Day 60 - Walking - November 12 2011

I walked with Jani and the dogs (the extra black one belongs to Robbyn's sister) 1.10 miles. Jani and the dogs went on without me so they could walk further and faster.

Day 59 - Walking - November 11 2011

I walked the dogs 1.10 miles this afternoon. I still have the pain in my upper back when I walk -- even slowly. I want this Trifusion Hickman Catheter OUT~ My weight is stable at 145.5 pounds.

Day 58 - Walking - November 10 2011

I went shopping today by myself for a few groceries and some t-shirts. I also went to the bank drive-through. I wore my mask. I'm so afraid of the blood clot in my heart that I walked slowly. I've been complaining of pain in my legs - especially my left leg behind my knee and thigh. At my appointment yesterday, they thought I might even have blood clots in my left leg. However, since Fragmin 12,500 IU is the treatment and I'm already on daily Fragmin injections, they didn't think any diagnostics were needed. Even if I don't have blood clots in my legs, my legs bother me especially at night - enough that I take 1/2 Percocet - sometimes twice during the night.

Day 58 - My Pig Pen Hair - November 10 2011

My hair growth reminds me of Peanut's Pig Pen...sparse and straight...but, not quite as long yet.

Day 58 - Breakfast in Bed - November 10 2011

My dear sister, Jani, greets me EVERY morning since I've been back from my stem cell transplant with breakfast in bed!!!! She has only missed 1 morning and that was because I was NPO (nothing by mouth) for my PET Scan. My breakfast is scrambled eggs with ham and toast with coffee and it arrives at 7:15 AM on the dot ~ I love my sister !!!!

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 ~

Day 56 - Walking Again - November 8 2011

I walked 0.83 miles this afternoon with Jani and the dogs. They went on without me - but, at least I was out and about.

Went food shopping with Jani - forgot my ball cap - so, just went with my fuzzy bald head.

Day 55 - Bone Marrow Biopsy Site - November 7 2011

My bone marrow biopsy site from November 2 2011 isn't much to look at. I still have some discomfort if I lie right on the site, but unlike some of my other bone marrow biopsies, it does not hurt to walk.

Day 55 - MRI of the Heart Results - November 7 2011

UCH Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Christine Frodella, RN called me this evening to let me know that my MRI of the Heart done on November 3 2011 confirmed that I have a "small clot" in my heart. In reality,it was a large clot nearly filling my right atrium in my heart. She said the Fragmin injections that I am taking should prevent any further clot formation.

I will have to have my blood checked for clotting on Wednesday when I go to my appointment with Dr. Myint. I have one unexplained bruise near my Bard Power Port site in on my right chest wall. My Bard Power Port was placed on June 13 2011, so it is almost 5 months old.

Christine thought it would fine if I walked a mile each day. I'm going to ask for printed copies of my MRI of my Heart, PET Scan, Bone Marrow Biopsy,a nd Echocardiogram results on Wednesday.

Day 54 - November 6 2011

I drove myself shopping this afternoon. I wore my mask and did fine wandering around Target. Afterwards, I took my car to get it washed for the first time in 5 months - Bart is beautiful again!

Jani barbecued me a steak with green beans for dinner tonight.

jm November 6 2011

Day 53 - Hair is growing - November 5 2011

My hair is growing - very fine and very WHITE on November 5 2011.

Jani and I went to Walmart and Best Buy today and strolled around. I wore my mask and we didn't walk fast. It was good to be out and about even if I need to be careful not to stress my heart.

Day 52 - November 4 2011

Nothing to report. Didn't get any news on my MRI of the Heart results. Walking around the house and up and down the stairs slowly.