Sue Charen

Skin

Graft Versus Host Disease is a long term possibility in a bone marrow transplant, but especially after stopping the treatment. Sue had been going in very often for the last month to be checked. The most common place for GVHD to occur is in the skin (that was where it showed up back in August). So we have tried to be vigilant, and check the skin for any signs of a reoccurence. And Sue has been getting plenty of petty torments in the form of skin rashes. So on Friday, Sue saw her oncologist, the GVHD team and a dermatologist. The consensus is that the rashes are not caused by GVHD. So now Sue must apply around 6 different lotions, etc.

So Sue has a whole month before she has to go back to Hopkins thanks to good blood numbers and no GVHD. Sue is hoping to get back in the office this week or next. It will take awhile before things are normal, but it is getting better.

Vote day - Valentines Day - Friday

Another pretty good week. Sue got to wait curbside for the ballot so she wouldn't have to walk into a crowded room to vote. Unfortunately cold and flu season is actually worse than normal. Needless to say health care policy was the most important decision in our choice.

Valentines Day was held a day early (aka Valentine's Eve - not a bad name, I think). We went out on a day that restaurants would not be crowded and had a lovely time at Leopold's Cafe in Georgetown. A belated Valentines Day to everyone.

And fortunately the one negative about not having a permanent line, having a nurse finding a vein, ended up not being a problem with a highly proficient nurse who did it on the first try. And for the first time all three blood levels were normal (red, white and platelets). YEAH! Sue still has petty torments, but continues to feel a little better.

Now it is just a matter of a week or two of getting ready to start trips back to the office. Sue is excited to start returning to a more normal life.

A Good Week

Starting with the big win by the Giants, Sue has had a good week. Sue is off more of her meds and down to less than 10 pills a day. And today the doctor confirmed that the permanent line could be taken out and it was. Plus Sue's mom is here visiting for the weekend. And Sue is still on track for going back into the office this month. So all in all it has been a very positive week for Sue. (Plus the great weather here in DC)

Are You Sure You Want That Medicine?

Yesterday and one week ago, I had the same experience getting Sue's prescriptions at the local drugstore. A cashier rang up the prescriptions and looking at the price tag asked if I was sure I wanted to get them. I can't imagine how horrible it must be to be in that position of not being able to get medicine necessary to live or that this seems to be a normal question. Fortunately Sue is getting all the medicine that she needs for both the big things as well as all of the petty torments that are par for the course for bone marrow transplant recovery.

On Friday we stayed over after the lumbar puncture which yet again caused temporary nausea. The doctor did not get enough fluid to do the test, but did deliver the chemo given as a prophylactic measure to avoid leukemia that might have gotten into the spinal column. This treatment is standard and may continue for the rest of the year. Except for the nausea immediately following the procedure which may be a result of the needle and not the chemo, there are not the side effects as with normal chemotherapy.

Sue has been maintaining her red blood and has not needed a transfusion for over six weeks. If this keeps up for the rest of February, the doctor may have the permanent line in Sue removed (these are the tubes that allow for IV treatments/transfusions and blood tests). So even though petty torments continue to pop up, generally Sue is doing quite well and still on track to go back to the office part time later this month.