The central line went in Tuesday. Pretty simple procedure in radiology so ultrasound can guide placement. Mine is in the left subclavian vein, and it is threaded down through that to the superior vena cava. I have been surprised at how painful it is, and I'm glad for the vicodin given for pain control. Starting the day before the line placement, i have been given Neupogen which causes the marrow to produce more cells. It causes bone pain. I have been mostly unaffected by it, but noticed yesterday my hips are a little sore, but also I have had throbbing pain across the low back and chest, keeping time with my pulse. Pain pills for that too.

We started collecting stem cells yesterday, I got just under half of what I need, so I'm having my second collection today. Hope we get enough; I'd like ti be done with the central line.

Central line

Correction. I am not having a port, but a central line. So much I don't know.

A central line is large bore to handle the amount of fluid necessary. It will hang outside the body. They cover it with a plastic tape of some sort to protect the site, allow for bathing. Guess I don't want to wrestle, Seems it would be easy to catch this thing on something and have a real problem. Anyway, that's what's happening this week.

eye surgery, port placement

Last Friday, Nov 4, I had eye surgery. This was an epiretinal membrane removal. It had become wrinkled, which was distorting the vision. I also had a huge floater in the middle of my vision. As an outpatient under light anesthesia I had it removed. My recovery has not been swift, with much swelling and pain last night and this morning. I saw the doctor who prescribed some drops to reduce the pressure in my eye. They were magic, and i can see again. Not well, but it will slowly get better.

Next week I am getting a port placed for stem cell collection. I will be going in every day next week for a couple hours as part of the process.

Oh, forgot to mention that a pre surgery blood draw last week showed hematocrit down one point. I hope that was just within the margin of error for the test.

Remission

The protein results that I did not get yesterday came in today, and they are zero. That means REMISSION!

I have been on Revlimid and Dex for 6 months, and kept getting better, but no one expected such good results so quickly.

Wow, am I a happy guy.

Doing Great

Saw the doctor again today, and I continue to do great. Hematocrit was up to 39. Other labs good. He had not gotten the protein count yet, I'll get that number tomorrow night.

We decided to harvest stem cells. in that regard, he advised to stop the Revlimid, and the Dex too if I want. I want.

I'm travelling the next couple weeks, but when I get back I will meet with the doc and we will set it up. I'm scheduling around some eye surgery set for Nov 4.

The news continues to be good. My doctor gave me the results of my latest blood tests, which reveal the hematocrit up to 35 and monoclonal protein down to 0.2. He is still amazed at how well I am doing. Also I had a bone survey, showing no skeletal problems. Next month I will have a bone density study.

When we started treatment, the goal was to become transfusion independent. I have been so for 3 months now. A new goal is to get the protein down to 0.0. We will call that remission.

I am in the 2nd month of treatment with Revlimid and Dex. This past month I have been feeling quite well, with more energy than I have had in quite a while. Today I had my transfusions scheduled for 9:00 AM, and visit with my doctor at 11:00. The doctor met me in the waiting room and took me back to a normal exam room. He told me that he was cancelling the transfusion since my hematocrit was at 32. This was a drop of only 2 points over the month from the presumed 34 after my last transfusion. Further, my M protein dropped from 4.4 to 0.4. These are not great results, but phenomenal to use his word. Since no transfusion, I also can stop taking Exjade as iron levels have fallen.

Wow, 2 months in and dramatic results. I am very encouraged.