The mystery of the missing blood

Day 1 of my new drug trial: Leanne and I left home Monday morning at 5:10, caught the express train at 6:05, and arrived at Princess Margaret by 7:30 for blood and urine samples. Then we waited around for my 10:00 appointment.

I checked in at the appointed time and got my room right away. The nurse took some vitals but my heart rate was too high. They gave me IV fluids to help lower my heart rate which delayed treatment several hours.

All day it was nothing but answering the same questions asked by nurses, doctors, and various other support people. Eventually they decided to give me the treatment at 3:32pm. I felt no effect from the drugs. I then was subjected to countless more blood draws and ECGs.

They eventually let me go to sleep but kept waking me up every hour for vitals which showed I had a slight fever. I still felt fine.

I made it through Monday night and was awakened by the head of oncology doing my vitals. I did pass but the nurse still repeated them a few minutes later. The oncology trial head was the first to let me know that now my hemoglobin was too low. It was as if I had lost 3 bags of blood and no one knows where it went.

A few hours later, my day nurse arrived and confirmed that I had an ultrasound appointment for 10:30am. No big deal but they wouldn’t let me eat or drink prior. They wanted to look for any parts in my liver and tumours that may be connected to something else that could be affecting my liver enzyme count.

I passed the ultrasound. My liver is ok (except, you know, the cancer). I eventually got food, including ice cream for dessert.

The entire hemoglobin team has been discussing my case and they have even reached out to the drug manufacturer to see if anyone else has had the same symptoms. The latest doctor mentioned possibly doing a CT scan.

I was supposed to go home today (Tuesday) but it sounds like I am stuck here until they solve the mystery of the missing blood.