Low Blood Pressure = Trip to the Hospital

6/30/15 – My chemotherapy days for cycle 3 (June 17-19) seemed to move well. We had a planned follow-up on June 30^th but this ended up being too long a span of time to wait to check my counts. The good news is that I have not run a fever but I started to feel weak and tired around June 25. By the time June 27^th came around I was also very light headed. On June 28^th I could hardly stand up. My wife took my blood pressure and it was 67/45. This definitely explained my lightheadedness. We decided to call the Cancer Center and was told to get into the ER. It was very likely that I needed blood and platelets. Going to the ER at Hackensack University Medical Center always stresses me out a little. It’s not because you get bad treatment there… because you don't. They even have a separate Oncology ER and they have private rooms…… it is because the hospital usually does not have hospital rooms available in the oncology section and you end up being in the ER for many hours and sometimes days. This ended up ne the case with me. I never made it to a hospital room. All my treatment this go around would be in the ER.

My treatment in the ER began with checking my counts and confirming that I was running a very low blood pressure. My counts were very low across the board.  As luck would have it, my favorite infectious disease doctor was in the ER (Dr. Sebti) and he stopped in to see me and reviewed my counts. He and my oncology team collaborated on a plan which was to give me bags of platelets, 2 bags of blood and precautionary antibiotics due to my 0.6 white blood cell count.

Over the course of Sunday, June 28^th and into the early hours on Monday, the 29^th I received all the prescribed treatments. When my counts were rechecked they were all back at safe levels. My WBC was now 1.6. I was released later in the day on Monday because the ER was able to give all the treatment I needed. Also, my blood pressure recovered a little. I was running about 95/55. I typically run low. As my counts raise over the next week the thought is that my blood pressure will go to normal levels. I have a follow-up scheduled at the Cancer Center on Thursday, July 2^nd.

So… this whole hospital visit could have been avoided if my follow-up appointment was scheduled earlier. I am going to have to pay closer attention to this. I am pretty sure a follow-up should happen no later than the 10^th day of the cycle.

I am feeling much better today and looking forward to a great month of July.

Here is a link to a great new song by Third Day. It is called “Soul on Fire”. I sure hope I can carry the words and energy of this song into July and to my daughter’s wedding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7lv9oMjv_0

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

More to come…

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Cycle 3 begins early

6/17/15 – Today I started my 3^rd cycle 5 days ahead of schedule. The thought with jumping into my treatment a little early is that it will give me a longer recovery period and hopefully help me meet my goal of being at my daughter Jill’s wedding with plenty of energy. I truly appreciate that Dr. Goy and team are working towards helping me achieve personal goal as well as health goals. I believe it is extremely important that I take every opportunity to live life and not allow my health challenges to keep me away from life’s big events.  

After this cycle I will be having a PET scan which is scheduled for July 6^th. Depending on the results of the scan there is a chance that I may not need a 4^th cycle. This would allow me to have the DLI sooner than we had planned. This, of course, would be awesome.

DLI (donor leukocyte infusion). This is an infusion in which lymphocytes from the original stem cell donor are infused, after the transplant, to augment an anti-tumor immune response or ensure that the donor stem cells remain engrafted. These donated white blood cells contain cells of the immune system that can recognize and destroy cancer cells.

Certainly I have a lot to look forward to. This again makes it clear to me just how powerful it is to believe, have faith, have trust in God and prayer, and to never lose hope.

Here is a YouTube link to a great song about hope. "My Hope is You" sung live by Third Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaV7tVrc6yk

You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.

Job 11:18-19

More to come…

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Released With Good News

6/12/15 – I’m back home again. I was released on Thursday, June 11^th at around 8:00PM. This seemed to make sense being I had not run a fever since I was admitted. Sure my doctors want to know the source of the fever but it really doesn’t make much sense to keep me in the hospital when all the tests have come back negative. This includes a piece of good news. I tested negative for para-influenza. This means that my immune system fought off something that any typical adult immune system would be expected to do.

I also learned of more good news. The CT scans revealed that my tumors (nodes) have significantly reduced in size. This was awesome to hear. It is great to know that all I am going through is producing positive results.

I am looking forward to build this positive momentum as I get ready to begin my 3^rd cycle.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Psalm 37:5

More to come…

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Is This Really Happening? I’m back in the hospital

6/10/15 – It sure is great to be home. On Monday, June 8^th I had to head back to the cancer center where I had a checkup and received fluids to keep me hydrated.  On Tuesday, June 9^th I put in a full day working from home. I did have a bad cough for most of the day but was feeling pretty strong. After I shut down for the day my wife Sue asked “Can I take your temperature?”  I have to admit, this is not my favorite questions. My temperature was 100.2. Although this is OK, it is getting close to the magic 100.5 where we have to call the cancer center. About 20 minutes later we took my temperature again and it was 102.00. We called the cancer center and were told to head down to the ER. Upon arriving at the ER my temperature was 102.02.  It was decided that I would be admitted. I made it into a room 12:30PM on the next day (Tuesday. June 10).

The current thinking is that my body is having a hard time fighting the para-influenza. To be safe, I was sent for a chest CT and had more blood cultures pulled. Also, I will be observed for a while to see if I spike a fever again.

Now it’s a bit of a waiting game. This is a long road for me. Even though I have hit a series of bumps in the road I cannot let it get me down. I just need to keep pushing forward to the goal of good health.

And endurance produces character, and character produces hope

Romans 5:4

More to come…

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Another Unscheduled Stay in the Hospital… Urgh!

6/7/15 – My plans for the week of June 1^st was to work from home. With my past episodes of passing out it would probably best I stay close to home at the watchful (and loving eye) of my wife Sue. Of course this would also include her frequently checking my temperature and making sure I eat and do not over do things.

As the week moved on we noticed that my temperature was gradually increasing but not to the point of worry. Wednesday ended with my temperature running between 99.8 and 100.2. On Thursday, June 4^th, around lunch time, my temperature hit 100.5. We called the Cancer Center and they wanted to see me ASAP. I met with Dr. Alan Skarbnik. After reviewing my blood counts and test results it was determined that my counts were low across the board. They also found that my para-influenza was still an issue. I was sent to the infusion room for platelets and IV antibiotics. In the meantime they decided that I would be admitted.

I made it to my hospital room around 9:30PM. My room was a single being I need to be in isolation because of me still being positive for the para-flu. Also, I am now considered a “Fall Risk” due to my passing out issues. This means I cannot get out of bed unless someone is with me. Anyone who knows me knows how much I dislike being in the hospital. I'm probably just like most other people… I struggle sleeping, eating and I am counting the minutes to when I can go home. Being isolated with limits on my movements just added to my displeasure of being in the hospital. Of course my wife Sue was by my side most of the time. She is just so great to me and I am very thankful for her. 

Over the next few days I would get a blood transfusion, Neupogen and a continued dose of antibiotics. Each day I would anxiously await the results of my blood tests. Finally on the morning of Sunday, June 7^th all my counts hit an acceptable level and I was able to go home.

This wasn’t a long stay (4 days, 3 nights) but it does cause me to worry. With my next cycle beginning on June 22^nd, I need to make sure that I am feeling well and full of energy for my daughter Jill’s wedding on July 24^th. The last thing I would want is for my treatments to cause me to not be there or to be there but not energetic. I need to have a conversation with Dr. Goy to see what we can do proactively to ensure I am at the wedding with bells on.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.

Isaiah 35:3-4

More to come…

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