May 2011 update

Hello again. I’m not going to lie. The past four weeks were tough. Lazily, I’ve been using Facebook to give minor updates, but this forum is probably better.

Aside from the recent medical issues, my long term disability benefits were denied the first of the year and subsequently my employment terminated 60 days later. As the snowball continued to build momentum, medical benefits (for Gabe and me) ran out as of April 1st. After weeks of phone calls, applications, and letters, come June 1st I will finally be approved for a state prescription and insurance plan. Luckily, Gabe is now covered under his mother’s insurance.

Ok, ok… So, besides this past Friday the 13th (go figure), I can’t remember the last time I felt so tired and weak. Now, my platelet count had been dropping but it didn’t explain the tiredness. Due to my lack of insurance, I was avoiding getting labs drawn for financial reasons. My oncologists insisted I go and get blood done and we found my Hematocrit count (red blood cells) was dropping.

Since the stem cell transplant in Oct. of 2008, my Hematocrit level has always hovered around 29% (a little low but stable). The normal adult male range is 41-53%. Within the last 4 weeks, mine dropped from 29 to 22 to 19. This was alarm enough for my oncologists to draw 17 vials of blood for testing and order a three-pint blood transfusion last Friday. I also took an Immunoglobulin infusion Monday, followed reluctantly with my third bone marrow biopsy.

And the results are in… The transfusion pushed my Hematocrit level back up to 29%. All the blood work was inconclusive. The bone marrow showed no signs of lymphoma recurrence but an abnormality of blood cell development called dysplasia. Blood dysplasia usually occurs in cancer patients who have endured intense amounts of chemotherapy for long durations of time. I do not fall into this category, so again my doctors are left scratching their collective heads. For now, we get to keep running monthly blood tests and in 3-6 months perform another bone marrow biopsy.

It is annoying and frustrating but I am thankful it isn’t worse. My family continues to be amazing. My friends provide me with more support than I expect. And, of course, Gabriel is my shining star. There is still fight in this battered dog. I am not going anywhere soon.

~Cheers
Adam