Let’s get back at it!
What a difference! The post op general cancer step down unit was no Ritz Carleton. I was used to the 5 star treatment in my bubble. The transplant unit nurses were specially trained to handle the needs of these oh so special patients. A virtual white glove experience, hospital wise. Now only five days removed from that unit, I was back in unfamiliar territory….with a roommate! Human interaction other than hospital personnel was a real change of pace. I’d rather be in the bubble. So whats the story?
I was not well. My temperature was hanging in the 101 to 102 range. This was not good. Dr. Dave came in to explain the situation. After the initiation of my transplant, I began receiving a drug called Cyclosporine. I would be on this drug for at least a year. This was one of many maintenance drugs that I would be taking, but the most important. I received it intravenously while in the unit but at home it was delivered orally. It was not only a dreadfully tasting concoction, it was also very harsh on the body. Cyclosporin was an anti rejection drug. A Bone Marrow Transplant is considered like any other transplant, heart, liver, kidney, etc. Anti rejection drugs are needed to help the body assimilate the foreign organ into your body and help it to blend and thrive as your own. In addition to the wild weekend that I hadn’t expected, the new drug was very harsh on me. Not only was my temperature high, a sign of infection, my blood counts had also dropped to levels that were conducive to even more injury. The worst fears the doctors have are blood infections, pneumonia, heart issues and something called “Graft Versus Host” disease. To contract any of these issues while my immune system is so compromised could easily lead to my demise.
Were we scared? Yep, very, very scared. Again, hooked back up to the IV pole with multiple lines to bags of, well, lots of bags. The Hickman Catheter was again working overtime. I still had a terrible time trying to eat and get nutrients into my body. I knew it was going to be a very rough night. Lori came after work to see what was going on and then left soon after to get home to our babies. We were so lucky to have the help from our families. The uncertainty was so hard on everybody. My roommate was actually the father of another Jeweler that worked in town. He also had a form of Leukemia but was in his early sixties and had just been operated on. Nice guy but neither of us were great company. It would be a rough night to sleep. So much going on all of the time. Nurses in and out constantly. I really was feeling like shit. Very anxious too. Dr. Dave was very concerned and told me that the antibiotics they were giving me would hopefully handle the fever and additional transfusions of blood products the other situations. I would stay in the hospital at least another five days. So basically, 56 days in the bubble, four days of freedom and now six days maybe or more… on the Cancer floor. Not a happy camper was I. Let’s see how it goes.
Next Up: “Graft Versus Host Disease”