Category Archives: HSCT-treatment

Day -11 (10/11/16)

Standard

We started this morning at 9:40am being picked up by the van in front of the apartment. Got to the clinic and went over my medical records from the states. I then met with Dr. Ruiz, head hematologist, to go over the tests that were done Monday.  Everything was okay but my blood pressure (140/70), cholesterol (212), and blood sugar (112) was a little high. Lungs and breathing were great and so was my  I had guessed my disability on the EDSS chart was a 6.5 to 7 and I got that pretty darn close, they rated me a 6.5. So glad because 7.0 was the cut off for Mexico.

We started our chemo drip at 1:30 and got to head back to apartments at 6:40.  I wish I had known that they were going to leave the needle in my vein or I would have requested it in my right arm since I do everything with my left besides write. Oh well, live and learn. No shower in qthe morning!

Tomorrow will be my last trip to the clinic for a stronger dose of chemotherapy. Thursday they will come to the apartment to give me a shot every 12 hours (I think) for me to start producing an abundance of stem cells. It then starts again on Monday.

I have had to drink 2 liters of water and 625ml of electrolytes.  No sleeping tonight and I got my diaper on!  I just hope I don’t get nauseous or a headache.

If I get to graphic about things, skip those parts because this is my diary of events to have for many moons from now.

I am so proud to be in Group 1, everyone is so nice andhelpful. Uta (spelling) is our group leader.

Until I write again, I am signing off to finish my drinkin’!

Day -12 is done

Standard

Today is complete! The 5 in our group along with our caregivers headed off to the clinic for a meet and greet, blood draws, urine samples, and breathing tests. Nothing much different from the states but I think they might be vampires cause I have never had this much blood drawn. We all got finished and got to go get something to eat.

I ordered a crossiant sandwich and then saw a picture of crepes and thought I would like those so much better! NOT!!  Chriss got my order changed and when it came out I was so disappointed, it was swimming in apples and juice. Didn’t look anything like the picture. Chriss was so nice that he let me have half his sandwich and it was much better. Finished eatting and back to the clinic!  Not fun crossing 6 lanes of traffic down here while being pushed in a wheelchair! I survived tho.

Back at the clinic we had to have chest x-rays and of course my name was the first called and we weren’t there yet so we got moved to the bottom of the list!

Called in and had to stand for the x-ray. As  I said last night it is great having a caregiver that has done this, speaks the language and knows everyone but…. When the tech tells you to take a deep breath and hold it and the two of them starts talking that ain’t good!  I finally told them to not forget about me!  We all laughed and all was good!  Who know they could have been telling something about the test.

All done back to the apartment to rest until we had to be back to see the neurologist, cardiologist, and have an EKG.  I have never had pain with an EKG before. They used suction cups instead of sticky pads, so I don’t have to worry about finding a straggler! I have never had clips placed on my wrists or ankles either.  I thought I was a car battery needing a jump!

Back in the van to come back to the apartment during rush hour traffic and a construction zone.  It’s been 35 years since I have been down here and driving hasn’t changed, it will still scare you to death! Stop signs are ignored along with other car horns. Back at the apartment safe and sound!

Our day starts tomorrow at 9:40am curbside for the trip to home away from home away from home home!  We get to have our first day of 5 hours of chemotherapy while drinking 3 liters of water. I will wear the floor wheeling back and forth to the bathroom! It will be tag team city.

Paula and Marty came by in between trips and visited for awhile.  Took my Walmart list and picked me up a few things cause no trip tomorrow. don’t know what I would do without those two!  Told them they might have to fly back down here to help me back home, especially if it turns out to be anything like the trip down!

So good night to all and will post tomorrow!