Harvest Completed

Today was my last day of harvest. My total for the 4 days was 4.7 Million. Added to the 7.5 million from last month, I now have 12.2 million stem cells.

The collection process this time has been harder on my body. I've had to have blood twice, platelets twice, magnesium twice and potassium once. I'll begin to feel better after a few days.

We were at the center from 7:30am until 6pm today. After collection, a unit of blood and a unit of platelets, I had the catheter removed from my neck. So, I am much more comfortable.

Will have blood tests early Monday, see the doc around noon and hope to go home on Tuesday for a couple weeks.

Thanks for checking in and for the prayers.

HI, CHARLIE!!

Third Day Of Harvest

Harvest from yesterday was 1 million cell, so I have a total of 2.8 million for 2 days. The estimate for today is 1 million, but hoping for a bit more. I had to have more magnesium and a unit of blood today.

I felt a lot better today, so that is a praise. One more day of harvest, see the doctor on Monday and hope to go home for a couple of weeks on Tuesday.

Second Harvest Day

I harvested 1.8 million stem cells yesterday, which was more than the estimate. Today's estimate was 1.2 million.

I had to have platelets, magnesium and potassium today. After we got back to the apartment, I started breaking out in a few hives and took a couple of benadryl. No more broke out. I was probably having a reaction to the platelets.

I'm also having some stomach problems. Who knows what's causing them. Things could be much worse, so I'm thankful.

First Day of Harvest

I had the first harvest session this morning. This lasts for about 3 1/2 hours. Will know how many stem cells we got when we go back in the morning. An estimate was 1.4 million. We're hoping for at least that many or more.

The catheter is still a bit uncomfortable, but not really painful today. My main problem today is a headache, probably from the growth factor injections.

Praise and A Long Day

The insurance company did approve the Mozobil to be used to help me make stem cells. I got the first injection this afternoon and will start collection early tomorrow.

After lunch, they put a different catheter in my neck. This one is much more uncomfortable -- actually painful right now. Hope it's better by morning.

Thanks for your prayers concerning the approval of the Mozobil.

Weekend

Nothing new here. Have been going to the center twice a day for the growth factor injections. White counts are still rising. Hope to learn tomorrow that my insurance company has approved the use of the Mozobil again.

Will Need Mozobil

Although my white counts are rising, I learned today that I will need the high powered drug Mozobil for stem cell collection. This has to be approved by my insurance company. They approved it when I was here for collection in March, so we hope they will do so again. However, this is a worry.

I was able to stop all antibiotics today.

Thanks for checking in.

Counts Going Up

My white counts are continuing to go up, so I hope they reach the point where stem cells can be collected soon.

I'm hoping that this is the last day/night for the IV antibiotics. All the cultures have been negative.

Count Rising

Today was a calm day at the center -- no fire alarms!

My white counts continue to rise, which is great. All the blood cultures have come back negative, so the fever must has been from the mouth sores. Thankfully, they are gone!

Feeling Better

The mouth sores are so much better, so I'm feeling better in general. My white counts were up a bit more today.

We had a bit of excitement at the center this morning right after I sat down in a treatment chair. The fire alarms went off and the building had to be evacuated. We all had to go to the parking garage, but were allowed back in the building after about 30 minutes.

When we returned this afternoon to get my second growth factor injection, fire trucks were all around again. A different building in the complex had been evacuated. Have no idea what was going on.