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Summary


Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) was the diagnosis I received on November 1, 2005. I went into the clinic three months earlier because of a tightness in my chest, left side, resulting even from a short walk out to my car. Then the week before diagnosis I went in because of a strange bulge in the left side of my abdomen, felt when lying in bed on my back. Turned out to be a rather large spleen, later measured at 11cm below the rib cage.

Since then, my family and I have been through some trying times. And as a Naval Officer stationed overseas in the UK and with family and friends living throughout the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Japan and Australia, I decided early on that it would be easier to update everyone via a blog than by email or phone.

I tried, and resisted, Gleevec. I also tried Sprycel but I proved intolerant to it because my counts dropped as soon as I took more than 50mg daily (standard is 100 to 140 mg daily). So I turned to a bone marrow transplant, which I underwent November 31, 2007 at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. I have since been dealing with chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) issues with my GI tract (resolved), eyes, mouth, and now my lungs. The lung problem is pretty bad as I hve been diagnosed with bronchial obliterans and now have only 42 percent lung function and am on oxygen a great deal of the time.

But not to fear; I am hanging in there, keeping my spirits up and continuing with my life. Through this blog, people have followed my treatment plans through success and failures, various types of medical appointments and procedures, my fluctuating counts, etc. Besides information detailing my own experiences, I also try to include general aspects of CML, various forms of treatment and the experiences of a stem cell transplant.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Inpatient Rehab

Well I was discharged from Presbyterian/St. Lukes Hospital in Denver and admitted as an inpatient for physical rehabilitation on Friday. So I am no at The Center at Centennial in Colorado Springs. It is a very nice facility and everyone are so nice. Even though it is a holiday weekend I have still received physical and occupational therapy. The meal choices are very limited but the food tastes good. So I am happy with the facilities and am happy my wife doesn't have to drive so far to visit with me.

The blood cultures taken before I left Denver have come back positive so I am no on anti-biotics via IV once a day. Still no word on what it is but it must be some sort of infection. With blood cultures it takes time for them to grow, and with the holiday weekend I don't expect to hear anything more until Tuesday. But otherwise I feel fairly good and today's PT went well for me.

Thanks for your comments on my previous post. I appreciate just knowing someone is actually reading these blog updates, especially when there is often a long delay from me.

Take care everyone,

David

Posted by David Cox

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi David, it's Barbara,
I read all of you posts & am upset to see that you're still having such a hard time, here's hoping that this latest setback is soon sorted out & that your re-education helps you get your strength back,

best wishes XXXX

May 31, 2010 1:01:00 AM PDT
Anonymous said...

Hi Sweetie,
Glad to hear that you are pleased with the rehab and hope it does the trick in getting your strength back. We love you and look forward to you being able to go home soon.
Love,
Lisa

June 1, 2010 4:36:00 PM PDT
Chuckles said...

David,
I am glad to hear you like the new rehab place. It sounds like a great place for you to build your strength back up so you can go home.
Take care,
Chuck

June 4, 2010 6:11:00 AM PDT
Anonymous said...

Hi David, I too check your updates regularly and am sorry to hear you've been having such a rough time lately. Really hope the rehab centre goes well. All the very best from a fellow CMLer in Melbourne, Stephanie

June 5, 2010 3:07:00 AM PDT
Anonymous said...

Hi David!

Wow, you continue to be one brave soldier in this long c-gvhd battle. I am happy to hear you are on the upswing of things and getting the care you need and deserve. GREAT news on the reduction of meds. I was on 125MG of pred a day back in January so I certianly know the side effects of the devil drug that also serves such helpful purposes to keep us alive.
Please update when you can. We are sending big hugs and healing thoughts your way. Good luck with the upcoming surgery. Hopefully your vision will improve.
Smiles-
Lea

June 8, 2010 9:16:00 PM PDT
Anonymous said...

Dave,
I am not so good about reading your blog, but think about you all the time. I do send messages through FB, but don't know if you get them. You know I wish you strength through all of this. Keep up the good fight.
Joanne

June 10, 2010 8:07:00 PM PDT

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