Groundhog Day

I don't know how many of you have had a chance to see a wonderful movie called "Groundhog Day". In this movie the protagonist, Phil, is cursed to wake up everyday into the same day - Groundhog day - a day of celebration for local residents and a day which Phil didn't look forward to before he was cursed. There is no tomorrow for Phil. Every morning he wakes up with the same date on the calendar, same news on the radio, with same weather and with same people on the street. Exasperated by his predicament Phil tries various ways to get out of the vicious circle, sometimes even taking extreme measures. However, he still wakes up on Groundhog Day. Eventually instead of ruing over his condition he decides to use the time more constructively. He starts thinking with a more positive mindset and betters himself as a person. And finally the tomorrow dawns for Phil.

I liken my existing state to that of Phil in the movie. For past so many days I wake up only to learn that WBCs are still stuck at 200. I will get discharged only when WBCs exceed 3000. Daily Neupogen injections seem to be going in some void where there are no WBCs. The 24 hours' wait to know the next report is frustrating. Like Phil I hope I find some way to get out of this loop quickly. Maybe I need to use my sense of humor more to keep unpleasant thoughts away, maybe I need to write some code, maybe talk to you all wonderful people more and gain courage and maybe I need to pray with more earnestness.

Just At The End Of The Tunnel

And waiting for the light to enter! The ups and downs in Kartik's health continues. Kartik was a little low for last two days, however, today he seems to be a bit better. The bacteria were on a rampage for some time but I guess now they have been taken care of.

It is interesting to know the cause of infection. Infection spreads from inside the body and not from outside. The bacteria residing in the body themselves take up the swords and cause the riot. They have a free rein because our dear neutrophils have put down the swords! Neutrophils (which constitutes around 40-75% of WBCs) serve as a major defense of the body against a host of infections. However, neutrophils couldn't survive in the highly toxic environment of chemotherapeutic drugs resulting in Neutropenia (abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood). Taking advantage of this situation various types of bacteria manifests in the blood causing the infection. But as Kartik rightly said, "God Bless the inventors of antibiotics" - the doctors resort to very high antibiotic doses to bring the situations under control.

In order to make the patient recover from Neutropenia faster, the doctors take help from an outside army of soldiers by a means of an injection known as Neupogen that stimulates the bone marrow to increase the production of Neutrophils. Most of the problems are taken care of when sufficient Neutrophils accumulate in the body. Kartik's WBC counts are at 200 today (Normal range is 4,000 - 10,000). Hopefully they should increase in next 4 - 5 days.

Latest update on Kartik before I sign off - he is pulling his hair apart - and quite literally : -)

(You sensed it right! - This one-liner is from Kartik.)

Mucocitis Waning

Location: BMT Room, Hospital, Pune

Two saline bottles tether me by means of tubes.  To a distant observer it would seem like the saline trolley is the puppeteer and I - the puppet.  And I would lie if I tell that I am not one. Rewind a day back and you would find me bedridden, with fever and high pulse rate, barely able to speak and making frequent trips to the bathroom because of loose motions.  Couple of antibiotics "strings" were attached to me on that day and here I am, writing to you, feeling much much better. Mucocitis in mouth has almost disappeared.  Body temperature and pulse are also normal.

God bless the inventors of antibiotics!

Mucositis Makes Kartik a Dull Boy

I know you all are eagerly waiting for the virtual voyage to the transplant room as Kartik had promised earlier. However, you need to wait a little longer and bear with me in the meantime. :)

Side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs have taken a driver’s seat presently. Kartik is feeling a little fatigued and listless mainly due to mucositis and stomach ache. His taste buds have gone for a toss, still he forces himself with whatever nutrition he could get. He is able to have soup, rice, milk etc. Don’t worry about this – if nothing else it is a consolation that drugs are working. These are the known side effects.

And what does he do all day long except being bored? He sleeps, makes frequent trips to the bathroom, watches TV, listens to radio and gives me company – after all we both have exclusive personal time in the hospital! :-)

The best thing - he is maintaining cool and taking all the challenges with a stride.

Post-transplant Hello!

Location: BMT Room, Hospital, Pune

Dear friends, finally I have reached the other side of the fence.  It took over a year, 4 chemo cycles and lots of positive thoughts, prayers and encouragement from you all to reach here.  I am doing very well.  The reports so far are rightly showing that my older blood cells are taking a plunge.  They will go down further.  In the 7-21 days' time frame stem cells will graft and start generating new cells. I hope the stem cells find the working manual lying somewhere inside the marrow!

Since last two days my appetite has markedly gone down.  There are early signs of  oral mucositis, a fancy name for ulceration and inflammation of mucous membrane lining the mouth.  However, it hasn't become annoying to the point that I cannot eat anything.  It's barely there.  Let's hope it stays that way.

Some of you might be interested in knowing what exactly happened during the transplant?  Let's talk about it in my next post :).

"Pun-Gent" Is Doing Good!

In case you are wondering about the title of the blog, this is how Kartik is nicknamed by his friends :-).

Stem Cells Transfusion went on very smoothly. The cells are busy meandering in his body presently to find their way home - his Bone Marrow. The cells would have to continue their efforts for next 10-12 days before they reach their destination. I wish them all the best. Kartik is doing fine - just a little headache which is giving him little discomfort. I gave him a break today but I am sure he would be back in action soon to take you all through his journey of words.

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone for all your Best Wishes and Prayers.

The Moment Has Arrived!

The day we all have been waiting for has arrived. Tomorrow I will be shifted to ICU for an autologous transplant. Please don't let the word "transplant" scare you. The doctors are not going to puncture my bone marrow to inject the stem cells. To an outsider the process would look like a blood transfusion and in essence that is all it is. The transfusion would be done in an hour's time. They would keep me under observation till evening and then shift me back to BMT Room. While in ICU I will be hands of some of the best doctors, nurses and assistants. So rest assured I am in safe hands. I am not nervous at all and feeling absolutely calm. I shall be back with a report tomorrow. Talk to you all really soon!