Hump Day

I dont have a whole lot to say today. Just trying to get through the week. The phones have been dead at work, THANK GOD!!

I have a ton big projects to get caught up on and they are all due RIGHT NOW!!! Thats what I get for being gone for two weeks.

I am hoping my counts spike up quickly. I am still feeling tired and more so every day as week goes on. I think next week will be better..... Anyway looking forward to the weekend. I don't think I will post again until Friday night when I get my new CBC. I am starting to say the same thing everyday. I AM JUST COMPLAINING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Talk to you Friday night>>>>>>>>>>

Back to Work

Well it was great getting back to work today. As I have been saying I was nervous but couldn't wait!

It went well. I was able to ease into it, phones were light and I did not take any meetings. Everyone was very nice and very happy to see me back.

I will say that I am very tired. However, its been awhile since I have gotten up at 5am and worked all day. One new good habit, I am eating breakfast before I go to work!! There is no way I could make it with out eating in the morning.

I hope my energy level comes back quickly. It couldn't come soon enough but I have to be patient!!!

I am keeping this short as I am on my way to bed early.. Its all good and I will see you tomorrow.

Out and About

Today I was quite adventurous!! I wanted to start getting outside and doing a few things. So I took Chase to get his feet clipped. He has been limping around due his toe nails being really long as well as the hair around his feet. So I took him out to PetCo.

I loaded him up in my car and off we went. After I started driving I realized I have not been behind the wheel of my or any car since Friday April 11th. Long time to be immobile, at least for me.

Anyway, it was an awesome day today and nice to be out of the house. After Chase got done, I got him a giant bone as treat. He loves it of course.

After I got home I noticed my neighbors out and about so I went out and talked to a few of them. Like I said yesterday, sometimes it is the simple things that make you feel good. I really enjoyed being outside and visiting. I feel like I have been isolated from the whole world FOREVER!!

I don't know how more serious Leukemia patients do it. Some fight for over a year in and out of hospitals. It sounds nuts but I consider myself very very lucky.

The highlight of my day was going to Saturday 5pm Mass and listening to Cameron do all the readings. I have to say, he did a fantastic job. It also just wasn't me that thought so. He got high praise from a number of people after Mass. That is no easy feat considering the Saturday Mass crowd is dead serious about the quality of the readers.

Myself and Theresa are extremely proud of him. I told him he should do more public speaking. He is a great reader and does not get nervous in front of people. He is one cool customer.......

After mass we went to Hollywood video and rented a movie (Cloverfield). The kids and I love it. I have not watched a movie with them in a long time. It was a great night. Finally had a quality Family Movie Night. Well, Theresa refused to watch that movie...to sccarryyy....


Amazingly I didn't even take a significant nap! Although at 10pm I am ready to shut it down. It is going to be interesting to see how I do next week. As I said I am a little nervous about going back to work. Its almost like starting a new job. Not really sure what to expect and I kind of don't want to talk to much about what happened to me with everyone. However, I know it is unavoidable. So I will just have to make the best of it. Also everyone at work has been very supportive and have made it easy for me to be away for as long as I have. I don't think very many places would have been this accommodating. I really appreciate it.

I think that's it for now.

Oh yeah!! Jonathan Stewart was drafted 13 to the Panthers!!! Cameron and I may have a new team to watch next year.
(He was a the starting running back for the Ducks. One of the best ever in Duck History!!)

By the way, the sappy stuff will start to disappear over time.......Just be patient...........

NEW COUNTS ARE IN!!!!!!

New Counts above!!

My Platelet count is 157,000 which is better than I have seen ever!!! This is a fantastic indicator that my bone marrow is producing again and producing the right stuff. My Red Count is up as well. My White Count is 1.5 up .5 from last test!!


So everything is going in the right direction. Dr. Chang says I no longer need to were the mask. He also gave me my last antibiotic treatment. today. My second PICC line is out as well. We were going to leave it in until next Friday but it failed. For some reason it got plugged so they had no choice but to take it out since in could not be flushed. I did not want to add any more infection risk.

