forgot to tell you about my blood counts!

One last quick one:

The reason I am here is for immunosuppressant therapy. It kills off all my levels of blood (red/hemoglobin, white and platelet counts). Then it is supposed to reboot my bone marrow to produce the 3 levels.

Here are normal levels, when I first arrived and today's count:

Normal: Hmg level: 12-16 Mine on June 18th: 7.8 Mine today: 12.4

Normal WBC (immune fighter): 4-11 Mine on June 18th 2.2 Mine today: 4.0 (neuts 1.6)

Normal Platelet: 150-400 Mine on June 18th: 10 Mine today: 57

Keep in mind I had platelets put in yesterday and two units of red blood on Saturday and once ATG starts again, everything will tank again but I thought this was super encouraging hey!?

Good day today

Well, I guess it was a pretty good day as I didn't have to do anything gross! Just visited and ate a little, showered...big day! :) Doc was in today and things on my liver seemed to have started to head back down so that's good...he keeps asking about all these weird family history things with liver so if anyone knows something that I don't, now is the time to tell!! He and the GI unit think that it is from the drugs and that it will come back but we can't have treatment again until it does. He actually said MAYBE by the end of the week!!!! Oh, Jorja is here now, I'll be back!! :)

Great visit with Jorja today...she enjoyed my TV, popsicles, my electric bed,the nurses...Rowen was here earlier today too,what a day!

My friend Shannon dropped off a great sandwich and some goodies and I got two FABULOUS packages from very good friends...Al and Vuv, thank you sooooooo much, I loved every second of it except when I left my dove bar in the sun Al...:(Shan dropped off a Caramilk thank God! Ha! Al included a plastic wine glass and ALL the nurses thinks she is Awesome and so does my doctor!! I drink Ginger Ale out of and LOVE it! Vuv, I'll be spending the gift certificate before you know it...I think Scott said he is going to be building me a bookshelf for all my mags, books and toys! ha! I feel so spoiled, but sooooo , so blessed, thank you all so much! I'm still not sleeping at night because of the nose packing but I was ok to see JJ. I thought she would freak out worse but she didn't. Popsicles and Treehouse helped but I still look super gross!!!!! I hear that Deb and Jo are being crazy bezatches and driving from Swift Thursday at like 5 or 6 am and heading home Friday after Scott and the kids leave for Red Deer were Jorja is a flowergirl at neice Nicole's wedding. I don't even know what to say and it hurts my nose when I cry so I just sit here and take the niceness! So unlike me, I know but I'm soooooo grateful I've let everyone help my family and I so much. A special shout out to G&G in Swift and the Walls for taking such good care of my family...I can't wait to come and enjoy the time next summer myself!!

Thank you all again and Happy Canada DAy tomorrow, please enjoy it for me! Love, Vic

Still in a holding pattern.

Hello again,

Well, sadly no news to report. My liver is still acting up, so no treatements etc. Had another U/S today to check it and blood work. The worst thing now is the packing up my nose and haven't been able to sleep at night. Makes me sleep all day with a half a Gravol then I'm no good to anyone. Saw many friends and family and they all brought food etc. Carla, Russ, Anne, Meagz, Karen, Trev and Kelly. Great to see them even though my company sucks! Karen wheeled me outside for a bit too but I think she secretly enjoyed that....ha! She is going to our house tonight to watch the kids while Scott comes for a visit. He and the kids spent Friday-today in Swift and Jorja had the time of her life I guess! Rowen too as he got spoiled and just stayed with G&G while Scott and JJ went to the Wall's cabin for some spoiling of there own. He felt guilty for leaving me but I'm soooooo glad they went! I couldn't see JJ with my nose packed like this, it's gonna be bad enough seeing Scott tonight! My blood pressure and heart rate are still high, every time I start to feel a little better and clear, it's time for meds! Ahhhh!!!!!!! My mom always said it's the drugs thatta kill ya! Let's prove her wrong shall we?!

Over and out....Vic

Nose packing = not fun

So, my liver levels are up a bit so they are tweaking some of my meds and treatment is off until they come down. Today I got my nose "packed" because of nose bleeds. I've never felt anything worse I'm sure so I've been in pain all day. My nose is about 10 times it's size with bloody gauze hanging out of it...supposedly it disintegrates in 7-10 days. I met the new doctor on call and he's the one changing up my meds. My doc isn't on until next Friday....I feel very discouraged, sore and sad but mostly just because I want out of here! Not sure how much more setbacks I can take, it's really draining, physically and of course emotionally...there is no problem spreading out the treatments the doc said as it stays in your body for months but obviously, I want them over!

I'll be in touch!! xo Vic

I may blow up this place...:)

So, I guess I have a drug-induced hepatitis, supposedly no long term effects but no treatment until my levels come down. In the meantime I've been having 2 and 3 hours nose gushers. My doc called Ear, Nose and Throat today, they sent up there cart of gross stuff and said she'd be up after lunch. She called at 4 to say she couldn't make it...can you believe it!? So, my face is so swollen and distorted from pinching the bridge of my nose for 3 hours. Plus I had to have platelets put in and as I get hives from it, they give me benadryll which puts me out for hours. Just feeling better now and hoping no nosebleed...GOD! Feeling tired of the put-offs. Doc says that as long as we finish all 5 treatment in two weeks, were ok. I started them last Friday so I'm a little ragged on waiting. I was supposed to be home soon! Anyway, still tired but I'll be in touch. On a great note I saw Rowen yesterday, although the rotter wouldn't look at me for the first half and then had dinner with Jorja and Scott in the outside part of the cafe downstairs!

Vic

One more setback...grr!

Hello all, just a quick update; we were on sched today to do treatment 4 when Doc noticed I was more jaundiced than usual. So today we are on hold to do liver blood tests and liver U/S. I also have had nose bleeds that are super gushers lasting over 2 hours last night....so because I have enough platelets to clot, doc thinks he may send and Ear/Nose/Throat doc up and cotterize (sp?) in my nose so it stops...that should be super fun! Oh well, if it stops the gushers, I'll be happy.

On a happy note Scott's bringing up my baby today, I haven't seen him in a week so I'm kinda happy I'm not getting treatment otherwise I'd totally be out of it!

I'll be in touch!

xo Vic

3rd treatment complete!

Well finally today I did my 3rd treatment and now two to go...I'm finding the treatment icky but the pills I have to take I keep barfing up...yuck! So I've got changed to liquid and I was a little naueaseaus all morning I didn't barf it up...hopefully it's the way to go. I was visited by Scott and our friend Laura today, she brought Jugo Juice, what a great idea! Yum! I was so out of it I mostly stared past them but tonight my head is much clearer and the sun is shining out my window, thank God, no heart probs so far!

Wouldn't it be great if tomorrow I could another one done and then only one more! Then it's the danger zone so to speak. Levels are all so low that infection is almost inevitable but I'm already on a million meds, what's one more?!

Peace out friends and fam, keep on sending me those vibes, as you can see, they are getting through sometimes!

Love Vic