Red Cells and White Cells and Platelets, Oh My!

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 10.7 13-17 ^ Platelets 26 140-375 ^ ANC 1150 1800-8300 ^ Okay, that's it. I can't stand it any longer. It's been almost two weeks since I posted, and a lot has happened. I have been waiting for some definitive direction to come out of it all so that I can give you the straight dope and not have to backpedal later. Instead, I'm going to let you know everything we've learned, except where we are headed. As you know, if you are a regular reader, on November 14th I had a bone marrow biopsy. We have been waiting for the results to come in. They began trickling in a couple of days after the biopsy, and the initial re...

BOX SCORE Tuesday Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 11 13-17 v Platelets 17 140-375 v ANC 1800 1800-8300 ^ BOX SCORE Thursday Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 10.6 13-17 v Platelets 15 140-375 v ANC 1030 1800-8300 v  Quiz:  In one word or less, write the new medical term you learned in the last post:_____________ That's right! The correct an...

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 11.6 13-17 v Platelets 22 140-375 v ANC 1700 1800-8300 v Life is full of surprises. Just when you think you know what's going on, you may find that things are not what they seem. Today is Monday, and Monday is blood draw day. Accordingly, we made the trek to Kaiser North Lancaster Medical Office this morning for the purpose of donating a sample of my vital juice to the cause. Surprisingly, given that it IS Monday, the drive was pretty easy, and the lab was not swamped with patients. The phlebotomist did an excellent job of drawing blood out of one of my veins, all of which are now difficult to find, having been battere...

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 11.7 13-17 ^ Platelets 30 140-375 v ANC 4180 1800-8300 ^ I am not a habitual liar. Have I ever prevaricated? Well, I am a human being, so... Unfortunately, I inadvertently led you astray with my last post. It turns out that, in spite of the calendar indicating it is time for chemo, and in spite of the fact that I was mentally prepared. And in spite of the fact that Jill had prepared menus for the week that would allow quick and easy dinner prep after four o'clock appointments in Salem, my chemo week was canceled. On Monday morning, my blood counts were all good except for the platelets. They have been declining over the past s...