Dear Family and Friends:
Happy Thanksgiving! Karen and I were planning to spend today with my sister Jill and family. But with an abundance of caution, decided to just have the two of us. I’ve been feeling both fatigued and a little bit nauseous for a few days – and I’m really hoping to make it to Monday without any issues.
In the past weeks, I’ve gotten a PET scan, a brain MRI, a bone marrow aspiration, numerous blood draws. The bone marrow aspiration was especially “interesting” as they took a sample of both the bone marrow and the bone itself from my hip. Karen got to see the needle, but I didn’t – and I was okay with that.
On Monday at 7:00 am, I’m to check in at Fred Hutch for a blood draw, then see a practitioner at 7:45. At 10:00 we’re to check into UW Hospital Montlake, where they’ll administer about 10% of the planned dose. This is to see if I react to it. On Tuesday, they’ll give the rest of the dose – and either release me that evening or the next day. This will be my sixth hospital stay this year and fifth different hospital.
For the next two Mondays, it’s the same except I stay at Fred Hutch for the infusion until about 8:00 pm. The second cycle is supposed to begin two weeks after that with a similar schedule, but they only require seven hours in the infusion center instead of ten.
I’d like to write a bit more about the experiences in July & August, but I think I’ll save it for the next update. And once again, thanks for those of you who got in touch, in person, card, or email, with best wishes.
Previous Updates:
1. https://conicwave.net/node/81
2. https://conicwave.net/node/82
Doug