His numbers are going as expected. Hemoglobin continues to hover around 82-84. No transfusion necessary yet.
His platelets are getting low.....65.... expected.
And, his white blood count is 2.8. This is expected as well.
Not sure when they will give him blood to compensate for this. I'm dragging my behind this morning as I know I'll be there tonight with my husband for that Midnight countdown. Wouldn't miss being with him for the world.
Looking forward to spending New Year's Eve at the hospital.
Stay safe everyone.
Don't drink and drive.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
No changes
These past two days have been the same. He is doing great. Numbers are beginning to go down, which is expected, with Thursday being his lowest and afterwards climbing to normal. Will still be in hospital for about another 10-12 days.
Only issue is constipation. Hospital food and chemo has that effect on people :(
Although we have been bringing him food. Steroids is giving him an appetite, so he eats both.
And yes, we've tried everything.
One thing left to try......but he says not yet.
Hope it happens overnight.
Need your prayers for something a little different tonight. LOL
Only issue is constipation. Hospital food and chemo has that effect on people :(
Although we have been bringing him food. Steroids is giving him an appetite, so he eats both.
And yes, we've tried everything.
One thing left to try......but he says not yet.
Hope it happens overnight.
Need your prayers for something a little different tonight. LOL
Friday, December 27, 2013
December 27, 2013 - 11:15am Happy Birthday Tony!
Stem Cell Transplant Day.
The day we've been waiting for. Months and months of waiting for this day.
Humber River Hospital used to say "our job is to get you all ready for transplant day. That's the goal".
But, the many hurtles we faced delayed this day.
But it came!
My brother came with me to the hospital. I was glad to have company for the drive down, as well as during the procedure. Didn't think I did, but I did.
They had given him pre-meds about one hour before. Steroids and benedryl.
Also gave him anti nausea.
The nurse, before they began, explained that he would feel a funny taste in his mouth and a tickle, perhaps making him cough. So they gave him a breath mint. She said he might feel tingly and something with his abdominal area. Tony's face was so red before. She said it was the steroids. I think he was anxious. We all were. This took place in his regular hospital bed. I watched the lab technician who brought it over open the container where it was held frozen. All that was missing was the music like when you watch futuristic movies. I just felt like a miracle was about to happen. It was in a steel framed container about the size of 4" x 8" and about 1/2" thick. Both the technician and nurse kept checking the code numbers and spelling his name, checking and double checking they had the right patient and right stem cells. At one point, the technician spelled his name T.O.N.I. nope......repeat again. Perhaps they were nervous too. She took the pouch out of the steel container and put it in a water solution, temperature controlled to thaw out the stem cells. That took a couple of minutes. Didn't take long at all. You need about 2 million cells in order for this to take effect and Tony had 8 million. Oh, and they said that Tony would be emitting an odour that smelled like corn. It had to do with the additives to the collection of cells. But seeing that his sample was 8 million, he probably didn't need too much of this solution. I never did smell the odour during the day. Perhaps that's why? Don't know.
Then the technician gave the pouch to the nurse. Again, they checked the name and codes. All good. She hooked him up to the IV and began. They also said that his blood pressure would drop during this. And it did. He started at 153 and after about 2 minutes it had dropped to 133. She kept taking his blood pressure and temperature. The giving back of his stem cells took about 4-5 minutes. He did cough during this and the nurse pointed it out to him. He did feel the tickle weird feeling in his throat. She said it was his body reacting to the stem cells going through him.
WOW.
Cannot believe this day has finally come.
Appetite still good. Gout is gone. Nurses say tomorrow or Sunday appetite will diminish. For now, he is eating and loving food. As the days pass, his condition will be worse and the effects of chemo will appear. Five more days and he will be at his worst.
He has been so brave and courageous during this entire journey. So proud of him.
Happy Birthday Tony!
The day we've been waiting for. Months and months of waiting for this day.
Humber River Hospital used to say "our job is to get you all ready for transplant day. That's the goal".
But, the many hurtles we faced delayed this day.
But it came!
My brother came with me to the hospital. I was glad to have company for the drive down, as well as during the procedure. Didn't think I did, but I did.
They had given him pre-meds about one hour before. Steroids and benedryl.
Also gave him anti nausea.
