Today everything changes.
Bone marrow biopsy results came back. Doctor went through the results and said that, unlike the previous two bone marrow biopsies, this one indicates "empty" bone marrow. This means production of blood cells is failing due to sick bone marrow. T-Cells are attacking the cells before they can get anywhere, which is why all cell forms are giving low reads now. After some discussion, it seems this has been the problem for some time but it's common for the indicators of this problem to take awhile to show. I had been concerned about lymphoma, but he said leukemia and lymphoma are ruled out. So, the diagnosis is "aplastic anemia" not ITP.
There is a mainline treatment for this that involves transfusion by IV of antibodies that were developed for fighting T-Cells that do this. It's a four-day treatment. He recommended immediate attention to this. To drop all current treatments. I'll go to Oahu tomorrow and start right off. It's supposedly a straightforward process that entails just being admitted to the hospital and hanging out, getting the treatment each day, watching TV, etc. I should be home on Christmas Eve. Lisa can't really fly due to her condition, but might come out the last couple days. Play it by ear.
After the four days of treatment, I'd come back to Maui and continue transfusions and monitor platelets and then stop transfusions when things head upward.
Pain in the hip was quite severe this morning and the doctor upped me to Percocet to deal with that. This has really affected the sleep cycle, so hopefully I'll get some zzzzz's before going to Honolulu tomorrow.
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