That Happy Worn Out Look - January 17 2013

My worn out, anemic, steroid look with my wicky hair that won't do anything but this. My hair is not falling out - it is just WILD. Despite "the look" I was able to get most of the house vacuumed today and run errands around town (in a N-95 mask). No nadir (nap) today either. My neighbor, Lew Pence, finished shoveling my driveway snow today - at last I think it was Lew or one of his brothers. They have been ice fishing EVERYDAY.

I also have a small lesion growing on the end of the forehead laceration I got last July 2012. It is firm and non-painful. I noticed it about 3 weeks ago.

You might remember the laceration I received when I fell walking on the Mine Hill 20 July 2012.

I had to wait around at home for the FedEx delivery of my next Revlimid Cycle 4 to begin 30 Jan 2013. The delivery finally came around 12:30 PM and then I was out and about on my errands.

Day 57 - NORMAL EVERYTHING - November 9 2011

My blood test results today, November 9 2011, are simply amazing to me. EVERYTHING is NORMAL for the first time since my diagnosis back in May 2011! I am no longer anemic, I have some "fighting" white blood cells, and my platelets (clotting) are normal.

Day 5 - Evening Update September 18 2011

Faye Hummel stayed until 5 PM and helped me with my dinner order. I decided nothing sounded good and ate a small bowl of cereal that Faye got at the store on her way here this morning. Per usual, the food does not help ease my nausea. Nurse Practitioner Carley came in and chatted with me about the nausea. I'd only managed to get almost one bottle water (16 ounces) all day, so Carley decided to increase my IV maintenance fluids from 75 cc/her to 125 cc hour.

My nursing care continues to be top notch. Here are my day Nurse Jennifer at change of shift this evening with Nurse Sherry September 18 2011 7 PM.

They started me on a neupogen shot this afternoon too (I think the dosage was 300 mg). The neupogen is to stimulate my new baby stem cells into action.

My 4 PM blood draw results aren't much different than this morning,

.

Day 5 - Morning Update September 18 2011

My 4 AM blood values of today, September 18 2011, continue to drop as expected - blood cells at 0.8, platelets at 107, and hemoglobin at 9.1.

The expected diarrhea from the melphalan has started too, but not really in earnest yet.

Stuck in my delightful Room 1125 because of the new shingle outbreak. All caregivers and visitors need to wear the yellow shield gown and blue gloves if they come in.

I ordered breakfast early and it came fairly early. I was able to eat some of the scramble egg and french toast despite feeling nauseated. I am evaluating the nausea at "6" on a 1-10 scale with "10" throwing up and it just never seems to leave me - full stomach or not.

Last outpatient Velcade/Decadron/Aloxi - September 9 2011

I went early this morning to Dr. James Moore's office in Fort Collins. I enjoyed my visit with Dr. Moore, per usual.

After my doctor's visit, I had my last out-patient pre-stem cell transplant chemotherapy with Velcade/Decadron/Aloxi.

My blood counts for today, September 9 2011. I continue anemic (what else is new) despite 2 units of blood last Thursday. On a high note, my platelets are adequate.

 My immunoglobulins G are down at 468 from 539 on August 15 2011 and 743 on July 26 2011 and 3,422 on June 13 201 which is good.

Home by noon. my left eye is somewhat irritated, red, and watering. I don't know whether to be concerned about it or not.

CBC September 1 2011

Had my blood drawn and my white blood cell count is at what they called the nadir (low) which is to be expected from all of the chemotherapy I got intravenously August 23-27, 2011. My platelets are also quite low and I remain anemic which is normal for me.

Return to UCH for Blood Test - Monday, August 29 2011

I woke feeling dizzy and like I might faint every time I stood up. I was able to eat breakfast and drink, so I don't think it was fluid and electrolyte issue. I'm either having a reaction to the VDT-PACE chemotherapy or one of the many medications I'm taking...but, it is not fun.

Nancy White drove me to my blood draw appointment at the University of Colorado Hospital. We used Valet Parking and they got a wheelchair for me so we could make it up the the BIC area for my blood draw. My vital signs were fine, although my systolic blood pressure was only 104 or something like that. Dana Godec, RN came down to talk to me and said she discuss my dizziness with the Transplant Nurse Practitioners and the Transplant Pharmacist. Later, word came down that they thought it was due to the chemotherapy and just to be careful with ambulating.

My Trifusion Hickman Catheter would not give any blood out any of the 3 ports. So, Nurse Sarah had to put Cathflo in each of the 3 ports and wait one hour for it to work. In the meantime, Sarah drew my blood out of arm for the tests.

