Red Cells and White Cells and Platelets, Oh My!

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 10.4 13-17 v Platelets 75 140-375 v ANC 600 1800-8300 ^ When I was released from the hospital, after a month's stay, a year ago July, my ANC was at 600 or thereabouts. The team had told me it needed to get up to 500 in order for me to go home. I was told to avoid crowds (the pandemic was still in full force). Now, as you can see above, my ANC is again at 600, so we invited daughter Tara to come for Christmas. She works from home most of the time and always tests for Covid before visiting, so there is little to no risk of exposure.  That being said, it's been a tough go the past couple of weeks. My blood counts have...

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 10.6 13-17 v Platelets 112 140-375 ^ ANC 100 1800-8300 ^ There's an old "faux Latin" adage: "Illegitimus non carborundum." It is intended to mean "don't let the bastards grind you down." You may be able to think of lots of applications of this sentiment in your own world. For me, right now, it is best applied to the chemotherapy injections.  The injections in and of themselves are not particularly painful, and the nursing staff at the infusion center are all genial, professional and caring. On the other hand, I can tell that the chemotherapy is changing my body in a number of ways. It i...

Just a quick note to bring you up to speed on my little surgery to remove the Vascular Access Port (VAP) in my chest. The deed was done yesterday at 11:30 AM. I wasn't sure what to expect, except that having done my share of surgery, I was convinced it would be less involved than the placement surgery. I was right! There was no "operating room" in  the usual sense. The room was more like an examination room with a reclining chair. Dr. Dozier draped my chest and scrubbed it with disinfectant. He numbed the area with some lidocaine. According to his notes:  " An incision was then made. A subcutaneous pocket containing the port was entered. The port was removed from the pocket. The subcutaneous tissue and skin were closed with 3-0 and 4-0 Biosyn." For the uninitiated, Biosyn is suture material that gradually dissolves, so there is no need for a post-op visit. For the curious, the 3-0 and 4-0 refer to the diameter of the sutures. The bigger the number, the smaller ...

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 10.8 13-17 ^ Platelets 69 140-375 ^ ANC 70 1800-8300 v Don't you just love surprises? Especially this time of year. There is so much good cheer...well, if you stay away from crowded malls and such. Even there a festive air seems to penetrate the  madness of frantic Christmas shopping.  And then, there are the OTHER surprises. In this case, I'm not really surprised; it's more like bemused.  I have had an open wound on the perimeter of my Vascular Access Port (VAP) for a couple of weeks. For all the gory details and history of this wound, please see my post No Fair . The wound has been covered with a waterproof dressin...

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 10.7 13-17 v Platelets 38 140-375 ^ ANC 190 1800-8300 v There is a scene in an episode of the classic TV sit-com M*A*S*H where Major Burns learns that, after a brief time as Commanding Officer of the 4077 when Lt. Col. Blake left, he is about to be replaced. Company clerk Corporal "Radar" O'Reilly, who is the company mail carrier, is in a panic about presenting the new orders to Maj. Burns, who a) doesn't like enlisted personnel and b) has been champing at the bit for the opportunity to remake the 4077 into a strictly G.I. unit, ruled by his iron fist. Capt. BJ Hunnicut, and Capt. "Hawkeye" Pierce, two o...