Sonora itch

That's right... I said it. Sonofabitch. (Stupid spell check)

I was told this was the last spinal tap/Lumbar Puncture with chemo. Last one. Last fear of hitting a nerve or getting a headache reputed to be 10x worse than a migraine.

This one went fine, same sore muscle at the site, but no problem. Now, the hard part.... More bed rest for 24 hours.

I have developed a rapport with the transporters and the ladies working in radiology. It was a party atmosphere today. And I will miss them.

Recovery snack I ate flat on my back. Have you tried it? It's not easy.

But dinner was much better. Again... A lovely neighbor surprised me wi the dinner! Thanks, S!

I got the call today. We have a transplant schedule. Note October 1st. Another LP.

(I will post my brother's tomorrow. Basically it's Oct 6 to 16)

 This is my schedule.  

September 30, 2014 – Tuesday​YOU WILL NEED A DRIVER!

7:00AM  ​Labs, IDMs, Ht/Wt, VRE screen​​The Tower,Suite 1000

                Drink barium IN CLINIC

​            Nothing to eat or drink until CT scan completed. 

7:30AM​Bone Marrow Biopsy Prep​The Tower, Suite 1000

8:00AM      Bone Marrow Biopsy​            The Tower,Suite 1000

8:30AM      Meet with Clinical Health Psychologist​The Tower, Suite 1000

​                      Dawn Speckhart, PhD

9:00AM.     Obtain Education Notebook​The Tower,Suite 1000​Kelly Yara, RN

9:30AM​Check in for Ct Scans.     The Tower,Suite 1150

10:00AM​CT Head/Chest/ Abdomen/Pelvis​​​The Tower, Suite 1150

​​**** You may EAT AND DRINK after your CT*****

11:00AM​Pulmonary Function Test​​The Tower, Suite 950

11:30AM​Atlanta Blood Services​The Tower,Suite 1075

​Meet with Donor Recruiter

​Blood Donation Information

12:00​LUNCH​ ON YOUR OWN

1:30PM​Check in for EKG/ECHO​Northside Hospital

2:00PM​ECHO/EKG​Northside Hospital

​1st Floor Cardiology

October 01, 2014

9:00 AM​Register for Lumbar Puncture   Northside Hospital     Main Admissions

10:30 AM ​Lumbar Puncture with chemo​Northside Hospital Interventional Radiology

 

October 6th, 2014 – Monday

12:30PM​Check In for​The Tower, Suite 950

                        ​Physical and Occupational Therapy Evaluation

1:00PM​Physical and Occupational Therapy Evaluation​The Tower, Suite 950

October 7, 2014 – Tuesday     ​      A CAREGIVER MUST ATTEND!!

 8:15AM​ Arrive for TBI consult​NSH Cancer Center

3-4 hrs                      TBI Consult ​NSH Cancer Center

                                    ​ Dr. Sahar Rosebaum

​​LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

12:30PM​Medication Information​The Tower, Suite 1000

​BMT Clinical Pharmacist

1:30PM​Education Notebook​The Tower, Suite 1000

​Kelly Yara, RN Transplant Coordinator

2:00PM​Meet with Midlevel Practitioner​The Tower,Suite 1000

​History/Physical/ Consents

3:00PM​Meet with Dr. Morris​The Tower, Suite 1000

3:30PM​Meet with Research Nurse​​The Tower,Suite 1000

October 10, 2014 – Friday​​YOU WILL NEED A DRIVER!

8:00 AM​  Pre chemo labs, PT/INR, PTT​The Tower, Suite 1000

​  Official Wt & Ht

9:00 AM​Check in for Catheter Placement​​NSH Main Admissions

11:00 AM​Catheter Placement ​        Interventional Radiology

October 11, 2014 – Saturday ​YOU WILL NEED A DRIVER!

10:00 AM​Central Line Dressing Change​The Tower, Suite 1000

 

October 13, 2014 – Monday​​YOU WILL NEED A DRIVER! 

8:00 AM​TBI in AM  ​NSH Cancer Center 

~9:15 AM ​IV High Dose Chemotherapy              ​    The Tower,Suite 1000

​(VP-16 infusion)

2:00 PM​TBI in PM ​NSH Cancer Center

October 14-16, 2014 -Tuesday-Thursday     ​YOU WILL NEED A DRIVER!

8:00 AM​TBI in AM​NSH Cancer Center

9:15 AM​IV Fluids/Hydration​The Tower, Suite 1000​

2:00 PM​TBI in PM ​NSH Cancer Center

October 17, 2014 – Friday​YOU WILL NEED A DRIVER!

7:30 AM​Transplant Day!!!                ​Northside Hospital

​BMT Unit, 4th Floor

 

(You and your caregiver will go directly to the Bone Marrow Unit on the 4th floor)

 

Your hospital stay could last from a couple of days to a couple of weeks

 

Discharge will depend on several factors that include:



you can swallow medication



you are eating food and can walk around



you do not have a fever



the physician feels comfortable with your support system once you are at home



occasionally you can be discharged soon after transplant and readmitted as necessary

 

You will need a caregiver / driver for at least 3 months following transplant.



Once you have been discharged:



you will be in our office 7 days per week for up to 6-8 hours per day



you will need to provide your own lunches



there is a refrigerator and a microwave for your use



visits will decrease in length of stay and frequency as you regain your strength and require less blood product support and / or IV medication