November 14, 2013.. Tonight when we got back from the hospital, a bag was at our door with a homemade throw in it. It was from a member of Little Rock Church. I was surprised that my name was embroidered in 2 inch letters on it. The kindness of people really amazes me, both people I know and people I don't know. Let me explain again that Little Rock Church rents 13 apartments in this apartment complex and then rents them to patients from out of town who are in Little Rock for medical treatment. They are completely furnished. 

Our routine day goes something like this. We get up at 5:30 each morning. This is every day with no days off. After we have breakfast and get ready, we head to the hospital. We have to drive through heavy traffic except on the weekends. We are at the hospital for several hours and once, this time, we were there 6 hours on the morning visit. After we finish there, we head back to the apartment but often we stop and pick up some groceries. (We don't buy much ahead of time since we can't carry much back home when we go so we buy just enough for a couple of days.) We eat lunch when we get back and sometimes take a short nap. Then, its time to head back to the hospital. It is dark by the time we get back to the apartment each evening. 

I received a unit of blood again today because my hemoglobin was lower. I did not get the liter of saline today as I have the past several days. That was due to my blood pressure having better numbers. I got the four injections of Neupogen today. I have had sores in my mouth this time from the chemo. This is the first time that has happened. It is a bigger problem for stem cell transplant patients when they are on chemo. A transplant is probably in my future too.  

Maybe I have turned around and my white cell count is starting up. My white cell count today was 0.11, hemoglobin-8.4, platelets-22.

Thank you dear friends and family for all the support I have gotten. It means more to me that I can express and I really mean that. I want to especially thank you for your prayers.  



   

November 13, 2013.. I have been receiving one Neupogen injection in the morning and one in the evening since I came off the chemo. The evening injection today was increased to two injections. That means I will be getting 4 injections each day until the collection is complete. The total Neupogen was 480 mg per visit but today it was increased to 600 mg per visit but in a couple of days it will increase to 900 mg per visit. All of the injections I get are in the abdomen. 

I felt better today than I did yesterday.

My white cell count was 0.08, hemoglobin-8.8, platelets-31. If my hemoglobin drops to 8.5, they will probably give me another unit of blood tomorrow. 

I would like to get an idea of how many and who is reading this blog. In the comments block, please click on the Comments option below and leave a short note like "I am" and enough of your name so I will know who you are. The stats for the blog sometimes shows high numbers (100 or more at times) of readers. I find it difficult to believe there are more than a few people actually reading it. 

November 12, 2013.. We spent 6 hours at the hospital on our first visit of the day, but thank goodness, the second visit was short and just long enough to get the second Neupogen injection. I received another liter of saline and another pint of blood. Each of those takes one hour to administer. I also received my last injection of Velcade so that totally completes the chemo for this trip. 

I did not feel as good today as I have in previous days. The chemo is continuing to have effects on my body and will for quite a while yet. I have to wonder what negative things are being done to my body by the chemo. I have to look at it as not having much choice but to take the chemo. 

I am hoping today was my low point day and things will start to improve now. 

It is good to see the nurses in the area where we go. We have seen them many times in the 2.5 to 3 months spent here this year. We are always greeted with big smiles, and it seems as if they are really glad to see us. Today we were talking with the nurse who has taken care of me the most while I have been here and found out she lost one of her two children when he was 7.5 years old. He was run over by a school bus. We just don't know what grief the people we meet each day have encountered.

My white count today was .08, hemoglobin-8.3, platelets-42 

Note to our friend Shirley in Michigan... There was a car from Michigan in the hospital parking garage today with a myeloma awareness sticker on it.  

November 11, 2013.. We made the two trips to the hospital today for the two injections of Neupogen. I also received another liter of saline by iv due again to low blood pressure. Tomorrow, I am scheduled to receive my last injection of Velcade. We are praying it does what it is intended to do. 

I felt pretty good today. Six days after ending this same chemo in April, I reached a low point in the way I felt and in my white cell count. Tomorrow will be the 6th day in this round of chemo. It will be interesting to see if I follow the same pattern this time.   

Something worth noting; tomorrow at 10 seconds past 8:09am, the time and date will be 8-9-10-11-12-13. This is the last time a sequence like this will occur this century.

My white cell count today was 0.12, hemoglobin-8.9, platelets-59.

November 10, 2013.. I continue to have a problem with low blood pressure so I received another liter of saline today by iv. The APN said that she wants to keep my hemoglobin at or above 8.5 so when it goes below 8.5, I will need to receive more blood as I did yesterday. I continue to get the two Neupogen injections each day.

I failed to mention one of the things the doctors said at the question and answer session that I posted about earlier. They said in earlier years they were seeing myeloma patients aged 65 years and older but now they are seeing much younger patients some even in their 20's.

I am looking forward to all my blood counts bottoming out and starting to rise again. I hope that will be soon. I am staying away from people except when I am at the hospital and then I wear a high filtration mask. I have the fear that I will catch something before I get my immunity back.

My white blood cell count today was 0.14, hemoglobin-9.1, platelets-67.

November 9, 2013.. We made the two trips to the hospital today and got the two injections of 480 mg each of Neupogen. That dosage will increase later to double that amount. I also received an injection of Velcade. This is the V in the chemo treatment VDT PACE that I mentioned in an earlier posting. I will receive one more Velcade injection on the 12th. I also received one unit of blood today. 

Tonight, I am thinking the injection of Velcade is what is making me feel not as good as I did earlier today. 

My white cell count today was 0.46, hemoglobin-8.4, platelets-78

November 8, 2013.. We were at the hospital about 5 hours today. Both trips took longer than usual. The 4pm injection sometimes only takes a few minutes, but today we were there for 1.5 hours. The nurse was just too busy to get to me. I had a problem with low blood pressure this morning and had to wait until I could receive one liter of saline by iv. The chemo is causing my blood pressure to be low. The APN keeps a close eye on things, and if all remains the same, I am scheduled to receive a unit of blood tomorrow in order to keep my hemoglobin higher than what it is now. 

I continue to not sleep well at night so I must catch up between trips to the hospital. Overall, I have felt ok today. 

My white cell count today was 1.43, hemoglobin-8.8, platelets-106

FYI... A round trip to the hospital each time is 13.2 miles.