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
Thursday, February 24, 2011
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
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