The nurse, before they began, explained that he would feel a funny taste in his mouth and a tickle, perhaps making him cough. So they gave him a breath mint. She said he might feel tingly and something with his abdominal area. Tony's face was so red before. She said it was the steroids. I think he was anxious. We all were. This took place in his regular hospital bed. I watched the lab technician who brought it over open the container where it was held frozen. All that was missing was the music like when you watch futuristic movies. I just felt like a miracle was about to happen. It was in a steel framed container about the size of 4" x 8" and about 1/2" thick. Both the technician and nurse kept checking the code numbers and spelling his name, checking and double checking they had the right patient and right stem cells. At one point, the technician spelled his name T.O.N.I. nope......repeat again. Perhaps they were nervous too. She took the pouch out of the steel container and put it in a water solution, temperature controlled to thaw out the stem cells. That took a couple of minutes. Didn't take long at all. You need about 2 million cells in order for this to take effect and Tony had 8 million. Oh, and they said that Tony would be emitting an odour that smelled like corn. It had to do with the additives to the collection of cells. But seeing that his sample was 8 million, he probably didn't need too much of this solution. I never did smell the odour during the day. Perhaps that's why? Don't know.
Then the technician gave the pouch to the nurse. Again, they checked the name and codes. All good. She hooked him up to the IV and began. They also said that his blood pressure would drop during this. And it did. He started at 153 and after about 2 minutes it had dropped to 133. She kept taking his blood pressure and temperature. The giving back of his stem cells took about 4-5 minutes. He did cough during this and the nurse pointed it out to him. He did feel the tickle weird feeling in his throat. She said it was his body reacting to the stem cells going through him.
WOW.
Cannot believe this day has finally come.
Appetite still good. Gout is gone. Nurses say tomorrow or Sunday appetite will diminish. For now, he is eating and loving food. As the days pass, his condition will be worse and the effects of chemo will appear. Five more days and he will be at his worst.
He has been so brave and courageous during this entire journey. So proud of him.
Happy Birthday Tony!
Thursday, December 26, 2013
They call today, "zero minus 1 day"
Today, he received his chemo (Mephlan).
Before they gave it to him, they had him started on hydration through his IV around 5am. Also, one hour before the chemo, he was told to chew on ice chips to shrink up his blood vessels. This chemo destroys the lining of the mouth and throat. Chewing on the ice chips helps. Can't remember the name of the condition this causes. I'm getting bad at remembering new medical terms! Not like me. As well, he received steroids. Anyways, the chemo ran for 30 minutes. Didn't feel a thing. All day, no real reaction to this. Yet. Still has his appetite and taste for now. His roommate was going to leave this Friday. He has the same thing. But, today, his roommate developed diarrhea and the beginning of pneumonia......Gosh, this better not happen to Tony. It may, but it better not! Must remember to encourage walking alot during his stay.
Oh, and I forgot!!!!!!! Holy cow. Prior to Christmas Day, he indulged in beef and pork jerky. Well, the nag that I am kept saying it wasn't good for his gout. But, no, did he listen to me? Oh, and then for Christmas Eve dinner, we eat fish.....and my contribution was crab legs and his mom cooked shrimp. All excellent contributors to gout. So, Christmas day morning, he was beginning to feel the gout pains. Didn't tell me. This morning when I saw him, he couldn't walk. LOL So he confessed to me. Poor Tony. And me! I was so careful in food selections for his gout over the last several weeks, that I totally forgot about the fish. Fortunately, they weren't concerned about it effecting the chemo and transplant. By this afternoon, he was already feeling much better. Whew!
Tomorrow will be transplant day.
Tomorrow will be "zero" day.
Tomorrow will be his new birthday. December 27, 2013 at 11am. At least that's what all the Multiple Myeloma bloggers write. So I guess tomorrow's blog will be titled Happy Birthday to Tony.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas Everyone!
After months and months and months and months, this day has finally come!
Let me begin by saying that this is the first Christmas without my mom. Felt strange all day long. My morning was very difficult. Happy/nervous for Tony and a tremendous sadness of missing my mom today. Very emotional. I was gifted an angel ornament with my mom's name on it. Today I began a tradition. Wherever my brother and I are for Christmas, together, this angel ornament follows us. It was a touching moment with my brother putting this angel on his tree today. (sniffle sniffle)
Now, back to Tony. He was quiet and tired all day today. In fact, after a huge Italian meal, he fell asleep on the couch and slept with lots of Christmas noise all around him. Before we all departed our separate ways, we took a family photo by the tree.
