We are officially crazy! Ed's on chemo and...

[PCBeachBum]

We are here in the hospital and we need to test for the amount of chemo that is in my blood stream, the machine that does the test is broke, so I get to spend more quality time in the hospital. It is the only machine in Pensacola, hope they get it fix soon.

Ed, it seems like everything is broke. 7 months ago the dentist decided that pulling my lower front teeth and replacing them with a bridge would be best, since they wouldn't be as strong after drilling. He said it would be know longer than 3 months at the most to have the bridge made. 6 months later I'm still toothless in the front and I asked where my bridge was and no one knew except I got another excuse after 4 months. For all I know, it could be in China along with the mold they made before pulling them. I don't blame the dentist, since he has over a thousand patients both Active Duty and Veterans but one dentist for all these patients is like the one machine Pensacola has for all the patients on Chemo. I hope your part gets in before my bridge does, since I'm getting used to ripping meat off chicken and rib bones. Yea its a little messy and watching me eat, I'm often sitting alone since no one wants to loose a finger or hand by mistake. :roflblack::roflblack:

 

[Peoriafirefighter]

WE BOUGHT ANOTHER SPYDER! :2excited:We now own a 2012 Lava Bronze RT Limited as well as our 2008 GS/RS Phantom. :yes::yes:Ed can't jump up and down like me since he's tethered to an IV pole. He started Chemo Round 2, coming in to the hospital today for the next 4-5 days. His methotrexate level needs to be under a certain value in order to be discharged (We're hoping for Sat/Sun). He is on MTX for 24 hrs, then he'll be getting a second drug intermittently for the next 48 hrs. We are ray: that he does as well with this round as he did with the first one.

His hair was getting rather splotchy so we shaved it all off last night. He's been debating getting a pierced ear so he'll look like Mr. Clean...he preferred that moniker over YODA! I told him I have plenty of orphan earrings that he could wear (you know, those ones that are missing their mate).

In any event, now we own :spyder2::spyder2: and we only have one M endorsement between us...guess I better start practicing my driving!

Best of luck to Ed! Congrats on the new Spyder, did u get it off the dealer on EBay. I saw it posted for $21999 your choice odd bronze or pearl white. Great deal. Enjoy!

 

[DocRags]

Congrats on the new Spyder, did u get it off the dealer on EBay. I saw it posted for $21999 your choice odd bronze or pearl white. Great deal. Enjoy!

I don't think the color is odd bronze, but that is the deal we bought...our local dealer told us to see if they would go any lower even though they were making very little money at that price (answer...no). We're hoping to pick up our new :spyder2: next week after we go to MD Anderson for Ed's cancer restaging. (That's the part of the trip we haven't mentioned to the oncologists...Ed driving the :spyder2: home while I drive the car. We figure the bike is about 4 1/2 hours from Houston so we'll combine doctor's visit with bike delivery. We wanted to see the bike at the dealer's rather than shipping it to us).

Update on Ed: We finally got out of the hospital around noon on Monday (6 days in the hospital) when the methotrexate level finally came in. Round 2 was considerably rougher on him than round 1...he is definitely NOT looking forward to the even numbered cycles. His blood counts are bottoming out right now...white cell count dangerously low at 600 (normal 4500-10500) so he has to be extra careful about avoiding sick people, washing hands good, etc. His anemia is a little worse so he's been lightheaded/dizzy the past few days...no Spyder riding all week because of that. We're headed to the hospital shortly, keeping our fingers crossed that today's counts are better. He will probably need blood transfusion soon. He had a shot to boost his white count on Monday and count was 600 yesterday...first cycle low was 3300 so it was quite a difference. It will be interesting to see if Round 3 has to be delayed because of his counts. There are certain parameters that have to be met in order to give the next round...how fast his counts bounce back is unknown. He has to go to the ER at first sign of any infection or temp over 100.5. His spirits are still good, despite the rough days. He can go about a week without shaving now, which he likes. Appetite has been great. He's still working on his wish list of "farkles." Thanks, again, everyone for the prayers and support.

