Clinic Visit

Looks like I've stabilised still positive for the Philadelphia chromosome. Which means no increase in the number of Philadelphia chromosomes since last time or decrease either. Have another test in about 3 months time. I guess at that one they will decide if I need a bone marrow sample taken.
 Did a small bit of Chrimbo shopping after seeing the Doctor. There is now a Primark in Alicante and its only 5 minutes away from the clinic.

Yeah blood test

Finally got my blood test done and also booked my visit to the clinic for December

Chemists are on Strike

The chemists are on strike. Which is causing a few headaches.
 Been trying for a week now to get a blood test. Hopefully next Wednesday I will be able to get one, as I pick up my medication, which came in today, but I was unable to pick it up. They did say they would open especially for me tomorrow if it was urgent which I thought was nice.
Still feel tired around lunch time, and sometimes I need to lie down.
Not much to say really until I go to the specialists in December. So fingers crossed for that one.

Drugs and Doctors

Went to the clinic last Tuesday with my blood test results, everything is going well and the doctor is pleased with my progress. Its been almost a year since I was diagnosed leukemia.
Also got my new batch of medicine this week as well. Having to order at least 8 days before.
My next appointment at the clinic is in December, so will need to have a blood test 2 weeks before this.

As I haven't posted for a while I thought I would write something today.
 Summer is here. Its hot and sticky and about 32C outside.
 Did have some fun while getting my medication, I now have to make sure I order it at least 5 days before I need it, rather than the day before. Which in real terms means a week. Order it on Monday so I have it for next Monday. I now make sure I have eight tablets left when I order just in case.

Had another blood test last week, so waiting for the results of this. It looks like I will be having one of these every three months. The test is looking for the Molecular response to the treatment and is often reffered to as the BCR-ABL blood test. It can detect one leukaemia cell in up to one million (1,000,000) normal blood cells. It does this by measuring a substance (transcript) made by the BCR-ABL gene in the leukaemia cells. The last one I had showed a tiny amounts of this substance.
 Apparently even if its all clear I still have to take the Glivic for how long I don't know.

 I have found that writing the date when I start a new box of tablets, on the box, helps me to know if I have taken them. I actually forgot one day, and made sure by checking the date I had written. What I did was take the tablet which was 4 hours later then normal and then the next day took the tablet 3.5 hours later than normal and so on until I got back to the right time. writing the date certainly helps, as I often can't remember if I have taken a tablet or not. Also some forward planning is required as I need to know if there is a chance I won't be at home at lunch time. If so I have a small metal pill pox where I put a tablet into and then into my pocket. Looks much nicer than those plastic ones which tend to be quite big anyway.
My next hospital visit is early September, so will probably write more then.

F.I.S.H but no chips

Went to the clinic for my F.I.S.H results. This is the test they do on the bone marrow. Its all good. Almost no Philadelphia chromosomes. So I don't have to go back until September now.
 Been doing Tai Chi for almost a month now. I think this is definitely a good thing. I can't believe its taken me so long to find a class.
 Well the summer is finally here. Its about 30ºC during the day and about 25ºC during the night and its due to get hotter.

Blood test again

Doctor is really pleased with the results. And said normally he would expect to see similar results after a year not after seven months. Which is good news.

Bone Marrow Sample day.

Bone marrow sample day tomorrow, not looking forward to it.
Lets hope it goes ok.

Its been awhile

Got my blood test results today. Basically identical to the last one. So next week is the bone marrow test.
Been fighting off a cold for the last month or so. I seem to take longer to get better with colds and when I cut myself. A side effect of the treatment I guess.

Ohh look an update blink and you might miss it.

Have had a few iffy days well more like weeks. Also recently had a couple of panic or anxiety attacks. Which is a bit strange. But hopefully they will not get worse.
 I seem to have a perpetual cold at the moment and sneezed at did my back in a while back. Just got a case of the sniffles at the moment.
 In about 10 days I go for another blood test then in about a month I have the bone marrow sample taken.
That's about it for now.

Clinic visit.

Just come back from the doctors. He is really happy with my test results, and I didn't have to have the dreaded bone marrow test. But I will be having it on the 15th May. So good news the treatment seems to be working well.

Clinic again, and good news

I went to the clinic and the doctor is really happy with my progress. So much so that he didn't want to do the dreaded bone marrow sample. But I will be having the bone marrow sample taken next time, which is May 15th or so.
 Good news that he is happy with my progress.Mind you I have been having a few crappy days, and do find I need to eat on a more regular basis. Also I need to eat breakfast. Never used to but find it helps. Probably need the energy levels.
 I am still trying to take a small nap in the afternoon, but sometimes its ends up being a sleep of a couple of hours.
 So will be off to have another major blood test in April, this is the one that looks for the Philadelphia chromosome. Then the dreaded bone marrow sample.

Searching for Philadelphia

No not the cheese or the place. Its the name given to a certain type of chromosome (chromosomes have names?). The name relates to chromosome pair 9,22. With CML the tails of chromosome 9 and 22 are swapped.
So I went to the pharmacy to get the test to search for this mixed up pair. It takes 17 days to do. So by 5th March I will know if I still have Phili wandering around my blood. On the 6th March I have the bone marrow version of the test. So will know if I still have CML.

Check up at last

Went to see the specialist Thursday 26th. Everything is OK and I seem to be doing well. I've got the expensive blood test to do before next check up at the beginning of March. Then its the bone marrow sample and test, yippee, I am really looking forward to that one not.
 I am currently reading on my tablet via the Kindle app, The art of money getting or the Golden rules for making money. (its a free kindle book) Its written by P.T Barnum, yep the same Barnum as the circus. Considering it was written in the 1850's ish  its still relevant to today. Just replace things like horse and cart with sport cars etc and add a few zeros to the amounts and it all makes sense.

Checkup cancelled

My visit to the specialist was cancelled last week, so it been changed to this week. So off to Alicante Thursday.

YABT or Yet Another Blood Test

Just had another blood test. I have also started to gain some weight. Which is causing a few problems with my back (I have a herniated disc), its amazing that just a weight gain of 2 kilos can give me problems with my back. Hopefully I can loose the 2kg.

Ultrasound check to day

Went for my ultrasound check today. Had to wait almost an hour before it was my turn.
 Had my tummy smothered in gel then saw rather fuzzy pictures of my insides. He was able to make out my kidneys spleen etc, all I could see was fuzzy, less fuzzy oh and look fuzzy white and grey bits.
 I felt like saying is it a boy or a girl.
Anyway prelim findings look good will get the proper results next Monday.
Friday its blood test day.

Been fishing

The kids got fishing rods from the three kings. So I took them out fishing today. And Sarah caught 2 fish, and she has been so happy all day. We threw the fish back after we took photos. Me and Thomas caught none.