Temperature at 6:10 pm : 101.2
Temperature at 7:01 pm: 99.5
It seems like the Tylenol is working. I feel much better. I suppose, while the body war is going on, that is, for at least the next four weeks, I should expect the unexpected. I will take my temp a few more times and update Nurse K tomorrow...after breakfast out, of course!
Unless things really change for the worse, I am assuming the trouble is over for now.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Slight complications
I didn't sleep very well last night, I got up three times to take antacids. The acid stomach has largely subsided. I feel lethargic and have therefor declared today a rest day. No walk, no photography and absolutely no items from the Honey Do list.
About 4:45 pm, I felt chills so bad that I was shivering. I put on a long-sleeved shirt and pulled up one of my adorable wife's knitted afghans. I leaned back and crossed my hands and they feel burning hot. I then asked my adorable wife to take my temperature. It took her a few minutes to actually find the old school glass thermometer and a few more minutes to shake it down below 98.6. I took the temperature and in a very few moments, it read 102.3!
We called Dr. Hema's office and, by the time we called he and Nurse K were out. Being a very busy hematologist, I suspect he needs to turn off the phones to get paperwork done and see patients in the treatment room and hospital.
I was referrerd to the on-call doctor, Dr. F. We went over my case and he said what I believed all along: there is a vicious war going on in my body. He suggested Tylenol and to wait and see how I do. He said he believes the symptoms will subside and if not, to report to the emergency room.
More later.
About 4:45 pm, I felt chills so bad that I was shivering. I put on a long-sleeved shirt and pulled up one of my adorable wife's knitted afghans. I leaned back and crossed my hands and they feel burning hot. I then asked my adorable wife to take my temperature. It took her a few minutes to actually find the old school glass thermometer and a few more minutes to shake it down below 98.6. I took the temperature and in a very few moments, it read 102.3!
We called Dr. Hema's office and, by the time we called he and Nurse K were out. Being a very busy hematologist, I suspect he needs to turn off the phones to get paperwork done and see patients in the treatment room and hospital.
I was referrerd to the on-call doctor, Dr. F. We went over my case and he said what I believed all along: there is a vicious war going on in my body. He suggested Tylenol and to wait and see how I do. He said he believes the symptoms will subside and if not, to report to the emergency room.
More later.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Finally home!
Because of stopping the Rituxan, administering additional Benadryl and then restarting the Rituxan, I was not finished until 4:20 pm! I feel restless and after we got home, I napped only about 20 minutes. I think they were on their FILO plan; First In Last Out.
Dr. Hema and the nurses thought it was great that I was blogging during this process. I hope they meant that it was great that I was recording this as an interesting experience, rather than being depressed. I think, in a situation like this, or any life siuation for that matter, that attitude is worth 90%. If you think that you can't do a thing, that is, mentally set yourself up for failure, then you probably will fail. However, the reverse it true also. If you tell yourself that you can fight lymphoma hard and you can win, then you probably can.
I can and I will.
Dr. Hema and the nurses thought it was great that I was blogging during this process. I hope they meant that it was great that I was recording this as an interesting experience, rather than being depressed. I think, in a situation like this, or any life siuation for that matter, that attitude is worth 90%. If you think that you can't do a thing, that is, mentally set yourself up for failure, then you probably will fail. However, the reverse it true also. If you tell yourself that you can fight lymphoma hard and you can win, then you probably can.
I can and I will.
Treatment Room III: D'oh!
So close to done and then slight complications arise. I began to feel quite itchy and my adorable wife said my face was extremely red. She alerted the nurse and Dr. Hema appeared quite quickly. They opined that the pre-medication Benadryl had worn off. They conferred and stopped the Rituxan and are now giving me additional Benadryl. My symptoms have subsided. They are taking my vital signs every few minutes. A blood pressure cuff is permanently attached to my arm for the time being.
Nurse K marched a scared-looking man, wife and daughter past us into a private office where, I suspect, he is to start the same process. With apologies to P. T. Barnum, it seems there is a new lymphoma patient born every minute.
I hope we will be done soon, I'm getting grouchy.
Nurse K marched a scared-looking man, wife and daughter past us into a private office where, I suspect, he is to start the same process. With apologies to P. T. Barnum, it seems there is a new lymphoma patient born every minute.
