Extra Day

I'm I thought yesterday was Sunday. I was very confused when "Weekend Edition" came on the radio this morning. But now I understand. No traffic going home from clinic!  Yay!

I love weekend clinic.  There just seems to be something about it. There are just as many patients, but we nobody was in the lobby. We were taken back as soon as we walked I the door. I was seen by my physicians assistant and nurse right away, blood chemistry came back quickly and plateletes were ordered right away. I like it.

NO MORE NEUPOGEN !!

So, when I get chemo, my blood counts drop to zero, killing the leukemia and good blood cells. I self inject Neupogen which stimulates the bone marrow to begin producing blood again. When there is overcrowding of cells, I have pain in my bones. This cycle we hit the upswing just right. My numbers today have an ANC of 2.34 (normal is 1.7-8.9) so I don't have to take my 9th injection. I also don't have to experiment with pain pills, since I have no pain! Yay!! I also can stop taking my pills for anti fungal, antibiotic, and anti whatever else.

I did need plateletes today, but not whole blood. We got lucky there, because my type and cross was expired and it takes 4 hours for the results. We really don't want to be here that long.  I got typed today (and a swanky red arm band to go with it) so if I need blood on Tuesday we will be ready. 

More info about the red armband.  As I understand it, I am A Positive and can receive only A or O blood.  If I get something else, it would be very bad.  So, they literally take a sample of my blood and keep it in a vial. Obviously we know the type, it's the cross match we need to do.  Blood compatibility has many aspects, and is determined not only by the blood type, (O, A, B, AB), but also by blood factors, (Rh, Kell, etc.).  When they pull a unit of blood to give me, they mix it with the sample I gave to be sure it is compatible. My sample is only good for 4 days. Why? I don't know.

Plateletes don't need to be matched like whole blood. Well, not for adults.  If you donated, check your numbers. I may have gotten your plateletes!

Getting every drop!

They also hung 500ml of fluids since my creatinine levels are creeping up. Today was 1.3. That added an extra 40 minutes to the visit, but I don't mind. I would rather have happy kidneys.  My nurse says CRE is up because of the chemo, but also might be from the medications.  Tuesday's appointment will be a good indicator since I am off the meds.

Thanks for reading! Have a great night.

Nothing Yet

I am thinking I am at my low today.  My energy is just a wee bit off. On a scale of 1 to 10, I am a 7.  So I am taking it easy. Well, easy for me. Lots of couch time in between loads of laundry. Dexter was needed this morning.

It was buggy and chilly outside today, so I had to bring my coffee inside.  Unfortunately, Dexter was a bull in a china shop this morning.

There will be no crying over spilled coffee, though. I am lucky that was not a special mug. It said "my alarm clock has 4 paws and a tail."  It was cute, but not special. I got on a mug buying kick a while back. I bought every reasonably priced mug I could find. Now my cabinets are quite full.  Well, full for me.  I have friends in St. Louis who collect mugs. I think they are at a thousand. Maybe more.

Blood donation for my Mom didnt happen. Too low on iron. If you see her, please encourage her to go get a check up soon! We need an expert to check her out.

Mary did bring Teresa to donate for her first time.  Talk to her and find out how easy it is! Thank you for donating, Mary and Teresa! Thanks, for trying, Mom.

3 by 3.  My goal each day is to drink 3 glasses of water by 3pm.  Each glass is 600ml.  That keeps my on track to drink 3 more by bed time. Sometimes ... OK, all the time ... It is difficult. It is a LOT of water.  By the end of the day I have consumed 3600ml or nearly a gallon of water. I don't count tea, juice or coffee so that's bonus liquids.  Huh... I have been telling the staff I drink 3 liters, and their eyes bug out I shock. Guess I was wrong. 3 liters is a minimum.  My reasoning is two fold: kidneys like a lot of water, and I won't have to take up to a 3 hour delay at clinic.

I had a couple of visitors today. They each stayed at least 8 feet away. Dave stopped in from New Hampshire on his way to Florida. It was too brief of visit, but I couldn't risk any longer. Aaron, aka Tech Support, installed a device that boosts my wifi signal. I can now blog from the comfort of my bed. I am sure that wil come in handy during my down days. And handy tonight. Thanks, Aaron!

Clinic. I go in tomorrow at 11. Linda said she will still take me, but Don is going back in the hospital tomorrow. His hand has an infection again from his broken wrist when he fell from the tree in late June. Hang in there, Don and Linda! We are pulling for you!

It's Friday!

Happy "Talk Like A Pirate" Day !

http://www.talklikeapirate.com

Tomorrow Mom and Mary donate together and Darlene goes early in the morning. Then Mary will drop Mom at the airport.  :-(   She will be back in 2 weeks.

Mom made it to the clinic in 45 minutes today. She is driving like an Atlanta native: speeding, passing on the right, and cutting people off. I couldn't be more proud! (OK, I exaggerate a little...)

Today's labs weren't as high as I had hoped. ANC of 0.0 is rock bottom meaning I am producing no blood, and the chemo has done it's job. I got blood and plateletes Wednesday and didn't need any today.  I was close on plateletes.  (26 and they give at 20 or below.) Next appointment is Sunday.

