I’m at day +6 now in my Car-T process. I’m part of a newer hybrid outpatient/inpatient program for the Car-T, and I am now in the inpatient hospital section of it. I came in on day +4 as planned.
So far, I have nothing going on. No CRS or neurotoxicities, which is great, but also in the back of my mind, I’m having little thoughts “is this working?” To be fair, it’s probably a bit early for the average time for those things to show up. Although, I don’t think those side effects are an indication of effectiveness.
I get poked and prodded at all times of the day and night. They like to do blood tests at 4 in the morning, so the morning shift has numbers to look at. Sleep has been a challenge. I have this weird hospital bed that likes to guess what is most comfortable for me. It deflates where my body is laying and then inflates in random spots along my body.
“Oh, your finally comfortable, let me adjust that for you and stab you in your right kidney”.
We’ve finally figured out that unplugging the bed at night makes the bed less smart, and it doesn’t adjust itself.
I’m confined to the high risk transplant floor of the hospital, along with the rest of the patients who have immune compromised systems. My counts are definitely dropping. I’m trying to stay as active as possible because I’m not very good at sitting around. I can do walking laps around the floor. I saw an exercise bike yesterday, and they agreed to move it into my room when I want to use it and then take it back out when I’m done. That has been awesome for some exercise.
I saw that there is a felon at the other end of the hall, with 2 guards, when I was doing my laps this morning. I was glad to see that he was getting some good cancer treatment. Cancer sucks, no matter who you are or what you’ve done.
So far, 3 people have stopped breathing, or their heart have stopped since I’ve been here. They blare a super loud alarm when that happens, I think on all floors.
I’m just grateful to be the “boring patient” with nothing going on…
Carrots Over Cancer 