My blood came back fine. I'm still anemic, but I always have been since diagnosis. My platelets are a tad low but I'm taking Fragmin anti-clotting injections daily, and my white blood cell count is high because I'm taking Neupogen bone marrow stimulating injections daily.

Nurse Sarah flushed my TriFusion Hickman Catheter and it worked fine after the CathFlo (alteplase).

Nancy White drove me home - I think we left the hospital around 2 PM. Thank you Nancy!

Chemotherapy Cycle 3 Day 3 August 1 2011

Chemotherapy Velcade/Decadron/Aloxi Cycle 3 Day 3 August 1 2011. I'm feeling a lot better this week.  Revlimid by mouth Day 6 of 14 in Cycle 2.

My CBC blood values are much better today in the anemia department. Still anemic, but higher than they have ever been since diagnosis. Hemoglobin is 10.1 (norm 12-16) and Hematocrit 29.7 (norm 37-47). My WBC (white blood cell) count is down from last week from 5.2 to 2.7 (norm 4-10). My platelets (clotting) are normal at 187 (norm 150-400).



Chemotherapy Day 2 Cycle 3 July 28 2011

Jani drove my sleepy self to chemotherapy this afternoon. I had the usual intravenous Velcade/Decadron/Aloxi combo. They always draw my blood from my Bard Power Port first and have it analyzed before they start the chemo. Today, my CBC was still abnormal, but moving toward more normal than ever before. In fact, this is the first time my WBC (white blood cell) count had been in the normal range at 5.2 (norms 4-10). I continue anemic.

I managed to gain 3 pounds since Tuesday and I know it is not from eating too many calories~ I've gained 10 pounds since diagnosis. My skinny oncolgoist says not to worry. It is very hard to balance everything. I feel like my stomach may come north and at times I have had a surprise of stomach contents in my esophagus, but I have not vomited. I continue constipated to a degree - taking Senokot S three pills along with 2 Milk of Magnesia pills daily which has things moving south, but probably not enough. On my chemo days, I am drinking the Papaya Miralax shake when I get home.
Came home from chemo with a prescription for Ambien for sleep. I didn't take any today. I just want to make sure all the Flexeril (muscle relaxant) is out of system before adding something new. Didn't seem to need the Ambien anyway - I slept hard for another 2 hours before dinner.

Chemotherapy Day 1 Cycle 1 Labs CBC, Metabolic Panel, Immunoglobins June 13 2011

Note that I'm more anemic with Hct of 26.4.

Blood Test Results from May 18 2011 - Consist with Multiple Myeloma

Because I had signed up for the "See My Chart" program, I was able to see my blood test results as they came back on my computer. I was surprised to see that they had been sent to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

My WBC (white blood cell count) was low at 3.6 (norms 4-10); hemoglobin 11.3 (norms 12-16); platelets normal at 194 (norms 150-440);

Still anemic, but some better on May 18 2011

No evidence of iron deficiency anemia.

Immunoglobulin Light Chains were all abnormal. IG Kappa Free Light Chain high at  2.07 (norms 0.33-1.94); IG Lambda Free Light Chain low at 0.0296 (norms 0.57-2.63); and Kappa/Lambda Free Light Chain Ratio high at 69.9 (norms 0.26-1.65). Not sure what this means at this time.

My first indication that my blood work was consisted with multiple myeloma. M Spike high at 3.0 (norm 0).

Stool test for blood over 3 days: NEGATIVE

I was glad I had time to think about and digest the blood test results before I talked to Dr. Moore. On Sunday evening, I was SURPRISED to find Dr. Moore's email address on his web page for the Front Range Cancer Center. I sent him an email that I would like for him to call me to discuss the blood results - not fully believing he would EVER see the email.

1st Appointment with Hematologist/Oncologist May 18 2011

I went to my 1st appointment with the Hematologist/Oncologist, Dr. James Moore, at the Front Range Cancer Center, Harmony Center, Ft. Collins, Colorado.

James Moore, MD

Dr. Moore completed his medical school training, internal medicine residency, and hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of California-Irvine Medical Center.  He is a board certified diplomat in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and Hematology.  Dr. Moore has done a wide variety of cancer research at UCLA, UC Irvine, and the internationally renowned City of Hope Medical Center in California.  He has multiple publications and abstracts to his name, most recently based on chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).  His professional interests include the hematologic malignancies (lymphoma, myeloma, and leukemia), lung cancer, and genitourinary malignancies (prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer).  He currently is the chair of the Poudre Valley Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB) and encourages participation in clinical trials.  In his spare time, Dr. Moore enjoys hiking, backpacking, camping, winter sports, and landscape photography. From http://www.frontrangecancer.com/bio_jm.php

Dr. Moore took a history and examined me for enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, and liver - I had none.

