In general, I am doing pretty well. I am currently seeing the oncologist once a week. For awhile, I was going every 2-3 weeks. That ended when I got pneumonia and wasn't getting better. Now I am back to weekly. Usually these visits consist of a blood draw, wait for results, and go over blood counts. I still do a Neupogen (G-shot) once a week to keep my white blood cell counts above 4. This is so I can fight off infections. My hematocrit is back to normal. My platelets still are hovering around 60-70. (Normal is 150-400) I am under testing to see if I am making an antibody that attacks platelets. If that is not the reason they are still low, I will probably need a bone marrow biopsy to see what is going on in the marrow.
I am down to two prescribed medications and a complete drawer full of medications that I need to take in to one of those medication recycling programs. One is acyclovir. This is to prevent getting the chicken pox virus. I am not longer immune to any of the childhood immunized illnesses. I get to start over again on immunizations in July. The other medication is hormone replacements due to chemo and radiation. I also take a handful of vitamins and other over the counter supplements.
I have no diagnosed GVHD (graft vs.host disease). This is a major complication from a stem cell transplant. It is where your new donated stem cells attack your body because it does not recognize it as its own. Complications can range from minor (like red skin) to major (like organs shutting down resulting in death). Since a majority of stem cell recipients from donors get GVHD, I am always thinking I have it. Every little bump, weird feeling, and sore muscle starts me thinking....what if it's GVHD? I am sure the longer I am cancer free, the better it will get.
In July it will be my 1rst birthday! I will be back up in Seattle at the SCCA for 1 week to do all my 1 year check-up appointments. I get to see how well my body has recovered from all the toxic battering it has endured. They check everything including your mouth, lungs, heart, bone marrow, ect. And I will start my immunizations.
Some may be wondering what the long term affects of all the chemo and radiation are. The thing that I notice the most is the numbness in my feet. I have seen a podiatrist and there is really nothing to treat it. I will likely always have numbness in my feet. Also, I don't grow armpit hair. (I know, bummer, huh?) I don't know if this will last forever or not. I have a new allergy to egg. I am gradually getting my energy back. I've read that the #1 complaint from transplant patients at 1 year is fatigue, so I guess I am right on track.
Meanwhile, life has gone on at the Forslund household. My hair is growing out into a nice pixie cut for summer. We have a new puppy named Eldy. (LD for loghans dog) For those that know the transplant rules, I know I am not supposed to have a puppy until 1 year post transplant. But, some rules are meant to be broken, right? Plus, I am almost there! We are planning lots of camping trips for the summer to make up for last year. Loghan is in soccer and loves superheroes. Life is good.
The family at Relay for Life in Auburn.
