
Hello again.
Well things are moving fast here. Already got my Picc Line installed and will get my first dose of PALIFERMIN It is indicated to decrease the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis in patients with hematologic malignancies receiving myelotoxic therapy requiring hematopoietic stem cell support.
In other words, less "Cold Sores". It's basically to protect your mouth and throat from damage due to the High dose Melphalan that I will probably receive next week. I will receive 3 rounds of Palifermin 3 days in a row. Then 1 day rest and then the BIG Chemo.
I'm still Blogging from the Hospital's computer because the Tech is off for the weekend (of course) so I can't log on with my Laptop.
That will be my last post for today.
Enjoy your evening!
Keep Fighting
Yvon
Well things are moving fast here. Already got my Picc Line installed and will get my first dose of PALIFERMIN It is indicated to decrease the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis in patients with hematologic malignancies receiving myelotoxic therapy requiring hematopoietic stem cell support.
In other words, less "Cold Sores". It's basically to protect your mouth and throat from damage due to the High dose Melphalan that I will probably receive next week. I will receive 3 rounds of Palifermin 3 days in a row. Then 1 day rest and then the BIG Chemo.
I'm still Blogging from the Hospital's computer because the Tech is off for the weekend (of course) so I can't log on with my Laptop.
That will be my last post for today.
Enjoy your evening!
Keep Fighting
Yvon
Stem Cell Transplant Day 1
Hello everyone.
Well, finally in my room. Temporary room until they transfer me to the "Sterile" room after the Chemo.
So far today I had Blood work done, Total very thorough full body exam, vitals etc.
Right now waiting for my Picc Line to be installed. ( Please follow this link for info on Picc Lines):
http://my-multiple-myeloma.blogspot.com/2011/01/stem-cell-transplant-day-4.html
They are not sure if it's going to be today or Tomorow. But, so far so good! All systems Go!
Getting settled in the room ready for the greatest diet in the world: Hospital Food! lol
Catch you later for more info.
Keep Fighting.
Yvon
Well, finally in my room. Temporary room until they transfer me to the "Sterile" room after the Chemo.
So far today I had Blood work done, Total very thorough full body exam, vitals etc.
Right now waiting for my Picc Line to be installed. ( Please follow this link for info on Picc Lines):
http://my-multiple-myeloma.blogspot.com/2011/01/stem-cell-transplant-day-4.html
They are not sure if it's going to be today or Tomorow. But, so far so good! All systems Go!
Getting settled in the room ready for the greatest diet in the world: Hospital Food! lol
Catch you later for more info.
Keep Fighting.
Yvon
Stem Cell Transplant Blog day 1
I'm here. At the Hospital In the Family room waiting for MY room to be ready!
Later
Keep Fighting
Yvon
Later
Keep Fighting
Yvon
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day-0
Hello again.
I am on my way to the Hospital. Next post will be from there.
Not sure when. As soon as I can though!
Keep fighting.
Yvon
I am on my way to the Hospital. Next post will be from there.
Not sure when. As soon as I can though!
Keep fighting.
Yvon
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Finally got the call!
Ok, Finally got the call. Admission at Royal Vic. Hospital Tomorrow 11 AM.
Let’s rock and roll!
So, got to get finalized here!
Next post tomorrow!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day-0 or 1 or 2
Hello everyone.
Program for today, well I got the suitcase by the door ready to leave!
So I will get off the computer and enjoy the rest of the day at home.
I will update as soon as I have news from the Hospital or questions about Cancer of course!
Till then
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day-0...Maybe!
Well I guess that’s what you really call living one day at a time!
Noon and still no call. I know some of you might think “A lot of surgeries are postponed” and I understand that. But it’s not quite the same for a Stem Cell Transplant. It would be quite different if I was told “Well, sir it’s going to be next month” But that is not the way it works for this kind of procedure. You need to do the Stem Cell Transplant when the Cancer Markers are at their lowest. If you wait too long, by that I mean Months. The Cancer will creep back up! My last Chemo was almost 2 months ago. So that is why I am a little anxious on getting the call!
Patience is a virtue!
I’ll keep you updated!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Monday, January 17, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day-0...Maybe!
Hello everyone.
Don't have much to Blog about today! Wont know until 3 PM If it's today or later for admission.
