Today I received my first
photopheresis treatment in an effort to control my graft vs host disease and get me off steroids. The simple explanation of how this therapy works is that certain white cells are separated out of my blood through a centrifuge, and then exposed to UV light and put back in my blood. The hope is that this will suppress these cells' (bad) reaction to the foreign environment (me) that they are in. It's a painless procedure (they
saaaay), except that I'm stuck with one ENORMOUS and another
not-
as-ENORMOUS IV needle to make this treatment happen.
This was actually my second attempt at the procedure....the first one, which took place two weeks ago, was a bust when my blood pressure dropped to 70/50 within the first 10 minutes and they had to abandon the treatment. All went well today, however, and I actually got a great nap in!
I'll be receiving photopheresis twice a week (for a few hours at a time) every other week for quite some time. Hopefully, we'll be doing this for about a year (I only say "hopefully" because that would mean that the treatment is having a positive effect. If it doesn't work, we'll know in about 4-5 months). However, the photo nurses are really fun to hang out with. And, the Hematology dept has just moved to a totally remodeled floor that is so much better! There are views! and tvs in the rooms/at the chairs! and a coffee machine!
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| There it is! The coffee machine!! |
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| New Photopheresis room. |
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| Another treatment room with a fabulous view (the GG Bridge is in there amidst the fog) |
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| A treatment chair |
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| View for a treatment chair! |
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| Here I am during the first attempt, posing with photopheresis machine :) |
On another note, I gave Nic a little haircut over the weekend. He was really resistant to going again to Daddy's place, so I took matters into my own hands. I really just trimmed up the sides and neck. And then I followed him around for the next couple days snipping more and more :)
