Sunday, January 31, 2010

Improving.

Today is the last day I go in to the hospital for receiving antibitics. Since I left the hospitial 4 days ago, I have been getting stronger each day. Still sleeping a lot, but my body is getting back to normal, slowly but surely.

Eric

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Getting better.

Hi everyone. I got up early today and went to an 8:00 AM appointment for receiving antibiotics I still need to finish. My body feels rid of all the infection, but fatigue level is quite high. It took all of my energy to get up and eat breakfast. I then needed to lay down for about 20 min again. After the appointment I came home and ate more and pushed myself to walk up and down the stairs a few times before laying down again. I think this will take a few days just to get my basic strength back. It's a very strange feeling: I feel well, but have a huge fatigue level. I need to be strong and push myself - without overdoing it.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Back Home Today.

Sorry for no posts for the past 10 days. I got very sick this time. It was pretty tough, but I am fine now. My blood pressure was very low so I wound up in the ICU for 3 days, then 7 days on the regular floor getting mainly antibiotics. I am still pretty weak but improving fast. The Dr and I decided to push out my next chemo treatment by 1 week (about another 10 days) so I can first recover well.

Eric

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Tired.

Hi everyone. Nothing very interesting today. I have been quite tired so have been just sleeping most of the day. I feel fine otherwise. It is normal to be rather tired for the first several days after Chemo. That is usually when it hits the hardest. Fortunately, I don't have any other side affects.

Eric

Friday, January 15, 2010

Ready for the weekend.

Spent most of the day today at the clinic. Received a blood transfusion, spinal tap, and shot in the stomach to boost my white count. The spinal tap was unpleasant again. It took 3 attempts this time - partly because I was a bit too jumpy. It's hard to stay still when that big needle is going in your back. The Dr. told me to double the dosage on the anxiety pills next time so I'll be more relaxed. Anyway, back home now and still pretty tired so will take a nap again. They will check my blood again on Monday. 'Till then, I need to take it easy as I am at a higher risk again of receiving infection for about the next 4 days.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Round 2 done!

I'am gettin' out of here this morning. Sorry no post yesterday. There was a lot going on and with frequent adding and changing of different meds. It was a bit tough. I spent just about any free moment sleeping. I did manage to get about 4 solid hours of sleep last night and feel pretty good this morning. I am looking forward to going home and getting some un-interrupted sleep. My red count is down so they will give me a transfusion tomorrow at the clinic. I will also get another spinal tap tomorrow to inject chemo to my spinal cord again. Then, I should have few days off. My white count is not nearly as low as the first round so hopefully I will not spike a fever at home again this time. Also, my platelets are in the normal range still so that is good. I am now 1/4 of the way done!

Eric

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Feeling good today.

Didn't really get much sleep last night because the Chemo medicine caused me to get to use the bathroom about every 45 min. But, I do feel good today. My blood counts are all just about normal now which is very good. However, they will be going down again soon because of the Chemo. The first Chemo med went for 24 hours and just finished around noon today. I haven't had any side affects. Now, we wait 'till midnight to start next. They gave me steroids again around 10:00 am today and that had me amped up for the past few hours. It's 3:00 now I thinks it's wearing off 'cause I am getting tired. Toshiko and Tyler came and we had lunch together.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Gettin' the Lemonade

They started the Chemo today. It's yellow so I'll call it the "Lemonade". Last time it was red so that will be the "Coolade". This will go for about 24 hours, then they start another Chemo drug. The spinal tap this morning sure was a lot of fun. It really wasn't that painful, but just the thought of what what they were doing caused me to be very tense. Toshiko was a big help hold just being there and holding my hand. She said the two nurses in the room both had to turn away when the Dr. inserted the big needle. Now, it's just kinda sit and wait and eat hospital food - mmmm, hospital food! It's actually pretty good.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Relaxing weekend.

I had a nice with relaxing weekend with Toshiko and Tyler. Spent lot's time playing with Tyler. He is talking so much now. He has been in the routine of repeating and copying anything I say or do. This make me really think before saying or doing anything around him! I go in tomorrow morning for to start the second round of Chemo. It will be 3 or 4 days. I'll try to update while I am there. Toshiko has a friend with a little girl that is Tyler's age who will watch Tyler tomorrow so she can be with me when they start the Chemo. Tyler will be happy because he will get to play with his favorite little girlfriend!

Eric

Friday, January 8, 2010

Feeling normal again.

I finally was able get out and run some errands today. It was nice just to get out and do some normal things. I should feel about the same during the weekend, so I plan on spending more time playing with Tyler before they start round two of Chemo on Monday. Toshiko & I could see how it kinda bothered him that he couldn't spend as much time with Dad during those stays at the hospital. It's nice to feel good for a few days, but I would rather speed it up and get this done as soon as possible. The Dr. said 14 days minimum between treatments so I was trying to get round two started tomorrow, but he said it's safer and things go smoother if we start on a Monday rather than the weekend.

