I'm more than 5 yr out from bone marrow transplant. See other blog for the rest

Friday, July 3, 2015

hello?

Hi many of you...(assuming more then Bluey, Gayla and Ret reading this)
 will remember that i sometimes report on my condition and kept you upto date with what's upwith me. But not so much lately..dont knowwhy

Here's the state of play:
summary : I'm half crap but stable so thats fine.

Detail: Myleo Prolific Neoplasm - 50 % crap stem cells 50% good  still making my own blood cells  but complicationd from treatment for Kidney disease have lately reduced red cell production. Down to 98 today but no blood transfusion booked.
Detail: Kidney diease; Kidneys leak protein into urine but contrary to usual patients my blood protein levels have not dropped significantly. Kidneys holding too much creatin but not so much that it affects other processes. Tried Interferon, didn't work, tried Pontecellei protocol (all those freaking steroids!) didn't work. Currently taking cellcept an imunesuppression drug. Started 8 weeks ago at half dose and upped to 3/4 dose 4 ramping up the dose and no idea what the results are today except can see red cells down so thats a non desirable side effect. Only at 3/4 of desireable dose of Cellcept so don't know whether I'll get dose upped today or held.

So sitting in the chair getting Intragamm and reflecting.

I have  done this trip to the chair over a hundred Times! Around here we don't get cake for such an accomplishment ...we just get to do it again!

I've been active with the Leukamia foundation in fundraising and more recently helping to coordinte a self help group called Our Little Group. I continue to take cupcakes into the Red Cross donors as thanks. The Red cross PR guy in Hervey Bay wants me to talk to the state PR person about something so stay tuned. I got to reply in the paper, to a report about the mortality issues of blood cancer over breast and skin cancersin the Wide Bay (region I live in) and its a bit freaky! Bluey calls me a media tart.

The Leukaemia Foundation is trailing a new way to organise Light the Night in Queensland and thats to leave the organizing to a community committee so me and two others are it this year. We have the same budget but the decisions stop with us not Brisbane.  I'm going after local sponsorship as it really means something now. more on that later.

more on everything later






Tuesday, April 14, 2015

After the trip report

So we got back from Canada and the US on thursday and friday we drove down to Brissy for appointments. Well bluey drove as she is amazing and powerful and needs to drive.

Anyway I got topped up with intragamm and got some more info about my condition from the Substitute doc who was my resident when I was in hospital so it was nice to catch up. He gave me some info about Klones (cells that are identical, they shouldn't be but in my case 50% are.) and about the number of celss that are mine and that are the Super Bro's (again about 50% I believe) that makes me a Chimera (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(mythology)) and part of my condition is called Chimerism. Cool eh?

My counts were okay... reds up to 117 which is good for me.

On to see the Big Boffin and he wantd me to start a new treatment for the Kidneys which is, in fact, and old treatment I had for my bone marrow. A course of Cell Cept or MicroPhenolate (sp?). It was last used on me to bridge the getting off of my big Immune Suppression drugs to no Immune supression. It is a little immune supression drug (or that's how I see it, it could be just its a totally different pathway to suppression or the like ...who knows). Anyway its easily tolorated by me, at least it was three years ago, so I'm not worried.

 So.....  I'm goin into yet another Hospital (PA) to go on a program to get this new/old drug and I'm getting turned on to the Prof for  my review. So waiting for a referral now. I don't know how long I'm going on to new regime.

Will let you know When I know.

more later
Chris

Monday, March 30, 2015

just catching up

I'm in Canada at Victoria for my brothers Birthday and I have been asked how I am a  bit and Thought I might give a full rundown here and then you all know.

I'm good .
 More later.....

That's not going to fly now is it?
Okay Stats out of the way so two weeks ago at my monthy review with both Doc Shoozzenbootzen ans with the Big Boffin I found out that:
my red count was 105 (not serious but lwer than your 125)
My white count was very good.
the protein in my urine continues to be be way high and that's not good. but...
the protein in blood is normal !? which is confusing my docs usually if the protein is leking out the kidneys then its lower in the blood so some how my body is conpensating for the leak?
My fibrosis in the bone marrow is still not good but its been stable for months and months which is good.
My cretin in the blood is high ( whish is bad.)
My kdiabetes is totally under control and i hope to get off insulin soon and onto oral treatment soon.

So my Myleo Fibrosis is half crap but stable and my kidneys  let out the thing ist to keep in and keeps in the thing its to let out. so  they're half crap but stable as well so.....

