Before the War

There is not much going on.  I had my chest CT scan last week, and no news is good news - or no one has looked at it. I am back again on the 5th for an Ultrasound of the gut again, and then again on the 14th for Eye, Dental, and LBMT follow up appointments. I have a nasty cold right now, and the coughing has returned in full force, but still no fever, and I am doing as well as I expect with a nasty cold, so I am leaving it at that. I will be going in for my bi-weekly bloodwork tomorrow or Thursday.  The results from the last one were below average, but still "Up" from my last one. Next up is Christmas, Boxing Day, the "Lull" week, and then New Years.  That's when my deductibles reset, so I am looking forward to no new drugs ;)

I went for my Ultrasound on my Neck, Arm, and Abdomen (Liver, Kidney, etc) today. There was some clotting in the Neck still, but that's to be expected, and will be probably followed up on later. Unfortunately, the Liver showed more spots similar to when they first found them in the liver.  This could mean that the last ultrasound (which showed much fewer spots) didn't work properly, or the fungal infection has returned, or, most likely, it is as a result of scarring from the healing from the fungal infection. As long as I have no symptoms of liver distress, and the blood tests are fine, everything is going to continue as it has been with the anti-fungal drugs, etc. If I get a fever, jaundice, abdomen pain, etc, then I will be hauled back into LBMT. I have a lung CT scan next week, so there will be extra info from that. I will have another Ultrasound early in January.

Day 36 - Thursday Ok, so today was another decision day.  Would the stat's be stabilized or would I get a transfusion ? Determined to be going home no matter what, I had checked out of the Lodge at 9am, and my luggage was down at the reception.  I was still there until around 12:30 when I said my goodbyes to some of the other inmates, and left for my 1pm appointment.   W 3.7 / N 1.7 / H 100 / P 60 All Up with last transfusion on Sunday. So, they start consulting if they should remove my Hickman line or not.  Just after 3pm, the decision comes down that they will remove it. At this point I feel it looks good that I will be able to have my next appointment be a week away, or at least until Monday, thus giving me the weekend. Around 3:15, Dr. Teshpar comes in to remove my Hickman line.  Most of the female doctors are more compassionate, but have a lot of difficulty when it comes to the "Causing Pain" stuff like biopsies, etc. Dr. Teshpar was not hap...

No stats today because I wasn't at LBMT. I did however have a CT scan of the noggin because I have been having some short headaches since a few days after the lumbar puncture. I mentioned it to the doc and off to ct scan I went. It obviously wasn't very bad since the didn't rush me off to surgery. Or perhaps they didn't get around to looking at it ;) I am checking out tomorrow come hell or high water. When I have to come back will depend on tomorrow's numbers. Sorry for the bad formatting - I am typing this before bed on my cell phone.

W 2.4 / N 1.3 / H 93 / P 52 Eye scan good. Numbers are not moving up. In for a CT Scan tomorrow and back for bloodwork and possible transfusion on Thursday. Still not on the weekly schedule, but maybe Thursday will go better,and show some promise. Still thinking of checking out tomorrow if the ct goes good since my Thursday appointment is not until 2pm. I might still get caught waiting for drugs to wear off before I can drive, but I can hang out at the lodge for a few hours then head home.

Day 30 Don't have the numbers handy, but Whites & Neutrophils were not down at least.  Platelets had dropped below 50, so I got a transfusion.  Hemoglobin was still holding, so no blood. Diner was "Seafood Chow Mein", and that sounded disgusting enough for me to have a quick snooze off of the transfusion pre-meds, and drive through rush hour to spend the night home ! Day 31 No appointments today, so I get to be at home for the whole day, and night ! I did my daily exercise by going grocery shopping - Sonja hates it, especially with both boys, and I find it calming. Sonja had a "Girls Craft Night" planned, and Gram and Papa were coming out to watch the boys on Saturday Night.  I still only have about 2-3 hours endurance at anything, so they still came out.  We all watched "Up".  Good Movie. Day 32 Up early for a 9am appointment, but both boys woke up before I left so I was able to give big hugs and goodbyes.  Traffic was nice and ligh...

Wasn't in the LBMT unit today, so I have no idea what my numbers are. Yay ! Sonja's Uncle Len popped by today to break me out.  Through elite VPD timing, I was able to bust out and leap into his jeep before anyone new what happened. Got to enjoy a Starbucks Hot chocolate, and a fresh air walk around Spanish Banks.  No rain, clear air, and no damn traffic.  Thanks Len !. I managed to sneek back in during the lunch time confusion, and the warden was none the wiser. I had to crash in the afternoon, as I just couldn't keep my eyes open.  Normally they wind up giving me sleepy drugs in the morning, and after sleeping through the morning at LBMT, I have enough go juice to make it through an afternoon. No drugs, no sleep, crashed. We'll see what tomorrow brings.  Hopefully my levels will have stabilized, and they will let me go another few days.  I might even be able to sneak home for the weekend, but we will have to wait and see.  Monday and T...

