This is more of an pre-update to what we anticipate will be an action packed week ahead. And, if you wondered what Lynn goes through on weekends with a sports fan in the house, you'll probably get a good sense of that as well.
Right now, its 9:30 am and I have some British friends to thank for my interest in the Premier League games that get rolling on the weekends. It's Europe's answer to all of the talking heads telling us why the college football national championship is the only thing that matters (obviously, I am against a playoff or that thing they do now with 6 bowl games after January 1).
But I digress...
Speaking of digressing, we seem to have one of those motivation problems with my white blood cells. They are not multiplying which meant that I had to have a day worth of transfusions, two pints, and NOT Guinness.
While that does nothing for the white cells, it returns my hemo to a level where I can stay home and recover. The Doctors don't know why the WBC's aren't regenerating and that appears to be the focus for the short term. As is the case, I had another bone marrow biopsy as well on Thursday which should shed some light on the situation with the white cell count and whether the blasts have made any progress (hopefully not) against the healthy cells. Those results won't be available until Monday when we have follow up appointment.
Until we know what the blast count is in the WBC's, the timing of my next treatment is in question. It will be chemo, either the same level as I went through initially or a slightly modified version if the blast count is considered low enough to proceed.
We are reminded what the Doctor said back in August about the treatment being very intense followed by periods of boredom, and he stressed boredom. Of course, I thought there is no way to get bored if you get to watch what you want when you want and we were entering a busy part of the sports season with baseball playoffs, college and pro football, as well as the aforementioned soccer on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Cable can be a wonderful thing at all times of the day.... but there really isn't that much on unless you are into hoarding, New Jersey, little people documentaries, near death experiences and spoiled housewives.
I had never been a "follower" of the soccer outside of the World Cup (typical American!) until I got to know a few of the boys at Gus O'Connors (a respectable pub located too close to home). If you think our fans get worked up for football games, you have to watch a game with 2 or 3 soccer fans who know their sh*t. Each one is equivalent to about 10 US football fans. As an obsessed sports fan, I can absolutely appreciate their passion for the sport. They don't lack opinions on players, teams, countries or referee's, yet they put up with my infant knowledge and half ass viewpoints. As a comparison to our passion in the US, just once in your life, find an English or Irish pub when a big international/club game is taking place, and take a seat for a couple hours. Granted, you will have to make it before noon for many, but the beer is still cold. Given our propensity for 3 1/2 to 4 hour football and baseball games, there is a beauty in having a game last 2 hours and no commercials.
On the US front, I'm over the Reds loss in the playoffs and have focused on praying the Yankees's go away. While not a big fan of the Phillies, watching teams hand games to the Yankee's and the media gush over them makes you want to puke.
Today, its just waiting on the Buckeyes and Wisconsin tonight. I may be an Ohio homer, but without some crazy special teams breakdowns, I think the Bucks take care of the Badgers pretty easily on the road. Quick prediction: 28-16.
Yes, there is more than just sports, and I'm sure we all watched the Chilean rescue this week, truly amazing. But in our jaded society, this too shall pass and we will read how many of them squandered their fame and new found (as the reports suggest) wealth. I couldn't help but think, 'this is really cool, but what is going on in Haiti?' We sure let that news fade away once the Saints won the Super Bowl.... but I digress (again).
I guess this is a segue way to my final thoughts this morning. I can't stress it enough, the support from everyone reading and emailing has been overwhelming. As our nature seems and as as busy as we all are managing our lives in these times, please consider taking a couple hours soon and give blood. Facing adversity heightens our awareness, and mine is no exception. But, as I go through this process, getting transfusions, etc... my appreciation for those whose blood I am receiving has made me a tremendous advocate. It's easy, fairly painless and they give you some juice and a cookie at the end. And you will be helping sustain or save someones life.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Is Feeling Good Progress?
If I told you I sat down to do an update over the past 5 days, would you think I was:
A. Lazy
B. Intentionally procrastinating
C. Had writers block
D. Most of the above
The answer, as always, is D. While I didn't really have writers block (because I'm not writing novels or anything) and that I used that excuse unsuccessfully in college, both A and B apply to a large degree. I certainly want to keep everyone informed, but when you are in a holding pattern waiting for the damn blood cells to grow, there isn't much to report. I could have been giving you the play by play of Lynn reforming the family room and kitchen, but there isn't a lot of entertainment in that type of writing unless you are a fan of trade magazines that appear in the lobby of office buildings. I will say that she and my parents (really my Mom, Dad gets a little bit of a mention) have made more progress in the last 3 weeks than Lynn and have in 3 years (see answer B above).
As I wasn't really allowed to take any part in the project, I had plenty of time to catch up on doings at work (and provide my invaluable opinion(s)!), manage my failing fantasy football teams, exercise the right of watching as much playoff baseball as possible, and finally take some visitors without the chance of me falling asleep while they were here. But more on the sports later....
I want to provide an update as soon as I can when we find out new information or as the medical schedule changes and today seemed like a good time as we had another meeting with the Doctor to assess progress. While I have been feeling pretty well since returning from the hospital a couple weeks ago, I have noticed getting tired more easily the past few days. That can only mean one thing and the standard blood testing confirmed it today, low hemoglobin. I could see that coming on from the blood tests I get every other day last week as the levels slowly receded and was confirmed today. I am headed in for a couple pints of the good stuff on Tuesday morning.
As mentioned last time, we are waiting for the white blood cells to grow in order to get a better sampling of the good guys versus the blasts (the bad guys). Unfortunately, the white cells have been slacking off and we are not seeing the progress needed. Can anyone guess what that means? If you answered, "What is a bone marrow biopsy?" you earned $800 and can pick the next category (Sorry, Jeopardy in on in the background). That procedure is scheduled for this Thursday. Again, this is all to assess where we are in determining the next steps for treatment. I can't tell you how comfortable it is to be at home, but as is my nature, I'm ready to get on with it, even though it means more chemo, a lengthy hospital stay, and leaving the family for a bit. The biggest question we all have is how to get the white cells to grow and multiply.
RESULTS DISAPPOINTING
As everyone knows, being a die hard Reds fan requires decades of patience, and when they got swept out of the playoffs last night, it ripped 6 months of watching intently right out from under me. Whose kidding who, I can't wait to start watching again in April. That doesn't mean I won't watch the rest of the playoffs, because I will, and for the southern members of the tribe, I would like the Braves to make a run (unfortunately they look like they have the Reds defensive issues and can't score runs). For my NE brethren, I just can't get my arms around rooting for a team that beat mine, but as long as the Yankees don't win, all is well. The Phillies just look too damn good.
Not even going to discuss the Bengals.
As most of you know, the Michigan / Michigan State game was this weekend and while the lines are split up here, I can say I was firmly a Spartan this weekend. Jimmy, our freshman at MSU, maintained that he is still supporting the Wolverines, but I sense a movement toward MSU, but not just yet. Rest assured, he'll be at the rest of the MSU games in the student section, regardless of his UM upbringing. (Nice fact: unless UM beats MSU in hoops this year, it will be over 1000 days since UM has beat MSU in football and basketball).
All in all, we are doing well, but want it to get moving forward and I'll provide updates later this week when we get some additional results.
One final request... while you are thinking of us and our fight, find a little spot for a couple people who are also fighting Cancer and Leukemia. My good high school friend Mark Momper's wife has AML as well and has recently come out of remission and is facing the same treatment and bone marrow transplant. As well, a good friend and work associate of mine, Dean Lane, is battling a serious melanoma that has spread throughout his body. We all all appreciative and unfortunately have the wrong things in common...
A. Lazy
B. Intentionally procrastinating
C. Had writers block
D. Most of the above
The answer, as always, is D. While I didn't really have writers block (because I'm not writing novels or anything) and that I used that excuse unsuccessfully in college, both A and B apply to a large degree. I certainly want to keep everyone informed, but when you are in a holding pattern waiting for the damn blood cells to grow, there isn't much to report. I could have been giving you the play by play of Lynn reforming the family room and kitchen, but there isn't a lot of entertainment in that type of writing unless you are a fan of trade magazines that appear in the lobby of office buildings. I will say that she and my parents (really my Mom, Dad gets a little bit of a mention) have made more progress in the last 3 weeks than Lynn and have in 3 years (see answer B above).
As I wasn't really allowed to take any part in the project, I had plenty of time to catch up on doings at work (and provide my invaluable opinion(s)!), manage my failing fantasy football teams, exercise the right of watching as much playoff baseball as possible, and finally take some visitors without the chance of me falling asleep while they were here. But more on the sports later....
I want to provide an update as soon as I can when we find out new information or as the medical schedule changes and today seemed like a good time as we had another meeting with the Doctor to assess progress. While I have been feeling pretty well since returning from the hospital a couple weeks ago, I have noticed getting tired more easily the past few days. That can only mean one thing and the standard blood testing confirmed it today, low hemoglobin. I could see that coming on from the blood tests I get every other day last week as the levels slowly receded and was confirmed today. I am headed in for a couple pints of the good stuff on Tuesday morning.
As mentioned last time, we are waiting for the white blood cells to grow in order to get a better sampling of the good guys versus the blasts (the bad guys). Unfortunately, the white cells have been slacking off and we are not seeing the progress needed. Can anyone guess what that means? If you answered, "What is a bone marrow biopsy?" you earned $800 and can pick the next category (Sorry, Jeopardy in on in the background). That procedure is scheduled for this Thursday. Again, this is all to assess where we are in determining the next steps for treatment. I can't tell you how comfortable it is to be at home, but as is my nature, I'm ready to get on with it, even though it means more chemo, a lengthy hospital stay, and leaving the family for a bit. The biggest question we all have is how to get the white cells to grow and multiply.
RESULTS DISAPPOINTING
As everyone knows, being a die hard Reds fan requires decades of patience, and when they got swept out of the playoffs last night, it ripped 6 months of watching intently right out from under me. Whose kidding who, I can't wait to start watching again in April. That doesn't mean I won't watch the rest of the playoffs, because I will, and for the southern members of the tribe, I would like the Braves to make a run (unfortunately they look like they have the Reds defensive issues and can't score runs). For my NE brethren, I just can't get my arms around rooting for a team that beat mine, but as long as the Yankees don't win, all is well. The Phillies just look too damn good.
Not even going to discuss the Bengals.
As most of you know, the Michigan / Michigan State game was this weekend and while the lines are split up here, I can say I was firmly a Spartan this weekend. Jimmy, our freshman at MSU, maintained that he is still supporting the Wolverines, but I sense a movement toward MSU, but not just yet. Rest assured, he'll be at the rest of the MSU games in the student section, regardless of his UM upbringing. (Nice fact: unless UM beats MSU in hoops this year, it will be over 1000 days since UM has beat MSU in football and basketball).
All in all, we are doing well, but want it to get moving forward and I'll provide updates later this week when we get some additional results.
One final request... while you are thinking of us and our fight, find a little spot for a couple people who are also fighting Cancer and Leukemia. My good high school friend Mark Momper's wife has AML as well and has recently come out of remission and is facing the same treatment and bone marrow transplant. As well, a good friend and work associate of mine, Dean Lane, is battling a serious melanoma that has spread throughout his body. We all all appreciative and unfortunately have the wrong things in common...
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