Doctor also said I am good go back to work on Monday as long as no infection started over the weekend, which he doubts will happen. I meet with him again on Friday for another CBC. After that its 4 weeks until my next check.

I am very happy by how things have progressed since getting out the hospital. As long as my counts continue to rise it looks like the one treatment of 2CDA worked like it was suppose to!!

Next step to being back to normal, EATING A BATCH OF CHICKEN WINGS MADE MY BY KIDS AND DRINKING A FEW BEERS!!!!!


I will keep everyone posted how my first of day work went. I am a little nervous about it but as long as take precautions I should be fine. I am so anxious about getting back to normal. There is something to be said for "SAME OLD, SAME OLD..." To me that same old grind is a blessing. It has been made crystal clear to me that what you have NOW can so easily go sideways and almost slip away!! I really don't think I will be taking anything for granted.

Have a great weekend and I will talk to you soon!!!

This Weeks a Drip!

The left is IV Pump and Antibiotics hanging on the Pole. That's what I have been getting every day this week. To right is me!!! With a stupid mask on. I am suppose to where it until my counts get higher. Please Hurry White Blood Cells!! Grow so I don't look like a dork!!

So I have 2 days left and a meeting with the Doctor. I hoping my counts have taken a drastic jump. The nurse noticed today that my blood pressure of all things is still low:95 over 53. Theresa remembers my blood pressure being this low on Saturday. Nurse said not to worry. So we will just keep an eye on it.


I went to Cameron's Confirmation today. Theresa made arrangements for me to stand in the inner doorway with the swinging doors into the church closed. Normally they are open because it get hot in our very small church.

This way I got see the mass and watch the Bishop bless Cameron and Confirm him. I am very glad I went. I was bit stressed out because the church was so full. But I got through it and would not have missed it for the world!

Soon my counts will be perfect. Then I wont have to stay away from crowds or watch from the sidelines. I feel like I am missing so much! Soon all will be back to normal..... I am almost there I can even see the finish line!!!

Anyway, getting late and need to get to bed. Talk to you tomorrow.

Continuing to feel better

Well it almost the end of another day and I am feeling good. I'm tired but I am feeling good. I almost forgot what it was like to not be nauseated (which is a word I could never spell until now) and have a fever all the time.

I was telling my Mom and Theresa that I didn't need numbers on clock or even hands. I could tell what time it was by how I felt. Nausea before noon, low grade fever by 3pm and a raging fever by 7pm. EVERY DAY!

I had a final surprise in this wonderful Odyssey. I went to my doctors office at 3:40 to get an IV of antibiotics and it took for ever!! When I was in the hospital it took less than 15 minutes and was a relatively small bag. Now the bag is huge and took an hour. No big deal but I didn't get a chance to prepare, like bring something to entertain myself while hanging out for an hour with all the happy old people in the IV Therapy Room. I will be bringing my IPOD tomorrow. I going to try to get a picture as well.

Sorry but these posts are getting less exciting as move farther down the recovery road!!


Talk to you tomorrow!

BACK HOME!!!

Hello everyone!!!

I am finally out of the hospital and home, FOR GOOD!! I am feeling much better. My WBC is 1.00 so things are quickly on the rise.

I am on daily antibiotics for the rest of the week. This is no big deal, I have to go into the doctors office and do a small IV bag every day. Should only take about 1/2 hour a day. Doctor decided to keep my PICC line in, at least until Friday when we will do another CBC test.

My plan is to be back to work next Monday. I don't see why that would not be the case.

All my bruising is healing very nicely, even the blown out IV line.

For some reason the second PICC Line is not bothering me as much as the first one did.