W 2.0 / H 0.9 / H 94 / P 64 Rushed in for 8am, got my blood taken, and secured a bed for the lumbar puncture later.  Then I rushed of to the Eye Center so they could look into my eye in detail.  The resident basically did the exact same thing the on-call resident did at the ER, and came to the same conclusion.  He had a confab with the Attending, and he had a look at it, and confirmed the theory.  There are some small hemorrhages on the retina and the big one, that I can see. Next step will be an eye imaging on Tuesday with a funky dye in the blood stream to see if it's a flow blockage vs a flow leak.  Then a follow up appointment a week later. Then, back to LBMT to get my Micafungin IV, Fluids, etc. Since my Hemo and Plates were good, I managed to get away without a transfusion, but still had to wait around for the fluids to finish, and then for the lumbar puncture. They gave me 2 Adavan pills to mellow me out.  I don't have a problem with needles...

W 2.7 / N 1.8 / H 85 / P 42 I had an Ultrasound appointment at 2pm, so nothing but a piece of dry toast and clear fluids until it was over. I was in early at 8:30 to get my IV meds, fluids, and another bag of platelets.  That wrapped up around 11:30, and then headed over to the Heart Center to have my portable EKG monitor removed. Just after 12:00 that was done, so I went back to the Lodge, dropped off my computer to lighten my load, crashed for a few minutes, and then headed back to VGH for my CT Scan at 1pm. That was done by about 1:10pm, so I waited around at Ultrasound for my 2pm.  They got me in early, and were done by about 2:45.  Back to the lodge, ate a pizza pocket from my private freezer stock, then went up to the "Den" and fell asleep in front of the TV until just before dinner. Tomorrow, they want me in a 8:00 to get my blood work collected, then rush me off to the Eye Center to have my eye scanned, then back to LBMT to get my meds, fluids, platelet...

Sorry for the lack of updates.  It's been quite a weekend. Sat 24th - W 2.0 / N 1.2 / H 90? / P 19 Got platelets.  Since I was feeling good enough, Sonja and the Boys picked me up in the afternoon, and I spent the evening and morning at home. It was great to be back home for a night.  I needed the refresher. I was not given a shot of GCSF as planned from the previous day since my whites were going up. Sun 25th - W 1.7 / N 0.7 / H 90? / P 34 No platelets, and the Hemoglobin seems to be holding. My whites went down though, so there is some concern, and they shoot me up with another injection of GCSF Sunday afternoon while working on the computer, I started to notice a problem looking at the screen.  After trying different things, I work out that I have a grey blotch in my left eye view, just left of center in my field of view.  My brain is working out what should be there by using the right eye's view, but if I close my right eye, it's pretty apparent. ...

W 1.0 / N 0.5 / H 94 / P 36 So, there is this alarm that goes off in the area behind the lodge.  It's either from a car, or from a building in the strip mall that backs on to us.  It manages to go of at really bad times during the night, and has become a topic of discussion around here since there is not much else to talk about except pain and discomfort. Last night it went off just before my alarm at 6:30.  I had been tossing and turning for a few hours anyway, so I had enough energy to get up, put on pants and shoes and go out on the balcony to investigate. It would give me something to talk about over breakfast. There was only one car in the lot at the time, so we have a suspect, but it still sounded like it was coming from one of the stores.  Further investigation will be required.  Once the culprit is identified, it's hard to say what a bunch of angry depressed cancer patients with an axe to grind, and a balcony view of the target will do. Glad it...

W 0.4 / N 0 / H 94 / P 28 As expected, another bag of platelets. The white count doubled again, but still well within the level to indicate nothing. Tired.  Still a bit "Drunk" when I move around, but they think adding the extra fluid IV will fix that, or at least give them something to try until it goes away or gets worse.

W 0.1 / N 0 / H 80 / P 32 So, I was feeling pretty bagged walking to VGH this morning.  There was an ant going faster then me by the time I made it to the top of the incline.  I knew hemoglobin would be coming, and the fungus is probably making a comeback and reducing my lung capacity. Beverly got the special approval forms ready for Dr. Z to fill out, and once he completes the required steps, I can up the GCSF shots at a special pharmacy just a few blocks away. Made it out just after 2pm, and was out of it for most of the afternoon.  Just fatigue, and arse pain.  The goatee wiskers started coming out last week, and the rest is heading out now.  Eyebrows (sorry babe), eyelashes, head, face, body, etc.  Should be almost a complete wipe out this time, I figure. I took some pictures of my room, but I am too wasted to try and bother getting off my phone right now.  I wasn't even going to bother posting, but that would just mean I would have to do...

W 0.1 / N 0 / H 84 / P 24 I figured I would need some platelets, and I was right.  Probably even some tomorrow. I asked to see my social worker at the hospital, Beverly, if she was around.  I wanted to talk to her about what paths might be available to get this medication. She was not available while I was there, but she did call me later, and yes, there is a solution to have this covered, and she has been telling them at the LBMT over and over but nobody listens. So I will see her tomorrow, go through the hoops, and get the drug approved and filled.  I will give back the due, and any leftovers so they have it to give to the next brave soul that decides to say No. Also, to anyone who cares, and might wind up in this situation, and might even read this blog - once you hit 100% coverage under Fair Pharmacare, it means 100% coverage.  There is no Partial coverage - it's all or nothing once you hit that limit. The pharmacies seem to like to tack on a little ...

W 0.1 / N 0 / Hem 82 / P 19 Got the second bag of red, and a bag of platelets today.  Not much else going on. Got the shot, and didn't have to beg since it was the same nurse as before, and she already knew the details. She did mention that there were programs available to help. I will try and speak with the hospital social worker on Monday.

