Thank you, Ronni, for bringing me down to earth regarding self-medication with Lasix. I called my doctor and was squeezed in today for blood work and an exam by the NP.. Blood was wbc 7, hg 13.2 and platelets 200.
It turns out that Gleevec can cause water retention. I've been on it for 3 weeks. The plan (doctor-approved!) is to take 40 mg of Lasix every other day through Tuesday, along with potassium. I'm to weigh myself everyday and track it. This makes sense. It will also make me feel less like the Michelin Man.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Self Medication
Suddenly, my hands were puffy and my arms heavy and tight. Let's not even talk about the bulging in my lower abs. What abs?
Hmm. I gained 5 lbs. over the weekend without a change in diet, activity level or calories.
Should I call my oncologist or nurse practitioner to see if they think I should take some Lasix? Are you joking?
I just popped two 20 mgs..
And yes, I took a potassium pill.
Hmm. I gained 5 lbs. over the weekend without a change in diet, activity level or calories.
Should I call my oncologist or nurse practitioner to see if they think I should take some Lasix? Are you joking?
I just popped two 20 mgs..
And yes, I took a potassium pill.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Many Appointments; All Go Well.
I was having bloodwork and vital signs before 7:30 am. My oncologist took me in early and reported that my blood counts were great, and that the tight skin on my arms seemed softer. This must be due to the tacrolimus ointment I've been rubbing on them. He cut me back .5mg/day on prednisone, added Activel for my liver, and gave me a script for Gleevec, a drug used by CML patients,but now showing positive results for cgvh like mine. No drug is without side effects. Gleevec can make you tired and affect your blood counts in a negative way because it suppresses the immune system.
After I saw my doctor, I had a pulmonary function test, an EKG and an echo-cardiagram. These were baseline tests since I'm with a new set of doctors.
One doctor I'm staying with is my ophthalmologist. I saw him yesterday. I'll have cataract surgery on my right eye July 25, with the left eye to follow 1-2 months later.
My final appointment of the day was with my physical therapist, Linda, who has helped me tremendously in just 2 sessions. My former onc. said nothing could be done about the tendon/muscle tightness in my arms. But she was WRONG. My PT says most of my tightness is due to scar tissue building up where my catheter had been inserted for photopheresis. It was in for a long time. I'm using special scar bandages and Linda is working on my pectoral muscles to stretch them and try to break up the scar tissue. She's also noticed that my clavicle and ribs don't move as well as they should. My left side is also affected by these bone issues.
Somehow, I managed to go to yoga this morning. The iced coffee is delicious and typing doesn't tire me much.
After I saw my doctor, I had a pulmonary function test, an EKG and an echo-cardiagram. These were baseline tests since I'm with a new set of doctors.
One doctor I'm staying with is my ophthalmologist. I saw him yesterday. I'll have cataract surgery on my right eye July 25, with the left eye to follow 1-2 months later.
My final appointment of the day was with my physical therapist, Linda, who has helped me tremendously in just 2 sessions. My former onc. said nothing could be done about the tendon/muscle tightness in my arms. But she was WRONG. My PT says most of my tightness is due to scar tissue building up where my catheter had been inserted for photopheresis. It was in for a long time. I'm using special scar bandages and Linda is working on my pectoral muscles to stretch them and try to break up the scar tissue. She's also noticed that my clavicle and ribs don't move as well as they should. My left side is also affected by these bone issues.
Somehow, I managed to go to yoga this morning. The iced coffee is delicious and typing doesn't tire me much.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Painkiller Not Required
The tooth extraction was a breeze. Lydocaine and laughing gas made it easy. The doctor did a little bone grafting (bone from a cadaver--no DNA he assured me) and I was stitched up and sent on my way. Eventually I took some tylenol, but it didn't hurt much. I asked for the gold back since Marty might be able to make me earrings from it.
The physical therapy appointment was interesting. All these years I thought I had a rotater cuff injury but I don't. I have very tight pectorals which restrict my movement. To get my strength back, I need to stretch these muscles, which is why I'll go to a number of PT sessions. Also, my ribs don't move much when I breathe normally, so I have to work on deep breathing. The therapist expected to find tenseness in my neck but didn't.
My new PROSE lenses with the higher prescription arrived and I wore them yesterday. I can see much better but they still fog up from debris, which I can whisk away with a q-tip and some saline. Don't try this on the subway.
The physical therapy appointment was interesting. All these years I thought I had a rotater cuff injury but I don't. I have very tight pectorals which restrict my movement. To get my strength back, I need to stretch these muscles, which is why I'll go to a number of PT sessions. Also, my ribs don't move much when I breathe normally, so I have to work on deep breathing. The therapist expected to find tenseness in my neck but didn't.
My new PROSE lenses with the higher prescription arrived and I wore them yesterday. I can see much better but they still fog up from debris, which I can whisk away with a q-tip and some saline. Don't try this on the subway.
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