So all in all I am in good shape. I am still tired but no nausea or fever. I don't think I have had a low grade fever since Saturday Morning at it was only just above 99. So the fevers are in the rear view mirror of life. (Profound Huh)

Just to clarify as to what sent me to the ER, it looks like I did not get a secondary infection. My blood culture as of today is still negative. It was , as Theresa indicated a Fever due to my low white count and the cancer cells dying. This was to be expected and I did prepare for the possibility of going to the hospital but it still was a little overwhelming.

I will say getting a transfusion was a creepy experience. It didn't hurt or feel weird. It is just very strange seeing another persons donated blood going into me.

I would say to everyone who reads this, please donate blood to the Red Cross. Over the last 20 years I have donated over 1 gallon of blood. If everyone did that we never have a shortage or someone getting sicker or dying because there was no blood for them. If you have an exotic blood type especially, GET OUT AND DONATE. I have always felt it was important but now I realize you never know when YOU may need it.

OK OFF THE SOAP BOX!!

Check out below:

Its payback for the 18 hours I spent in the ER. 10 of those hours on a steel gurney with a very thin pad. Thank God for the good drugs or It would have been worse.

They gave me the largest room on in the Oncology Ward. Normally this room is for the very very sick cancer patients with lots of family and other visitors. It was nice for a change to have things go my way. As much as I could I did enjoy being in that room. It was quiet and had a great view. The nurses on this floor were very nice and did a great job. They kept telling me I was so easy to take care of because I was low maintenance.

Anyway I guess that's it for now. I am home and I am finally feeling a lot better than I have in weeks!!!

Finally a room and a bed!

Greg spent the night in the ER in isolation. As you might expect, not at all restfull. They had a fire drill 4 different times!! The pts stayed put, but lights flashing and alarms going off. Like a bad nightmare! His fever spiked as well and he got the shakes. About 9 am they moved him into a nice room in a general area. He had some problems w the IV line and when the nurse injected some anti -nausea meds, Greg about started crying it hurt so bad and red lines started traveling up his arm. Well THAT had to come out, and then they put in another PICC line. They moved him again, so now he is in the Oncology unit and getting better care. I guess to make up for the night in the ER, he has a huge room with couches and comfy chairs. His fever spiked again tonight to 101.7 and right now he is on his second bag o' blood for transfusion. His doctor did finally show up after noon and said he probably will be released Sunday. Thanks for all your warm wishes, I passed them on to Greg.
more later-T

Greg in hospital for now

Greg's temp was up to 101.7 when he woke up from his nap. We went to the ER for IV antibiotics at 5pm. Finally got the meds at 8:30. CBC white count down to .25. The ER Dr., told Greg he had to be mistaken when he advised him the WBC was .3 on Tuesday. Well, when the CBC came back, all of a sudden everyone was wearing a mask! They even brought Greg his own private disinfected commode. Sorry no picture of that to post. Anyway, apparently Meridian Park Hospital is very popular, because there are no beds available tonight. Greg will be held in the ER in isolation until a bed opens up. When I left, they had given him some strong narcotics and he was feeling good for a change. More info when i get it. HCL experience according to Theresa tonight

Freedom! Pump is off and PICC Line Off!!!!

NO MORE PUMP!!!!

Not to gross you out but I wanted to show you my PICC line is out but boy did it do a number on my arm!!! OUCH!!!

I am very glad the pump is out and no more medicine going into me. I am praying the nausea disappears.

The big concerns now:

INFECTION
Anemia
INFECTION
Fever (above 101)
INFECTION

Get the picture......

My counts are as follows:
WBC- .30
RBC- 3.55
HGB- 12.50
HCT-35.50
PLT- 60,000

NE# .10

ANC- 30 (or somewhere around that- way low)

I put it on the spreadsheet later.

I feel about the same tonight. Ate more for dinner than last night. Tried to force down some Enure.. I don't know how anyone can stand this stuff!! If it works it works...

