2nd ASCT - Day 144 - October 9 2012

Up early with everything moving south in my GI tract RAPIDLY. I believe this is due to Zolinza (vorinostat). 

Unfortunately, I had to drive to St. Luke's Hospital MSTI in Twin Falls for my labs and subcutaneous Velcade. I had to stop twice on the 135 mile way to use the bathroom - not fun. I stopped at a convenience store in Carey, Idaho (72 miles) and bought Imodium. That helped a lot. I only took 1/2 tablet because I am very sensitive to the medication. I take dexamethasone 10 mg orally today and tomorrow.

So, when I got to Twin Falls, I was a tad dehydrated for my lab draw which might reflect on the results. My white blood cell count was just slightly low at 4.1 (norms 4.5-11); hemoglobin normal at 13 (norms 12-15); and platelets low at 125 (norms 140-440). So, I need to be careful about not bumping myself until this 2nd cycle of Zolinza is over  and my platelets hopefully recover. During the 1st cycle of Zolinza in September 2012, my platelets dipped to 128 and recovered quickly.

My creatinine is WAY HIGH at 1.36 (norms 0.52-1.04), but my BUN is normal at 13 (norms 7-17), so they went ahead and gave me my subcutaneous Velcade. Again, Zolinza causes what the drug information calls "transient increases in creatinine", so I'm trying not to worry.

I continue careful to drink adequate fluids each day:
10//3/2012   3,000 ml
10/4/2012    3,500 ml
10/5/2012    3,000 ml
10/6/2012    3,000 ml
10/7/2012    3,000 ml
10/8/2012    3,000 ml
10/9/2012    3,500 ml

I waited for my Velcade in the Infusion Area until RN Ann came and gave it to me in my right arm. My hair is growing pitifully slow, but I have the beginning of bangs.  The white hair in front is something I have had all my life - a white forelock called Piebaldism is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of melanocyte development characterized by a congenital white forelock. When I had hair like my blog cover photo, everyone thought I dyed a blonde streak in the front - but, I just had it naturally.

Today, I started over -the-counter Ursolic Acid 450 mg twice a day which is supposed enhance Velcade's action, but can depress your white blood cells and platelets. I'll only take the Ursolic Acid on my Velcade injection day and 2 days after.

I was tired today and slept for 2 hours when I got home at 4 PM.