I must admit that it's getting a little ridiculous. I've been postponed for 7 days now! Just not a confortable feeling being back to "Oh it might be Today!"!
So today I will only give thanks for all the emails, Tweets and encouraging messages I receive everyday. We will win this together!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
May you all have a wonderful Day.
Don't forget it's "I have a Dream" Day!
Keep fighting!
Yvon
Saturday, January 15, 2011
My Myeloma History so far before my Second Stem Cell Transplant!
Hello everyone!
Again today I Blog from a Question I got in my emails.
So about my Myeloma
Well it all started after a trip to India in 2000. Came back with Sepsis! Not a good thing. But I used to live in Florida without any health insurance so
I didn’t investigate any further. I was on Antibiotics for 1 1/2 month! Never felt the same after that but still didn’t know I had MM.
2 Years later I was getting more and more tired, grouchy, nervous, anxious memory loss you name it. So it was kindly suggested to me to take a Sabbatical year off.
So, off to France! What a beautiful country. 2 months after being there I woke up in the middle of the night with a very high fever. Tried to stand up but both of my ankles gave out!
So I ended up a the local “Village” Doctor who sent me for Blood work. So I went for my Blood work in the morning on my own a few miles away and went back home.
Got a call I the same afternoon from the Doctor telling me to get my butt to the Hospital ASAP. The Lab had called him and said that I was such in bad shape that they could not believe I made it to the Lab on my own.
First Diagnosis, Sepsis again! This time my kidneys were failing. Spent 10 days there thinking (It’s just Sepsis, I’ll be back playing tennis in no time, Ya right!) as if it was nothing! Did not know the dangers of Sepsis back then! On the 11th Day that’s when they told me I had Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma with too many bone lesions to count! My Cranium is full of holes. I had been wondering why I was braking ribs one after the other (18 so far)! That was June 13 2003! 88% of my Bone Marrow was Cancer. So I was told not to lift anything, ride too long in a car in case we hit a bump and brake my spine or whatever.....Gee I was playing Tennis 3 weeks earlier! What a shock! So the next day I had my first Porth a Cath installed (Read earlier posts for info on Port's) and 1 hour later my first round of Chemo called VAD. That’s short for Vincristine, Adriamycin and Dexamethasone. They Plugged in a pump in my Porth that delivers the Chemo drop by drop for 4 days. Did 6 months of that and it was working pretty well The Cancer was down to 11%. I then decided to stop all treatments, had my porth removed and tried Alternative Medicines. You name it, I tried it!
Came back to Canada and in 2005 started to feel tired again and I knew that feeling. So I consulted with an Oncologist in Montreal and the Cancer was back up to 72%. So by then I knew that I had to go through the Chemo and Transplant and all! When I decide I get into something I do it with all my Will and Heart! So I went for it like a Fighter! Had my first “Picc Line” installed for more VAD chemos. The Picc Line was a temporary thing until there was room available for them to install my second Porth. And 4 more rounds of VAD. But they swished me to Thalidomide and Dexamethasone because the VADS were starting to affect my Heart. Did 8 months of Thalidomide with Dex. That was pretty tough. But it worked. Ballooned up to 240 pounds! I was 185 before. Numbers were down to less the 10% of my marrow and M Spike down from 57 to 14. (Now 2,6). So off to the first transplant July 18 2005. 3 Months after the first transplant my M-Spike was down to 4.7 but wasn’t moving up or down.
So I was offered my second transplant right away. I refused it. I wanted to work on myself. On being a better person. 8 months after the first transplant all the markers disappeared completely to my doctors amazement. I was sure I was “Cured”! Then about 4 years later I was in pretty good shape. Playing Tennis again back in the Gym and all. Then in March of 2010....I fell off the roof! Not a good thing when you have MM! A few weeks later I started to feel tired again and yes, it was back! Hit me like a ton of bricks! I was told that any kind of Trauma either emotional or physical can “Wake up” the Cancer. So another good reason to stay positive and have good attitude towards everything in life.
But I was able to lift myself up, dust myself off and off to war we go again! Had 18 rounds of “CyborD” protocol (Again read earlier posts) and as you know by now I am just waiting for the call for the second Transplant! Should be Monday or Tuesday.
