Spa day!

Back in the saddle, er, comfy infusion chair. . .

What a day at the infusion “spa” looks like.

• 8:00 a.m. arrive, settle in to chair
• get IV port installed
• take benadryl (in case of negative reaction to the drug) and Tylenol
• heated blanket, heated chair
• get out laptop to get things done and then immediately fall asleep (Thanks a lot, benadryl)
• four hours later, wake up and go home

Why do I get so-called spa days? Two different kinds of infusions:

Infusions of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG): Antibodies donated by human beings of all shapes and sizes, infused into my bloodstream to provide immune support  while I’m undergoing treatment to shut down my immune system (or at least this is my understanding of what it does).

Hard to explain how moving this is to me.

Infusions of rituximab. A chimeric monoclonal antibody used to treat autoimmune diseases. Given by slow injection into a vein in a hospital setting. Initial dose takes 4–6 hours. Followup dose two weeks after the first. Potential additional treatment after about six months;

My awkward attempt to understand, (i.e., Everything I Know I learned from “The Magic Schoolbus” how rituximab infusions work to fight this disease.