Sunday, November 30, 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

We are in Jacksonville for our week of chemotherapy. Being the Sunday after Thanksgiving the traffic wasn't too bad, but the temperature dropped 20 degrees on our drive up. We ran into heavy rain just as we were getting to Jacksonville.

Fred is taking a nap now and I am settling us into the hotel room. I will keep you posted on the progress this week.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Here are today's blood test results:

White blood cell count: 10.6 (high but within normal range)
Red blood cell count: 4.02 (low, but ok)
Hemoglobin: 14.3 (within low normal range)
Platelets: 106,000 (low, normal range is 140,000-440,000)
Hemocrits: 41.5 (low, normal range is 43.5-53.7)

The results were faxed to Dr. Solberg this afternoon so we will hear from him tomorrow about what next week will bring.

Fred has been tired lately and his blood pressure has been low, so we are just taking it easy right now.

I will let you know what he says when he calls.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Friday, November 14, 2008

I know it has been a while since I posted, but no news is usually good is. Yes I said usually. Dr. Solberg's nurse called today from Mayo Clinic regarding this weeks blood work. Fred's white blood cell count is up to 11,400. It has not been this high since before he started chemotherapy so we are a little surprised. The doctor wants follow up blood work on Tuesday.

His red blood cell count is 3.95 (low but ok)
Hemoglobin: 14.6 (good)
Platelets: 173,000 (good)
His neutrophils are high
His lymphocytes are low
His eosinophils are 0 (low, normal 15-500)

Let's hope next weeks numbers are better.

Fred has been feeling good, but is tired today.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

We went for blood work today. Here are the results:

white blood cells: 4.2 (normal)
red blood cells: 3.96 (low, but not bad)
Hemoglobin: 14.2 (low normal, good)
platelets: 160,000 (normal)

Dr. Solberg was pleased with the results. Fred has more blood work next Wednesday.

Fred is finally starting to feel better. Thank goodness.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Fred is slowly coming out of his "chemo brain". He has a long ways to go, but he is much better today. Yesterday was not a good day, but we take it one day at a time and today was better.

He is scheduled to have blood work done on Wednesday. I will keep you posted.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Friday, November 7, 2008

We are home. Fred received his Neulasta injection this morning. The ride home was interesting, Fred was dealing with bouts of nausea and moaning. Long 3 hour drive.

He has taken some Zofran (nauseau) medicine and still feels blah. Maybe a good nice rest in his own bed will help.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Chemotherapy is over. Fred is really out of it this week. He doesn't remember much that is going on. He babbles incoherently about crazy stuff and then falls back to sleep.

He did so well last time he had chemo, this time has been like the first 2 treatments where it hits him really hard.

Tomorrow he will get the Neulasta injection and then we can head home. His next chemotherapy is scheduled for the week of December 1st.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Today's chemotherapy is over. One more day of chemo to go. Fred is sleeping now, that Benadryl they give him works wonders.

Our youngest daughter Amanda came and stayed with us while Fred had his chemo today. It was nice to have someone there with us. Thank you Amanda.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Today's chemotherapy is done. It went uneventful, which we like. He received the fludarabine and cytoxan today. He is really tired and sleeping now. He is in his babbling, not making any sense phase, which being election day I wish I was so I wouldn't have to hear about all this stuff.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Monday, November 3, 2008

Today was a VERY long day. It started at 7 am this morning and we got done at 4:30 pm. First was the CT scan, then blood work and then the doctor and then the chemo.

The CT scan results were great. His chest CT scan showed his lymph nodes are now normal in size. His abdomen CT scan showed his spleen is at the upper limits of normal size. The pelvis CT scan showed his lymph nodes are now upper limits of normal size.

His blood work results are as follows:
His hemaglobin was 12.9 (low but coming up)
His red blood cell count is 3.54 (low but coming up)
His white blood cell count is 6.3 (good)
His platelets are 160,000 (good)
His glucose is normal range
His bilirubin is normal range

Fred slept through most of his chemotherapy today. After they give him Benadryl he is out for the count. He is resting now. Like I said it has been a long day.

They decided that since his CT scan showed everything is progressing well that he will not have his bone marrow biopsy until after his 6th chemotherapy treatment.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Sunday, November 2,2008

Sorry I haven't posted lately. After getting home from Chicago last Sunday at 10:30 pm and then leaving the house at 7:15 am the next morning for work, I have been rather busy.

Our trip to Chicago was great. It was wonderful to see our friends and family. Fred over did it, but he has recovered. He just needed to get some rest.

He had blood tests done on Tuesday and they were good. His red blood count was still low, but everything else was in the normal range.

We are in Jacksonville now. Tomorrow Fred has a CT scan of his chest, abdomen and pelvis at 7 am, blood work at 9 am, doctor at 11 am and then chemotherapy at noon. It is going to be a long day. I will keep you posted I promise. Since I won't be working I will have time to do the post.