Work-up

Day two of our three day work-up in Calgary.  Both David and I are exhausted.  Yesterday was the longest.  Lab-work, meetings with a pharmacist, nutritionist, radiation technician, unit doctor, my transplant nurse and a social worker.  Today, we met with a psychologist, research, transplant nurse and I had a transfusion.

To make a long story short, they will be blasting me with full guns to prepare my body for the transplant.  Lots of drugs, lots of side effects.

 I think the best part of yesterday was the total body irradiation meeting.  I was much relieved after our meeting.  The way a nurse had previously described the procedure, it sounded like lying in a coffin.  Did I mention I'm claustrophobic?  Anyway, while I do get a box built for me, its see through and there is no lid.  I will be packed with heavy, warm gel packs and have to lie still for 20 mins.  Actually sounds like a spa trip to me....paid for by Alberta Health Care. I will be getting a very light dose of radiation; half of what normal transplant patients get.  I get the feeling its for good luck more than anything.

It was a tremendous amount of information and waiting around in between meetings. David was surprised by how tired he was by the end.  But he was a trooper!  For me, it was trying to remember everything and sharing what I know and walking around the hospital with haemaglobin of 77.  David found the quantity and variety of information enormous.

We explored the hospital a little.  Bad news is there isn't much food choice.  Good news is there is Starbucks just down the hallway.  The hospital is quite old but the unit I will be on seems to have quite a bit of light.

Today was definitely better. The transfusion helped though I found the differences in how they give blood a bit disconcerting.  They don't have a good patient checking system with blood products and they run the blood VERY fast.  But you know me, I made sure they changed the stuff I wasn't happy with.

The best part of today was sitting down with my transplant nurse, Alicja.  She's a lovely lady and works tremendously hard.  Today she was telling me that she believes I will do very well in the transplant.  The only thing that seems to be against me is my iron level which came out just under 2000 yesterday.  She doesn't expect any really horrible side effects like mouth sores and the like. I guess we will wait and see.

Tomorrow I'm in early for blood-work, a trace and  the bone marrow biopsy and aspirate.  I will let everyone know how that went in a couple of days.

Night with hugs,

E