She looks good-but that is like judging a book by its cover. The Hospitalist came in and told us Terry's hemoglobin was looking good and that her blood pressure was close to normal. He is a bit worried about her renal function and the underscoring cause of these latest problems. He changed a few of her meds, cut her i.v. in half and told us we have to wait for the blood and urine tests to come back. Terry's renal ultrasound looked good from a macroscopic view-now we need to know from a microscopic perspective.
The good news was the Oncologist came by and as far as he s concerned Terry could have been discharged today. The Nephrologist never came in today. It is the Hospitalist's call as to her release date. Looks like she has one in favor of letting her out and we wait on the other two.
Maybe tomorrow????
7/11/10
7/10/10
THE BUMP LOOKS SMALLER
Still in the hospital, but things are looking better. Terry's hemoglobin is going up, blood pressure is going up, creatinine clearance is coming down. These are all good signs! There are a bunch of possibilities to Terry's current renal status. The most likely are:acute volume depression (which is reversible), a side effect to Diovan (which is reversible), myeloma kidney (which can be treated). We are hoping the problem is caused by one of the first two mentioned. There are other possibilities but they seem remote at this time. In the meantime we wait for the results of many tests that have been done.
She looks really good tonight compared to the past two days. Her color is back as is her mental acuity. We aren't sure how many more days she will be hospitalized but I'll keep you posted.
Keep up the good thoughts!
She looks really good tonight compared to the past two days. Her color is back as is her mental acuity. We aren't sure how many more days she will be hospitalized but I'll keep you posted.
Keep up the good thoughts!
7/9/10
THE BUMPS KEEP COMING
Terry has been doing pretty good since January. She went through 3 months of cardiac rehab with flying colors. Her nickname was "Speedy Gonzales" when she was on the tread mill. Her strength was growing daily as was her hair. It is now the length and fashion of Jamie Lee Curtis in the yogurt ad. 2010 was looking bright!
And now the rest of the story. She has hit another bump in the road. For the past two weeks Terry was growing more tired each day and then an awful cold set in. She visited her primary care doctor and he unhappy with her low blood pressure and hemoglobin, both had been normal just 3 weeks ago.
I took her into the ER last night about 9 PM. At 3 AM she was admitted. And from 3 AM to 9AM there was no rest due to constant pocking, testing, beeps, etc. All day today was a parade of specialists, hematologists, oncologists, nephrologists, hospitalists and a few others. She received two units of blood and about 6 gallons of IV fluids. Her color has returned and her blood pressure is starting to come back up.
She has to stay in the hospital for at least two more days. Then depending on the many test results we will go from there. Here's hoping this is just another bump in the road to recovery.
And now the rest of the story. She has hit another bump in the road. For the past two weeks Terry was growing more tired each day and then an awful cold set in. She visited her primary care doctor and he unhappy with her low blood pressure and hemoglobin, both had been normal just 3 weeks ago.
I took her into the ER last night about 9 PM. At 3 AM she was admitted. And from 3 AM to 9AM there was no rest due to constant pocking, testing, beeps, etc. All day today was a parade of specialists, hematologists, oncologists, nephrologists, hospitalists and a few others. She received two units of blood and about 6 gallons of IV fluids. Her color has returned and her blood pressure is starting to come back up.
She has to stay in the hospital for at least two more days. Then depending on the many test results we will go from there. Here's hoping this is just another bump in the road to recovery.
5/4/10
2 MONTHS SINCE NORMAL
These blogs will become less frequent as Terry progresses in her recovery. She saw her primary oncologist last week and all lab work was completely normal. That continues to bolster our hopes and prayers.
Terry started some cardiac rehab one month ago. Three times a week she attends an exercise class where she has been doing the treadmill and weight lifting. Her nickname is "Speedy Gonzales". (No profiling intended).
Terry continues to get stronger every day. Among other things that Jim and I are grateful for is she is the full time cook now, among other chores she has resumed. The food is 1000% better than just a few months ago.
Thanks again to everyone for your prayers and well wishes.
