February 6, 2007

It’s already day 6 and all is well. At this point in time most patients have mucositis in their mouths and throats so badly they can’t eat because of the pain. Instead of eating they are on IV feeding. Along with mucositis they will have extreme nausea. However, I have been blessed with very mild symptoms. I don’t have mouth sores and my nausea is very controllable. All and all it has been very easy. I feel so blessed to have been spared all of the normal suffering.

It seems strange to me that I am still getting small doses of Methotrexate chemotherapy. These Methotrexate doses are 3ml and given every three days. It is used to slow down the new stem cells so they do not come in and attack my body too fiercely. The last dose will be this Wednesday. I have noticed that my nausea and mucositis gets a little worse several hours after each of these treatments.

I am at my Nadir or low point in my blood counts now. The next scheduled event is to have the new stem cells engraft and cause the counts to go up. The first evidence that the cells are engrafted should come between this Sunday and the following Thursday.

So far there have not been any Graft verses Host Disease (GvHD) symptoms. No skin rash, liver function problems or digestive tract problems. It is early for GvHD to show up. I’m praying it won’t and hope you are praying for that too. I’m also praying for the new stem cells to annihilate any possible remaining CML cells, if any. Of course, these prayers are always qualified by my desire that God’s will be done and that He is glorified.