Wednesday, March 3, 2010

6 AM Wednesday

I got a blessed 7 hours of sleep last night, after none Monday night - as my treatment hums along , my room buzzes day and night with activity. The speed and professionalism of this program is comforting and gratifying.

I love the team of doctors and nurses, whom we got to know so well during Jimmy's long stint up here, and they seem delighted to see Jimmy again, looking so healthy and fit. Several of them told us about how they get attached to patients, but never see them again, and wonder how they're doing. It has to be nice to see the fruits of your labors.

I'm right now on my 3rd infusion of Cytoxan (3 hr infusion) and had my first 6 hr infusion of Rituxan yesterday, and 40 mg of Dexamethasone a day. There are premedications, Zofran and Compazine for nausea, and Benedryl and Tylenol, and you're being checked constantly for any adverse reactions. So far I'm tolerating everything very well. My blood pressure dropped to 96/40 with the Rituxan, but they slowed the drip and I finished it.

Last night I had to have a lumbar puncture which wasn't as bad as I'd feared. They stick a needle in your back and draw out 8 cc of spinal fluid to be analyzed, then inject 100 mg Cytarabine, another chemo drug. Then you have to lie flat on your back for an hour to prevent a spinal headache.

This just hit the high points - when you factor in the constant monitoring and the blood and urine samplings and everything else that goes on, it's pretty hectic.

I'm glad I found an early morning lull for an update - things are about to start gearing up again.
And thank you for the prayers and emails and cards - they mean the world to us, so DON'T STOP!!!

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