Terry started some cardiac rehab one month ago. Three times a week she attends an exercise class where she has been doing the treadmill and weight lifting. Her nickname is "Speedy Gonzales". (No profiling intended).
Terry continues to get stronger every day. Among other things that Jim and I are grateful for is she is the full time cook now, among other chores she has resumed. The food is 1000% better than just a few months ago.
Thanks again to everyone for your prayers and well wishes.
3/8/10
SHE'S NORMAL
Terry had an appointment with Dr. Bloom, her primary hematologist/oncologist today. He read all of the test results and said, "Congratulations, you're back in the pool, you are normal." Her results show that she is between 90-100 % in remission. There is one small protein that showed up, but that could be interpreted as normal. She no longer has any restrictions other than she shouldn't lift heavy objects. He doesn't want her to do any jumping jacks either. She can go out in crowds, travel, kiss the cat, and just about anything she wants to do.
Terry will have to continue to see Dr. Bloom on a regular basis as her cancer can come back at anytime----but for the moment and who knows how long-SHE'S NORMAL.
Thanks to all of you who have done so much for us this past year. Now my prayer is to keep her normal for a long-long time.
Terry will have to continue to see Dr. Bloom on a regular basis as her cancer can come back at anytime----but for the moment and who knows how long-SHE'S NORMAL.
Thanks to all of you who have done so much for us this past year. Now my prayer is to keep her normal for a long-long time.
2/17/10
SUPER RESULTS
What a week! Exhilarating might be the best descriptor. On Monday we got a call from Terry's Cardiologist. He sees no reason for her to continue seeing him and her heart follow up will now be taken care of by her Primary Care Physician.
On Monday evening we got a call from her Primary Hematologist/Oncologist with the initial results of her bone marrow biopsy. He started the call with, "Great news!".
On Tuesday Terry saw her Transplant Oncologist. He reiterated the good news about the bone marrow biopsy and is very pleased with how Terry progressed. There are a few test results he will get back next week before he makes his final interpretation and prognosis, however he feels she is at least 90% in remission. Terry doesn't have to see him again until December as he is turning Terry over to her Primary Oncologist.
WOW---What week!!!!
On Monday evening we got a call from her Primary Hematologist/Oncologist with the initial results of her bone marrow biopsy. He started the call with, "Great news!".
On Tuesday Terry saw her Transplant Oncologist. He reiterated the good news about the bone marrow biopsy and is very pleased with how Terry progressed. There are a few test results he will get back next week before he makes his final interpretation and prognosis, however he feels she is at least 90% in remission. Terry doesn't have to see him again until December as he is turning Terry over to her Primary Oncologist.
WOW---What week!!!!
2/11/10
Cardiac Update
Some really good news! Terry saw the cardiologist in the congestive heart failure (CHF) clinic. He ran a slew of tests, but the most important one showed that her left ventricle has returned to normal. He is leaning toward a diagnosis of something called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. In layman's terms it is also called broken heart syndrome. It seems that stress can put someone into CHFand after awhile the heart will normalize. She will have to take some oral medications for awhile, but if she has takotsubo then those meds will eventually be withdrawn.
She saw her primary oncologist yesterday and had a bone marrow biopsy. Next week Terry will be having her 60 day post transplant check up and we hope to get a reading on how well she is doing with her fight against multiple myeloma.
Her spirits are great. She looks wonderful and we are getting out to movies, restaurants and grocery shopping. However we have to go when these places aren't loaded with people. Still it is out and about.
Please say two prayers for Terry:
1-Her bone marow biopsy shows that she is remission,
2-She has takotsubo and that her heart will normalize.
She saw her primary oncologist yesterday and had a bone marrow biopsy. Next week Terry will be having her 60 day post transplant check up and we hope to get a reading on how well she is doing with her fight against multiple myeloma.
Her spirits are great. She looks wonderful and we are getting out to movies, restaurants and grocery shopping. However we have to go when these places aren't loaded with people. Still it is out and about.
Please say two prayers for Terry:
1-Her bone marow biopsy shows that she is remission,
2-She has takotsubo and that her heart will normalize.
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