Right now I’m feeling pretty good since my last Chemo was 2 months ago. So I’m ready for it. After that my priority is to get back in shape to enjoy life again. I wish I would have started the Blog sooner so I could have more followers. Just wish to help as many people as possible.
Well, I guess that sums it up.
Any Questions?
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Friday, January 14, 2011
Cancer and Spirituality!
Hello again!
What? Spirituality?
Well, now I’m either going to gain or loose some followers here!
Once again, this is “MY” experience.
Just want to share this with you guys!
Before my first Transplant I had a dear Friend (No I won’t tell you who!) suggested to me the name of an Angel! The Angel’s name is Lelahel (Divine light that heals everything).
Well during my Hospital stay I prayed this Angel many times a day.
I just repeated the name in my head and in my heart as often as I could!
No I did not pray to “God”, I figured he had enough on his hands these days anyway! lol
Results well, usual length of stay for Stem Cell Transplant is 4 to 6 weeks!
I stayed 11 days! With no Blood or Platelets transfusion and no Diarrhea.
The Oncologist that will be supervising my second Transplant just can’t believe it. She never saw or experienced this yet! Still, this is true! Ask your Oncologist if this is a common thing!
What's my religion? All of them! Whatever makes you a better person...!
Remember yesterday’s post about Rabbi Penn? Well I lit a Candle for him and prayed Lelahel!
Got a email 1 hour later from his sister telling me that his fever was gone and he is getting better!
Coincidence? Believe what you want. No I do not claim that I cured him.
All of the positive thoughts and Prayers that whoever joined me did, well it worked!
Rabbi Penn is on his way to recovery!
And guess what? It’s FREE!
All they ask of you is to be Grateful!
So, thank you all for your Prayers and/or positive thoughts for Rabbi Penn.
That’s it for now.
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
Stem Cell Transplant Blog How to raise you WBC
Ok Finally got some news. No admissions on weekends. It will be either Monday or Tuesday.
They said that there will be admissions on Monday and Tuesday. I will know Monday 10:30 AM.
Now at least I can enjoy my weekend by the Fireplace “Again”!
Was –18 degrees Celsius this Morning, that’s about –3 F. ! Makes the Fireplace even more enjoyable!
So, I did get a question by email from another Cancer Fighter!
How to raise your WBC (White Blood Cells Count)!
One again I insist (CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR)!!!
So here is what I found on how to helps raise your WBC Naturally:
Ways To Increase Your WBC Count:
Have A Healthy Diet
There is nothing better than a healthy diet, to increase the count of white blood cells in your body and reward you with an efficient immune system. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. The phytochemicals that lend fruits and vegetables their rich colors help the body build a strong immune system as well. So, start eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables on an everyday basis. In fact, you should cover two-thirds of your plate with vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and beans, and the rest with lean protein
Indulge In Regular Exercise
The importance of exercise can never ever be overemphasized in your life. Be it getting rid of the excess fat, keeping blood sugar levels under check or increasing the white blood cells in your body, indulging in a physical activity on a regular basis always comes as one of the most effective remedies. Exercising for at least 30 minutes in a day will provide you with a lot of benefit. It does not mean that you can only hit the gym or lift weights at home. Just be active for the said time, say by walking climbing stairs, cycling, etc..
Switch Over To Green Tea
Regular consumption of green tea can also go a long way in increasing your WBC count, by stimulating the production of white blood cells. All you have to do is replace 1-2 cups of tea/ coffee/ colas with decaffeinated green tea, on a daily basis. The tea comprises of catechin, a type of antioxidant that contains a specific catechin - epigallocatechin gallate or egcg (which gives it antigen-fighting abilities). Green tea catechins have been known to help perk up lymphocyte responses and even boast of anti-inflammatory effects. Want to know more about Catechins, just Google it! Plenty of info on Wiki! There are some types of Cancers where Green Tea is not recommended! Like mine!!!
Green Tea with Velcade
By now you have probably heard the warning ricocheting around the myeloma survivor community about NOT taking green tea or its derivatives with Velcade (bortezomib). It turns out that Green tea polyphenols block the anticancer effects of bortezomib and other boronic-acid based proteasome inhibitors. EGCG (Catechins and Polyphenols in Green Tea) was particularly effective at preventing cell death from Velcade, both in vitro and in real people.