W 0.1 / N 0 / H 74 / P 14 Yikes, Big Drop !  Too much exercise ;) Got a bag of platelets today, and one bag of blood, since there was not enough time to squeeze in the second. The kids were at Gran and Papa's last night (Thank You !), so Sonja was able to spend the night at the lodge since the space was available now that my roommate is out in another room. We went up to the mall to get some diner for Sonja, and then headed back to the room.  A little tour of the place, and a meet and greet with the guests I am familiar with, and then back to the room to eat and relax (the low hemoglobin was hitting me).  I managed to download the episode of The Office we both missed, and we watched that, and turned in for the night. Sonja got to experience the cafeteria food this morning, but much to my dismay they managed to cook up the rare provision of hash-browns pretty good today.  Now it seems I am being too picky.  Prison food probably tastes pretty good on th...

W 0.1 / N 0 / H 90 / P 32 Over the cutoffs today, so no transfusions.  Probably platelets tomorrow though. The GCSF injection (see yesterdays post) turns out to be not covered by "FairPharmacare", and is not provided unless you are an "In Patient" in the hospital. Dr. Z gave me a prescription for it, as he has to, to follow policy, but said that it would not be covered, but that extended medical would should cover it. Well, that's all fine and dandy, but even with extended medical, it's only 80% coverage, and the drug is $3200, and they "Get Around" to sending you the cheque.  I am on welfare, so where is $640 for the deductible going to come from ?  We're already borrowing money so I can stay at the lodge.  Heck, I still still owe money for property taxes ! So,  I said "No.  There is no way that can happen, so they are just going to have to worry about paying for all the drugs for fixing my liver later.  Maybe I need to be talk...

W 0.1 / N 0 / H 92 / P 27 I got platelets today, and they were a long time in coming.  Marty is has been on my nurse shift for a few days, and she had the foresight to get my blood match ready the day before, so it was a lot quicker then it could have been. My liver has started to show signs of being pissed off with the fungal infection, so they have decided to give me GCSF injection for the next five days. It's a hormone that will try and kick my production of white cells into high gear, so they can start fighting the fungus.  The only anticipated side effects are bone and muscle pain. Other then that, not a bad day.  Tomorrow is Friday.  The 13th.. I wonder what that will bring ;)

W 0.1 / N 0 / H 94 / P 35 Hemoglobin and Platelets were over the cutoff, so I didn't need any products today.  Only the Micafungin anti-fungal IV drip, so I was out within 2 hours. Not much going on today.  I will probably venture out later to pick up a razor and shaving cream as my hair has started to come out. Ass is sore, but stable.

W 0.1 / N 0 / H 94 / P 27 The nurse didn't think I would need platelets today, but I thought different.  Unfortunately I was correct. It was well concentrated, and she let it flow quick, so it only took about 45 minutes, and I was able to get out of there and back to the lodge around 11. Still had to get the premeds though, so I crashed once I got back.

Sunday - W 0.1, Neu 0, Hemo 89, Plat 34 So the Hemoglobin went UP today.  WTF ?  "It happens" is the best explanation.  That's the safe way to say "We're really just winging it here as far as the symptoms".  Either way, it means I didn't need to get any transfusions.  Sonja and the Boys arrived just after 2pm to pick me up.  We stopped off at a Rogers Video on the way so I could pick up some videos for me, and then at the Mall in Richmond so Sonja could check into a sale to see if we could get the boys their Christmas outfits.  No luck. We made it out to GranDan's around 3.  Had a bunch of fun with the boys, and got to enjoy Dexter having a fit trying to creatively get to every phone in the place.  GranDan got us Chinese food for dinner, and I think it was good.  My tastebuds are shot, but the rice and chowmein went down nicely. We packed up and headed out just after 7, they dropped me off around 8, I gave a big hug to AJ and So...

Ass hurts.  Still a ways to go before it is as bad as last time though. My transfusion of platelets didn't push me over the mark, so I got another bag today.  Hopefully tomorrow there will be no top ups, since Sonja and the Boys are coming to pick me up for a visit/dinner out at GranDan's. I left the numbers up in my room, and I am posting this from the downstairs common room, but basicly it was nothing for white/neutrophils, down a point for red, and 28 for platelets. and the beat goes on.

Again, not feeling too bad. The 'roids are starting to develop, so they are going to preemptively add a intestinal antibiotic to my cocktail to prevent anything sneaking in from that. They started me right off with platelets, which was good because the count was only 21, and then followed up with a bag of hemoglobin. They didn't give me the second bag, since my count came back 3 points higher at 88.  Chances are someone/thing miscounted in the lab either yesterday or today, because I didn't get 3 points from my marrow.  Maybe aliens. The pre-meds (to prevent a reaction to the transfusion) hit me pretty hard today, and I was sleeping most of the stay. I may get the second bag tomorrow or Sunday. My roommate Don is out for the weekend in another room with his wife, so as long as no new sickie shows up I will probably have the weekend to myself. Chances are they will keep Don where he is so I will probably have a new roommate Monday. In tomorrow bright and ear...