Eric

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Went well today.

The blood transfusion went well today. I feel much better now. I was thinking today how fortunate we are to have the best medical system in the world. I was diagnosed on a Friday with an agressive cancer. Then, they have everying in place and immediately start the most effective treatment available - the next day! I am fortunate. Then, with follow up appointments like today, I can immidiately get a necessary transfusion that makes me feel great again. This gives me a lot of confidence that I will get through this.

Eric

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Got Blood?

My white count and platelet counts doubled in the past two days so that is good. But, red count went down just a bit (common after Chemo). That explains why I was napping often and frequently getting light headed for the past few days. So, I'll go in tomorrow morning for a 5 hour blood transfusion. After that, I should be feeling pretty normal. Still on schedule for the next 3-day hospital stay for Chemo next Monday. My weight is down a few pounds even though I have been eating a lot (the Dr said it's just the Chemo). - Or maybe it's that full head of hair I lost! They said it's better that I don't drive myself so Toshiko drove me today and will again tomorrow morning. So don't worry, Mom!

Eric

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Tuesday.

Not much to update on today. I feel about the same. I got up early, went out for a nice jog around the neighborhood, finished chopping all that wood, then mowed my lawn. ... OK ... so I didn't do any of that but I did think with the time on my hands today, it would have been nice to get out and do a few things. So; 17 of you have added yourselves as followers to this blog. Thank you. For those of you that have not added yourself as a follower, please do so - it's quite encouraging. Again, thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers.

Eric

Monday, January 4, 2010

Monday update.

Saw the Dr and they checked my blood counts today. My blood cell counts are finally starting to improve a bit, but still low. The Dr said it's enough though, to schedule the next round of Chemo. They'll check me again Wedndesday. If thing are still looking good, then I'll start a 3-day in-patient chemo treatment on Monday of next week. They could start Saturday but he said things are coordiated better on weekdays and so it's better to wait 'till Monday. Before starting Monday, the Dr. will perform the Intrathecal Cytarabine. This basically means they insert a big needle in my spinal cord inject Chemo. He assures me it's a quick procedure that is not painfull and the only side affect should be a little headache. Well - we'll see!

Eric

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Good sleep last night.

I had real good sleep last night. I am moving a little slow today, but basically feel fine. Scott and Jackie came over today and were a great help. Scott is getting some things fixed up in my room. He fixed the light and took measurements to put in a nice built-in shelf system which will help me keep everything organized. Jackie brought several meals that are just wonderful. We all sat and had a nice lunch together and they really helped me collect my thoughts. Jackie explained quite a bit about what to expect for side affects from the next Chemo treatment. The main concern from one of the drugs is often mouth sores. Scott & Jackie helped me make some decisions about how I will deal with my Job. This has been a concern for me and I hadn't really thought it through as much as they have so their advise is quite helpful. Tyler had fun today because he got to sit in Uncle Scott's "Big Truck"!

Eric

Saturday, January 2, 2010

I feel fine today.

This morning I went in for 8:00 am blood draws vital sign checks. There is still not much change to my blood cell counts. So, I didn't need a blood transfusion today. Basically we are still waiting for my white cell counts to come back up and then they will know more. This takes time - could be tomorrow, could be another week. Because I am doing fine and the counts are about the same, the Dr. decided to skip tomorrow's blood draw and do it on Monday at my 11:00 am appointment. So, I am still neutropenic 'till the white cells come back. This means I am extremely vulnerable to receiving any infection. So, I am kinda quarantined at home where Toshiko & I have set up a routines for keeping everything sanitized and I am basically staying downstairs most of the time while Toshiko & Tyler stay upstairs. Oh - and the hair starting coming out this morning so I had Toshiko shave it all off - so you can all start the bald jokes now. Not that I much hair left to begin with anyway!

Eric

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone, and Happy New Year. I started this blog that I will post on so you can always see whats going on with me in case we don't get a chance to talk or e-mail. Just log on to http://www.ericldover.blogspot.com/ and you will see my most recent posts - which I'll try to do at least once a day.

For those of you that haven't heard, on Dec 18th I was diagnosed with an aggressive form Lymphoma. I was hospitalized immediately for 5 days of Chemotherapy treatment. After 2 days as an outpatient, I spiked a fever and was hospitalized for 3 more days.

I have been out of the hospital now for 3 days and feel great. They have me on Antiviral meds and several different Antibiotics because I am very vulnerable to infection right now. I have been going in for daily blood draws and vital sign checks as they are watching my counts very closely. They did a blood (platelet) transfusion yesterday and I don't go in today. I'll go in again tomorrow and the next day for blood draws and transfusion (if necessary). Then, meet with the Dr. again Monday. The 8 scheduled Chemo treatments each require a 4 day hospital stay and are scheduled to be at least 14 days apart but usually they are around 21 days apart. Just depends on how my body is reacting (my body has been reacting very good actually). So, I have 7 more rounds to go.

Eric