Red Cells and White Cells and Platelets, Oh My!

Follow the bouncing ball. Nine days ago, I got a new lab report on my blood. It showed that my platelets were low...very low. Oncology started closely monitoring the situation, and I had another blood draw two days later. Platelets still going down. Another blood draw the following day showed a minor decline in platelets, so Dr. Waugh put me on a heavy dose of steroids.  Friday, my platelets stabilized. Sunday, they were still stable, but my hemoglobin and red blood cell counts were down, and my neutrophil (white cell) count was up. These are not good signs. Yesterday, after finishing the round of steroids, my platelets were still low, but stable, my hemoglobin was back to normal and my white count was slightly lower. Good signs.  So, where does this leave us? I'm scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy next week. In the meantime, I can feel the effects of the low platelets. It makes me feel a bit dizzy. If I turn my head quickly, it begins to spin a bit. I also am concerned about ...

It has been a while since I last posted. That's because my life has essentially returned to normal; as normal, I suppose, as can be expected in this world changed forever by Covid19. What could be more boring than reading about my life in its normal state? Now things have taken a turn. Monday, I had my monthly routine blood draw, expecting everything to come out "normal." (I know, I know, normal's a tall expectation, where I am concerned.) When we arrived home, I took the bandage off of the puncture site and discovered a significant bruise. Here I have to admit to having an uncharitable thought about the competence of the phlebotomist. When the results of the lab tests came back an hour later, I felt chagrined about my judgment. My platelet level had dropped to 48, whereas normal is 140-375. If you have been following my saga, you will know that low platelets mean compromised blood clotting, resulting in increased bruising.  I called the oncology office and spoke with...