So, this morning was the CT scan.  I ate my piece of dry toast for breakfast on my way to VGH.  CT scan was quick (about 5 minutes) and on time. Then I headed back to the lodge, had my shower and got ready for the day.  Back to contacts today now that the chemo is 48 hours over - I hate wearing glasses, especially in the rain. Setup in the 'Den' and tried to get some computer work done and keep my mind off my growling gut. Headed over for my ultrasound (late and long), and then up to the day unit for my IV Antifungal, Fluids, and Bloodwork. And Food - A Yummy meal replacement bar, a bag of sunchips.  My tastebuds are definitely gone now. CT Scan results were good, and the fungal infection is going down in the lungs, but the Ultrasound shows no change in the liver.  This is not unusual.  Things are not worse, and that is the key.  The bummer is that I will be daily at VGH for some time to come (weeks).  I was hoping for a day off this wee...

Nothing much going on.  Side effects are starting to develop, but still not bothering me much.  Tastebuds, crapper, etc. The fatigue is hitting pretty hard, and I can't stay awake for more then a few hours.  The bonus is that it makes the days go by quicker. I was hoping to maybe go home for a visit this weekend, but after talking to the doctor today, they will not be stopping the IV Anti-fungal no matter what the results of the tests tomorrow are.  So, in every day for some time to come. White/Neut cells are gone, Red was a 86, and Platelets at 29, so I got a transfusion this afternoon. CT scan bright and early tomorrow at 7:50, then ultrasound at 1pm, then up for IV at 2:30. Nothing but clear liquids after midnight tonight until after the ultrasound, but I can't eat after 2pm for one of my pills, so I will have a narrow window between ultrasound and LBMT to get a meal bar into me. Since it is a afternoon ultrasound, I am allowed a piece of dry toast in ...

So, my ECG yesterday was OK, so I can go ahead and take the pills that have an effect on it.  My ticker hasn't freaked out in a few days now, but I am still getting fitted for the halter monitor next week. The intestinal lining is starting to go, so I need to keep near a crapper.  Taste buds are heading out.  Tired and hard to focus on things. The Cough is starting to go away, so that's a good thing. Counts today are White 0.3, Neut 0, Hem 95, Plat 41. Judging from the platelet drop I probably will be getting platelets tomorrow.

Day 6, last day of chemo. Hopefully the LAST day of chemo ever. I felt pretty good this morning, and didn't need to take a gravol to keep the puke back. Some eggs and hashbrowns as usual, and then off to VGH for 9:30 I am still under isolation there, but not for tomorrow.  White and Neutrophil count is still hanging at around 1, but should be gone in a day or two. Platelets were around 70, and Hemeglobin was 82, so they decided to give me some red cells since the fungal infection is still zapping my lung function. I also had an ECG today to make sure everything is ok with the ticker before I start the next round of after chemo drugs (some of which can affect it). That pushed my "visit" until just after 4.  - This is one of the main reasons I am at the lodge. Back at the lodge, I unload, then walk across to the Safeway to pick up some instant noodles for the next "Long Day" with no food. Still feeling ok enough to wish I was at home, though I d...

Today has been OK (generally speaking). It was nice to sleep and wake up in my own bed, if only for a night.  Barfed nothing again just as we were going to bed, but I felt better after that. I spent the morning trying to do a bunch of things I wanted to get done before going back.  Like redoing Sonja's computer, and get the printer working on it.  Downloading some more TV shows since there is no TV in the room, and my internet is through my cell phone, so I can't go crazy on it.  Not enough time for any of it, but did get to play some "superhero motorbikes" with AJ and Dexter in between it all. Packed up my clean clothes, and things I had forgotten last trip. Early morning on the Nov 1st, I am usually going out to the stores to score some ultra discounted candy (which if I was the one rationing it, would last us months) from Superstore, Walmart, etc.  Same for the day after Easter (that's the biggest one). This year I was unable to attend, but big th...

Hey, I feel pretty good this morning. Get up, shower, get dressed. Boot it down to the dining room to get some breakfast (only a 1 hour window). As with every breakfast, you have a choice of eggs. Sometimes you will be offered added undercooked potato cubes. I overheard them being referred to as hash browns, but that can't be right. No butter, most health instituions feel that giving you cancer causing synthetic chemical facimilies is far better. Not tasting too bad, I was able to finish up about a third of the meal,  then headed back to my room to pack up for my 9:30 chemo. I give Sonja a call, and tell her that if I still feel OK after chemo, I'll head out to be there for Halloween, and she can drive me back the next day for my 2:30 appointment. Chemo goods good - I am still under respratory isolation there, but they have stopped the Antibiotics.  This is good, since in means no Benadryl, which means I can drive. I make it home in about an hour, get home, s...

Diagnosis : Cold Yes, it is not some exotic animal influenza, it is the common cold. Still, with everything going on it still managed to take me down. I spent most of the day in bed sleeping. Waiting for my 2:30 appointment for my Chemo and Antibiotics. I was done by 6:30, and made my way back to the lodge where the quarantine had been lifted, but I am still in a room by myself for tonight at least. Tomorrow it is 9:30 at VGH. Not looking forward to missing Halloween with the Sonja & the boys, but they will probably managed to have a bit of a good time without me. My numbers, since Mom is VERY interested in them, were WBC 2.3, Neu 2.1, Hem 100, Plat 116. The chemo is defiantly doing its job.

