My cancer journey

Ed_K · January 25, 2025, 03:48:47 PM

I had problems with the platelet's by the time the 21st rolled around the platelet's were down to 31. The doctor that was to do the operation and my oncology doctor met and decided to go ahead with the port. The next day I had an IV to get the Emplicti injection using the port, it went well. But the drug has a side effect on me that makes me wicked tired. So I've been sleeping 16 hrs a day.
Trouble with this is work needed done before sugaring season is getting slowed down while I heal up. Doctor's told me no lifting my arm past my shoulder and no lifting of anything more than 5 lbs for 10 day. But I will survive.

Y'all have a great day.

SwampDonkey · January 25, 2025, 04:30:45 PM

Hang in there Ed, don't over do it. Just one of them hurdles. You'll soon jump over it and it will be behind you.

Peter Drouin · January 25, 2025, 07:27:51 PM

You are one tough man, I tip my hat to you sr.

thecfarm · January 26, 2025, 07:31:47 AM

Good luck with the healing up part.
Sugaring, spring is coming.

Stephen Alford · January 28, 2025, 09:12:34 AM

That is a tough row to hoe . Hope you see improvement soon . Thinking of you and your family .

Ed_K · February 03, 2025, 11:39:17 AM

I'm noticing that my thought process is going down hill. I have a sometimes 3 minute pause before I remember what a certain word or phrase comes to me, It's getting really depressing.
Anyone have any ideas on how to get my thought process back.

Y'all have a great day.

Magicman · February 03, 2025, 04:35:38 PM

My thought process has been gone for so long that we will be new friends if we ever meet again.

doc henderson · February 03, 2025, 10:02:07 PM

lots of gimmicks so hard to know. could be side effects of some of your treatment/meds. Keep using that brain to try to keep sharp. I have the same issue at times, especially bad with names.

TreefarmerNN · February 04, 2025, 06:50:12 AM

Quote from: Ed_K on February 03, 2025, 11:39:17 AMI'm noticing that my thought process is going down hill. I have a sometimes 3 minute pause before I remember what a certain word or phrase comes to me, It's getting really depressing.
Anyone have any ideas on how to get my thought process back.

Y'all have a great day.

I can't quite remember what I've read about memory issues.

Oh, yea. Things like crossword puzzles, Wordle, Ken-Ken etc. can help keep the brain circuits in line. Just do what's "fun". My wife does crosswords and she's definitely better on coming up with words than I am.

beenthere · February 04, 2025, 02:46:21 PM

Ed_K
I've decided it comes with age and loss of the old gray matter. Like the rubber on the tires, it wears away and it ain't comin back. May be treatment related too.

Ljohnsaw · February 04, 2025, 10:22:08 PM

If you have a smart phone, download the NY Times game app. I just use the free version. I like Sudoku and Connections. Really makes your brain work out! It has a bunch of different games that you can play once a day.

Ed_K · February 13, 2025, 09:07:56 AM

Last Wednesday I had a meeting with my MM Dr. s nurse practitioner, she let us have our 3 questions and I was told that the memory loss is drug related. I also talked about the tumor's and that I'm scared that they will keep coming back. That there is a chance that they will show up in other places, I try to keep this out of my mind, but it just doesn't want to.

So anyway I had that meeting then stopped at the VA pharmacy to pick up some meds. Thursday night I got sick, and I mean sick, Rita say's I got the flu it only lasted 36 hrs but I thought I was going to die. Since then I've had times were for no reason my stomach starts to feel quizzie I have meds for this but it sometimes takes two time to settle down. I hadn't been that sick since I got an infection while I was doing my Stem Cell Transplant back in 2017.

Y'all have a great day.

Jeff · February 13, 2025, 09:26:05 AM

Thinking about and praying you kick the sick thing quick Ed.

Magicman · February 13, 2025, 09:54:09 AM

Thanks for the update Ed. Sometimes I think that it matters not how high we kick, but rather that we kicked. Keep on kicking Sir !!

thecfarm · February 14, 2025, 05:30:45 AM

I had something that lasted 24 hours. Took another 24 to come back from it.
Seem like I was sick like that about 40 years ago. Once every 40 is fine with me.
Then the wife got it.

Ed, I am thinking of you!!!

doc henderson · February 14, 2025, 07:54:18 AM

Nearly everyone I saw with respiratory symptoms yesterday, had influenza A. Have to start treatment in the first 2 to 3 days to be effective and even then it helps only a little. vaccine will prevent or reduce severity depending on the year. We have all been cough for 3 months in the ED.

Ron Scott · February 14, 2025, 03:32:05 PM

I find that memory gets slower with age for sure. Keeping active on the computer does seem to help keep the mind and memory more active.

I was taking a daily RX of Gabapentin for nerve pain, but then one of my doctors that prescribed it said that it can affect one's memory, so I have cut back on its dosage quite a bit.

Ron Scott · February 14, 2025, 03:40:13 PM

Ed,

Was the Stem Cell Transplant a onetime occurrence and were you hospitalized very long? Has it been effective?

Ed_K · February 14, 2025, 09:30:00 PM

Ron,

I had the stem cells taken out of my blood then they were sent to a lab I'm not sure of where. They rearrange the cells and sent them back. Before they harvested the cells I had to inject nueprogen into my belly for a month to build up my red, white cells and platelets. When I got to the hospital I was supposed to be there for around 17 days', but I caught a virus and ended up being there for a month.

When they harvested the cells they got 15 million cells, enough to do 2 stem cell transplants. They have the extra cells frozen and stored at Mary Hitchcock, Lebanon N.H.

My Meyloma Dr. is holding off using them until I run out of all other options. I keep a close watch on my Kappa light chains hoping they reverse course, so far the have gone down 4 points since I started the new meds.

Y'all have a great day.

thecfarm · February 15, 2025, 08:21:59 AM

I hope you have a better day!!!

Ed_K · February 15, 2025, 04:36:32 PM

The stem cell transplant lasted about 4yrs although I was also on a maintenance drug Revilid. If I could have stood the revilid (the side effects i couldn't take) I think it would have lasted longer.

Y'all have a great day.