Melphalan Day = T minus 1


Before the update, thanks to everyone who reached out with messages and comments. I read each of them to Karl today and we felt very uplifted. We were especially comforted by the comments from people who have gone through the multiple myeloma fight with their loved ones. A few tears seeped out when I read the comments from Jane W, Deb D, and Rosalind Y. Hugs. 

Now an update. Last night Karl was started on iv fluids that will continue for at least another 24 hours. Last night was in preparation for the Melphalan, today is to counteract the Melphalan, and tomorrow is more of the same plus to keep him hydrated in preparation for his stem cells. But that's for tomorrow. 

Today the focus was Melphalan, a chemo drug used to kill his old bone marrow, where his cancer was living and growing. It has lots of harsh side effects including wrecking havoc with the digestive tract from the top to bottom. The top includes potential mouth sores which were counteracted with special mouth wash, lots of crushed ice, and popsicles. I don't think I need to explain the effects at the bottom of the digestive system. They are typical for most chemo meds. Another side effect of Melphalan is hair loss. Karl had been shaving his head because of hair loss for at least 20 years before his first stem cell transplant, so that wasn't an issue last time. But when his eyebrows and leg hair started to grow back, hair also regrew on his head, and he has had a full head of hair for the last seven years. It was recommended in the literature we were given that he shave his head prior to entering hospital, so our granddaughters did that for him last Saturday. Our eighteen-month-old grandson was asleep during that adventure, and when he woke he did a double take when he first glanced at Karl before smiling in recognition of Granda. Those are the special memories we will cherish.

Karl is resting comfortably as I write this at 930pm. He has had some nausea, but the nurses are quick to provide meds to help quell that. Hopefully he will get some sleep between the changing of the iv bags. I'm sure some of you are wondering what T minus 1 means. Transplant day minus one day. Tomorrow is the day!

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