Category Archives: treatment

Some Low Days

emotions, neutrophil, transplant, treatment

IT’S DAY SEVEN after the stem cell infusion and the waiting is the hardest part.

I’m not depressed, just fatigued, with a general lack of focus, a sore throat, and poor appetite. Of course they tell me this is precisely what is expected of patients like me.

The treatment process is working. The blood labs show my neutrophil levels have fallen nearly to zero. In another day or so, they will begin a gradual recovery as my bones begin to build a new immune system.

Since I now have very little immune response, the treatments will focus on preventing infections. Masks and hand-washing for most visitors and anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-biotic meds.

Thursday will be much the same, except for a football game Arizona vs. Oregon. Boredom is mounting. I guess that means I’m starting to get better.

NEXT: Zero Hair Day

© 2014 James Tenser

And Awayyy We Go!

melphalan, Myeloma, transplant, treatment

Jamie's New FriendSO IT BEGINS. I’m here at UAMC for day -1 of my autologous stem cell transplant.

Today I received my dose of melphalan, the chemo drug that essentially erases my immune system and most remaining cancer cells by attacking all fast-dividing cells.  There will be some side effects, but nothing I can’t handle.

I have a new friend — an I.V. tower on wheels that is connected to my CVC catheter at all times. Mostly it is used to keep me hydrated, so there’s a bag of saline hanging all the time. It was also used to deliver the chemo dose. So far I feel OK with just a brief bout of nausea. After a couple of pills to counter that, I’m doing fine and even had an appetite for supper. Continue reading And Awayyy We Go! →

The Danglers

medical, Myeloma, transplant, treatment

SOME ASPECTS of the Myeloma patient experience are so odd or new that they merit sharing.

So it is with The Danglers.

My brand-new  Central Venous Catheter was just implanted in my upper chest yesterday (Friday, Sept. 12). It connects to my superior vena cava, a major vein close to the heart. It will be used to administer medicines and withdraw and deliver blood and cells for my autologous stem cell transplant.

The “installation” was an outpatient surgical procedure at the University of Arizona Medical Center. It took about an hour. I was awake with just a little sedation, but I think I remember pretty much the whole process.

Continue reading The Danglers →