I keep taking my temperature to make sure my fever doesn't spike. I will visit the doctor tomorrow to take a shot to boot my WBC. Also he is writing me a prescription for the fevers. He says both should hopefully keep me out of the hospital.. After tomorrows visit he wants me back May 6th for a CBC.

The risk of anemia means a transfusion if I go to the hospital. He wants me to be watch for dizziness as a good sign of anemia.

So its back to wait and see and keep everything clean for awhile.

By the way I just got a mailer for Jury Duty May 16th. I think I have a fairly good excuse. Can you believe it. All this and Jury Duty!!!! Very Funny!!!

Well I think that's it for now!!!

Catch up

Sorry I missed posting yesterday but I have not been feeling good at all. I have been having more nausea, stomach cramps and low grade fever.

Sounds like a shopping list from Hell.. Anyway, the fever came Sunday early afternoon and by 7pm it was about 100.4 which is a low grade fever and not dangerous. The doctor on call told me to not worry and take Tylenol to control the fever. It worked and I was able to get some sleep.

I have been having a little spikes in my temp but nothing like it was yesterday. I cant wait to get this thing out tomorrow. I have only 10.4 mls left., thank GOD!!

I took a very long nap from Noon to 4:pm I felt better afterwards.

Theresa is working on getting me to drink that Ensure stuff. If I wasn't feeling like I want to throw up every five seconds I would be more positive about this stuff but under the circumstances it is making me SICK!!

I know its necessary and I am sure I will be feeling less nauseated once this pump is off. Then eating will be a lot easier.

I also got a little work done. I want to make sure they see me pulling my weight since they were nice enough to let me work from home without taking up sick time and vacation time.

I will post my counts when I get back from the Doctors tomorrow.

See ya then...

Busy Saturday

Well today was a rather business day, which was good.. I got up at 7am and got ready to go help collect bottles and cans for Cameron's Sea Base trip coming up in late June.

He was not able to attend the drive because he is at a re-treat for his Confirmation. The boys voted that it would be OK for me to fill in for him so that he could get credit for attending the fundraiser.

I did what I could. I helped load and unload cans. I tried very hard to not lift anything with my right arm since that arm has the PICC line in it.

I made it until about 11:30am. By then it was getting hot and my legs and stomach were cramping up again real bad. I got a ride home and had a little lunch. I didn't eat very much because my stomach was so upset.

Its weird, I have not had any problems with Nausea until day 4? This may have also been caused by being out side on a hot day.

After I ate lunch I crashed really hard. I slept for 3 hours!! Theresa had to wake me up and drag me into the shower.

I am glad she does because I do feel better after I take a shower. Its just a pain in the butt. By the way she likes my "butt". She said I have girls butt.. I will take that as a positive.

Going out to dinner with my Parents

So after my shower Theresa and I went to dinner with Mom and Dad. I wanted to see them before my treatment was over and I am isolated. I felt a little better than this afternoon but I was not sure how I do at dinner.

We went to a nice place, Manzana in LO. It was not too busy and the food is good. It was also a great evening Awesome weather!!!

I ordered a Tenderloin and mash potatoes.. It looked really good BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I felt like I was going to Puke when I started eating it. I should of taken the Vomit Medicine. Oh well it was nice to visit with them, even though I didn't say hardly anything.

Then we went and had a quick visit at Stephs house. While we were there my legs were still bugging me so I took another Vicodine. After about 20 minutes I felt better.

We talked for awhile or Theresa and Steph talked, I just sat.

After about an hour we left and came home. We changed the sheets on the bed. Now its time to go to sleep.

Day 3- Big Suprise

The Vicodin Smile

So, things have been fairly straight forward until today. I think I mentioned yesterday the slight joint pain I noticed yesterday.

Well, today it was pretty bad (7 out of 10). I have joint pain in right knee to the touch, left knee joint pain(not as bad) bad cramping in both legs and stomach cramps.

