Learning to eat crow.

 If you haven't read my last, previous post, please be kind, and just skip over it.  The older I get the more it seems I only open my mouth to insert a foot!

After all the complications involved with getting my blood drawn yesterday, and with all my bragging about how I just knew my hemoglobin was plummeting and that I would undoubtedly be the recipient of at least a red blood cell transfusion today, well I was just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong! 

When the lab results came back, not only has my hemoglobin NOT  plummeted, it actually increased very slightly. Now, in my defense, it is still below the normal range, but nevertheless, I read my symptoms incorrectly. My platelet count is rapidly tanking, but RBCs, not so much. 

After I got this news, I became a bit alarmed, because based on my rudimentary knowledge of blood tests, I could not see anything in the lab results to explain my symptoms of light-headedness, ataxia and general feeling of weakness. This is the point at which, if you are like me, there is a tendency to "go to the dark place." If it's not the obvious, it must be something sinister and hidden that is causing me to feel this way. 

I decided I had better call oncology and report my situation. When I did call, I had to leave a message for a call back. When I didn't hear back by 5:00PM, I thought, "Oh, great. Now I will be without answers until tomorrow."

At 5:15, a nurse called from oncology, and we had a nice chat. She explained to me that, in spite of the relatively benign post-chemo symptoms I have experienced to date, my body really has been seriously assaulted by the medication. The symptoms I am having are not abnormal in the circumstances, no matter what the labs show. In her experience,  a patient with a precipitous drop in platelet count (mine had dropped 100, 000 since Monday) can have exactly the symptoms of which I was complaining. We talked about some other things, including how to make sure I am staying safe from infections. I am doing all of those things. When we had finished, I was feeling much more calm, if a little sheepish about my bravado in making wild predictions based on meager experience. 

The bottom line is that I have symptoms that are not unusual for someone in my stage of recovery from chemotherapy. I don't need a red blood cell transfusion at this juncture, and I learned that I really am sick and need to give myself some grace (the nurse's words) regarding the fact that I didn't have the wherewithal to take a walk yesterday. 

[Insert photo of Tom with hang-dog look here.]

Proverbs 18:15, 17: An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
17 The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him. 

Comments

  1. gardengirlAugust 20, 2021 at 10:41 AM

    Keep on truckin' Tom, as some would say. God is with you, and all our positive thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BenjyAugust 22, 2021 at 3:04 PM

    God is with you Tom!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jennifer RobertSeptember 1, 2021 at 6:19 AM

    Powerful Herbal treatment is 100% guarantee for SHINGLES cure, the reason why most people are finding it difficult to cure SHINGLES is because they believe on medical report, drugs and medical treatments which is not helpful to cure SHINGLES and hasn't proved any sign of helping. Natural roots/herbs are the best remedy which can easily eradicate SHINGLES forever. I never believed it until I was helped with natural herbal medicines , Where other medical prescribed drugs and treatments failed, Natural herbs helped saved me and i am so grateful for this. You can also get help from this great and powerful herbs can also contact Dr Chike via Facebook page @ Dr Chike Herbal Remedy. Or text/call via: +1 (719) 629 0982

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