Medical Mania Month More Manageable, Man!

BOX SCORE
Element	Current	Std. Range	Trend
Hemoglobin	11.2	13-17	v
Platelets	63	140-375	^
ANC	50	1800-8300	v

Things are settling down a bit, medical-mania-wise. I had an oncology follow up yesterday. It seems between the chemo's effects on my skin and limited opportunities to wash my eyelids post surgery, I have developed a nice crop of styes on my eyelids. Well, duh! Where else would you develop styes, Tom? I have developed a number of sties in various places around the homestead, but that is entirely different. 

After my appointment with Dr. O, we walked across the hall for an appointment with Michelle, the NP who is monitoring my case for Dr. Brow. This consultation is a monthly occurrence, usually about a week before the beginning of another cycle of chemotherapy. Michelle is a sweetheart; always so encouraging, thorough and attentive to our questions. She is helping us make the transition from "we are getting the leukemia in remission in preparation for a stem cell transplant" to "we are managing the leukemia as a chronic disease." If that is confusing to you, please read "And now for the rest of the story," dated 9/26/22.  

One thing we reviewed with Michelle is diet restrictions. In contrast to what we were told last year when I was on HiDac chemotherapy, we learned that there is no sound basis for eliminating fresh fruit and veggies from my diet when I am neutropenic (ANC below 1000), as long as they are washed with clean water. In addition, we learned that our understanding of limits on seafoods, particularly shell fish, was not correct. We understood that sea foods were to be avoided during neutropenic periods, but it turns out only raw seafoods are taboo. In other words, no sushi or oyster shooters are in order, but cooked seafoods are permissible. On the ride home I was singing:

They're back on the menu again, 

Seafood and salads, my old friends. 

They're things I love to eat. 

I consider them a treat, 

And they're back on the menu again.

(To the tune of "Back in the Saddle Again." My apologies to Gene Autry!)

Other than these developments, our medical week is pretty clear. I also had a blood draw yesterday, which was a bit disappointing in that my ANC continues to be depressed, but my platelets are rising nicely and my hemoglobin is pretty stable at a level that, while not ideal, provides me with sufficient energy and clear-headedness to enjoy life. ANC will be back, and with good fortune and God willing, it will be much improved on my next blood draw on Thursday. That's it! Two medical appointments on Monday, back to back, and two blood draws this week. And three of the four are behind us already. I feel like we are on vacation. 

My friend Brian, who is walking this same path, texted me on Sunday to let me know that he tested positive for Covid19. Please pray for complete and speedy recovery. In our immunocompromised condition, neither of us needs more medical trouble. I heard from him again last evening, and he said he is doing pretty well. Praise God!!