September 17, 2008

News Flash: I have moved, my new room is on the 10th Floor yea the kids can come up & tomorrow night they have guitar hero in the lounge, My Room # is 1053 The new room phone number is (614) 293-5903.

My Hemoglobin is 10.4 & my Platelet Count 25. Weighed in at 168lbs, don't know how that happened I was 174 when I signed in. I am still a big girl at the moment but thought I might start keeping an eye on my weight also.

Dr. John my Floor Doc came to see me before lunch today & let me know all my visitors get to dress up like Easter Eggs - yellow gowns & purple gloves. I am currently on contact precautions. They tested me (mouths & buts every Monday on the 3rd floor whoopee) & I am a carrier of VRE - Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus. Enterococcus are bacteria that live in the digestive and genital tracts. They are normally benign and don't cause any problems in healthy people. Vancomycin is a powerful antibiotic that is often the antibiotic of last resort. It is generally limited to use against bacteria that are already resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics. VRE is a mutant strain of Enterococcus that originally developed in individuals who were exposed to the antibiotic. Although VRE generally doesn't affect healthy people, anyone who comes in contact with the bacteria can become a carrier. Once you become a carrier (I am a carrier at the moment they are trying to clear me this week), you can easily spread the bacteria to friends and family. In addition, if you become a chronic carrier of VRE, you could easily become infected when you are older or in declining health. It's particular important to avoid becoming a carrier if you share a home with those at risk - the very young, the very old or the very ill. OK enough of that.

Even though I am on the contact precautions in my room, I am allowed to go out side of it with the only precaution of washing my hands when I return, go figure so I did a jail break today & went out on Campus for about a mile walk. There is a nice little spot called Mirror lake that is not to far away & the gyro stand right outside the James smells delicious at lunch time. My Doc said I do need to get out & walk when I am up to it. On my way back to the room I got a call from Molly Fitzpatrick my friend in London their electric is still out & is not expected to be back on until this Saturday! Angie Hunsinger one of my old bosses & friend also called me this afternoon she is bringing up Paula Parker & Mrs. Roush on Friday after work I think.And my Katy Putt called, man how I do miss the old days in ARN 4 between Kitchen.Chestnut & Hunter there was never a dull day. I hope to see you soon Kathy but take care of yourself first.

I know this post is long I got a lot of information tonight. Some of the results are in. They confirmed what I already know AML - M2, They were able to determine that I am FLIP 3 negative-this is a good thing they said. About the 10th day into my Chemo treatment we will have all of the chromogenyal results that will impact my prognosis.
Here is my current chemo cocktail they started at 9pm. I got a nice cup full of 7 medications at 8:30 to prep me- Ativan, Decadron & Zofron

Treatment------1234567
Cytarabine----- xxxxxxx 24/7 via IV
Daunorubicin ---xxx via IV
Etoposide -------xxx via IV

My First Sergent, Master Sergeant James Felton came up to see me last night. After a brief navigation tutiorial, I was able to talk him in to the 12th street garage parging lot, (It has parking for $2.00 if you as for the green ticket at the reception desk. He brought me a few things I really wanted in my room from my desk at work (pictures of the family). We walked down to Wendy's it is litterraly on the ground floor rightg outside the James elevator doors. He keeps me on my toes, no negativity. I got a little week a coupl of times but I blamed it on the Chemo Drugs. I think he left around midnight I could not remember I got tired so fast & could not stay awake any longer. It was a great visist.