We left my brother's house after 6pm to check in to the hospital. My son joined us, which was nice. I needed company on the drive home. (roads were really bad) We checked in with the nurse. They gave us a tour of the place. It was so warm, inviting and friendly. A great staff! They took his blood and did vital signs. His blood pressure was 173 over something.....that's high. He blamed it on the walking tour of the ward. (He had stopped taking high blood pressure pills because of his weight loss. It had become more normal). The doctor then came in and explained what would be happening in the next few days. Did a physical as well. After a while of lying in the bed, they took his blood pressure again. 150 over something. Better.
What's in store for the next two days:
At 5:30am they will begin hydration through IV.
At 11am they will give him his chemo dosage through IV. That runs for 30 minutes. (Can't remember the chemo name)
Friday, they do the transplant. Which is basically giving him back his own stem cells to help recover from the chemo. This is given back to him through the IV.
Chemo effects will begin after 7 days of getting it.
I shall keep my followers posted.
Good night everyone!
Hope your Christmas this year was a memorable one.
Let me begin by saying that this is the first Christmas without my mom. Felt strange all day long. My morning was very difficult. Happy/nervous for Tony and a tremendous sadness of missing my mom today. Very emotional. I was gifted an angel ornament with my mom's name on it. Today I began a tradition. Wherever my brother and I are for Christmas, together, this angel ornament follows us. It was a touching moment with my brother putting this angel on his tree today. (sniffle sniffle)
Now, back to Tony. He was quiet and tired all day today. In fact, after a huge Italian meal, he fell asleep on the couch and slept with lots of Christmas noise all around him. Before we all departed our separate ways, we took a family photo by the tree.
We left my brother's house after 6pm to check in to the hospital. My son joined us, which was nice. I needed company on the drive home. (roads were really bad) We checked in with the nurse. They gave us a tour of the place. It was so warm, inviting and friendly. A great staff! They took his blood and did vital signs. His blood pressure was 173 over something.....that's high. He blamed it on the walking tour of the ward. (He had stopped taking high blood pressure pills because of his weight loss. It had become more normal). The doctor then came in and explained what would be happening in the next few days. Did a physical as well. After a while of lying in the bed, they took his blood pressure again. 150 over something. Better.
What's in store for the next two days:
At 5:30am they will begin hydration through IV.
At 11am they will give him his chemo dosage through IV. That runs for 30 minutes. (Can't remember the chemo name)
Friday, they do the transplant. Which is basically giving him back his own stem cells to help recover from the chemo. This is given back to him through the IV.
Chemo effects will begin after 7 days of getting it.
I shall keep my followers posted.
Good night everyone!
Hope your Christmas this year was a memorable one.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
We got the call !!!!!
The hospital called today at 1pm to say a bed is now available.
On Christmas Eve.
The best present ever.
On Christmas Eve.
Good news is that they asked if we celebrated Christmas and it would be ok with them if he checked in by 8pm on Wednesday, Christmas Day. If he went in today, all they would do is hydrate him. They said it could wait till tomorrow......WOOHOO!!!!
The best news ever AND we get to enjoy family time tonight and tomorrow.
So, after Christmas lunch tomorrow, off we go to check him in at the Hospital.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and best wishes during this holiday season. Everyone has just been wonderful. And, my mom, for watching over Tony from Heaven.
This ice storm has put out many people. Many continue to be without power during these holidays. My heart goes out to them.
God bless you all during these festive holiday times.
Merry Christmas everyone.
On Christmas Eve.
The best present ever.
On Christmas Eve.
Good news is that they asked if we celebrated Christmas and it would be ok with them if he checked in by 8pm on Wednesday, Christmas Day. If he went in today, all they would do is hydrate him. They said it could wait till tomorrow......WOOHOO!!!!
The best news ever AND we get to enjoy family time tonight and tomorrow.
So, after Christmas lunch tomorrow, off we go to check him in at the Hospital.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and best wishes during this holiday season. Everyone has just been wonderful. And, my mom, for watching over Tony from Heaven.
This ice storm has put out many people. Many continue to be without power during these holidays. My heart goes out to them.
God bless you all during these festive holiday times.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Still waiting
No phone calls all weekend long.
Trust me, all phones are close to us and we are just waiting.
I shall phone PMH in the morning.
Trust me, all phones are close to us and we are just waiting.
I shall phone PMH in the morning.
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