READJUSTMENT

Today we were back at the BMT clinic.  We were to see a nurse who would asses Bob's progress.  Dr. B is on holiday so we knew we would not be seeing him.  However the pain in Bob's hip has gotten so bad that it takes a fair chunk of the day  and a number of pills to become mobile.  Our minds were made up...........today we would "demand" to know what the pain was from.  Bob had a number of full body scans prior to the transplant so if there was something there on the hip it should have been seen.  Well we upset the applecart.  I think the nurses thought this visit would be
tickety-boo easy.  After the nursing assessments the nurse said that we needed to change the pain meds.  In order to get a prescription, of course, one needs a doctor.  The doc who was in the clinic didn't see us--he was seeing his patients and perhaps they don't cross over.  Anyway, after some time we got to see Dr. Bahlis' fellow.  The nurse said that he was an excellent doctor.  In my crazy mind I was thinking butler??, cleans up in the lab???  Turns out a fellow is a doctor who has done an internship and residency and is now working in a specialty.  I am thinking research oncologist in multiple myeloma.  (Ya think?)
This young man was excellent and decided on a course of pain control.  In the course of the conversation he told us about all of the lesions Bob had all over his skeleton.  The one on the left hip was much larger than where the pain was on the right.  He also explained how the steroids can make the bone wall thinner.  Bob and I must have been in la la land because we were not aware of the extent of the lesions.  Each time Bob had a scan we were told there weren't any new lesions.  So either Bob had all these lesions seven years ago or we were being spared worry or we missed the whole thing.  Nothing more could have been done given all the circumstances around Bob's diagnosis.   Bob has been taking steroids the whole seven years and we did not know that side affect.  However in all reality what difference would it have made --knowing all of that????

Today though, that information hit very hard right in the gut.  Our young Dr. caught on pretty quick that we did not know these things.  I think the tears gave it away.  So many things raced through our minds, it was just a horrible experience again.  It is a long ride home and we decided to drown our sorrows in a fast food joint.  Hamburger, fries and a fountain drink.  Not super smart for Bob but we did it.  YUMMY.  As we talked we knew we had to readjust some of our gut reaction.  Nothing has changed.  We are still asking the Lord for a miracle of remission.  Bob says he now realizes how critical it is to be careful walking etc. so as not hurry along a broken bone.  He has been careful but now "gets it".  Pray that there aren't any spontaneous breaks.

Should Bob only have the transplant to recover from he would be dancing.  He is doing well.  WBC-8.3,HGB-120, Platelets-- 142.  A little more to go but looking good.  No fevers, no bowel problems, no urinary problem, no mouth sores.  Bob lost some weight, that was a concern to the nurse.  However he has started to eat better.

We have readjusted our load and will do the best we can, moving to the summit.

My life verse is Phil 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.   
How else could we manage????