So, if you are on Velcade or the trial drug Carfilzomib, you should stay away from green tea, right? And what about black tea, which contains similar polyphenols? Just don't drink tea?
A Naturopath, Dr HH, took it a step further and wrote to an author of the study published in Blood Journal , asking if there was a safe time period before and after a Velcade infusion for a person to enjoy a cup of tea. The author responded by email as follows: "Based on our observations, in combination with the known half lives of bortezomib and green tea products, we would recommend a "safety zone" of 24 hours before and 24 hours after bortezomib injection for the avoidance of green tea and green tea products."
So it appears that you can enjoy your cup of tea and maybe even your EGCG supplement, if you like, as long as you maintain that 24-hour "safety zone" of time.
Questions remain: Would green tea interfere with any other myeloma drugs? Would other supplements interfere with Velcade? There are plenty of studies showing the benefits of various supplements, but few of those have the supplement in combination with FDA-approved medicines like Revlimid, Thalidomide, or even dexamethasone.
So, if you are on Velcade or the trial drug Carfilzomib, you should stay away from green tea, right? And what about black tea, which contains similar polyphenols? Just don't drink tea?
A Naturopath, Dr HH, took it a step further and wrote to an author of the study published in Blood Journal , asking if there was a safe time period before and after a Velcade infusion for a person to enjoy a cup of tea. The author responded by email as follows: "Based on our observations, in combination with the known half lives of bortezomib and green tea products, we would recommend a "safety zone" of 24 hours before and 24 hours after bortezomib injection for the avoidance of green tea and green tea products."
So it appears that you can enjoy your cup of tea and maybe even your EGCG supplement, if you like, as long as you maintain that 24-hour "safety zone" of time.
Questions remain: Would green tea interfere with any other myeloma drugs? Would other supplements interfere with Velcade? There are plenty of studies showing the benefits of various supplements, but few of those have the supplement in combination with FDA-approved medicines like Revlimid, Thalidomide, or even dexamethasone.
Personally, I just avoid it period!
Some More Ways
- Consult a doctor and take a multivitamin specific to your age and gender. Do make sure that it includes a healthy amount of zinc.
- Include lots of lean protein sources in your diet. You should consume 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per kilogram of your body weight.
- Try not to let your total fat intake go beyond 30 percent of your daily calories. At the same time, of the total fat intake, make sure that 5-10 percent comes from saturated fats.
- Increase your consumption of friendly bacteria; say in the form of yogurt or kefir drink. Such bacteria stimulate the immunity cells in your gastrointestinal tract. Unless you are under Chemo! Check with your doctor or Dietitian if there is one where you are followed for your Cancer! Because if your immune system is too low, there is a chance that those "Friendly Bacteria" might go through your intestines and enter your Blood Stream, Then you're in BIG trouble!
Hope this helps.
Thank you to Gabi for the kind comment about yesterday’s post!
Keep Fighting! And Enjoy your weekend!
Yvon
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Waiting for the call!
Hi everyone
Still at home waiting for “The Call” for admission to the Hospital....3 day delay already!
Yes I know even some of you are tired of waiting for me to be admitted too! I got an email from a dear friend telling me that she was starting to run out of candles that she lights for me everyday thinking that it’s “The Day” lol
So instead of Day-something let’s just call this “On Standby”!
Cant be more ready then I am now! All packed and ready to go! Honestly, I hate waiting. I want to get it over with!
I did call the Hospital myself yesterday trying to find out how many more days I have to wait but...no info! Don’t call us we will call you!
Darn, I’m not applying for a Job here ha-ha!
Anyway, I did not receive any questions today so I’m consulting with my Hamster (See yesterday’s post) to see what we are going to Blog about today.
How about who you surround yourself with! If you are Battling Cancer, try not to hang around those who Pity you! Yes that’s right, Be a fighter and stand up for yourself. Be Positive and reject the “Oh, poor you!” “It’s so unfair!” “Why me?” etc....
My belief, and I insist it’s “My” belief! Not trying to impose anything here. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Yep that's right that applies to me too!
Cancer has changed my life for the better. I used to be cranky, arrogant, selfish, pessimistic and negative! When I was told that I had Multiple Myeloma stage III after being admitted in the hospital for Sepsis.
