So when today began, I thought it would just be a usual Tuesday...
Go to Sloan, get my bloodwork, joke with the nurses, see the doctor, and then finally head on home. However, I had no idea what was in store for me!
So we all know that last week I got my T-Cell count back. Well there is also another test they do. They look at your PHA level. This tells them how well your immune system in functioning. You could have 500 T-Cells, but if you have a low PHA level, then their not really doing anything.
That level didn't come back until today...
Well, my PHA level is 233,395!
THAT'S A NORMAL PHA LEVEL
What that means is I've been given the green light to start living my normal life! However, until I get a few more T-Cells the doctor wants me to steer clear of sushi. But in the meantime, that means I can go back to work, and do all those other wonderful things!!
So I gave Morgan Stanley a call, and pretty much let them know I'm ready when they are!
Hopefully with the turmoil of the market, they can still find a place for me! :-)
Until next time sports fans!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
My Weekend Out...
So I should be in bed... but I can't sleep. That's what I get for taking a nap at around 3 o'clock today. In the mean time, I'll write about my awesome weekend!
So yesterday, two of my WONDERFUL friends got married!
That's Mr. & Mrs. Dan Spadora right there!
So now you may be thinking, "Gee Nick... you don't have your 200 T-Cells, how did you attend a wedding?"
Well, I asked the doctors and they gave me the OK! They understand that they can't keep me in a bubble forever and that it wouldn't be fair to keep me away from an occasion such as this.
It was a beautiful ceremony, and one rockin' reception with great food and great friends! We had quite the Marist contingency and we partied well into the night.
On a more personal note, it felt so good to just be "normal" again. To re-enter the real world... even if it was just a quick furlough. Now originally, I thought the experience would feel like a tease. Only giving me a small glimpse of what life will be like once I'm back to 100%.
However, it had quite the opposite effect. It really gave me renewed strength. It produced the same thought with a totally different meaning. This IS what awaits me... I'm so close and nothing can stop me now!
Look out world, here I come!!
So yesterday, two of my WONDERFUL friends got married!
That's Mr. & Mrs. Dan Spadora right there!So now you may be thinking, "Gee Nick... you don't have your 200 T-Cells, how did you attend a wedding?"
Well, I asked the doctors and they gave me the OK! They understand that they can't keep me in a bubble forever and that it wouldn't be fair to keep me away from an occasion such as this.
It was a beautiful ceremony, and one rockin' reception with great food and great friends! We had quite the Marist contingency and we partied well into the night.
On a more personal note, it felt so good to just be "normal" again. To re-enter the real world... even if it was just a quick furlough. Now originally, I thought the experience would feel like a tease. Only giving me a small glimpse of what life will be like once I'm back to 100%.
However, it had quite the opposite effect. It really gave me renewed strength. It produced the same thought with a totally different meaning. This IS what awaits me... I'm so close and nothing can stop me now!
Look out world, here I come!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Results...
The Results Are In!!
I've made it to
160
Not too shabby, considering last month they only went up 9.
Hopefully this means by next month I will surpass the 200 mark!
I've made it to
160
Not too shabby, considering last month they only went up 9.
Hopefully this means by next month I will surpass the 200 mark!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Still Nothing...
As of 5pm... still nothing!
I guess I'll be waiting over the weekend for an answer.
BOO!!!
I guess I'll be waiting over the weekend for an answer.
BOO!!!
Waiting...
As of 10 AM no T-Cell results.
Each time they do this test, I swear it takes longer.
Hopefully something by the end of the day!
Each time they do this test, I swear it takes longer.
Hopefully something by the end of the day!
Friday, September 05, 2008
The Look On His Face...
Yesterday was quite the long day for me!
I was up bright and early to get to Sloan for 8 AM.
The day started with a PET Scan, continued with some IVIG (passive immune system), and ended with a CT scan. I left just in time for rush hour... 5pm!
It only took me 2hr 15mins to get home... oh How I love the LIE!
My route home takes me up the FDR Drive and across the Triborough Bridge... which is where today's story begins!
Somehow, my EZ-Pass fell off the dashboard and landed under the seat. Unfortunately, I don't realize this until I'm sitting at the toll booth and wondering why the gate isn't lifting! As I frantically look for the EZ-Pass a TBTA Cop (Tri-Borough Transit Authority) makes his way over to my car. This is not an unusual occurance. EZ-Passes with a weak battery usually need to be scanned manually in order for them to work.
Now the TBTA cop looked like a young guy... maybe 23ish... and seemed new on the job. As he's waiting for me to hand him my EZ-Pass, this little thing attached his belt starts Beeping in a high-low type fashion. (An Alarm) He removes this device from his belt and his face drops. His expression was confusion with a little bit of fear mixed in.
What was that beeping on his belt? It was a Radiation Detector! That's right folks... I'm radioactive!!! As you recall, I had a PET scan earlier that day. For a PET Scan they inject you with a radioactive sugar, which the machine is able to read. It's a great way for the doctors to observe metabolic activity in your body. The downside is... YOU'RE RADIOACTIVE!! In a post 9/11 world, especially near the bridges and tunnels, law enforcement is pretty keen on trying to make sure nobody sneaks a dirty bomb into the city.
