Day 10: Yep. The neupogen is working.
Friday night was a wee bit difficult. We were awake at 2 a.m., sitting in a darkened living room, waiting for vicadin to kick in.
Richard began to have severe pain and throbbing in his sternum late on Friday afternoon. Richard wasn't sure if it was heart problems or something else. The doctor mentioned that he might have pain in the chest, hips and long bones as the neupogen began working. Apparently, the drug accelerates the growth of white blood cells, which then push on the mass in the bones. I don't think Richard imagined the pain could be this severe. We had vicadin on hand, but the pain takes about 30 minutes or so to subside. Then after 3-1/2 hours, it all begins again. It reminds me a little of labor contractions. You know the contractions are working to produce something wonderful, but the pain sometimes is unbearable. Saturday morning we told one of the nurses at the infusion center about the pain in his sternum, and she beamed and said, "Great!" I loved her reaction. Yep. The neupogen is doing its job.
Richard is scheduled for stem cell harvest on Monday at 8 a.m. It's an outpatient procedure that takes about four hours.
Things we appreciate: Netflix, family, and Vicadin.
P.S. Gracie finished her coast-to-coast trip on a UNICYCLE! Check out her blog in the sidebar. Congratulations, Gracie! You are an amazing woman.
posted by Richard and Robin @ 11:45 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Hey Brother Richard.... We pray the harvest tomorrow is bountiful. Keep up the good fight!
Love,
Moms Favorite (she told me not to tell)
Jimmy
Hi, guys!
Everything sounds so tough, but you're doing really well with all of this! Thanks for the pics - they keep us all in the loop. Have a good harvest tomorrow (it's already Monday in France, though!)
Love to you both,
Suzanne & Jim
Uncle Richie and Aunt Robin,
As you undergo the great harvesting, Sam and I are praying that all goes well. Keep going strong!
Love,
Shiloh and Sam
Richard and Robin;
Just caught up on your blog. Have talked to Larry about your journey. We pray for you both as well as your folks, Richard. Robin, you make it very easy by your writing style to read and understand what is happening. We will keep following your progress and when we get to California later this month we hope to be able to see you.
Love, Uncle Don and Aunt Mary
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