I hope we will be done soon, I'm getting grouchy.
Treatment Room II: infusion R us
1:25 pm-- My adorable wife packed a very nice lunch in a small cooler and she packed my fave: PB&J! We just finished.
I am getting pretty anxious to get it done and get out of here. This is almost as bad as flying coach to London. Eventually, you can't find a comfortable place for your body and squirm about trying to sleep, albeit fitfully. This is a day to tolerate and get behind me and to realize that that sound we all hear is the sound of millions of lymphoma cells dying the horrible, painful death they richly deserve.
Technician P says this is the last bag for today. By my dead reckoning, it's about 40% done. Yippee!
I am getting pretty anxious to get it done and get out of here. This is almost as bad as flying coach to London. Eventually, you can't find a comfortable place for your body and squirm about trying to sleep, albeit fitfully. This is a day to tolerate and get behind me and to realize that that sound we all hear is the sound of millions of lymphoma cells dying the horrible, painful death they richly deserve.
Technician P says this is the last bag for today. By my dead reckoning, it's about 40% done. Yippee!
In the treatment room...
9:55 am-- Here we are in the treatment room. There are 12-15 recliners with, currently, six patients. Dr. Hema just walked through to check on several of his patients, including me. His nurse, K (for Kindness) has been here twice! Everyone is so caring and kind. I have had my blood tested and given pre-medications but the rituxan has not started yet.
So far, I am not too bored because I am taking in the sights and sounds. I'm sure that by the end of the day, I will be quite bored however. Brudder suggested that sitting in a recliner with my laptop with a TV nearby won't actually be too different from every other day! He's largely correct.
My laptop has a DVD drive, so I have brought a couple of movies. This morning's selection is The Killing starring Sterling Hayden.
My adorable wife is here but she keeps finding excuses to check on future appointments or go to the lobby to make a phone call. I don't blame her one bit!
More later.
So far, I am not too bored because I am taking in the sights and sounds. I'm sure that by the end of the day, I will be quite bored however. Brudder suggested that sitting in a recliner with my laptop with a TV nearby won't actually be too different from every other day! He's largely correct.
My laptop has a DVD drive, so I have brought a couple of movies. This morning's selection is The Killing starring Sterling Hayden.
My adorable wife is here but she keeps finding excuses to check on future appointments or go to the lobby to make a phone call. I don't blame her one bit!
More later.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The treatment plan
My adorable wife and I just returned from Dr. Hema's office in Big City. Dr. Hema reports that the PET scan shows hardly anything. He said it's good news, because that indicates there is hardly any organ involvement and that it's very slow growing. He thoroughly discussed treatment options and we settled on Rituxan taken once a week for four weeks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rituxan
It is administered intravenously. The first dose takes about six hours, and the next three take about four hours. It is not chemotherapy and so the usual nausea, hair loss, etc. is not expected. I am not the most patient patient there is, but if this is all it takes to knock this darn thing into remission, I guess I can bite my lip. The first treatment is tomorrow at 9:00 am. Let's get on with it!
He did say that I am right on the edge of not requiring any treatment at all! However, I do have anemia and iron deficiency, so he recommended treatment. He feels that these symptoms will fade away as the lymphoma is treated.
We visited the intravenous treatment room and each person has a recliner and a personal TV. I will be allowed to bring books, magazines and..........my laptop!!! I shall blog you from the treatment room!
We are rearranging some travel plans, but largely, we are living life as usual, to the fullest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rituxan
It is administered intravenously. The first dose takes about six hours, and the next three take about four hours. It is not chemotherapy and so the usual nausea, hair loss, etc. is not expected. I am not the most patient patient there is, but if this is all it takes to knock this darn thing into remission, I guess I can bite my lip. The first treatment is tomorrow at 9:00 am. Let's get on with it!
He did say that I am right on the edge of not requiring any treatment at all! However, I do have anemia and iron deficiency, so he recommended treatment. He feels that these symptoms will fade away as the lymphoma is treated.
We visited the intravenous treatment room and each person has a recliner and a personal TV. I will be allowed to bring books, magazines and..........my laptop!!! I shall blog you from the treatment room!
We are rearranging some travel plans, but largely, we are living life as usual, to the fullest.
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