I really was not expecting to have these side effects. I really didn't even know these were side effects. I googled 2cda at work and saw that joint pain does happen and to call my doctor. So that's what I did (MOM).

He gave a perscription for Vicodin. I guess its because I cant take aspirin due to low platelets. As you can see above, after dinner I went up to bed doubled over. Theresa gave me one pill and it seems to be working by my smiling face.

I hope this goes away. I am prepared for fevers not leg pains. I hate leg pains. But I am a big whimp!!!

I would say in about 1/2 hour I wont even be able to type. I will be loopy!!

Hopefully this is it with side effects.

I really appreciate the flowers I got today!!!! It made me smile real big when I got home..

Thanks,
Greg

Another Day Down

Hey everyone:

To keep it simple, I am not feeling well. I am feeling run down, kind of like when you start getting the flu or a bad cold. No I don't have an infection. I am just being descriptive. Theresa hates it when I just say I am feeling crappy!! BUT I AM!!

Just barely made it through work today. I get very tired by 2pm last the couple of days,weeks,months!! Cant wait to feel my own age....

I had another shower, not very fun. My hair is gross!!

I am down to 57.5ml. Slowly but Shirley the hairys are dying!!!!

Talk you all tomorrow. One more day of work , its getting very hard to get up and drive to and from work but I still have a lot to get done before next week.

Good night and thanks again for calling and checking on me!!!

By the way, (Don't tell her) but Theresa could use some support too.. It has been a hard week for her having to work and take care of me and the boys. She needs a break when this is over. I am very lucky!!!

Day 1

Well first full day my treatment is done. I have 69.7ml of 2cda to go!! I did great at work. No issues and everyone was very nice.

I even went to see Aaron at track after work. He did long jump, relay and 50 yard dash. He ran great!!

So far no fever or symptoms. Keep your fingers crossed. I am a little tired to night however.

Big achievement I took a shower. It made me feel better but what a pain in the butt! I had wrap my arm in plastic and tape it down. My caring wife held the pump outside the shower while I did my business. (WASH!!)

Now I am in bed trying to rest. I did not sleep very well last night. I was so worried about rolling over on the pump or pulling my PICC line out and I could not get comfortable. I am sure I will get more comfortable as time goes on.

I appreciate the phone calls it makes me feel good to have people checking in on me.

Thanks again and I will see you tomorrow.

Beginning of the slow drip!!

As you can see I got my PICC line in yesterday. The nurse had to stick me in the arm, then string a catheter with a stiff wire up the vein in my arm and stop just above my Superior Vena Cava which is your main vein that goes into your heart. The reason to push the catheter so far up is to make sure the drug mixes the maximum amount of blood as possible and to keep my veins from getting damaged by the Chemo Drug.

The fashionable black pack attached to my hip is the IV pump. Sexy, isn't it!! I have a tube running from PICC Line and into the pump. It runs down the side of my body so that I can hide it with my shirt. The rest of the tubing is wrapped around the pump for storage. I have enough tubing to position the pump any way I need to, just in case.

The pump flows .5ml per hour. I have 84 ml of Cladribine (2cda) to go through by Tuesday. It is set to flow slowly which means I shouldn't really feel any different until this weekend.

I have VOMIT pills just in case!! I don't think I will need them.

The biggest pain in the butt is making sure the PICC line hole isn't bleeding. If it does I have to go to the hospital or the office to have the bandage changed. Two hours after I had it in last night I had to back to the hospital because I was bleeding like a stuck pig!!

No worries so far though. They made the pump idiot proof, by disabling all the buttons except the on/off button. I don't need to change the cartridge either. Pretty darn simple!!

Weekend Update

Well:

Didn't do much much on Saturday. I finally put moss killer on my grass and got it down just before it started raining. I really need to get yard work done. My grass looks awful. The front looks pretty good though.

