If its not one thing...its another. Am I right?

2 months ago I had a upper g.i and there was some unexplained irritation in my tummy. It wasn't GVHD, so they didn't give me anything for it. Thankfully, I know a few people who smoke that good ol' green stuff - Marijuana. Mad props to marijuana for saving my belly. No more aches and pains. And I can eat!


Well, I exhausted my cobra. And have no insurance right now. What to do? How to feel? All I can do is hope for the best. I applied for CHIP. So hoping I hear back from them soon. I've yet to miss a doctors appointment. Kinda sad about it, but I'm supposed to see the doc on the 18th and I may have to cancel. I'm not going to pay 12,000 dollars for giving some blood and seeing my doc for 20 mins.Though, we do have important things to talk about. Like,getting another round of my sisters mature lymphocyte cells. My body doesn't want to kick the mutation for some reason. Hopefully this last round of cells will get rid of the mutation for good. Even though I am in remission. And the mutation is just hanging out not doing anything. It'd be nice to call myself CANCER FREE and a SURVIVOR.


On a positive note, I feel great! And that is all that matters!

So0o0o0o0oooo..........
My hair is in full force! Very thick and curly! I have always had straight hair. And I'm not sure what happened. But I'm blaming chemo!
Since my last update a lot has been going on. I've had a combination of problems. Really bad allergies (which I've never had). And a lot of tummy issues. Aches,pains,and vomit. I didn't eat much for over a month. Were still trying to iron out the issues and find a solution. I have to get a upper g.i on wed and if they don't find anything there...then I have to get a colonoscopy. The doc is thinking minor gvhd in my intestines or CMV. But were not totally sure. I'm praying its nothing!

“Life is either a daring adventure, or it is nothing." - Helen Keller

I still have the CML mutation. And no iron. Other then that, I'm doing great! I don't have to see Dr. L till March 7th. He even let me go to Florida!

News News:
* I got the hickman line removed.
* I'm OFF the study drug.
* Taking 1 prograf, instead of 3.
* My hair is growing.
* I forgot how ugly my natural hair color is.
* I'm standing up in my best friends wedding.
* My sight decided to change,had to get a pair of glasses.
* I'm in remission.

Hair loss

I cut all of my hair off because Dr. L told me I may lose it.Its taken a couple weeks. But my hair is finally falling out. Ive thought a lot about it. Its not about vanity. It goes deeper then that. fear, confusion, shock. Its a mental battle. If you look sick and feel vulnerable then you will feel sick and vulnerable. I don't feel sick. But I am. I want to look powerful, strong, and feel like myself.

10/9/2010 - Blood work!

WBC:0.1
RBC: 3.79
Hemoglobin: 9.6
hematocrit 28.2
MCV: 74.4
MCH: 25.3
MCHC: 34.0
RBC Dist Width: 15.0
Platelet count: 59

ca-ca-ca cancer update!!

So far so good. Everything is on track. My white count has been up and down. Its finally bottomed out like its suppose to! Yay! So its only up from here! I've had a couple rough mornings. But as the day goes on I start feeling like myself! I did the 5 days of fludarabine and got to go home. I think that's where I left off last. Since then I moved back into the hospital. I did 5 days of campath. I tolerated that pretty well. Nothing unusual happened until a couple days in. I had hives all over my face and back and my throat was swelling up. But nothing that some benedryl and some steroids can't fix! Oct 2nd I had a half hr of melphalan. THE WORST! I had to suck on ice for 30mins prior and 6 hrs after. That didn't work out too well. Everything sweet tasted sour, water tasted sweet. I puked up my breakfast and about 5 popsicles. It was awful! I've had some rough days, but that's expected. I walked into all of this with a clear head thinking, "I'm perfect, nothings gonna happen". Wrong. So long being positive. This experience really takes you for a ride. The past couple morning I've been waking up at about 5:30am throwing up my my whole GI system. (or that's at least what I feel like).Transplant went well. I had this tickle in my throat the entire time. They gave me 10 bags for cells from my sister. She produced so many they gave me two transplants. I'm jammed with stem cells. Holla. So, my plan is to try and go at this drugfree! lol No more ativan- I feel like that may be my new addiction to put me to sleep. And I wake up feeling terrible. Tonight's my new night! My sister brought me some yummie pasta salad and a wrap and some ginger tea. So here's to my health! Cheers! Have a great weekend everyone!