Woke up stuffed up, and nauseous (Chemo has that effect). Took a gravol and tried to get back to sleep. Tossed and turned around 7:45, when we got up for breakfast (closes at 8:30). Didn't feel very good, and only ate a bit of my breakfast. When to VGH, and got there around 9 for my 9:30, did my vitals after resting, and my temp had gone up to 38.3. Well, they start freaking out (the only thing different from yesterday was the temp), and they are all wearing gowns and masks, and I am masked up, etc. Anyway, I can't leave my VGH bed during my treatment to prevent exposure, which was fine since I slept most of the time. They were in contact with the lodge to see what to do with me. They decide to throw in some IV Antibiotics into the fray, and I am there until just after 3:30. I slog my way to the Pharmacy to drop off my prescriptions, and get an umbrella (damn rain). Then slog my way back to the lodge where they have moved my roommate into his own room, and placed him in isol...

I get up with Sonja around 5:30 (she is going to work today). Have a shower, and start packing. Finished just after 10, and go to the office to try and get some things finished up before chemo. Around 12, leave there and head to Sonja's school to drop off her cell phone. Boot it in to Vancouver and check in to the cancer lodge with about an hour before my appointment. The checkin and tour takes awhile, and I am rushing out of there at 13:45 for my 14:00 appointment. I get there a few minutes late, calm myself down and start to take my vitals. I have some sniffles, so I let them know. Temperature is normal fever level (37.3), my couch is still there, etc. Around 14:45 I am hooked up and on a 3 hour IV journey. I am booked for another CT scan and Abdominal Ultrasound on the 5th. I get out around 6, go to the car, buy the 1 week pass, and then head to Granville Island to visit some friends that were broken. Headed back, parked the car, got the rest of my stuff from it, and head...

So, looks like they are going to start Chemo tomorrow since the chest x-ray looked better. Again with alternating afternoon/morning doses for 6 days. I had been slacking off on preparing since it didn't look like they were going to do anything soon, so it will be a flurry of activity today to get prepared. I will be staying at the cancer lodge about 5 min away from the hospital for a month. If the last round is any indication, it will be a doosie.

Sooo.. The ultrasound last week showed that the fungal infection had spread to my liver. This was last week, and I have been on IV antifungal since then, and it has probably gone away. I had an chest x-ray today that they will be going off of to decide what to do next. The current plan is to continue IV antifungal (tomorrow was to be my last day) daily, and hold off on the chemo until we know more. So, chemo will probably NOT start on Wednesday. I am still packing a low grade fever (37.7 C at VGH today), so there is enough stuff going on that they want to get it under control. I will also be fitted for a portable ECG unit, as my heart has started freaking out every so often, and that can be a complication of a bunch of the stuff I am on. Anyway, depending on the next day or two, I MAY postpone going to the cancer lodge, if I will not lose my spot. The constant drain of VGH, 7 days a week, is starting to wear me down. It's usually at least a two hour commute now, and the anti-f...

Went in today, and they hooked me up to the blood right away before waiting for the CBC numbers. The numbers came back, and the hemoglobin was up to 96 - it grew, it's mine. I should have known because the night before I was super hungry. Anyway, this is good news. So, to balance it out, my X-Ray showed a possible increase in the fungal infection (Duh. Coughing my brains out here) so they have decided to increase the dosage of my pill antifungal, and also bring me in for the next 7 days for IV Antifungal. Yipee ! Unless things change for the much worse, Chemo will start next week, hopefully Wednesday, when I check into the Cancer Lodge.

Went back in on Sunday for bloodwork, and the hemoglobin was down another 2 points to 84. Platelets were up over a 100, so that is good news though - (200-400) is normal. They're not sure why it's dropping, but it hasn't gotten life threatning yet, so no one is going to go all "House" on it, and it is just being chalked up to Chemo. The hope is in a few more days it will be on it's way up, and then no one has to figure out why. I elected NOT to get a transfusion on Sunday, since it would have added another 4+ hours to my visit. Blood will be ready for me on Tuesday instead. Next visit is Tuesday morning

So, I went in on Thursday for my CT scan and bloodwork. I still have a fungal infection. Some of it is near the chest wall, and that explains the pain, and some is near the middle and that "might" explain the coughing. They are still not sure why I have a fever. They are also not sure why my Hemoglobin is only at 86, and my Platelets are only at 91. By this time last round I would have been around 120/300. The low hemoglobin explains why it very hard to do much, and why I black out for a second or two after a big coughing spell. I have been taking a prescription strength cough suppressant for a few days now, but it's certainly not working enough to justify the $45 is cost (Cough Suppressants are not covered). A steady supply of Ricola keeps it at bay, but my mouth is pretty raw. Anyway, long and short, is after talking amongst themselves on Thursday, they were unable to figure what is going on with me, and that we should postpone the next round of Chemo until I recover...

On Thursday, they decided to stop the IV Antibiotics, and let me wing it for a few days. I still have a fever and still felt pretty crappy until about Saturday (Still way better then during chemo recovery crappy). Since it is possible that the Antibiotics themselves were giving me the fever, and making me feel bad, the decision was that we would give my own immune system have a go at it. The cough is back with a vengeance though, and I am living on Menthol. I am back again on Thursday for a CT scan at 7:30, and then up to LBMT for bloodwork, and the decision as to when to start the next round - It is looking like Monday.

