Just Gotta Poke Around | Just a Little Pin Prick

Sat Mar 23, 2024
AML 3.0 treatment - Day 5
(Orion's birthday | Facebook post)

I'm looking down at my arms and hands, and I can count at least 9 needle marks. No need for pics. I'm guessing this is what an IV drug addict's arms might look like. Obviously, the nurses and phlebotomists poking/pricking ability are better than some junky's, but I think the low platelets slow the healing and make it look worse.

For yesterday's Aza, it took 3 pokes to find a good vein. 😐

Speaking of platelets, I got my first transfusion on Thursday. One bag bumped 'em from 17 to 30. Still nowhere near normal but a decent bump. 

Red blood and platelet transfusions will probably be pretty common over the next few weeks. Would it be nicer to have a PICC for the blood draws, infusions, and transfusions? Sure, but caring for a port while out-patient would be a little tricky. I think I'll trade-off the 3+ pricks a day for the easy hot shower.

Only 3 more days of IV Aza, then all the chemo will be oral, and the only pricks will be for blood draws and transfusion. The oral meds are a lot to keep track of. 8 pills this morning including Ven, Levo, Posa, and Acyclovir. At least I'm stopping the amlodipine since my BP is on the lower side of normal. Zifto (the menin inhibitor) starts next week. That's also oral.

It's a bit of a dreary Saturday here, so I'm just gonna chill, blog, watch college hoops, and lay low.

I've been getting a ton of steps in, so I'm not worried about taking a day off.

Above pic is yesterday's steps total. I walked to Mr. Noodle after my Aza infusion and got some dumplings and wor wonton soup. One thing about chemo is that sometimes nothing seems appetizing. Last night, Chinese just seemed like it would work, and luckily it did. The night before I could barely eat and had serious nausea and stomach upset. (I'll spare you the details.) I think increasing the Ativan helped.

Anyway, that's it... just a quick update today. I'm hangin' in there, but it's pretty rough. Tired all the time, walking is taking a lot out of me, and my legs (hammies and calves) are still strangely sore. No one seems to have a clue about that. I guess I'll just keep stretching. College hoops, stretch, rest, write, walk to clinic. Wash, rinse, repeat.

iwkiaaaa