How Do You Track Your Bloodwork?

I'm not sure how many of you are as anal about tracking your bloodwork as I am but I've at least 4 inches of folder containing the various copies of bloodwork and charted results of the numerous tests that I've taken over the past two years.  Right from the beginning (as I am almost at my two year anniversary of wondering WTF a protein spike is) I've been tracking my bloodwork in an excel spreadsheet.  At first I wasn't sure what all the numbers meant but as I've gone along, I've started to get a base understanding of what each means and how it impacts my condition or what it helps identify.

When my friend came down with acute-AML, I started talking about numbers, results, platelets,  RBC, Hemo/Hemato, etc.  He looked at me in wonder and asked how I knew all this.  I told him that within four weeks he would be speaking a language he had never thought of before.  And I was right!

So for those of you wondering what to do with your reams of paper, I am happy to pass along the spreadsheet I am using to help track my data.  I originally did this in excel and then migrated to excel for Mac (lovin it!)  There is a bit of work required to update the charts but it's usually just cut/paste or extending the time the chart covers.  Bottom line, I can help get you setup but you would need to learn a bit of excel to maintain!

Some screen shots with captions below explaining each:

This is a grab of the entry form.  I've set this up to mimic the report I get from the hospital so that the data entry is simple. I've got a script written to copy the data so I can easily paste into the actual database.

The main database simply pastes the data coming from the entry form into the next row.  The hi/low ranges are maintained and the value changes red for hi and blue for low.  This database is the source for the charts and is an easy record for each value in the event you want to look back historically.

I have a few "base" charts that maintain two representative values, show me hi/low ranges and simply chart how I'm doing.  These need to be updated with each entry to include the new date but other than that, it's simple to maintain.

My main chart calls out to the database to get values on two different data points and then charts them for the time frame, shows percentage change for each value and represents the hi/low range within the chart.

If anyone would like a copy of the file, please post a comment with your email address and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible.  I would need one or two sets of results to setup the database for your needs.  Alternatively, I can just send you a blank spreadsheet and you can run with it on your own.  Just let me know.  When I first started all this I was amazed how little there was available to me.  The IMF website has a program (that's not compatible w/ Mac) but their hi/low ranges were always different and the charting ability was limited.  I don't want to dismiss what they've built but I found it easier to create my own.

As I've just had to update this for my move from StV's to MtS, I thought it would be a good time to put this out there for anyone interested.

I'm happy to help where I can.  Best of luck to all and if anyone has their own example of this, please let me know!

Cheers....

Ode to St Vincent's

I've spoken to a few people re; the closing of St Vincent's CCC for MM patients and the migration to MtS.  Where everyone is aware that MtS is the better hospital and will be much better, long term, for research, treatment, etc., everyone misses StV's.   As an entry to this miserable disease, and having seen a few other institutions in advance of going to StV's, this was a wonderful place to go through the treatments, check-ups, and what not.  From the moment you arrived, they knew who you were, what you were scheduled to do and where you were supposed to go.  And though I've waited there at times, it was never a truly miserable experience.  I have even shown up on a Sunday to drop of two liter bottles of 'samples' to a couple of nurses in the treatment area not quite knowing what to do with these.

Now on to Mt Sinai - it's HUGE.  The building I'm in covers two square blocks and is affiliated with the other 6 or so blocks of hospitals around it.  I've not yet been for bloodwork where I wasn't 11th in line in the queue.  To get to the MM section (Ruttenberg clinic) you have to walk through the treatment center (hereafter to be referred to as Grand Central).  Now granted, they're new there - so none of the computer stuff is up and running correctly so there's going to be a bit of confusion.  But it's still a bit tough to get your arms around when you were used to something so completely different.

My buddy the nurse put it more precisely, "StV's was a boutique...now you're at Macy's."  Well my mother should like that! :)

by for now

Back and At It!

Vacation is definitely over.  Now I need a week to recover from my first two weeks back at work.  I'm finishing the last week of my 6th maintenance cycle of Rev.  All is well and having no issues (aside from the fact that I am too lazy to get up and work out!)

A special thanks to all the reader's down South.  It was great to meet so many people that are reading the blog.  Now, based on my Son's recent experience down there for golf camp, how much is she paying you to say that!?!  In all seriousness, it was great to meet and talk with each of you and thanks, as always for reading.

I have bloodwork being pulled next Tuesday and I believe I'm on target to see Dr J the first week of Sept.  I don't expect anything crazy but I will be hoping to get off the Lyrica leaving the only real "drug" being the Rev.

Thanks again to all!