So, fever the fever crept up to 38.8 (just shy of 102 F). Technically a Low Grade Fever, but when you're a chemo dude it gets their buns all in a knot (Them being the doctors and nurses). Especially when I have a growing cough and some nasal congestion. Anyway, net result is that what was going to be a nice drive in, get my bloodwork, and drive home adventure became the start of another round of intense IV Antibiotics. I also got to have a nasal flush for a specimen sample - That was FUN !! Now I have some idea what that "Waterboarding" torture technique must feel like. To boot, my Platelets haven't seemed to get the hint, and are not stable yet, so I needed a transfusion of them as well. My red cells (Oxygen) are holding steady but haven't made it out of the 80's yet. This, with the fungal infection, keeps me laying low. I get IV Benadryl injected before one of the Antibiotics or any transfusions, so that knocks me out pretty good, and keeps me unable to...

How many people can say they have over $6000 in antifungal drugs in there Danny pack ? That's some yeast infection.

So, they're pretty sure that it is a fungal infection, and yesterday (Tuesday) they gave me an IV anti-fungal. Today they will be giving me super duper IV Anti-fungal what has lots of nice side effects like colour distortion, and possible liver issues, etc. Feeling a bit better all things considered, and I was able to eat a bit of normal food last night and this morning.

I had a marked increase in my Thrombosis pain last night. Called it in. Doctor said it should be ok, but if I developed pain in my lungs as well, to go to the ER right away. Just after around 1 AM, I noticed a pain in my right chest when I inhaled. Woke Mom up, and off to the Abbotsford ER. Sonja has more updates, but net result, I have been up for 37 hours, and 16 were laying down in the most uncomfortable flat surface I have been on. The pain in the chest is probably due to a fungal infection (on top of the blood infection). So I just get to live with the pain until it clears up. Back at VGH tomorrow for IV Antibiotics and probably more tests on the Thrombosis, etc. Pretty messed up. Will try and write more about the adventure some other time.

Well, 39.2 C feaver means that once again , the germs won the battle to get in. They will lose the war, and I guess that's what really matters. At the VGH now getting IV antibiotics And back in for the next 5 to 6 for the same. Bloody Bell. Good thing is that I now have some morphine for the hemroids. Mom has rebooked her flight till Saturday. Thanks mom. Westjet waived the change fee / price difference. Fly Westjet.

I have been feeling a lot better over the last few days, as far as the Flu like knock down is concerned. Now it's just the myriad of side effects of Chemo to deal with like hemorrhoids, the runs, food issues, fatigue, low hemoglobin causing out of breath, everything tastes like bitter chemicals , insomnia, pills pills pills, chemical burns, hives, muscle and join pain, etc. The list goes on, but it's only pain and discomfort now, and that is way easier to deal with then feeling like you have a bad flu. Today was an early start and we had to be in a VGH for 8:30AM, and it is now just before 5pm. Very long day due to blood and platelet transfusion today, and also due to a critical shortage of Platelets. Donate Blood / Platelets if you can, because guess what, it does save lives. Like me, most people do not donate until it affects someone they know. Speaking of which, it turns out I am now "Damaged Goods" and will never be able to donate blood.

This go round isn't going very good. In today for blood work and didn't need any transfusions. I have been very sick since my last post, and things are not getting better. My numbers have dropped now, and I am immune less again. Back in on Thursday, and chances are I will be getting blood and platelets. All we can hope for now is that I don't get something to make everything even more fun.

Whew. Well, I think Sonja has been keeping some of the details going out on her blog. The Lumbar Puncture that was slated to possibility be on Day 2, Afternoon, was scheduled for Day 3 Morning, at 9am. It certainly worked out for the best, as it would have been pretty crappy having to go home shortly after the LP on Day 2 (since the chemo would have been in the morning). They did the LP under XRay so they could get in just right. It took about an hour and half in all, but probably about only 30 Min with the actual gear in my back. There was a lot of procedural stuff to slow it down - having to bring someone from the Leukemia ward down with the Chemo to supervise and approve the injection. Oh, yeah, and complete the request so that they would actually be doing a spinal fluid draw - the whole point of the thing. After the proceedure, they wheeled me up to the LMBT Ward, and there was a bed waiting for me. That's where I vegged out for the rest of day 3 (and got some Chemo). A ver...

So, it's Day 1, again. It's an afternoon start, and I am in early for a Lumbar Puncture (LP) to draw fluid for testing, and then an injection of Chemo right into the spinal column/Brain Pan. I am on Blood Thinners to prevent a clot I got after the hospital chemo, so I had to stop them temporarily. They needed to wait on my blood test results to make sure the clottting was working proppery before the LP. My Noon LP, became a 1:00 LP, then a "just before 2 LP". Didn't finish until 2:30. Attempt 1. Freezing Needle. Ow a bit more then normal. Lumbar Needle Insertion - He forgot to tell me, so it caught me of guard and jumped. Goes in. Fair bit of discomfort, not so much pain, but the very dull sucking icky feeling for the Bone Marrow (BM) Failed to get in the right place - No draw. Attempt 2 Goes in ok, again, the sucking feeling, a bit more pain this time. then ZOINKS, he hit a nerve heading down for my right leg, and I feel like I just got electrocuted. My lungs ...

...as the supposed Chinese curse goes. We are certainly going through "Interesting" times right now, and certainly things have been interesting financially. So many have been helping, from huge to small, and from the obvious to the surprising. August 23rd, my Dad's side of the family had a shin dig, and at the same time, had a "fund-raiser" so to speak of those in attendance and many others who could not make it. We're talking Aunt & Uncles, Great Aunts and Great Uncles, Cousins, etc., all the way down to Half Cousins Twice Removed with a Twist of Lime, or whatever you call it when you start wandering all over the family tree. Even a client of one of my cousins. Anyhoo, today, we received a substantial amount of gift cards for Superstore (our grocery store of choice). I had, and continue to have, a very hard time accepting aid & support. I will always feel it is a complete and utter failure on my part to be prepared for this eventuality. But, I ...

