Myeloma

WooHOOOO! We are going home FRIDAY AM!

Well I've never tried blogging before but, since being diagnosed with myeloma, I've found so much inspiration in reading other people's stories, I thought I might try my hand at sharing mine.

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a pleasant holiday as we head into 2009, which we probably all hope goes better than this past one! :)

Hi all!

Today we had our first of 2 days of stem cell collection. Their protocol requires a minimum of 2 days of collection.

Now on my fifth cycle and looking back in my diary I see more good day's than bad, which is quite good. Had a "top up" recently and that made me feel much better and I can now stride out when walking, although I do get breathless very easily.
But I feel that things are improving although slowly.

At my weekly clinic visit yesterday, my Key Nurse handed me a booklet highlighting the in's and out's of Stem Cell Harvest and Transplant. We have spoken about it before but that seemed so long ago it is in the dim and distant past.

For those of you who may not have been following Dave's Caring Bridge website, where I do most of my journaling (www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidpuente), I had a great 2,200 mile trek across the US from West Coast (N California) to Little Rock, Arkansas with my trusty yellow lab Kip. It was uneventful and wonderful and managed to visit with a couple of friends along the way.

I am coming to the end of my fourth cycle of CTD treatment. Each cycle lasts for three weeks, starting on a friday and finishing three weeks later on a Thursday when I see my consultant. The treatment is all self medicating and consists of me taking chemotherapy tablets every Friday. followed by a very well regimented and managed regime of dexemethasone (steroid) and Thalidomide.

Hey all! I have dinner guests this evening! WOWSA!