And the Countdown Has Begun

Mom and I returned from Tampa yesterday (Thursday) after spending several days there in preparation for my bone marrow transplant (BMT). Some of this might repeat what Joel said in the previous blog, but I’ll add a lot of detail so if you’re sensitive to my candor, don’t read this.

We left Monday, Nov. 17, carting around my pee! Yeah, they wanted 24 hours worth by our lab meeting on Tuesday and left it up to us as to how to accomplish this feat. We went with a gallon jug, a big cup, and a funnel. Nasty. We were eager to turn it in first thing on Tuesday. We discovered that they literally have a fridge just for pee.

Tuesday was a rough day with little down time. We started with check-in and handing over the pee. Then, I had to give labs – 13 tubes of blood. Then I had a chest x-ray, which was by far the easiest thing I did. After a long wait, I had a Muga Scan, which I had never heard of. It was interesting. Some of my blood was taken and then mixed with something – radioactive, I think. Then, it got injected back in me, and then scan pictures were taken. I basically had to keep still a lot and take some deep breaths. At that point, we needed lunch, but there was no time. We were scheduled for a BMT class. The class ended up lasting 2 hours and told us pretty much what we already knew. The lady gave us a PowerPoint print out and then read it to us – so dull – especially when you’re really hungry. A few interesting things would be that they will put me on a pregnancy drug because I cannot menstrate. They are big on NO bleeding. We also met a nutrictionist during this class and hers was the most interesting part. Once I’m in the hospital, no more take out for me. I have to know how my food is going to be prepared. Cooking is important and I have a long list of what to watch for, including what is okay and what to avoid. After the meeting, we asked to see one of the rooms. It was big with cabinets, a reclyner, fold out couch, and a built in seat for the shower. But we still weren’t done. I had a pulmonary function test, so I had to do a lot of blowing into a machine and holding my breath. It was interesting and apparently I did well. The worst part was that she needed a small amount of blood from me, but it needed to be from an arterty not a vein and IT REALLY HURT. I ended up hyperventilating, getting dizzy, feeling sick – it was scary, but the lady was great. She got me some juice, which I really needed since I hadn’t eaten all day. We went out to dinner once this was finally all over and I ate like a pig. Bad decision.

I began Wed. morning with a nasty acidic puke. The acid followed me all day but I had to fast all day for a bone marrow biopsy – no food or drink. So this was a rough day too. I begin with a CT scan following by doctor meetings. Dr. Fields, my transplant doctor, was happy with all of my results. Heart, lungs, kidneys, counts, platelets – all look good. We also were told that my first donor agreed to help me. All I know is that he’s a 37 year old male. I can write to him and vise versa, but we can’t know specific info about each other like our names until after a year. We also now know how this is all going to go. We ended the day with a bone marrow biopsy – the most painful procedure I’ve had to endure, so I was super nervous. But this was a little difficult because at Moffitt, they sedate you. It was SO much better because marrow extraction is extremely painful. I’m definately sore – still now – but it was so much easier to sleep through the procedure.

We go back on Dec. 2 for a psych evaluation and I see my doctor again to finalize. The donor is donating on Dec. 1 so we should know if all if going well but that meeting. Then, we return Dec. 8 to change out my Hickman and have my final meetings. Dec. 9 is the day. I get admitted then and begin chemo that evening. I’ll do this for 4 days, rest, and then depending on my counts, the donor’s cells will be given to me Dec. 15 – give or take a day. The first 10-14 after that are the most critical and I’ll be watched like a hawk. Isolation and cleanliness will be key. My counts will be watched and when I meet certain critieria I get to leave the hospital and go to an apartment. The social worker told us that it could happen at a moment’s notice, but usually you’re in the hospital for a month and in the apartment for 2 months. It will all depend on me and how I do.

This is so long, but it’s not everything. I know I’m forgetting something, but there’s a lot going on. Please feel free to ask me any questions.

But we’re definately in a countdown with little time left. I already miss home and my boys.

Related posts:

1. Cancer Tuesday
2. Weekly Wednesday Doctor Visit
3. Things Are Speeding Up
4. Post Visit
5. St. Patty’s Day = Release Day (Love the Luck of the Irish)

Tags: Jamie, Leukemia