Wonky is as Wonky does, Mama said...

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 answer is WONKY. The dictionary.com definition of this medical term is: "adjective - not exactly straight or balanced; off-kilter:

As you can see from the Tuesday and Thursday lab results, my numbers are definitely wonky. Why, you ask, did you have a blood draw on Tuesday and Thursday? Didn't you just have one on Monday? You are very observant, Grasshopper. The fact is that my Bone Marrow Biopsy was on Tuesday, and part of the procedure is a blood draw. Comparing the platelet counts on Monday (22) and Tueday (17) prompted Dr. Brow to order a) a platelet transfusion, and b) another blood draw on Thursday. 

The transfusion came off without a hitch yesterday, but as you can see my lab numbers are all over the place. For example, notice that, whereas my ANC was up from Monday (1700) into the Standard Range on Tuesday (1800), by Thursday it was down to 1030, just low enough that we have decided to quarantine until my next labs on Monday next week. These numbers have been cause for some consternation here at Chez Waugh. The week during which I was scheduled for chemo (Oct. 30-Nov. 3), my ANC peaked at 4180. That is what we normally see. On the other hand, since I did not have chemo, I expected it to remain steady in the Standard Range. Instead, it has dropped in a pattern reminiscent of past "week-after-chemo" fashion. The big concern that led to the Bone Marrow Biopsy was plummeting platelets (kinda sounds like a '60s rock band). So, your guess as to what's going on is as good as mine. WONKY!

Today, I received the lab report from OHSU on my Bone Marrow Biopsy. The results showed no detection of mutations in the genetic markers that are involved in AML! Hallelujah! We have an appointment with Dr. Brow on Tuesday for interpretation of the results and the plan going forward, but as of now we are celebrating the phrase "not detected" that appears after each of the genetic markers under "mutation." I don't know if I'm WONKY or just "off kilter," but we are pleased with the lab report!

 

 

 

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 19, 2023 at 1:27 PM

    Praise our wonderful Lord for such good results!! I'm truly thankful in this season of thankfulness. You and Jill are definitely "good eggs" and not "stinky eggs." You would have had to have been in my Sunday school class this morning to get the full jest of it all. :-) Love to you both!! Donalynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TomNovember 21, 2023 at 7:00 AM

      Thanks Donalynn. Can't wait to hear the story about the eggs!

      Delete
    2. TomNovember 21, 2023 at 7:02 AM

      Thanks, Donalynn. Can't wait to hear the story about the eggs.

      Delete

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