Chemo # 5 "I little bit of Needle in the spine, a little bit of Chemo makes it fine, ..." I've been given the go ahead for Chemo start on Tuesday. As an added bonus, I will be getting the postponed Lumbar Puncture on Tuesday too, and while they're at it, they put in a bit of the Chemo drug too. You see, many years ago, they wound up curing leukemia, but then people wound up getting Leukemia in the brain. Not good. So now they check up in there and shoot a few rounds of chemo off just in case there are a few hiding. If they actually see any in the spinal fluid, then it's a whole new ball game. So, same as last time, I am in there Tuesday afternoon, Mom meets me at the hospital, and comes home with me, and then we are in again for the next 5 days. Then, if I am lucky and careful, I will NOT get any fever in the week after. If no fever, then it's back in every 2-3 days for blood work and transfusions as required. I probably will get a fever, so basically, I ...

So, I was in today for my blood work after being away for almost a week now. They are eager to start my Chemo next week. I wasn't planing on starting until after labour day. I had asked one of the doctors earlier if it would be ok waiting until after labour day. They had said it would be ok. Now they don't know if it will be ok. Mom doesn't come back until the day after labour day. They are still deciding. We will work it out either way. It looks hopeful that it will start the day after labour day. I got quite the stern lecture from "The French Doctor" that had given me the "Stupid Young Men" talk earlier. I guess she felt that I hadn't quite listened good enough the first time around, since I went to the Waterslides last week. Going to the waterslides was, of course, risky. Not because of my white count, but because of the "Portal into my inards" that is the Hickman Line. Yada Yada Yada, bacteria into the line, internal direct infection...

The window for my mom's car finally arrived yesterday, so I dropped it of this morning at Mertin GM in Chilliwack (where Sonja's Step-Dad Ken works) to get it installed. Since it was going to take a few hours to do the install, we decided to make a day of it and went to the Bridal Falls Waterslides. It was nice being able to enjoy some real life with the family today. It was a little awkward having to try and keep my hickman line dry. I did the dressing in the morning with the "water-resistant" bandage, but still have to be careful not to get it full on immersed. You can see on the pictures on Sonja's Blog how I managed to keep the Top Right dry ;) Even though I have a bit of an immune system now, and it is getting stronger, it's still frowned upon to pour bacteria into the ol' vascular blowhole. It was a blast. Dexter is very good in the water, so even though he wasn't big enough to get onto and off of the waterslides himself, he went down all of ...

Yay, they did my last IV Antibiotic drips today. My numbers are all going up, and the neutrophils are now at 0.6, so I don't have to take the pill antibiotics or antivirals. They have let me go on my own for a week, and I don't have to go back until next Tuesday. I am back on full dose blood thinners though, so I still have to watch that I don't nick myself ;)

Again, sorry for the lack of updates. I have been having so much fun, that I just haven't been able to find the time to post. No, Really. I have been skirting my luck by having improptu parties at high tourist areas like the Vancouver Airport, and Granville Island. Running around licking parking and vending machines, etc. I figure, since they are pumping me full of the most powerful antibiotics they have kicking around, I might as well put them to good use ! So, I guess my luck ran out, and either I had something, or one of the two little snot nosed punks that have shacked up in my house have managed to get a booger on daddy sometime in the last few days, and BANG, I was sick. Very Sick. Both Mom and Sonja wound up getting bouts of something as well, after me. Sonja drove me in on Thursday when Mom was feeling crappy, and by that night Sonja was out for the count until noonish the next day. I only started feeling better today, which worked out good since some fu%#ing punks deci...

So today was an early 8:30 appointment which I had made with the hope of making a dental appointment at 1pm. I had canceled the dental appointment the day before since I was still neutropenic. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a good idea. They decided that I should have two bags of platelets today due to my still very low count of 19. During any transfusion, I have to chart my vital signs every so often to make sure nothing funky starts to happen. In the process of the second bag, my temperature started to go up, peaking at 37.8. This, as we have learned from the last round of chemo, is not a very good thing to let them know. As expected, the cards fell where they do, and bada-bing, bada-boom, I am hooked up with 3 bags of antibiotics, and one is the 2 hour drip one that I need Benadryl for. Bloody Hell. So, for the next x days ( 2 It better be something this time.

In again today (it will be every two days for awhile). Needed Red Blood Cells, and Platelets today, so we didn't get home until about 6pm. I think the taste buds are getting worse (like they did last time), so even the raman noodles are starting to taste metallic. Guess my diet plan is not a total loss yet.

So, things have been pretty good the last few days. I had a big bowl of noodles and beef on Wednesday night, and I was a little concerned about how the night would be. I was full for a change. In the morning, I was feeling pretty good - No "Flu" feeling, and that's the way it has been since. My numbers have finally bottomed out (White cells at 0.2, and no Neutrophils) and I needed more platelets on Friday. I still have no energy, but that's easy to deal with. No immune system means I can't leave the house except to go to VGH. Trapped again.

