On Track for Consolidation #1

As I posted last time, Carla is being treated in the Myeloma Infusion Center this time rather than 7C in the hospital as 7C does all of the stem cell transplants and they are full up doing those.  The Myeloma Infusion Center (MIC) is in the Arkansas Cancer Research Center.  We had walked by a large full waiting room many times not realizing that all of the patients were myeloma patients.  One of the big differences between 7C and MIC is MIC draws your blood and bases most of what is does on yesterday's blood test results.  They draw blood samples and send them to the lab.   If there is something critical when they get the results they call you back to MIC so they can respond to the test results.

Yesterday Carla got her black bag of two pumps and IV bags off.  She doesn't have to walk around with her anchor attached.  Today we discovered more about UAMS.  When the tech came to get Carla he said she was going to MIC Express.  They have a separate smaller room that is MIC Express.  If they anticipate very little treatment, patients go here.  Carla's sodium and potassium levels had been low yesterday in spite of the huge potassium horse pills Carla takes twice a day.  They attached an infuser (baby bottle size plastic bottle with a balloon containing the IV solution).  Her blood pressure dropped below 95 upon standing so she had to get 500 ml of saline solution.  Carla became nauseated after breakfast so she hadn't drank enough to keep her hydrated. 

Yesterday's white blood count was 3 when the two previous days the WBC had been 9 and 5 respectively.  I imagine she dropped below 2 today and is neutropenic.  She is acting like she is at least.  She didn't want to eat at noon so she drank an Ensure.  Tonight she wanted soup and sliced pears.  She is resting almost all of the time.  This apartment has a new comfortable recliner and Carla is resting there for a break from the bed.

Carla received a growth factor shot this morning as well.  In the previous treatments she did not receive growth factor shots until her WBC was near zero.  I guess this is one of the differences with consolidation phases.

It is hard to see someone go from feeling rather well to being so sick.  We just have to believe that it will be worth it once she is on the other side of this therapy.

There are still a lot of sick coughing patients at MIC.  Carla wears her mask every time we go to MIC.  Fortunately, MIC Express handles fewer patients and you aren't in there as long.  The sicker patients don't go to the express lab as they probably have to get more treatments.

Hopefully by Saturday or Sunday Carla will be on the upswing.  I really dread her growth factor shots as this has caused her lots of bone pain in the past.  Her back was just feeling better and now will probably ache from the growth factor.

Hopefully we will get a break from the hot weather tomorrow.  The temperature has been between 96 and 100 and the heat index has been 105 - 110 since our arrival.