Before the War

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 ...