Back to work

I went back to work on last Monday. I don't know why I wanted to go back, other than I like the people I work with and I miss my job, but it is just delaying the inevitable. PLUS, it was getting expensive for me to be at home. I kept finding projects that I wanted to do around the house and none of them were cheap. Going back for three weeks will not help me keep my job after transplant. I will be out too long. :( It was hard sharing my desk, computer, etc with the temp. It feels like and invasion of personal space and, even though she is very nice, it is hard not to resent her being here.
I found out Wednesday I am going to transplant on March 7. Even though this is what I have been waiting for, I am terrified. Jason and I met with Dr. Koneca and she mapped out the possible problem that I may encounter including severe gut problems from diarrhea to mouth sores, to being unable to eat and drink for weeks. This is all related to the marrow vs host disease. However, the marrow vs host disease can kill any remaining leukemia. So here is what I am hoping for: there is what they call marrow vs leukemia which is a mild form of the above disease. I what just enough for the marrow to be affective in fighting this crap, but not enough to make me very ill. Is that asking too much? Naw, I don't think so.

Biopsies, biopsies, biopsies

I went in Wednesday for my marrow biopsy.  Boy, was that fun....NOT. Peter, the PA that did my biopsy was having serious issues. The first attempt he figured he was on the outside of the bone and would have to re-adjust the needle. After numbing me some more, he tried again.  Did you know that the T-handled needle to do biopsies looks like the nails you find at the hardware store with the blue plastic at the head. They are even the same color. I wonder if the hospital buys them from Home Depot for about $.95 each and charges me around $150 for them. Anyway, the marrow he retrieved from the second attempt "did not look right" he thinks he was still hitting the side of the bone and not the middle. Soooo, there was a third attempt with a little more numbing. Jackpot! The procedure that usually takes about 10 minutes took close to 1/2 hour. And man was my left butt sore.  I did get to see the marrow as they put it on the slides. It is not very impressive. It just looks like solid blood.  Now spinal fluid...that stuff is cool! The second time I had the LP, the nurse asked if I wanted to see the fluid. I thought, "not really." But she showed it to me and it was clear. Amazing. Apparently tears, saliva and spinal fluid are the only clear fluids in the body. Learn something new everyday.
Update on Kim:  her first biopsy did not identify any cancer. I thought this would be good, but the surgeon said he wanted to go in again and take a portion of the mass that is in her stomache instead of the lymphnoid he took. Apparently, this mass is full of blood vessels and he said that she should should hope it turns out to be lymphoma because it would be easily treated with chemo to shrink and remove the mass. He says that otherwise, removal of the mass would cause massive hemoraging and could kill her. Nice. Never thought I would start praying for someone to have cancer.

Keeping up with the Nortons

Jason and I have some friends that we do everything with. They are our vacation buddies and our some of our closest friends. Weather it is Lake Powell, the sand dunes, DisneyWorld, or cruising the Caribbean, they are the people we do everything with. We have a big joke between us that they are trying to keep up with the Nortons whenever we buy something new (we say it is keeping up with the Burgons). For example, when we bought our cabin cruiser, Kim and Lynn got one too. When we bought our toyhauler, they turned their old one in and bought a new one. You get the idea.
Yesterday, Kim called me. She was at Jordan Valley Emergency and they had diagnosed her with Lymphoma. I was in SHOCK!!! Jason said I grabbed his hand and squeezed his fingers (apparently really hard too) I don't remember this. All I know is I had to go see her. I knew what she was going through and I had to be there for her. I am glad we went. We were able to make her laugh. Especially when I told her, "Kim, this is one time you were NOT supposed to keep up with the Nortons!"
We are waiting for the results of her biopsy. I am praying that is is NHL (not the National Hockey League) and she will be in remission soon!

A Full Week of Freedom

Counts are climbing!!!!  I do not have to go back for lab work until Wednesday the 9th. I can't even begin to tell you how liberating and boring this is. They haven't released me to work (I asked but they never answered) so I am pretty much home all day trying to keep myself busy. I don't have to stay home, but all I would do is go spend money.  I have found several projects I can do including: touch up paint work, striping wallpaper and repainting Bay's room, installing new light fixtures, repainting the laundry and bath, refinishing the oak railing, touching up and refinishing wood furniture But doing all these could get expensive! I did buy some fixtures  for my bathroom, but of course nothing ever works out. I got one light hung and went to put up the other one, but the stupid light box is off-set and the type of lights I bought have to be mounted directly on the box. Looking forward to hanging with my sister-neighbors this weekend.
I started my application for SS disability and long term disability with my work. Disabled, I don't feel disabled. I mentioned this to the transplant coordinator and she said it was good that I take care of these things while I am feeling well. O.k. Now she has me scared. I don't like the idea of being too sick to do anything or even take care of myself. Ugh! I just wish everything was over with.