Day -7 and Day -6

This has been a busy 2 days- even though it will not sound like much to you all as you read on here. Anyway, we started the first of the 2 chemo regiments gearing up for the transplant. This first chemo is called Busulfan and according to the literature I was given it “is very strong”. In fact, it goes on to explain how the drug works “Busulfan harms cancer cells causing their death” (I am not making this up) so one would expect that I should feel like crap. Well, I am happy to say that has not been the case. I have had bouts of extreme fatigue, it just kind of comes on me. One minute I am sitting up reading something and the next I need to close my eyes and lay down (funny isn't it?). Even with the fatigue and, trying to keep in mind it is still early in this regiment, I can say things are going better than expected. I will continue to get the Busulfan for the next 2 days- for a total of 4 doses. Just to clarify a single does is a 2 hour IV drip repeated every 6 hours and we get to repeat that for a total of 4 doses over 4 days. As I write this I have just finished bag number 7 (almost half way). So things are going well and I am pretty much settled in (Karen brought in Diet Pepsi, and that helps). I had hoped to have a routine by now but there are just so many variables that I just can't be sure what is happening when, I am sure we will figure it all out in time.

After this I move on to chemo number 2 but I will leave that for another post.  

Self Portrait (2/7/12)

Some people been asking so here's a new self portrait on my first day at the mayo clinic hospital.

Here we go!

It is finally admit day. I am officially checked into the Mayo hospital. My day started with more insurance dram as we learned yesterday afternoon that they had deemed this treatment experimental (sound familiar?). I was scheduled to check in for my port placement surgery at 5:30AM, but with the insurance news, we had to postpone and wait for the insurance people to get in the office, so that Dr. S can talk with them and try and set things straight. The insurance issues ended up not being too much of a hassle (for now) but it really did add to our stress level at a time when we could do with less. I ended up with the surgery happening at 9am and was in my room by 11:30 so it was not that much of a delay. The port went in without any issues so there is not much to say about that, I am a bit achy but that is to be expected with any surgery. All the activity gets into full motion tomorrow with my first round of chemo, so for now I am just getting comfy in my new home and with my new port. I can add in that the room is pretty good; lots of space and a distant view of the McDowell mountains. I will save the details regarding the chemo for tomorrow's post as I will then be into it and hopefully have a better understanding of what's happening before I write about it.

I also wanted to take a second to add another THANK YOU to everyone- your well wishes, meals, and emails have been great.