Circumvent -- Word for the Day -- Thursday, July 24, 2008

Circumvent
DEFINITION: (verb) to get around.

Had a good visit with the doctor today. Chemo Sabe went in to lab early this morning so we could have the result back by our 2:00 appt. WBC was 5.5, but platelets are 35. He was advised by the nurses today that he would probably need platelets before the weekend.

So, here we go... 3:00 p.m. each day is the cut off for any port to be scheduled for the same day process. It was 2:32 p.m. when the doctor told us this. AND, he did need the platelets before the port came out. Platelets take about 20 min, BUT when the Infusion Center was called they could not take him because they were behind three hours. We would have to wait until early Friday morning.

"Won't work", says Chemo Sabe as he began to try and circumvent. Remember he was planning on being out of town on business. So after we waited another hour for a new schedule we were told he would have to wait until Monday. After some checking and timing on travel time, we think he can get back in town by 1:00 p.m. When we left we got the call that he can get platelets at noon and is scheduled to get the port out at 2:30 p.m.

The next two weeks he has labs twice a week. We will be waiting for his WBC to come up to 75. I don't think I have ever seen them that high. Growth factor shots have discontinued as of today. When the WBC does get to that level then we will begin "Bridging". Listen up... this will be a test question.

Bridging is the treatment before the stem cell transplant. He will not be taking chemo thru the bag, but will be taking chemo by mouth. The Thalidomide he has taken off and on throughout this process. He will also be put back on the Dexamethodone (steroid) for four days. He will begin to take .81 aspirin and continue on with the other meds he is now taking. This process will continue until we get a call he is ready for the transplant. As I mentioned, his labs will be twice a week, on Monday and Thursday. We think we have two weeks off, BUT our doctor told us the Big Doc may want him back in a week since we are not out-of-towners. We are ready!

Chemo Sabe keeps circumventing, but he also admitted today if the time gets cut short it is better to go ahead and get it over with. I really never thought there was any reason to delay it. I knew when he got back full into work, he tends to forget about the more important things. But, I am glad his work makes his forget about his illness, at times. Don't we all do that?

He continues to be very tired in the evenings. We did get the bikes out this evening and ran down the road and ate --- pizza. Then we just rode for about 30 minutes.

Hate to cut it short.... going to bed and he is working on computer.

Thank you for all you do --- Love -- Pepper