Erika's Treatment Update -- Week 23

Hi everyone.

I'm writing my update a little early this week, because I don't think I'll be able to get it around to it the next few days. It's been quite an interesting couple of days all starting with an unexpected trip to the ER on Sunday...

• Saturday Chris and I met up with some TNT people for breakfast at Hobee's after their morning training which was nice. It was great to hear that they're getting so close to their event in Honolulu and next weekend is their 22-mile training...Go Team! After that we decided to take a short day trip to Half Moon Bay since I was feeling so well. We took Pebbles to the beach at the Ritz Carlton and had a great time, aside from the fact that I got submerged to my knees by a wave and I was wearing my favorite and very hard to get UGG's! Of course I was devastated and had to ride back home with wet feet, wet jeans, and the thought of my UGG's being ruined.
• Sunday morning I woke up feeling a little hyper and overly energized. I didn't think much of it, I figured it would just be a good day in terms of energy level. Well at around 11am my right arm & leg started moving uncrontrollably and I started getting hysterical. The whole episode lasted about 20-30 minutes and when I called my oncologist she said I needed to go to the ER. When we got there they initially thought I had a seizure, however after a normal head CT and examination by a neurologist and several other doctors they think it was something more of a movement disorder or muscle spasms. I had an MRI of my brain done yesterday morning which also came back normal and I'm scheduled to have an EEG (similar to an EKG, except of the brain) next Wednesday. I will also be seeing a movement disorder specialist to see if they can determine exactly what it was and rule out anything serious. Whatever it was, I hope to never have to experience it again as it was pretty scary...of course Chris thought I was joking around while it was happening, especially since the only way I could get from one room to another is by hoping around like a bunny.
• Today was my long day at Stanford. I had my blood drawn, met with my oncologist, BMT doctor, and had my 4th chemo treatment. All went very smoothly, my counts were normal, my liver function seems to have improved slightly, and I'm not scheduled to return until Dec 8th for my 5th treatment (knock on wood). I also got the results of my donor chimerism...drum roll...I have a 100% donor cells. I think everyone expected that, but it's always nice to have a confirmation. I'm still dealing with daily fevers and no one seems to know the source of them, my BMT doctor decided that I don't need to see an infectious disease specialist since he doesn't feel that they will be able to find anything. Basically I just have to suck it up and deal with them and carry Tylenol and a thermometer with me at all times. Oh one bit of good news that I did receive today (and something I've really been looking forward to)...I can have sushi again - yupee!

Well that's it for this week. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!