I could tell from the officers face he was thinking the following: "They told us when this thing beeps, it's detecing radiation... but it's never done that before... holy **** what did I just find? Is this guy a terrorist?"... So on and so forth. The TBTBA officer nervously asks if I have anything in my trunk. I think for a second and realize what he's holding in his hand must be the radiation detector. I ask him, and he confirms it. I chuckle and respond "Oh Don't worry... It's just me!"
This doesn't ease his fears. I then show him my hospital card, bracelet, and the medical wrap on my arm from where the IV was. At that point, he wasn't sure what to do. I could see him looking around for any colleagues near by that he could flag over... unfortuntaely no one was close enough. He reluctantly allowed me to continue and I laughed the entire way home.
Anyways... thats my funny story for the day.
My Day At Sloan...
These scans were the routine PET/CT scans that make sure I'm still cancer free. For those of you who have never had a CT scan, you're usually required to drink oral contrast... ONE LITER of oral contrast! After almost two years of dealing with these scans every 2 months, I guess you could say I used to chugging back the stuff. They try to make it palatable by mixing it with Crystal Light. Needless to say, I shudder whenever I just see a crystal light package.
Now you also need to drink the contrast for a PET scan. Usually, we're able to schedule the scans back to back so I only need to drink the nasty stuff once! Unfortuantely, yesterday I wasn't that lucky. The PET Scan was in the morning at 9AM, and the CT Scan was in the afternoon at 4pm. So yesterday I was force fed 2 Liters of Raspberry Crystal Light. I still cringe just thinking about it.
Other then that, everything went off without a hitch, and I'm doing fine!
Next week we have another T-Cell Count! Look for results on Friday!
I was up bright and early to get to Sloan for 8 AM.
The day started with a PET Scan, continued with some IVIG (passive immune system), and ended with a CT scan. I left just in time for rush hour... 5pm!
It only took me 2hr 15mins to get home... oh How I love the LIE!
My route home takes me up the FDR Drive and across the Triborough Bridge... which is where today's story begins!
Somehow, my EZ-Pass fell off the dashboard and landed under the seat. Unfortunately, I don't realize this until I'm sitting at the toll booth and wondering why the gate isn't lifting! As I frantically look for the EZ-Pass a TBTA Cop (Tri-Borough Transit Authority) makes his way over to my car. This is not an unusual occurance. EZ-Passes with a weak battery usually need to be scanned manually in order for them to work.
Now the TBTA cop looked like a young guy... maybe 23ish... and seemed new on the job. As he's waiting for me to hand him my EZ-Pass, this little thing attached his belt starts Beeping in a high-low type fashion. (An Alarm) He removes this device from his belt and his face drops. His expression was confusion with a little bit of fear mixed in.
What was that beeping on his belt? It was a Radiation Detector! That's right folks... I'm radioactive!!! As you recall, I had a PET scan earlier that day. For a PET Scan they inject you with a radioactive sugar, which the machine is able to read. It's a great way for the doctors to observe metabolic activity in your body. The downside is... YOU'RE RADIOACTIVE!! In a post 9/11 world, especially near the bridges and tunnels, law enforcement is pretty keen on trying to make sure nobody sneaks a dirty bomb into the city.
I could tell from the officers face he was thinking the following: "They told us when this thing beeps, it's detecing radiation... but it's never done that before... holy **** what did I just find? Is this guy a terrorist?"... So on and so forth. The TBTBA officer nervously asks if I have anything in my trunk. I think for a second and realize what he's holding in his hand must be the radiation detector. I ask him, and he confirms it. I chuckle and respond "Oh Don't worry... It's just me!"
This doesn't ease his fears. I then show him my hospital card, bracelet, and the medical wrap on my arm from where the IV was. At that point, he wasn't sure what to do. I could see him looking around for any colleagues near by that he could flag over... unfortuntaely no one was close enough. He reluctantly allowed me to continue and I laughed the entire way home.
Anyways... thats my funny story for the day.
My Day At Sloan...
These scans were the routine PET/CT scans that make sure I'm still cancer free. For those of you who have never had a CT scan, you're usually required to drink oral contrast... ONE LITER of oral contrast! After almost two years of dealing with these scans every 2 months, I guess you could say I used to chugging back the stuff. They try to make it palatable by mixing it with Crystal Light. Needless to say, I shudder whenever I just see a crystal light package.
Now you also need to drink the contrast for a PET scan. Usually, we're able to schedule the scans back to back so I only need to drink the nasty stuff once! Unfortuantely, yesterday I wasn't that lucky. The PET Scan was in the morning at 9AM, and the CT Scan was in the afternoon at 4pm. So yesterday I was force fed 2 Liters of Raspberry Crystal Light. I still cringe just thinking about it.
Other then that, everything went off without a hitch, and I'm doing fine!
Next week we have another T-Cell Count! Look for results on Friday!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
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