I'm good
More Later.
Chris

Saturday, December 13, 2014

I've been putting this off, I think

`
I had a long talk with my nephrologist, well a half hour but that's long for him. I aksed him how i was going on this treatment because I know what the levels are and they are not all that great.

I told him I know that the docs don't like to speculate about the possible outcomes but really what's the go.

He said "That's like asking me to say what all the outcomes of chess game are after the first move. Boris Spatski could but not me".

I did find this out.... and keep in mind that this may change.
We talked about my kidneys are currently half crap. that is to say they are doing  40 to 50% of the effective  job they should be doing.. The treatment I'm on (Pontecellie Protocol) , if it causes change the change will be in any of three time periods 1. Now. while in the treatment. 2. Immediately after word, 3. within a couple of months of the end of treatment, so we won't talk about future treatments until  the new year (maybe Feb March).

I may be doing dialysis in 5 to 10 years if nothing else works. I'm a possible  prospect for transplant  now because of my age but in 10 years I won't be. He has a bunch of ninety year olds that are dong quite nicely on Dialysis so not to worry and that the science is getting better every year.

He was firm in saying that although the current treatment has not made significant change at the moment we won't know till later and that there are other treatments lined up as well.

Now to report what doc Schoozenbootzen said yesterday after looking at both my bone marrow and chemistry results. " I see stability" " Although there is not significant improvement in your kidney chemistry there is also no further decline, You have stopped getting worse" . WoooHooo I'll take any good news including at least you aren't getting worse. I find this to be hilarious but I do have a big black humour reservoir.  He went on to say that my MyleoFibrosis is stable as well still there but not causing grief and not screwing up my blood counts to much.

I'm reflecting now to all those teachers that said "Chris could do so much more but he performs at an average level." My bone marrow has adopted my style and is performing at an average level. (I guess technically not even average cause that would be like all you people with fully functioning blood cells).  Anyway I'm puttering along getting Intragamm each month and    trying to be a bit fitter.

I've been going to aqua exercise class now for three weeks.will probably start in the gym in the new year. its good. And I have a  lot of projects planned for around the house so should be able to keep fit that way too.

Oh and that chart I made up of the doses I thought I would get while in Greenslopes. I got over 50% of it right those I missed were very close. So I'm pretty proud of my knowledge about my own insulin production.

More later
 Chris

Sunday, November 16, 2014

How odd


this morning I was in a hospital getting treatment and now at 9:30 am I'm in the fifth floor hotel coffee shop beside the train station. Its a medium level buzz fest about the G20. Journos from what sounds like all over having breakfast around me and I'm looking out on the balcony where they have two Talking Heads set up. Saw two different guys but they could have been twins doing interviews. But they were obviously talking to someone in a studio somewhere.  Now its sitting all vacant. The server tells me that the sets have been used continuously from friday night.

The ride over was quiet and without any traffic jam. Lots of road blocks on the side streets but no problem getting to Roma Street station. There is a whole contingent of Police in the Transit centre but no excitement. I can't see any world leaders taking a bus out of town.

My life is very interesting...
Looking forward to seeing Bluey at 3:00pm today.
More later
Chris

Saturday, November 15, 2014

More on bored people


More on what bored people do in the hospital
They have a coffee in the coffee shop downstairs and they up date their Blog.

I reckon nurses don't get as much praise as they deserve. The job has become so much about paper work and getting all the boxes ticked and yet they still seem to have time to be genuinely interested in your life as well of course of your wellbeing. I have met and re met some outstanding  nurses in this year of popping into GPH. They are all great. they keep their heads as the pressure builds they are pleasant and explain what's going on and they stick to the rules  even when its inconvenient for some prednisone boys. I just can't say enough good things. Thanks to the GPH nurses and to all the staff. And thanks to  my other nursing pals especially ones that left other careers to join nursing!

more later
Chris

Friday, November 14, 2014

Going good

Going good with my Insuin and blood sugar levels. today I start the reduced Prednisone pills and at this time last cycle my readings were still over the top but this morning I was well within range. So may get to leave on Sunday.



Had a great visit from Wal and Mary Ellen last night. They drove in after work and visited for a couple of hours. Good yarns, catch up and laughs thanks guys. Wal told a story on Pat Ehrich about figuring out  that a horse is pregnant.

Hey Jo got any other daughters looking like that?

Good eh?
more later Chris