Back to Reality

I've been floating along on Cloud 9 with all the good news coming my way since the start of treatment; tumors disappearing, blood counts doing all the right things, tolerable side effects, etc. I've even been feeling good enough to even do a few 30 minute runs. Well, I just hit a bump in the trail. I had noticed that I'd been more fatigued than usual. I thought fatigue was fatigue, but this felt different.

I had an infusion yesterday of gamma-globulin (IVIg) to help my body fight off infections. IVIg is human antibodies purified and isolated from a pooled collection of 3000-10,000 different individuals. I've been getting IVIg for over 3 years now, helping to keep me alive. Prior to the infusion, my blood was drawn for a few laboratory tests. Well, when the results came back some of the numbers didn't look so good. I have developed Hemolytic Anemia. Basically, something is causing my red blood cells to burst and die. Thus the cause of my fatigue. My liver is coming under stress as the red blood cells plug it up, and my kidneys are also dealing with red blood cell debris.

Right now, it is unclear as to what is causing the hemolytic anemia. It could be one of the chemotherapy agents, Fludarabine, or the drug, Dapsone, I'm taking to prevent a certain type of pneumonia. My doctor took me off of Dapsone. After looking up the side effects of Dapsone, I'm surprised it ever got approved by the FDA. It looks pretty nasty. I don't think I'll be taking any more of it, whether it is the cause of the hemolytic anemia or not. I have more blood tests scheduled for tomorrow. Hopefully, they will provide some answers. I am scheduled to start my next round of chemotherapy this coming Monday, Feb. 4. That's assuming this gets figured out and my body recovers.

And if you're wondering, I still have my hair. But I did notice some falling out today when I washed it. Uh-oh. Oh well, if I lose it I figure it will be one less thing to deal with and it will grow back.

Thanks for your thoughts, prayers, emails, texts, calls, etc. Once again, even if I haven't responded I truly appreciate you thinking of me and keeping me connected to life outside of leukemia treatment. I'm good with freezer meals for a bit. And to those of you that made me meals, they have been yummy and a blessing with my exhaustion. Dan is back in town now and is doing the cooking, hospital runs, pet chores, Mocha swimming, etc.

Stay well and warm.