[Ron Harvot]

One month after viral meningitis

by Ron Harvot on Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:58 am

I spent 4 days in an issolation room in the hospital with viral meningitis and C diff. My oncologist had stopped all my Chemo treatments and began IGIV treatments. Prior to the IGIV all my immunoglobulins were below normal. After one treatment the G and M have come into the normal range. the A is up to 62 from 44 but still below normal. My CBC has not changed much as I am still slightly anemic: red 3.7, White 3.67, hemoglobin 13', Hematrocite 38.7. Platelets, sSeg and lymph % are normal. That is an indication that I am not completely back from the illness. The good news is tha I still show only a faint hint of IgG Kappa on the Immunofixation and thr Serum Electrophoresis was normal. Finally all my light chain readings are good with the Kappa/Lamda ratio of 1. 32 in the normal range.

My oncologist started me back on Subcutaneus Velcade today and 20 mg of Dex both to be taken together once every two weeks as a maintenance therapy. He has discontinued the Revlimid at least until my blood panel counts come back up. Before the meningitis my red and white counts were around 4 and my hemoglobin was close or slightly over the normal range.

I started riding my bike again 2 weeks after getting out of the hospital. I logged in over 100 miles This past week and my endurance and speed are returning. I even road 22 miles at night (I have night lights and reflectors). I am in training for the Texas Time Trial endurance race to be held in Glen Rose Texas the last week of September. I am participating in a 3 man team. We will ride 24 hours on a 26.5 mile hilly course with each doing 4 laps. We will be doing roughly 2 laps at night and 2 laps in daylight. The race starts at 6 pm Friday and finishes 6 pm on Saturday. Right now my hill climbing ability is not back to where it was before I got sick but I am around 80 %. I am starting to see benefits in my stepped up training. The blood was drawn last Thursday and I feel stronger now than I did a week ago. I am going to incorporate more hills in my rides and hope that will help in restoring my red count and improve my endurance. I have a little over a month to get to where I need to be.

Ron