Lumbar Puncture #4

This morning marks my 4th Lumbar Puncture. As of this writing I am feeling fine - no headache in sight. Things went really smoothly at Clinic today. Although still majorly intimidating, the LPs are becoming less and less of a big deal. Guess so after so many! Tomorrow I return to clinic for more IV fluids and a caffeine drip and then I only have one more LP to go-next Tuesday, April 28th.

My numbers continue to improve. I love the manufacturers of Gleevec! I have reacted so well to this chemotherapy drug that there is a strong possibility that I will be released from the IPOP Clinic and admitted into Outpatient Services. That means I'll see a nurse once a week to have my blood drawn and that's about it unless something unusual occurs. Clearly this news is good -my body is doing what the drug intended - it's putting my into remission which is exactly where I need to stay until May 26th and my bone marrow transplant. So, yes, I'm doing exceptionally well - but I have to admit, I'm nervous to leave the safety and sense of well being that is the clinic. It's a community of sorts there that shares something quite significant - living with cancer. Part of what we share though are the awesome docs and nurses that always have our best interest at heart and are there for us every step of the way while we wait for our lives to unfold. The good news - I'll see many of those docs and nurses again before, during and after my transplant since everything leukemia seems to take place on the 5th floor of the Weinberg Building at JHH.

I have an appointment with Dr. Hetty Carraway on Thursday to discuss my upcoming transplant. She is the head of my "team" of docs with a title too long to post here. As you might imagine I have a million questions. Obviously my emotions are running the full gamut and I want all the answers - now! Knowledge is power, right! Gee, this appointment could last a while! Stay tuned - more to come.