AML: This is Spinal Tap...

(In my thickest british accent)
Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation...

Ok for those that have never seen the 1984 classic (This is Spinal Tap) you've probably got no idea what I'm refering to... I'll come back to that.

So, It's been a while.  Good news is 7th round of chemo, which was another "induction" round after my relapse has put me back into remission just like we needed.  So one more step closer to my transplant.   This time the Dr let me out of the hospital on Day 7 instead of keeping me in for the full 3-4 weeks.  I managed to go to work a couple of days then when my couts dropped, was comfortable at home until they recovered.  I had meds to keep infections away, and it worked. 

Only 7 days in the hospital.  though I often went back for labs and transfusions when needed. 

So after my counts recovered we did another bone marrow biopsy (my 5th) to confirm I was back in remission.  Then a PET scan.  It's a full body scan after they make me basically drink some radioactive sugar.  Cancer cells suck up this stuff and it helps them determine if we are damaging any organs or if there is any obvious cancer anywhere. Then I had a Lunbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) to see if there were any leukemia cells in my spinal fluid.  Leukemia likes to hide there and not all chemo drugs can make it through the blood/brain barrier...  Survey says...  all clear!  One more step closer. 

Now, I have had 7 rounds of chemo and 5 bone marrow biopsies. I have had countless procedures and been poked more times then I can count.  The only thing I will fight tooth and nail to never repeat is my spinal tap.  Perhaps you could get by the fact someone is digging around in your spine where all of a sudden your left ass cheek and leg go numb (to which the Doc responded, "Guess we're in the right spot").  Turns out that can be normal when the needle touches the edge of a nerve, but some warning would have been nice.

The problem is that in 20-30% of the cases a lumbar puncture can result in a headache.   I got the headaches.  On a pain scale of 1-10, they were 11 (another Spinal Tap movie reference... anyone?)  The pain was in front of my head, behind my eyes and temples, then later moved to the back of my head above the spine.  If I sat or stood up it was much worse.  Prolonged periods would cause me to sweat and become nauseous. I went back to the emergency room the next day to get a "blood patch".  Essentially they inject a little of your blood into the spinal column, which should clot and fix the leak. 

The ER doctor felt it was sufficient to just treat me with muscle relaxers.  Which provided temprary relief considering they had me lay down the whole time.  I left the emergnecy room with the recommendation that I just really needed to lay down and take it easy.  So I spent the rest of the week in significant pain.  The problem was all I could do was lay down, it was the only relief. Pain meds did not work.  So for the rest of my chemosabes out there...get the blood patch.  As it turns out, it took 6 days for things to begin to get better on their own.  Those 6 days were worse then any chemo treatment I had.   

With that all behind me and with the good test results, we are that much closer to my transplant. 

On to the Match Game...