911/hopsital update

To update everyone: Mike came home from the hospital last Thursday. Last Sunday we had to call 911 because he was having severe bone pain. He said that he felt paralyzed, like his joints were all locked up and his bones were “exploding”. He was having trouble breathing and could barely complete a sentence. The Community hospital kept him Sunday and released him on Monday hoping that he would get through to his appointment at Moffitt on Tuesday morning. Mike had another attack Monday night and we had to call 911 and rush him to Community hospital again. This time they kept him until he was able to move to Moffitt for further testing and treatment. The doctors at Moffitt determined that Mike had a negative reaction to his most recent dose of Neulasta. It is a drug that boosts his white blood cells and is known for causing bone pain. They had to keep him for a few days to monitor his lab work and they released him on Thursday. He has been feeling fairly well since he has been home. He is not able to do much activity; just walking causes his legs to hurt. He has also lost all of his hair again. This time, he is completely bald. It was coming out in clumps (even his facial hair) so we shaved down the rest of it. His eyebrows have been thinning out also, but he is hoping he will not lose them completely. At first, he seemed to be taking it really well, but as the days pass, he seems more and more concerned about his appearance. I think it is becoming very difficult for him.
Mike will resume his regular treatments this Tuesday. He is not scheduled to get another Neulasta shot for a while, so I am hoping that he will be feeling okay for a few weeks. I want to say a special thank you to everyone who has been a continuous encouragement to us, to my mom & Terri for running all over FL to help me last week and to Kasey & Sam for cleaning out our garage and making us dinner! Even the littlest things make such a huge difference for us!:)