Red Cells and White Cells and Platelets, Oh My!

BOX SCORE 11/22/24  Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 13.2 13-17 ^ Platelets 177 140-375 ^ ANC 2810 1800-8300 v When I reported for duty at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Naval Dental Clinic, fondly known to the inventors of military-speak as NavDenClinCamPen, I had just finished my twentieth consecutive year in formal education. To wit: eight years in elementary school, four in high school, four in undergrad college, and four at the University of Oregon Dental School (UODS). Now, to my knowledge, that name (UODS) was about in the middle of the string of names of dear old Alma Mater:  North Pacific College began in 1893 as the Tacoma ...

Did you ever let your enthusiasm run away with you? What did that look like for you? I sometimes do that when I am feeling well, and boy have I been feeling well. Add to that some other blessings, and you have a combination for getting into a little trouble with your wife, who complains, "I can't keep him down." On Thursday we met with Dr. Krishnan, the oncologist standing in for Dr. Brow while she is on maternity leave. The main purpose of the meeting was to review the preliminary findings from my recent bone marrow biopsy (BMBx). Dr. K was happy to report (and we were happy to hear) that the microscopic examination of the aspirate and tissue sample showed normal cells in normal numbers and no abnormal cells. He also updated my medication list and asked a bunch of standard review questions. To wit: Have you had any nausea or vomiting?  -No Have you had any constipation or diarrhea? -No Have you had any skin rashes? -Yes. A couple of small ones that disappeared with one d...

BOX SCORE 11/5/24 Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 12.7 13-17 v Platelets 165 140-375 v ANC 2860 1800-8300 v Well, 'tis the season!  Most of the pumpkins in our neighborhood have disappeared, along with the spider webs, witches, ghosts and goblins of all sorts. The rain is falling frequently, much to Jill's chagrin. She is using the treadmill as I write this, in lieu of our daily two mile constitutional around the 'hood. (She campaigned for a treadmill last year and is mostly glad to have it for days like this, but confidentially, she really hates using it. She'd rather walk outside, as would I.)  The Christmas commercials have ...

BOX SCORE 11/1/24 Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 13.2 13-17 ^ Platelets 178 140-375 ^ ANC 3050 1800-8300 ^ Perhaps, I shouldn't admit this, but sometimes at night, when I have difficulty sleeping, I turn on my iPod and use the YouVersion Bible app as a kind of white noise. It helps me get back to sleep. The stories are familiar and comforting, so I drift off pretty quickly. I want to state here and now, however, that I have never fallen asleep during a sermon in church! In the Bible, there are numerous stories about dreams. Jacob, Joseph, Laban, Saul, Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, Joseph of Nazareth, they all had dreams, in which God sent them a message of one ki...