My New BFF

I get to carry around a pack for up to 2 weeks.  It has a boost of injectable antibiotic because they didn't like how my biopsy site was healing. Truth be told, I think it's infected. But no one used that word. Now is not the time to mess around and "hope" it gets better. We need to get in front of this. So I have to go to clinic every other day and be sure it's the right dose.

I needed blood today. I didn't know, but that makes it a long visit. In the hospital, I don't see what happens behind the scenes.  They show up with blood and hang it.  In the clinic, they have to draw and send it off to get typed. That can take up to 4 hours. Then they order the blood and when it comes it is checked by two nurses three ways.  I guess getting it wrong would be very bad. Then it takes an hour to infuse.

I did have the opportunity to go home and come back the next day, but really? Is it worth the drive? Besides, Kent went over to Atlanta Blood Services to donate platelets so that killed a couple of hours.

At least I had a private room today. Luck of the draw.

This is my patient face.

My platelets are at 44 (normal is 150-450), and white blood cells are at .3 (normal is 4.8-10.8). So, I am at rock bottom from the chemo. Which is the goal. Kill everything off, and start to recover again. I will get help from an injectable drug called Neupogen. Self administered at home. I did my first injection today with direction from my nurse. She said I did well, but I wouldn't say it is second nature.

Again, more and more awe for my health care providers. How do they deal with chickens like me day in and day out?