Hello, all!
I'm writing this from a hotel near Emory, where Lorraine, Louie and I are staying throughout collection this week. If you guys could send some happy thoughts and good vibes my way, I'd appreciate it.
Early tomorrow morning I'll get a catheter implanted in my neck and do labs (I hate that they never use my port and just root around my arms looking for that elusive vein!) At 10:00 p.m. a visiting nurse will come to give me my AMD3100 shot. (This will occur each night before collection until we've collected 5 million stem cells or Friday, whichever comes first.)
Then collection starts on Tuesday! (She said bravely.) I I'll do that from 7:30 a.m. till around 2:00 p.m., then go back to the hotel to await news of the results. They'll tell me how many we collected and then we'll know if we're going back the following morning. They'll remove the temporary catheter the morning after my final collection, or at the end of Friday's session, whichever comes first.
That's the plan. I'm pretty nervous -- mostly it's performance anxiety. I know howimportant it is for me to produce the full amount. They did say that they could proceed with fewer than the full 5 mill -- that would just mean that I'd have reduced platelets for the first year and would just have to be careful about falling because of the bleeding issue (also bruising.) But not the end of the world -- not enough to delay proceeding, I'm pretty sure. But still I'm nervous -- I just really want to be sure they can get at least the full amount, if not more!
I have WiFi access here, so I'll be back to update once I know more.
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8 comments:
ohhhhh collection week.... It's finally here. Well, I'm definitely sending good vibes your way. I'm always thinking about you. At least your have Lorraine and Louie there with you. Little bits of home, ahh they make the world a better place don't they? I sure hope everything works out for you this week during your collection times. Sounds pretty interesting and "techy". If you get the opportunity, update us. I'm always looking foward to you next post.
Take care, much love to ya sister.
Gretchen
Hi Sarah-
I've also had Hodgkin's twice, including a stem cell BMT about two years ago. I relapsed about a year after my ABVD.
Anyway- if you have any questions about how to break out of the ICU early, fire away, and you will be in my thoughts.
Remember the mantra- "where is my morphine?". Just start saying that every ten minutes, and it will make things a bit easier!
With many, many good thoughts,
Pamela in Portland, OR
Hi Sarah...."Go Stem Cells Go!"
I am sending positive thoughts your way for tomorrow! Just relax during the process....it is painless compared to everything else you have been through.
I am looking forward to your next post to see how well you did.
Please know I am thinking of you..
Angie
Sara, I am praying for you. Jackie
I'm late finding your entry -- You've been in my thoughts today. Praying for you tonight. :)
I saw your blog this morning Sarah! Sending positive warm thoughts your way!
Love you more than shopping and you're in my thoughts and prayers, dearest Sarah!
Thinking of you, lady! I just wonder how they count stem cells. I mean, in my imagination some lab tech is bent over a microscope going "...740,052...740,053...740,055, wait, was that right? Lost count, oh damn! Have to start over. 1, 2, 3, 4..."
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