#campath

[wulfgurlz]

list of current synpaths

hugo friedkin

garfield

sans the skeleton

alphys

mae borowski

gregg lee

dean winchester

daisy brown

double d

todd chavez

arthur kingsman

david rose

seymour krelborn

jeremy heere

[aubs90]

When that IV benedryl kicks in... got my “chemo” like drug, campath, to knock out my entire immune system. Will be staying on the DL for the next couple weeks. Praying this works and we can stop this rejection in its tracks. Dr Gray said I should feel better within a few days! Thanks everyone for your prayers!! #doublelungtransplant #duke #byerejection #campath #IVbenedrylisthebest #wegotthis #cysticfibrosis (at Duke University Hospital Infusion Center)

[wehadders]

My Campath Treatment for MS

Good day, writing this blog was a big decision… should I share this or just let it pass. After thinking and contemplating, I made the decision to share this as it could give other Multiple Sclerosis patients basic insights on the Campath treatment and the effects it had on me.

So just to position the treatment was a joint decision between the Neurologist, Oncologist and me. We decided that this would be a process of three years to see if we can slow down the damage that is being caused by my Immune system to my Myelin with my Central Nervous System (CNS).

Reasoning for taking this decision was based on:

Side Effects from other Treatment (I was on daily injections) – I had real negative experiences

Looking at alternate medication

Change in Lifestyle – Being Boarded Medically due to MS

Continuous 3 Monthly Cortisone Treatment for pain and muscle Spasms, and

A heartfelt feeling between us that this is the route to follow.

Ok, so now three years down the line I have just completed my Third and Final Campath Treatment and I will it break down in areas of interest.

Fears – Feeling of Anxiety

Living in Africa and knowing that after the treatment you have no Immune system left in your body, almost gives you the fear of having “HIV”. So it becomes a huge mind over matter game, as life does continue and I want it to continue, it is never my intention to try to hide as I have learned that what does not kill you can only make you stronger.

People around me – how this affects them, what is in their mind and thinking.

Death – yes, that is a fear not because of the unknown but the fear for my family around them. Death itself in not a fear as it does sometimes feel like an alternate medication. But the fear of death on loved ones.

Is this really worth it. This is fear that comes and goes as you get answers and you don’t. It is like the role of the dice. We will see what the outcome is when the games are done.

Bliss – State of Spiritual Joy

So Why Bliss? As there are so many times during the journey that you experience Bliss, the sad thing is that most of them are in retrospect and not in the moment. I do believe that is a lesson to be learned. We need to really enjoy those moments of Bliss in the moment and not when they are long cone.

During this time, my true moments of Bliss:

Meeting really special people like a person at the Dr’s room that just pop her head around the corner.

Having my friends around me, each with their own journey, to support me. From bringing food, to sitting with me on the coach, to sharing their special day (Wedding) with me. Those technology Chats. Sharing laughter and tears.

My kids, what can I say, they are just as confused as all off us but then need to still try to become human, teenagers life is not what it used to be. But they are a Blessing in this process. And they keep your feet on the ground as you don’t know what is in the future for them.

Support – I do believe that I am blessed with a support structure that is solid and that can hold me.

Treatment – “alleviating a disease”

Content of the treatment is as Follows:

4 x 1 000mg Solimedrol (Via Drip)

MABCAMPATH 5 x injections under skin (tummy)

PNENERGAN 5 x 1 ml (Via Drip)

PETRIDINE 5 x 25 mg (Via Drip)

Panado 500mg 5 x 2 Tablets

ETROXIN 150mg Daily (this will now continue as my Thyroids are on complete standstill from the side-effects of the Medication

Then just 3 – 4 daily tablets for the normal MS Stuff.

So, looking at this list of medication, most of the Medication mentioned above was to work against the side- effects from around 50ml MabCampath.

The real question: How does the body actually cope with this? This brings us to the Side-effects.

Side Effects – “an undesirable secondary effect of a drug”

The following is my personal side-effects as I experienced them. I do not have any medical background and I cannot indicate which medicine caused which side-effect.

Pink Elephants – Those Pink Elephants that flew with me over the mountains…. that was really great.  The quality of conversations we had while flying has been the most insightful in a long time.

Sleepy, dizzy or high – not sure if it was one of them or all at the same time, but when I came out of the oncology treatment …what a feeling.

Headache – had really severe headaches, it felt like a balloon that was about to pop.

Needle infections – So by Sunday my tummy (luckily not a small six-pack), was covered with allergic reactions for the Chemo. Luckily there is nothing like some more Cortisone, this time in cream format to help with that.

Blood Pressure – This was all-over normal, low and extremely high.

Fever – Fever was also a bit up and down until Saturday, when all wheels came off.

Just a note on Saturday:  it all kicked in or it all fell off, I am not sure. By Saturday afternoon I was sure this could be it.  When the Staff held my hand and asked, “Sir, are you ok?” I was confused as to who is Sir, and then she said I just needed to stay calm as they were going to sponge me down. “This is weird even for a Hospital” was going through my head. But then she said the words “Sir, this is going to be cold, as we are going to sponge you down with ice”.

At that point, between all the people around my bed all looking at me and asking to please relax, I released this is no joke (or Fantasy). I briefly read the stats, my BP was 168 / 109, pulse was 126 and my fever 42 degree Celsius……

The moment of realisation was when the night staff member put a single long stem white rose on my chest with the words: “Thanks, you will be fine, sleep well”

Epilogue – “a short section at the end”

So in the end this is part of my Journey, and we realise that this is not a journey that you can plan for as it changes. The only constant is change. I am on this journey not by choice but also not with regrets.

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[angelofgaia]

Campath Day 2 (day T-6 to transplant)

Just took some more pre meds for my second round of Campath. The first round wasn't too bad. The original shot was subcutaneous so I was told that is under the epidermis and the sub-dermis and is essentially fatty tissue. It stung a bit but was nothing to bad at all. It was also a bit red and rashy. I felt good for a few hours but pushed myself too hard to go walk and go celebrate Christmas and my heart rate went super high and I got a fever and nausea. These are all normal side effects though. The doctor on call asked me to come back to the hospital. I got some fluids, ativan and metoclopramide (anti nauseant ) and they swaddled me in blankets to help with the chills. I eventually fell asleep watching Eloise at Christmas and then woke up once my fluid was done. My mom drove me home after that and I slept like a baby. Today I am getting Campath again but will be taking it easy. I will come back to unit at 9pm to start my fluids for my meds tomorrow (cyclophosphamide and fludarabine (sp??)) Because they are very hard on the liver and kidneys so it is good to be over hydrated. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! :)