After that we did some house cleaning. Theresa is getting the house GERM FREE, in preparation for my treatment. We already discussed with the boys the importance of washing hands and staying clear from me after I finish my Chemo. They are willing to do what they can for me. My mom offered to take the dog off my hands but I don't think that is necessary. It would just make me miss him!

Went out to dinner at 5:30pm last night. We were looking forward to going to a sports bar we have never been to but it turned out to be a smokers heaven!! I about threw up when we went in. It was not at all like its description on its website. SURPRISE!!

So we had a drink and moved to another place and had a nice dinner. I ate half a hamburger. Pathetic isn't it. I am truly a BIRD BELLY!!! It was nice to get out of the house and visit with friends however.

On Sunday, we went to church. I came home from church, took a nap for 2 hours and then went out delivering flyers for Cams POP CAN drive for Sea Base. We need to do another one tomorrow night also. Unfortunately, the next two weeks are fairly busy for Boy Scouts, figures right!

Got home from that about 45 minuets ago. I thought I had a scratchy eye and is kind of itchy. I had Theresa look at it and guess what I have big old BLACK EYE!! Where the Hell did that come from???? I didn't hit myself, unless I did it in my sleep... which was the only time I didn't have my glasses on. Very very strange... I going to take a picture of it and post this and other weird things I notice, just so everyone doesn't think I am losing it or becoming a hypochondriac.

Check it out below:

So there you have it! The unbelievably exciting weekend of GREG before he goes on Chemo.

Living life on the edge just in case!!!!

Yeah, NOT

Well that's about it for now. I will let you know how the things go tomorrow at Hospital when they put in the IV line. By the way, Theresa is going with me to the doctors on Tuesday. It will be helpful to have a second pair of ears. I don't want to screw anything up.

Talk to you tomorrow.

New Counts and Treatment Plan

I had my visit with Dr. Chang. After getting my labs he and I agreed that its time for treatment. He decided to put me on the 7 day continuous infusion of 2cda.

So Monday I go and get my IV line put in. Then Tuesday at 3pm I get my pump and start my treatment. This way I can go to work for the rest of week. As a precaution I am scheduled to work from home for 2 weeks once my treatment is over. That should be 4-15. My boss agreed that this was a good idea. The company has been very supportive and understanding!

Unfortunately, now I will need to explain to everyone at work why I am carrying a IV Pump at my side. Oh well, it will all be over soon. I am crossing my fingers everything goes well.

I will update everyone throughout the week. I really cant wait to start feeling better!

Talk to you soon.

Tuesday is Consultation Day

Well I met with Dr. Thomas Deloughery at Oregon Health & Science University today.

He told me has seen 10 HCL patients to date. Nine more than my current Dr. which made me feel good.

He looked at my counts and told me he feels I should be treated right away with Cladribine using the 5 day infusion therapy. That is an IV two hours a day for 5 days. I believe I can do it in the doctors office.

After that, it two weeks at home to recover and provided I don't have any side effects like a high fever, I should be good to go for about 5 to 10 years!! Not bad.

He has a complete opposite view of my current doctor but then again he has more experience. He also told me that after the therapy he sees no reason to do another Bone Marrow Biopsy, which I have read is done after treatment to verify all the Hairy Cells are gone. In his opinion, what provides verification that the treatment worked is the increase in my Blood Count.

By the way, right before he saw me he met with another HCL patient. He said he should have done introductions. He also said HCL was an interesting disease and intrigued him. (I think that was a sales pitch)

He will send his notes to my current doctor and recommend beyond a shadow of doubt that I get Chemo right away. I guess, be careful what you wish for.. But It gives me two months to recover fully so that I can have good time in Florida with Cam, which at this point is the most important thing.

Also, my energy should come right back and I get back to a "Normal Life"..

I see see current doctor this Thursday for a CBC test. It will be interesting to see what where I am. By how I am feeling I should be lower than I was when they did my BMB.

So, that is about it for today. I think its going to be a long April but worth it in the end. Keep your finger and toes crossed!!