I did get a bag of fluids today, but my nurse and I didn't think it was necessary. Oh well.. We had a new Physicians assistant so it will be a bit before we get to know her.

And because I am neutropenic, I am pretty much on house arrest until my numbers come up. Urgh. Kind of a bummer. But it's better to be safe than sorry!

Dinner was provided by Curt and Darlene. Thank you very much! I look forward to the time when we can all go out to eat. Waddaya think? Mexican!?

Nothing more to report. Still no pain and feeling strong.  

Paws crossed! Have a great night!

Doin' Good

Day off. So we had some muffins and coffee on the deck. It's gorgeous weather and perfect for decking.

Mom made cupcakes. (Thanks, Linda!)

I am on day 6 of Neupogen and so far, no pain. (Knock on wood...). I did take a tramadol before the injection, just in case. The side effect is it makes me super lazy. So I tried to nap. Dexter and Annie had other ideas.  1100 clinic tomorrow. NOT taking Neupogen until my numbers come back.

So we are making the most of Mom's visit.  There are certain things I cannot do like cleaning and gardening. Mostly be use the threat of germs and bacteria.  So, I got help. Mom cut down and saved my mammoth sunflower heads and some basil and zinnia (orange, of course) to plant next year. (Yes, Sister, some are coming your way.)

Kent even got into the action and helped recover a bench.

Wine corks to use as on the feet of the bench. Hopefully that will keep it from scratching the floor.

It is still a work in progress. Hopefully will be done tomorrow. But you know... No hurry.

Not What I Wanted

I hate it when I don't get my way. Clinic appointment was at 1:30 pm, which means we wanted to get in and out before getting trapped in traffic. That didn't work. My labs came back and I needed blood and plateletes again. We made it home in 2 hours. Ugh. That hold the record so far.

If you are thinking of donating, now would be a good time. Alicia told me they have had a rash of cancellations and no shows. No shows? Really? That's just rude.

Mom wanted to donate today, but I was hoping for a short clinic so I wouldn't let her. Oops. She made a Saturday appt before she heads back home.

Exciting, as you can see.

This is one of the nurses, Jill, getting every last drop of the plateletes.

The other thing about my bloodwork today is my numbers have not recovered enough to stop Neupogen. So far, I have had no bone pain, but I expect it soon. I am on day 5 of injections already and will do a dose at home tomorrow. That's #6. Hopefully that will be the last. I have an 1100 clinic appt on Friday. With every chemo cycle the side effects increase and the recovery time increases.

Luckily I have my brother, Ed, as a donor.  He will save me from 4 more chemo cycles by providing stem cells as a donor. It's not going to be easy, but much better in the long run.

So, clinic was necessary and I had a good time with the staff and talking with another patient or two, but I wanted to be home.  There are seeds to collect and nails to paint. (I have completely naked tips and toes and they are driving me nuts!)

But, I was stylin' today thanks to Kay's friend who hand paints surgical masks. I am a mermaid at heart. The mask is great since I have to be covered at all times when in public. Germy, germy public.

Hey, look! I still have hair, for now. The nurses noticed that it's baby fine and platinum blond. Yup. She asked if my hair was "always that blond. Or is it grey?"

Ouch. Not overall grey, thank you very much.

Or will it be when it comes back....?

Tons Done

Mom came into town. 

She is learning how to use an iPad. I am helping, but just barely since I am somewhat new, too.  But we are learning. Then tech support showed up. Thanks, Aaron!!

We did accomplish sewing today that was about half done. See? New covers for the director's chairs.

Since it's only day 1, Mom had loads of energy.  Who am I to say no to help?

The floor needs to be swiffered daily, even with only 2 dogs. Love them, wouldn't change a thing!

Medically it was another good day.  Feeling strong and normal. Even got to ride with Dave to pick up Mom. (Thanks, Dave!) then we went shopping at Sams.  I got to sit in the car, as usual, but they got what we needed.  One of these days I will actually set foot in a store. But it may be a year. Safety first!

Tomorrow is a numbers check at clinic, and day 5 of Neupogen. No bone pain yet, so hopefully the numbers are good enough that I won't have to take another dose. Paws crossed!!!

Chirp!

"Wake up! It's 2:38 AM and I need a new battery! Chirp!"

At least it didn't happen when we had company. And tell me, why batteries never die in middle of the afternoon?  Oh well..

Buffy and I had a nice ride in to clinic today. I was worried because when I woke up, we had moderate rain.  If you know anything about Atlanta's traffic, you know people go crazy with any little bit of weather.

Clinic was so busy, they didn't have room for me. It's ok, made a nice nest in a chair with a ottoman in front of the tv. I think it's warmer in the lobby, anyway.

Then things slowed WAY down. It took 2+ hours to get the bloodwork results back. Usually it only takes an hour. I needed plateletes and blood.

Then since my arm band expired we had to send out for a type and cross match. That takes 4 hours. 

But it finally all came together just as Buffy was ready to leave work. It was a long day for both of us at our jobs, but we won't complain. At least we have each other! (And XM radio!)