The last time I wrote was over a month ago and I have been to Iowa City one more time. My appointment was January 11th. The weather was much better this time and no jury duty. I thought I was going to have a lot done on me this time but that wasn't the case. We have learned to get there just a little earlier than when the appointment for seeing the doctor is and not when your blood draw is. They schedule the two about a half an hour apart from each other so if you wait and get there for your appointment with the doctor you just go right in for your blood draw and when you get done with that the nurse is waiting in the hall for you to get your vitals and stuff. Then she takes you right back to the room to see the doctor. Much faster this way then waiting a half hour in the lounge or more.
We had a different PA this time. Her name was Karen. Now I had a PA named Karen and the Test Drug Rep whose name is Karen. The PA checked me out and asked all the routine questions, "how is the swelling? Feeling tired? Still taking the Gleevec 800mg?" and then checked my spleen and listens to my breathing and heart. Karen the Drug rep came in and said that the lab didn't take all the right tests and so I would have to go and have a second draw. Then Dr Gingrich comes in shortly after and talks about how they will be sending my blood to a different lab this time. This lab looks at my blood much more closely. He said they get
all gowned up like you would see on TV. Head, face, hands body feet, the whole works covered. They don't want any chance of their DNA getting into yours and they test your blood like three times looking at it much closer giving a truer reading. If I was to go back to school I think it would have to be to do something like this. I just think it sounds so cool. Anyway, he said we would await those results and then more than likely on my next visit start the whole kit and caboodle regimen of tests. So this visit ended up being shorter then I had planned which is always nice.The plan from Karen the Drug Representative was that I would more than likely be seen again in two weeks. All of them have always talked as if more than likely I would be put on this new drug sometime in February. Karen emailed me my test results Wednesday and now we are going to wait 8 weeks and have the blood drawn again to see if there is any changes. Here is what she wrote to me;
"Your study test came back about as we expected – with just a little disease. They read it as 0.22%, and the ‘major molecular response’ that we like to see at one year of treatment should be 0.1%. Pretty close! Dr. Gingrich suggests we wait 8 weeks, then recheck with the study lab. He thinks you’ve plateaued and may not get more response from Gleevec, but would like to give it just a little longer."
Will I have all the tests done then? No, probably not. We will wait for those results, which this last time took about a week and a half and then go from there. The problem with this is the deductible will have to be met now. We had it planned out that I got my refills the end of December to get me through January with the thought I would be starting the new drug in February. We knew eventually we would end up meeting the deducible through doctor visits being on the test drug but now it will come all at once with one refill. At least we are mentally prepared this time. We know what is coming. Still a big bite to chew.
Now you know what I know. (Sorry about that. hahaha)
Please pray for our safe journey and for the kids and grandparents a joyous time together. I am sure we will share our trip with all of you when we get back.
Ok, the kids and dad are around me and bugging the heck out of me so am going to end this. Love to you all and as always, thank you for your prayers and support.
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