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have pretty much been out of it since my last post. I guess I finally woke up about 3am last night. The chemo started to take hold and take me down. The heat and the driving didn't help. Not being able to eat didn't help. Others who have been through it tell of a "Tunnel" vision you get where you don't really focus on anything, but just exist, waiting for it to be over. I now know what it feels like. I don't remember much over the last few days. I don't want to remember. Around 3am last night, I woke up, and felt hungry. I got up and made some toast. I started a fire in the toaster oven (someone let cheese fall on the bottom...), took down the fire alarms, opened the windows, and vented the billowing smoke out the oven fan. Terribly exciting, and more activity than I had in days. Everyone managed to stay asleep through the whole thing, and I just sat out on the couch for about an hour eating my toast, and listening...

So, Chemo started Monday, and day 2 of 6 was today. It's about a 4-5 hour event, alternating between a 2pm start, then a 9am start, then a 2pm start, etc. The first hour is pre-meds (3 - anti-barf drugs), then the chemo bag for about 3 hours. I had a bit of nausea last night, and some this morning, but nothing much. Tonight I am working through a bough of hic-ups that have been going for about an hour now. The "Flu" feeling is starting to come on. When I got home, I had to crash for about two hours. It's going to be hard working the blog the next few days, but I will try keeping it updated.

These guys are having a bad Friday So, it's Friday. A friend of a friend had a look at the car on Thursday night and as I expected there was an issue with the callipers and rotor on the right front. That's resolved, and the noise/feeling I was hearing. There is still an alignment/arm/etc. issue. We were referred to OK Tire here in Abbotsford to have them hoist it up and look at it. It's Friday. I should know better. Anyway, a motor mount is gone, and rear subframe for the motor has rusted away. The curb hit finished it off. It's about $1400. We're not worrying about it right now. Last night, Sonja's Parents ( and Kim - Yay Kim ) took AJ and Dexter to spend the night at their house so we could go out for a date and enjoy a bit of life before they start trying to kill me on Monday. White Spot and a Movie. Best Night in a long time. We saw "The Hangover" and it was WELL WORTH THE MONEY. DAMN funny. Tears in my eyes funny. If you liked "Zack ...

"No, no, no, no, no, you-you don't understand the scope of my crime. I didn't kill just one Husnock, or a hundred, or a thousand. I killed them all - all Husnock, everywhere. - Are 11,000 people worth... 15 billion? Is the love of a woman worth the destruction of an entire species?" -Kevin Uxbridge, Star Trek TNG, "The Survivors" So, the results are in, and they are unable to detect any Leukaemia cells in the bone marrow biopsy they took from me last week. Technically, this is know as remission. AKA Good News ! Unlike the Husnock though, the chances are about 50/50 that some of the buggers survived in the trenches, and once the coast is clear will breed like rabbits on viagra, and BOOM, Leukaemia again. So, as planned, now that I am feeling good, it is time to mess me up again. The 1st of 3 more rounds of Chemo starts on Monday. For 6 days, starting Monday, I will be going into Vancouver, and over 4 hours they will be filling me full of a high dose of C...

This morning was my appointment at the thrombosis clinic. You see, I have this big hunk of clotted blood having a big old party in my right Jugular. Like most parties, the cool dudes hang out in the kitchen, AKA, the Hickman line. So, to prevent the party from getting any bigger, they are cutting off the beer supply with something slightly more funky and cooler sounding than Rat Poison (Warfarin) and way more sellable - Fragmin ! I get to shoot this stuff into my belly once a day, and sometime down the road I get to stop. Along the way the chances are good that a small hunk of this will NOT break off and kill me, or even worse make me speak like Jamie Oliver on the Food Network. After speaking with the Blood Clot doctor today, they have switched me to a different vendor for the blood thinner so I can only have to take one shot a day. They also have a good old fashioned syringe instead of an extra funky super safety one that has a ricochet retracting needle. Tomorrow I visit the dent...

So, the new big Shoppers Drug Mart here in Abbotsford has a working pharmacy system on the weekend, so they will be able to bring in the required dosage this afternoon in time for my injection. As for Sonja's car, I havn't had a chance to look at it yet, and I am not going to take it to a crook, er Mechanic, until I have an idea what is wrong. After driving it last night, my guess is that either the front right caliper is messed up, or a suspension arm is bent. Sonja said that she hit a curb yesturday, but on the rear. My guess is it got the front. The truck still works fine, and has car seats in it, so we are not out of commision, and Mom is back tomorrow so there is no urgency for my next week appointments. Either I am getting used to the pain, or the pain is getting less from the blood clot. I am feeling pretty good, well, relative to how I have been feeling. I still can't last much more then a few hours, but I am able to get around in those few hours. I went to th...

Ok, so this Friday stuff is getting a bit silly now. Wednesday night, I started to have some neck pain around my Jugular vein where my Hickman line goes in. It continued in the morning, and even though is seemed to get better, it didn't continue getting better. There was also swelling with the pain, so I called the clinic. I had no fever, and felt fine otherwise, so they scheduled me for a visit in the morning today. The pain is pretty incapacitating, and since it is ruining what little sleep I was getting at night, I am getting even more tired. Sonja and Dexter dropped me off at the hospital and went on to have an full day, and I went in to get an Ultrasound of the area. Blood Clot, in the jugular, around the hickman line. Yippie. Now I need to give myself daily injections of a blood thinner for the next forever to prevent further clots while my body slowly dissolves the existing one. As an added bonus, I need to give myself 20000 units of the stuff, and the largest syringe i...