Mike Lundgren,
I'm assuming you are asking me those questions.
Fatigue is relative considering my lowered blood counts but I do feel best when walking on the treadmill - I think due to elevated blood pressure, which has been low 90/60' (+/-). The day after discharge I was very fatigued, I think due to not eating much during the long Monday infusion and the residual fatigue from the shaking (read below).
I got discharged at 10:00pm Monday the 18th after 13 hours (normally 3-4 hours) of Rituxin infusion (mouse anti-body) which I had a reaction to (violent shaking) on the 3rd escalated dose. March 6th is another 5 day cycle of continuous infusion (R+ESHAP protocol, a platinum based drug regiment). Rituxin isn't supposed to be as bad the second time (crossed fingers).
I started walking on the treadmill the day after discharge.
Appetite has been good, weight holding, maybe up a pound or two by now. At first I ate anything, my body was starving, but I have switched back to a 'cancer' fighting diet skewed towards higher protein and good fats for weight gain. I have to really watch sources of bacteria in foods.
I had an infection Tuesday & Wed am, which I thought was just a part of the side effects of treatment from a WBC booster shot on the 20th. The pain was in my bones, and I remember WIll Steele posting about bone pain from blood boosters, so I figured I had to endure it - pulsing pain in pelvis for ~7 beats then subside for the same, repeated all day, getting worse, then switching to sternum early Wed. am. A strong hydrocodon helped with pain but I could still feel the pulsing. Near shakes was key for doctor to get me on a strong antibiotic which made me feel great within 1/2 an hour Wed afternoon.
Symptom management is as much art as it is science.
FYI here is my 'training' since infusion:
Week of 2/18
Mon nothing, 13 hour infusion with new drug, crazy day.
Tue 2 miles on treadmill @ 0% grade, fastest 3.8mph, ~ 70% aHRmax. Feel better walking on treadmill than puttering around the house.
Wed 2 miles on treadmill @ 0% grade, fastes 3.7mph, ~ 65% aHRmax. Hemoglobin 14 & RBC's 4.6, last week's counts must have been diluted. WBC 3.5, got booster shot - fortunately no bone pain.
Thur 2 miles treadmill 0% grade, fastest 3.8, ~ 65-70% aHRmax
Fri 2 miles treadmill 0% grade, last mile 4mph, 31:00 total time, felt better walking today since it got my BP up which had been low all day (dizzy standing up and moving around the house).
Sat 2 miles on treadmill up to 3% grade @ 4 mph, ~ 70% aHRmax, 30:45 total time.
Sun 2 miles on treadmill up to 4% grade @ 4mph, ~ 70+% aHRmax, felt like about 5.5-6 RPE, total time 30:10.
Week of 2/25
Mon rest day
Tue infection - pulsing pain in bones, no exercise, felt best standing.
Wed IV, felt better immediately. 2 mile walk up to 4.1 mph and 4% grade, ~ 70% aHRmax, felt like 6 RPE, total time 29:51.
Thur 2 miles on treadmill up to 5% grade and 4.1mph, felt good, ~ 70-75% aHRmax. RPE seems 5.5-6, total time 29:40.