Day 57 - Blood Test for Leukemia and Lymphoma - November 9 2011

My bone marrow biopsy was tested today for leukemia and lymphoma with immunophenotyping and this will have to be explained to me.

Day 57 - Beta-2 Microglobulins - November 9 2011

My Beta-2 Mircroglobulins are within the normal range for the first time since diagnosis.

Day 57 - Immunoglobulins A, G, M - November 9 2011

My immunoglobulins (A, G, and M) are still very low - the reason I have to wear the mask when around the public. Immunoglobulin A is 42 (norm 66-436), Immunoglobulin G is 299 (norm 791-1643), and Immunoglobulin M is less than 25 (norm 43-279).

Day 57 - Liver Enzymes Up - November 9 2011

Fragmin injections can increase your liver enzymes.

My liver enzymes went up for the first time, today, November 9 2011. I've been on Fragmin for 7 days (although I did take only 5,000 IU vs 12,500 IU for 3 of those days).My Alanine Aminotransferase is 109 (norm 0-47) and my Aspartate Aminotransferase is 55 (norm 0-47). According to the Fragmin injection insert (above), the liver enzyme values can increase 3 times normal and still be asymptomatic (without symptoms).



Day 57 - Medications - November 9 2011

The number of medications that I take on a daily basis as of Day 57.  You might remember that on diagnosis back on 24 May 2011 that I was worried about taking ANY pills and now I can take a whole handful at a time~

Plus 12,500 IU injection of Fragmin daily.



Day 57 - PET Scan Results - November 9 2011

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 57 - The NEWS - November 9 2011

Jani took me to the University of Colorado Hospital today for my blood draw and appointment with transplant doctor, Han Myint, MD. We were both anxious as we waited in the exam room for my appointment. I wore my lucky Mackay t-shirt today~

 Reading over the list of questions that I have for Dr. Myint.

Then, Dr. Myint came in and I received my bone marrow biopsy of 11/2 results.

I am in Stringent Complete Remission!!!!!!!  No cytogenetics (abnormal DNA) and less than 0.01 plasma cells (anything less than 0.05 plasma cells is considered remission) done with the CD138 stain for myeloma cells.

If I didn't have the blood clot in my heart, Dr. Myint would have started me on maintenance chemotherapy of Velcade (IV) and Revlimid (pills by mouth). AND, if I didn't have a blood clot in my heart, I could have headed home to Mackay, Idaho tomorrow with return visits to UCH every 3 months.

Click on images below to enlarge:

Day 57 - Blood Clot in my Heart - November 9 2011

I received all the written reports for my PET Scan (11/2/2011), Echocardiogram (11/2/2011) and MRI of the Heart (11/3/2011).

My PET Scan was negative except for an uptake area over the blood clot in my heart.

My Echocardiogram showed and I quote, "There is a large mass in the right atrium that measures 2.2 x 2.0 cm. There are some smaller echodensities off of this larger mass that are highly mobile. Given the patient's history of catheters (left intrajugular venous line and an implanted Bard Power Port right subclavian central venous port) but we are unable to track the mass into the superior vena cava on this study"...recommendations: further studies with TEE or Cardiac MRI. My Echocardiogram also revealed that 3 or my 4 heart valves (mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonic) have trace regurgitation.

My MRI of the Heart showed that I have a thrombus (blood clot) at the end of my central line in the right atrium measuring 1.3 x 2.7 cm - thought to be a chronic thrombus with a smaller thrombus adjacent to the larger thrombus. 

Evidently, the size of the blood clot was NOT quite large enough to necessitate EMERGENCY OPEN HEART SURGERY. It was thought that I might be a candidate for a cardiac catheterization where they go in through the groin and could snare the blood clot in the heart. However, they said they couldn't do that.

I will continue to take Fragmin 12,500 Units daily for 2 more weeks. Then, I will be go to Interventional Cardiology at UCH and have my Trifusion Hickman Catheter removed under fluoroscopy (moving x-ray).

Unfortunately for me, I have taken the incorrect dose of Fragmin for 3 days this past week. I had some Fragmin left over from my pre-stem cell transplant that was 5,000 units and I was supposed to be taking 12,500 units daily - oops ~