November 2, 2013.. I am now receiving the chemo. Remember, this chemo is to prepare my body for the stem cell collection. My understanding is the chemo destroys things in my bone marrow, especially the white blood cells and the myeloma cells. I will be carrying the camera-like bag for 4 days and receiving the chemo 24 hours a day during that time. I will be going back to the hospital each day to get one of the two bags replaced and get the batteries changed in both pumps. One of the bags will last the entire 4 days. During these 4 days, I will be taking other medications, some of them to lessen the negative effects of the chemo and some to supplement the chemo. I went to the drug store and got 9 prescriptions filled that will be used during the chemo time and some after it ends.

We were at the hospital today for 5.5 hours. My white cell count today was 1.87 (limits are 3 to 12), hemoglobin 9.7 (limits are13.5 to 17.5) and platelets 188 (limits are 150 to 500).

I have been asked some questions that I will now try to answer here now. 

Time of posting: The time shown at the bottom of the page of the post is in Pacific time zone. I have not found a way to change that to Eastern time zone yet. 

The port: What is the port that was installed used for? The port has 3 connections and is used the entire time I am here until the time I go for the actual stem cell collection. At that time, it will be changed for a larger port. The port I have now is used to receive chemo from the chemo pumps. It is also where they draw blood samples each day, receive medications and fluids that would normally be given by IV, receive blood transfusions (the chemo causes the hemoglobin and platelet levels to drop and requires blood transfusions to restore levels).

What is MIRT? It is an abbreviation for Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy. I normally refer to being at the hospital but I am at the MIRT part of the hospital. All are part of UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences).

The side effects so far have only been slight except for my blood sugar which was three times the level it should have been. That was after a lower carbohydrate meal than I normally have. The doctor prescribed insulin as part of the routine so I took a small injection. Maybe that will bring the level down. I am going to have to be very vigilant while I am on the chemo. 

Here are some photos of the chemo and pumps that I have told you about. I thought you might want to take a look at what I have been talking about.

Below in the photo, is the carrying bag that contains two pumps and two bags of chemo.

One of the two battery powered chemo pumps

One of the bags of chemo. This one will last the entire 4 days.

The chemo bag below is emptied and replaced every 24 hours