2nd ASCT Day 14 Jun 1 2012

Jani took me to the new BIC at UCH. It has 10 individual stations, all with windows and TV's and is quite nice and a big improvement for nurses and patients. My blood pressure was low with a systolic of less than 90 so I was rather weak.  That arm over the recliner is holding the new television sets.

My lab values are good and I am ENGRAFTING WELL. My white blood cells are 3.7 (norms 4-11.1); Hemoglobin 11.9 (norms 12.1-16.3) AND Platelets 138 (norms 150-400) - so I am on a daily high dose Fragmin 15000 again.

I needed 40 mEq of potassium (which they told me to take with food).

I spent the majority of the BIC Visit in the bathroom with things going south. I will need to take a specimen in on Monday. Then I took 2 mg of Imodium that RN Kristin gave me. I missed my BIC nurses!.


Faye Hummel stopped by and we walked outside 15:36 minutes. Very hard on me - my pulse racing at 125 beats per minute and as you can see from the map I was listing a bit!!!!

My blood pressure and pulse after my walk with Faye Hummel: My pulse was 123 and my blood pressure a tad low at 103/79.

I continue with a headache that I wish would go to outer space or someplace FURTHER. My guts are off and on BAD. Jani keeps track of the number of bottles of water  I drink with each cap. Each bottle contains 500 cc.

Day 20 - Morning Update - October 3 2011

Jani took me for my blood draw appointment at 8:15 AM. Since I have sinus drainage, the nurse also did a nasal washing for organism identification. It was not as bad as I thought it would be  - she used a syringe of normal saline and squirted it in my left nostril and then suctioned back to gather the sample. The result may take a few days.

My white blood cell count is 2.3 which I think is terrific. Remember, the 4.1 on October 1st was neupogen induced, so the 2.3 is more reflective of my real bone marrow function. My platelets are awesome at 87 and my hemoglobin is just about the same at 10.7.

My Absolute Neutrophil Count is 1.4 which is also good in my book. 

My protein (6.2) and albumin (3.7) levels are excellent and reflective that I have been eating adequate amounts of protein.

My weight in the BIC Center at UCH was 147 this morning with clothes on. My blood pressure was low with a systolic below 100, so they advised me to drink more fluids. I assured them I would, but getting up early enough to eat breakfast, get ready and be at the hosptial by 8 AM is hard to throw fluids in the plan too.





Walked 1.5 miles on the Mine Hill with Kemmer and Zoe July 18 2011

 I walked 1.52 miles roundtrip with a gain of 343 feet from the Cattle Guard to where the old Shay Engine used to turn around off the Alder Creek Road. My pulse races on the uphill - went right up to 130 this morning. My blood pressure is extremely low - so low - that the wrist blood pressure monitor that I have often indicates that it cannot find my blood pressure. Hoping this Velcade and Revlimid hasn't ruined my heart!~

 Zoe and Kemmer on the Mine Hill with the remains of the aerial tramway support in the background.

 jm on the Mine Hill with Kememr and Zoe

 Marinac's River Park Golf Course in Mackay, Idaho from the Mine Hill. While I walked the dogs, Jani and Jeff went golfing for 9-holes.

Jani golfing at Marinac's River Park Golf Course in Mackay, Idaho

Jeff golfing at Marinac's River Park Golf Course in Mackay, Idaho