I realize it's been quite a while since I posted. The past few days I have been pretty weak and sleeping a lot. My hands are also shaking a lot these days, so typing is a huge challenge (better than writing as I can delete)! I was at the clinic on Wednesday, and Dr. Brown calls my blood counts "remarkable" at this stage. My bone pain has decreased and nausea almost disappeared, so that is positive. New developments include some changes in my hearing, the shakiness and significant fatigue/weakness. I continue to have no appetite for food or liquid, but try to get as much in as I can. Dr. B is sending me to a hearing centre and then to a specialist to keep on top of it. Post-transplant #2 I lost most of my hearing for a couple of months, but then almost all came back. It's really hard to say if it was GVHD or related to medications, etc.
The bone marrow aspirate went well, but the full report was not back as of Wednesday. I'm not too concerned as the information is mostly for the clinical trial. I reached Day +30 last Saturday and took my last dose of one of the anti-rejection drugs, so that has eased my pill-load. On Monday I drove for the first time since May - only to the drugstore and through the Starbucks drive-through, but it was a nice step in the normal direction. On Tuesday I was able to see my physiotherapist and start a plan to get back some flexibility and muscle that I have lost.
Overall, I am still in super shape for Day +37 of my third bone marrow transplant. I know I have to just be patient, but some days I am just a little worn. I'll just hope my last few days of "investing" starts to turn into some benefit! Thanks again for your continued support...I hope everyone is enjoying the summer with friends and family...Cheers.
14 comments:
Dear Tricia,
Thank you for this latest update and for the special effort that it took you to compose and type it for us.
We will take your word for it and believe that you are in "super shape" for Day 37+. Most of us simply would not know how to keep going if we had to "walk a mile in your shoes". "Just a little weary" has to be a real understatement of the range of symptoms you are having at this time.
Still, we celebrate each milestone you achieve. Patience has become your middle name and "remarkable" describes you from the inside out.
We appreciate your summer wishes for all of us. Our enjoyment of family and friends is greatly increased because you have encouraged us to live life to the full.
Continue to take good care of yourself. We love you.
Louise and David
Dear Tricia,
You are unbelievable!! Thanks again for keeping us up-to-date on your 3rd transplant journey. Our thoughts and prayers are directed to your increase in strength, improved appetite, disappearance of the other symptoms, and a return to full good health.
Thanks for your thoughts for all of us to have a good summer. We say "Cheers" back to you, and send it to you wrapped with our love & admiration.
Lots of love,
Bob & Mary Ellen xoxoxo
Tricia,
Hello from sunny and very HOT San Antonio, Texas.
I came down on Weds. for a conference and will be flying home tomorrow.
Thank you for your message. It is so generous of you to spend some of your precious energy keeping us up to date.
Much love and lots of prayers,
Marcia xo
Dear Tricia,
How good of you to let us know how you are doing! We appreciate your generosity and effort when you are still in the healing stages of your comeback. We continue to pray for your recovery and return to full strength. In the meantime we admire your patience and fortitude and toast your reverence for life.
Love, BJ
Hi Tricia,
I think I told you at some point about my "Bleeding Hearts" group which meets for coffee now and again - we are all refugees (I can hardly use the term "graduates" since we keep having to go back and not for graduate studies, either) of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Most of us are also diabetics, one a survivor of breast cancer, another of a skin cancer but now fighting off prostate cancer, etc., etc. One of the guys, an amputee (lost his foot to complications from his diabetes) is following your blog and, of course, we got to talking about the admiration we have for you and your current travails, all of which was most interesting to the others in the group - you now have a few more, experienced, loving, devoted fans.
We do love you dearly, Tricia, and pass on to you, freely, some of our own failing strength in confidence that you will use it to once again conquer the beast!
Love,
Bob
Hey Tricia!
A trip through the Starbucks Drivethru... way to go! That is so great that you treated yourself like that...
Love to hear you say "super shape' Tricia.... Reminds us to not complain about a simple ache or pain!
We are enjoying the summer...football is starting soon, all 3 boys will be playing this year! Justin in high school football...! I will get a good taste of the summer watching practices and games, I will also get to watch the leaves turn to their beautiful fall colours - something you reminded us of years ago....
Cheers!
Good I was two more days away from calling your Mother! I'm happy to hear that you are (slowly) returning to real life. I'm just amazed that you are this strong this early on. It's amazing what the body can do!
Hey Trish
It is great to check your blog and read your progress!!! we are so happy that you are getting stronger and stronger each day. Take it easy,enjoy the warm weather and Starbucks!!!
Sheree
Hi Tricia!!
You, girl, are an inspiration and the strongest person I know! This blog is wonderful--not only to let us know how you are doing but also we learn with you along your journey. I had facebook'd Theresa for her birthday and she reminded me to check your blog. I'm so glad I did--I had wondered how you have been doing!
I see on your blog you had a brush with cuteness at the beginning of the year with our current zoo star, Malti! Malti is doing wonderfully at nearly 800 pounds now but still very tiny when standing by mom! She is quite the mischeivious little one but continues to delight everyone.
Anytime you need a little Malti fix/distraction, you absolutely let me know! Once you can stand a little 'elephant perfume', the 'Malti Therapy' is really good for one's soul! :)
Take care you!! Sending many happy thoughts your way!
Judy L.
Heh Tricia
Awesome progress and report and thanks for keeping us updated. I hope as your strength builds you will be able to enjoy some more summer - and your timing could be perfect - as we start to get some more warm weather this weekend.
Ange, Davis and Grace are all having fun this summer as we all just got back from a big camping trip down the Oregon coast - WOW such beautiful beaches and coastline - get that on your list as well as the Banyon Dunes golf TOP 10 in the U.S. - nicest I have seen (and most difficult like an Extreme Pebble Beach) - I will definitely play it next time.
We are heading over to Linda and Reynolds for a swim/bbq this weekend so hope the weather is hot! All the best and our thoughts and prayers with you always.
Hope to see you soon!
Cheers
Dave
Hi Tricia,
Just popping in this beautiful Sunday morning to say hello and to send you our love. We are in Medicine Hat today to visit with Dave's family and are about to take the kids for a morning swim in the pool.
You are doing an amazing job and you continue to inspire us every day. We love you so much!
Barb
Hi Tricia!
Just dropping you a line to let you know we are thinking of you...and to say hello!!
Hope things are going well for you :)
Cheers!
Sonia
Hi Tricia.....you are an AWESOME WARRIOR!!!!
Gentle Hugs...
Carol
Dear Tricia, Just a note to say hi and to let you know you are on my mind.
Hope you are doing OK. Love and lots of prayers from Auntie Marcia.
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