June 2012 - Update

Everything has been sailing along. I started my second round of vaccinations last Monday. Two shots in the left arm and one shot in the right arm. The right arm received the dTAP (tetanus) shot, this time there was swelling, bruising and a rash. This all seems to have gotten better over the week. The three shots also zapped some energy this week, but that has gotten better also. Back to the doctor a week from Monday for two more shots.

All my blood counts have been holding strong, at my last doctors visit my doctor stated my hemoglobin is higher than his.

Time to reward the family with a grand vacation this year, everyone worked so hard last year. No Smokey Mountains this year for the Brinkers, we are going big. One thing last year taught us, it is time to live life to the fullest. The Brinker's are flying this year, and leaving the country for the beautiful island of Grand Cayman. First time flying for my daughters (16 and 11). Time to try all those things we have never done before.

Speaking of living we are also taking the girls to their first concert this year.

Hope everyone is having a great start to the summer.

April 2012 Update

I have been putting my immune system to the test the last couple weeks. A couple weeks ago I spent the weekend traveling to and from St. Louis, eating out at restaurants, staying in hotels...and all went well. This was our first big adventure since the stem cell transplant and it was a great time. The last week both my daughters were sick with sinus infections and ear infections, and I have stayed well so far (knocking on wood). My youngest just finished her antibodiocs and my oldest has three days to go. I guess constant use of hand gel is working. All in all things have been going good. I had my monthly blood test in April and all the numbers are good. Back for another round of blood tests and to see the doctor in the middle of May.

March 2012 - Update

It has been a while since my last post. Everything is getting back to normal. A couple weeks ago I spent two days out of town for work. First time in a hotel since the transplant. I have slowly started eating out at restaurants, even though the doctors have said it would be fine for months, we approach everything with a new level of caution.

Last Monday I started my vaccinations at my primary doctors office. First time the nurse there has ever given such vaccinations to an adult. Everyone knows about the tetanus shot right, you get one every 10 years. I will get 3 over the next 4 months. For the next four months I recieve 3 vaccines, then two weeks later two more. Then I wait 6 weeks and do it all over again. At this point a shot in the arm or stick in the vein has no impact on me, pretty used to it by now. After the four months of vaccinations then blood tests are done to see if the vaccinations worked.

I was back at the clinic in the middle of March for a blood test and check up and all blood counts are looking good. I will have another blood test mid April and then back to the clinic mid May for another blood test and checkup. This cycle will go on indefinitely.

Hope everyone is enjoying the early spring weather, it has been amazing in Chicago.

January 2012 - 6 Months Post Transplant

Well it has been a while since I have posted anything, with the holidays and working fulltime I have been busy.

All in all everything has been going well. We continue to walk 2 miles a day despite the cold and snow. Went back to Rush for my 6 month visit and everything continues to look good. My plan now is to have a series of blood tests monthly, and visits back to Rush every other month.

There were a series of issues with my local hematologist / oncologist, so I have eliminated him from my care and soley go to Rush.

Happy New Year to Everone.

November 2011 - Day +117

Well it has been a while since my last post, which means nothing new is going on, which is a good thing.

Met with my Primary Doctor last week, I had not seen him since last March. He was genuinely glad to see me, he even gave me a hug and we had a nice long chat. It was like a long lost friend.

Met with my local oncologist / hemotoligist today to figure the next steps. He was also glad to see me along with the nurse who used to give my injections, today she gave me a flu shot and a bug hug.

The human aspect of medicine is so important, it is so wonderful to have such welcoming arms and happiness at a place where our world was flipped upside down

The plan with the local oncoligist is:
1. Start maintenance on a drug by the name of Revlimid, I was on this drug during my initial therapy but at a much higher dose. This is one of those drugs that without insurance one could not afford to take. Yearly cost without insurance is $80,000 - $100,000.

2. I will have monthly blood tests and visits for the unforeseen future.

3. I will return to Rush every 6 months.

I think that is it, we are catiously getting back to normal. We hosted an Andersen game night last Saturday, the games nights had been suspended since I was in the hospital. It was a lot of fun and provides the medicine of laughter that is always welcome and needed.

Looking forward to getting out to my nephew Brandon's birthday party and Jane's brothers for Thanksgiving, though we do proceed with caution.

Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving.

October 2011 - Day +101

Well I hit a milestone, day 100. This means less frequent doctor visits and I am being returned to my local doctor. My next visit to Rush is scheduled the first week in January 2012, at that time I will start my re-immunizations.

Still no yard work, lawn mowing...until I am fully immunized, which won't be until July of 2012. This also includes no swimming in pools, lakes or oceans. So our vacation extravaganza will have to wait.

I will be seeing my local doctor monthly and have monthly blood tests to monitor my condition. If anything looks out of line I will be returning back to Rush.

I will also be starting maintenance, which will be done by using a drug by the name of Revlimid. I will take this drug for two years in hopes that it keeps everything in check. I took this drug at a higher dose along with two other drugs during my induction cycle.

Yesterday not only being day one hundred we also picked up dinner from a restaurant and brought it home. First time we have eaten something out since the transplant, though the doctors have stated we could have done this sooner we are extra precarious. Though my eating out will probably limited, my last blood test revealed my triglycerides were high, slightly surprised by this since I eat fairly healthy and walk 2 miles a day. So it is time to turn it up a notch, going to try and start jogging again. I few years back I used to jog daily, at that time my triglycerides were 66.

My hair is really starting to grow in. I have grown a beard; though not ZZ Top long; and the hair on my head gets thicker everday. My sister stopped by yesterday and her first comment was look at all you hair.

Jane has been promoted from bartender to warden. I joke with her about this, I will state I am going to do something and her reply will be you can't do that. I know she just has my best interest in mind.

Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers.

Have a Happy Halloween.

October 2011 - Day +92

Well first week back at work full-time. The week went well and I am not too tired.

Back downtown Thursday for my last follow up before being released to my local doctor. Some final blood tests will done, including thyroid, cholesterol...

Trying to get back to life as we once new it.