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Current events

March 19, 2022

I felt it was important to update how I’m doing right now as I am recovering from my last chemo. My immune system is on the brink of no longer being neutropenic and I am finding a lot of strength in doing more normal things. I really have the privilege as I prepare for transplant to have these next two weeks where I feel relatively normal. If transplant were not happening I would be going back for another round at this time and the process would start all over again.

Chemo for me has gone like this: I feel pretty good when receiving chemo. After the treatment is over there is a brief period where I think to myself this isn’t so bad. Then it hits me. One day you don’t want to move your stomach is upset. The next day you have a horrible sore throat. You’re nauseous, ankles hurt, you feel bruised everywhere, headaches, gums are red and swollen, things look foggy, diarrhea, and it’s just a whole array of symptoms that pop up one day and are gone the next. Petechiae are small or large blood spots that are under the skin. They tend to show up when your platelets are low. I have learned when those start showing up it’s time to talk to your care team because you’re probably approaching your lowest. It’s constant blood draws, monitoring, ER visits, and transfusions. It’s a slow turn around but your stem cells start making platelets and red/white blood cells again and you start to recover and feel better.

So that’s where I am today. I am feeling better and am just grateful to be out going for walks, eating at the dinner table, and having the ability to get some things done.

In preparation for transplant there is a lot of screening that has to be done to even consider going through with it. The doctor wants confidence that you are in the right position to receive a new immune system. So for anyone curious these are the planned visits that I am in the middle of accomplishing before transplant and general maintenance things.