Good News, Bad News: The Sequel

The good news is, I know how to do this.
The bad news is, once was enough.
The worse news is, once was not enough.

The good news is, I'm back under the direct daily care of one of the best AML teams in country.
The bad news is, I need to be back under the direct daily care of one of the best AML teams in country.

The good news is, the menu has a new insert including everything I asked for during my previous stay.

The bad news is, making fun of the food was one of favorite passtimes.

The good news is, I know how to do this.
(Also, there's a treadmill.)

= = =

We don't have final results from the biopsy yet, but we have enough information to know that, without a change of plan, the leukemia would eventually win. Unlike the initial diagnosis, this was not a complete shock. We knew this was a possible, maybe even probable, explanation for the behavior of my blood counts. It is still hard news to hear.

Anyway, I am back in Chicago for a different mix of chemo drugs than we used before. As was the case nine months ago, the first goal is to knock down the leukemia. Depending on how that goes, there are several possible paths: another round of chemo, another stem cell transplant, a donor lymphocyte infusion...

With so many possible paths, I don't have a handle on how long I'm going to be here. I know the plan for tomorrow — start the chemo. Four days later, end the chemo. Then some waiting.

There is a lot that is familiar, which isn't surprising considering I spent nine weeks here at the beginning of the year. Coincidentally, my first nurse this time was my first nurse the last time. I remember many of the other nurses and staff on the floor. As before, a good night's sleep is a fantasy.

• 12:00 a.m. Admitting doctor makes final decisions about evening medications.
• 1:15 a.m. I get stuck for a blood draw.
• 1:20 a.m. I ask the nurse about progress on the evening medications. I get one of them.
• 3:20 a.m. Another medication.
• 4:15 a.m. Vitals.
• 5:25 a.m. I get stuck for another blood draw. Luckily, my nurse is passing by the room and persuades the phlebotomist in my room to perform an additional draw scheduled for 6:00 a.m., saving me another stick within the hour.
• 7:00 a.m. More meds.

In addition to the familiar aspects, good and bad, there are some welcome changes.

The first difference I noticed after getting admitted last night was the menu. There is the same menu I ordered from at the beginning of the year, but stapled into it is a full page Health & Wellness menu. (The original menu is, I guess, for people who are hospitalized but unconcerned with health and wellness.)

For me, the highlights of this new page are whole wheat pancakes, whole wheat waffles, fruit toppings for both; hummus and veggies; black bean soup; black bean burger; chicken, turkey, or tofu wraps; grilled portabella mushroom; whole wheat pasta; veggie or tofu stir fry; whole wheat pizza; veggie quesadillas on whole wheat tortillas; black beans, brown rice, sweet potato fries.

I brought some supplemental food based on my experience last winter, but I'm not going to have to rely on it that much. Tonight I had the hummus and veggie appetizer, whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce and grilled chicken, and sweet potato fries. It was all good.

Today I also had several transportations. No long waits, no getting left alone in halls. What am I going to write about?