Dr. Moore offers something called "See My Chart" online and I signed up for that which will allow me to watch my lab tests as they come back with results.

Dr. Moore wanted more blood to be analyzed and sent me to the laboratory next to his office in the Redstone Building where they drew 11 vials blood. If I wasn't anemic when I went in - I sure was after I left~ Here are the tests ordered on May 18 2011.

I left Dr. Moore's office thinking nothing was really wrong with me and one of the blood tests would reveal my less than varied diet which I could work on to improve my anemia.

Anemia May 17 2011

I had noticed over the last month or so that I was weary, especially in the afternoon. When I got to my sister, Jani's house in Greeley, Colorado I was unable to keep up with her pace walking the dogs - having to jog intermittently to match her pace. Other than the afternoon weariness and lack of walking pace, I didn't notice much else. Admittedly, my diet has been less than varied and hasn't included many veggies. I'm been dieting for the last year and lost nearly 30 pounds. I've been very active walking the Mine Hill in Mackay, Idaho with Kemmer almost daily and shoveling a gazillion tons of snow all winter.

Jani and Judy walking Zoe, Kady, and Kemmer in Greeley, Colorado

Entry 1: The Beginning...May 11 2011 to May 16 2011

I had my blood drawn for routine analysis at my annual physical exam with my family practice doctor, Dr. Eliz Albritton in Ft. Collins, Colorado on May 11 2011.

The next evening after most doctors have wrapped things up for the day, my vigilant doctor called me to to let me know the blood tests revealed that I was anemic.

WBC low at 2.8; hemoglobin low at 11.1, platelets normal at 211, ANC (absolute neutophil count low at 1.20; and total protein high at 9.9.

Click on the photos to make them larger and clearer.

My doctor wanted me to go to the Laboratory at McKee Medical Center and get my blood redrawn with an additional check for iron deficiency. Off I went to the lab to have my blood drawn.

Of course, it was the weekend after the blood results came back, so I called my doctor's office first thing Monday, May 16 2011. The receptionist told me that my doctor had left a note that she wanted to see me in the office and gave me an appointment for 8:45 AM.

At the office visit, I learned that I had normochromic (normal color of red blood cells), normocytic (normal shaped red blood cells) anemia with a low B12 level. with no iron deficiency. In addition, my white blood cells were lower than normal. My doctor thought it best if I saw a Hematologist and made me an appointment for May 18 2011.

WBC normal at 4.3; hemoglobin low at 10.6; platelets normal at 200; ANC (absolute neutrophil count slightly low at 1.96; Vitamin B12 low at 321 and Total Protein high at 9.9.

Instructed to get 250 mcg of B12 and take one daily.

In addition, we discussed the merits of having a repeat colonoscopy since I had one just two years ago that was perfectly normal. Decided that test may not be warranted now. However, since I've had heartburn all my life and take Prilosec almost daily, she ordered an EGD (swallow the camera test) to look for a source of bleeding. I took the card to test my stool for blood over 3 days.

My other blood results May 11 2011

My doctor, Eliz Albritton, MD

 

Eliz Albritton, MD

Specialty:
Family Medicine

Locations:
303 Colland Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: (970) 461-8031
Fax: (970) 461-8932

Profile:
As a family practitioner, Dr. Albritton treats patients of all ages, focusing most specifically on women’s health issues and geriatrics. She received her medical degree and completed her internship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and went on to serve a residency at Fort Collins Family Practice. Dr. Albritton is board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians, which also granted her its Pfizer Teacher Development Award.

Interests and Activities:
I enjoy open-water swimming, scuba diving and snowshoeing.
Medical School:
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Internship:
University of Colorado

Residency:
Fort Collins Family Practice

Board Certification:
American Academy of Family Physicians

Specializing in the following Diseases, Conditions, Procedures:
Women's health, geriatrics

Awards/Recognitions:
AAFP Pfizer Teacher Development Award

Affiliations:
McKee Medical Center, Medical Director - Good Samaritan Society

Language(s):
English, French

Practicing Since:
August, 2001
Withdrew From Practice: 
Summer 2012 and Moved Out-of-State for Medical Reasons

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