I didn't tell myself “Oh my God, why me?” I knew why, I had to change. Everything! Now, well those who know me personally know that I have changed.
Still lot’s of work to be done, but moving forward!
Sure you can eat Organic and take all the Anti-Oxidants that are out there on the market. But believe me, If you are negative, depressed, see the Glass half empty like I used too.
You might be preparing yourself for a big surprise!
How about having “Organic Thoughts or feelings in your heart” lol.
Maybe ask yourself, “What did I sow to harvest this crop?”
For me now I wake up so Happy every morning and I love to make my Wonderful wife laugh. She usually gets up earlier then me and I stay in bed thinking “What prank can I pull on her to make her laugh!” And I succeed everyday!
I have been through allot of Chemo and one Stem Cell Transplant already and some of you Cancer Fighters out there know about “Grande Fatigue” Well, when I get up in the morning I’m like an old rechargeable battery. I’m full of energy for about one hour, then the fatigue sets in but still, I make then most out of this hour. I appreciate it and I am grateful for this hour.
Before the Cancer I used to have lot’s of energy and needed little sleep. But did I appreciate it? Did I make the most of it? No!
Now I do. And after that, thank God for the Internet and you Guys! Blogging doesn’t take too much energy and is actually a real therapy for me.
I will end this post on a note:
For those who wish to join me, let’s have a thought or a Prayer for my friend Rabbi Martin Penn who is in the intensive care unit with fever and breathing problems and all!
He has Multiple Myeloma on top of that like me and is following the same Chemo Protocol as I did.
Who is Rabbi Penn, well he used to be an very respected International Speaker but had a Throat Trauma 17 years ago that left him mute, had two strokes, cant speak, walk, and barely moves his right side.
Think I had it tough, think again! Now that’s a Fighter.
Keep Fighting and Never give up!
Yvon
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day-1
Good Day everyone!
Well, it’s tomorrow again. Admission for a Stem Cell Transplant is a waiting game! (See post from Jan 8th).
It’s not a very confortable situation because you go to bed thinking “Well, Tomorrow is probably the Big day!”
and then you wake up thinking “Well it’s probably Today” till noon. Then it’s all over again!
I refer to my Brain (Yes I have one) as a Hamster running in a cage. Right now mine is about to have a hearth attack! lol!
OK Here is a question I got in my emails today from a Cancer Fighter:
Did you use Poly-MVA?
Well, yes I did.
My experience with it (Hope I don’t get a lawsuit for that!):
Contacted Mr..x, got great communication with the guy until I purchase the product!!!
After that, no reply to my email questions what so ever!
Hmmmmmm, not a good sign I told myself.
Still, I purchased it so I tried it. Results.......none!
Poly MVA is a Liquid that contains a mineral called Palladium.
The Gentlemen claimed that it cured Multiple Myeloma and other forms of Cancer.
Want to know more about it just Google it! I wont elaborate on the subject.
Still want to try it Anyway...Knock yourselves out!
I just personally find it useless and VERY expensive!
Keep Fighting and Never give up!
Yvon
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Blog Day-1 again! More Tips!
Hello again.
I think I forgot to mention one of the most important cure for Cancer: Laugh, Laugh, Laugh! Be able to make fun of yourself. Make the Hospital Staff Laugh, Make the other patients Laugh. Watch Stand-up comics or Comedies. But most of all, Laugh with your friends. De-dramatize the situation. Thanks to my best friend Claude Forest who made and keeps making fun of me till I cry laughing! Make it your favorite pastime. Making others Laugh brings you an incredible feeling of giving. At least for me!
Other thing, Drink, drink, drink! Not Booze! (Although I did the Red Wine cure for a while, lol) Don't go there! ha-ha! Vichy Water is the best! Chemo depletes your system of many minerals. Vichy Water has most of the natural minerals in it! A little salty at first but you get used to it very quickly! This was suggested to me by Dr. Pascale Raby in France at the Pasteur Hospital in Colmar 7 years ago! I have been drinking one 1.25 L. bottle everyday ever since.
Drinking saves your kidneys! Unless you have kidney problems and told otherwise by your Oncologist.
Again, check with your doctor!
Tomorowzanadaday!
Keep Fighting!
Yvon
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