 

[flamingobabe]

Good luck with round 3...prayers and good thoughts coming y'alls way...we are home and in Houston area...if you need anythng...let us know...can y'all have visitors?

 

[Rar]

All the prayers and thoughts from your Spyder friends are sure to bring that blood count up. Hang in there for Round 3. Try to keep your mind and eyes on the prize. ray:ray:ray:

 

[The Bakerman]

Hang in there. Prayers are with you.

 

[bruiser]

Cheryl, we're still praying for Ed and you. When I read the post to Kris and hit the part about his wbc being 600 she said "yep, been there". Hope the Epo shots help.

 

[DocRags]

Cheryl, we're still praying for Ed and you. When I read the post to Kris and hit the part about his wbc being 600 she said "yep, been there". Hope the Epo shots help.

Thank you, all, for the prayers...today's wbc was 400! :yikes::yikes: I'm not used to seeing values that low...his lowest on the hyper-CVAD part of the regimen was 3300. His platelets increased today from 53000 to 77000 so hopefully tomorrow's red and white cell counts will be on the way up, too. Flamingobabe, we'll let you know about visitors...we'd love to see some fellow SpyderLovers, but it all depends on how quickly his numbers increase.

 

[bruiser]

Kris' got down to 300 at one point. So they started transfusions. That along with the Epo shots finally got it back up. When anyone would visit her, it was mask and hand washing, no kissing, no hugging. :lecturef_smilie:

 

[Rar]

I know transfusions sound very scary and I suppose they are with regard to the fact that your body is not doing the blood stuff that needs to be done. The reality is that the transfusion gives one's body time to collect itself and start repairing. My mother had transfusions and felt marvelous after. It gave her strength to fight. It's scary, but its really a good thing. (((HUGS)))

 

[DocRags]

Update on Erags 9/17/12

Ed's wbc was 400 Sat and Sun mornings. By Sunday afternoon he was running a lowgrade fever :yikes: and we had to go to the ER. He was admitted to the hospital last night and started on IV antibiotics. wbc was 700 last night but that could be an effect of the infection. He looks and feels better this morning so we were convinced his counts were on the way up...NOT! His red cell count dropped to the point that transfusions have been ordered; platelets are still dropping (now 20,000). He won't need any platelets unless his numbers get below 5000 (normal value above 150,000). We were supposed to go back to MD Anderson this week for tumor restaging but it looks like that will be delayed. We haven't been :ani29: riding for over a week, which is the pits. We've both decided we prefer the odd numbered chemo cycles better than the even ones. Thanks, again, folks for your concern and prayers. Our Spyder family is great. :thumbup:

 

[Netminder]

Prayers are with you both through these trying times. He is very lucky to have you with him! I went trough this last year and do not know what I would have done without my beautiful wife, she was truly my angel!

 

[DocRags]

Quick update: After getting 2 units of red cells, Ed (Erags) ended up needing platelets, after all, when his count dropped to 7000. He was discharged Wed. on IV antibiotics twice a day till Monday. His counts are looking good now and he doesn't have to have any more lab work done until Wed. when we'll be in Houston. We're heading out on Monday after the doctor's appt. to pick up our new Spyder :2excited: in Greenville TX before we head back to MD Anderson for restaging studies on Ed's lymphoma. We thought we'd have to keep secret the part about picking up the :spyder:but our oncologist brought it up with us first..."you could pick up your new bike then, no?" Answer: "YES!":yes::yes::yes:We are both excited...ray: & hoping to get great news in Houston, too. Gotta go get ready for a ride now. Have a great weekend, folks!

 

[flamingobabe]

Keep us posted and let us know when y'all are in Houston....can y'all have visitors...we are on the south side of Houston...if y'all need help with Spyder...I can ride it from Greenville for you

 

[Rar]

Wonderful news. :clap::clap::clap: I'm excited for you both, as well. Have a safe journey and don't forget to post pics of the :spyder2:

:yes::yes::yes: