Author: Beth

Rich Butts is in Boston B&W Hospital, after having suffered some problems (not directly related to his allo transplant). I’ve sent a card, and many of the MM list folks have done the same. If you’d like to send a card, you can search the ACOR MM list archives (you must be registered to do this). I won’t post it here in a public place.

I ordered a new bed yesterday. A Tempur-Pedic Adjustable Sleep System. It’ll be here in about 2 weeks. I don’t want to wait that long, but what can I do? I’ll let you know what it’s like.

As you can see, I upgraded the blog from b2 to wordpress today. I like it much better, and it looks great (IMO). Please let me know what you think.

A friend sent this picture of a pumpkin she carved with her family. I was never any good at this. I don’t have a single successful pumpkin carving to my credit.

I had a flu shot today. It was almost painless. Some people just have a talent for giving shots, don’t they? I had to sign a scary waiver beforehand.

I got my pregnancy test done today at the local clinic. The results were faxed to Celgene, and my thalidomide rx was released to me, so I’m set for another 28 days.

I had blood drawn last Thursday, and expected to have the results today, but nobody could find the report. The doctor said that he had seen the report, and “everything looked good.” Apparently that’s good enough for his other patients, but I like to see the report and have my own copy. The last two months have been unlucky for me, as far as that goes. I asked him if he knew what my serum IgA was, and he read the number from my August test. Oh well. I’ll wait until my November appointment at UNC for a complete report. This month I went to the local clinic for tests, since my UNC doctor was out of the country. I’ll know better next time.

The October, 2003 issue of Natural Health magazine contains a short article about
fish!

One important point is safe handling. As with any raw meat, cross-contamination should be avoided between fish and other foods. Washing your hands before and after handling raw fish is essential too. Cook your fish thoroughly. Defrost frozen fish in the refrigerator, not on the countertop. When buying, look for fish displayed on ice. The skin should be shiny and clear and the flesh resilient, not mushy.

The safest seafood? According to Purdue University: wild Alaska salmon, shrimp, farm-raised channel catfish and rainbow trout, flounder, perch, tilapia, clams, scallops and red swamp crayfish.

Find out more at cfsan.fda.gov or call 888-SAFE-FOOD.

"Bad fish good fish." Natural Health October, 2003: 19.

There are requirements for Thalomid (thalidomide)that need to be fulfilled each month in order to get a prescription filled, and I neglected one of the steps. Each month I have to have a pregnancy test, and it has to be negative in order for Celgene to allow my prescription to be filled. UNC has been running a test along with my regular labs when I have blood drawn, and this month I had my blood work done in Pinehurst. It just slipped my mind. This put a hold on my Rx. If you’re a woman of childbearing age, you have to remember the following (I think it holds true for everyone else, except for the pregnancy test):

1. Monthly (negative) pregnancy test.
2. Monthly telephone survey.
3. 7 Days from the time the rx is authorized until it’s filled. After that, you have to go through the authorization process again.

When you call in for the telephone survey, there are several questions to answer. It used to be a live person, but it’s all automated now. You’re asked if you’ve shared your Thalomid with anyone else, if you’ve donated blood (we’re not allowed to), if you’re post-menopausal for more than 2 years, if you’ve had sex with a male partner in the last 4 weeks, if you used at least 2 of the recommended forms of contraception and if you’ve had a hysterectomy.

So… tomorrow I have to get a pregnancy test! It’s the last day I have to get the rx filled. Luckily, I have an appointment with my oncologist in Pinehurst at 10 am.