Red Cells and White Cells and Platelets, Oh My!

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 6.9 13-17 v Platelets 59 140-375 v ANC MIA 1800-8300 v Did you ever have a conjoined twin? No, I don't suppose you did, but then again I don't know that for sure. I am definitely at or approaching the nadir, or bottom of the barrel, as far as blood counts are concerned. This is expected about now. Check out the Box Score for today. My platelets are still hanging in there. Above 50 I consider to be acceptable. If I were home I would be on blood thinners at this level. Still there is a risk of bleeding, bruising, petechiae (tiny red spots on my skin), and other fun things. When they go below 10, I will need to have them replaced ...

 Well, the Cytarabine has been dripping into my veins for a couple of hours now, I was mistaken about the second medicine, which is Idarubicin (I'll bet you could stump some folks at a spelling bee with those names). The Idarubicin is actually delivered by IV push, but at a rather slow rate. My first dose of that one was the first to go in. Then they started the Cytarabine via IV drip.  The whole process is metered by a special pump on the IV stand. I will be connected to this lash-up for seven days, it's like getting a new friend that you're not so sure you like, but you have to hang out together for a week.  Ah, here's my skinny friend now. I call her Olive Oyl. We go everywhere together. She's a bit of a bother, but they tell me she is going to be a life saver in the end.  The chemo experience so far seems like just an inconvenience. They tell me that I am just embarking on a roller coaster ride of messed up bowel habits, periodic fevers, nausea...you know, all t...

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 8.8 13-17 v Platelets 27 140-375 ^ ANC 3090 1800-8300 v Day four is off to a good start. My hemoglobin and platelets are both above the baselines, so I will not need a transfusion today. I will, however receive three chemotherapy drugs. The first should be infused about 11am, The second infusion will be around 3pm. That one takes around 2 hours to be pumped into my body. When that one is complete, I will receive an IV push of the third medication. All in all, my "2 hour infusion" usually goes around three to three and a half hours. The good news is that by then it's dinnertime. And more good news is that my meals are agr...

BOX SCORE Element Current Std. Range Trend Hemoglobin 10.5 13-17 v Platelets 13 140-375 v ANC 1030 1800-8300 v Did you ever have something you were expecting to happen, but you didn't know when? Was it something you were really excited about? You know, like that trip to Hawaii you've always dreamed about.  Remember how hard it was to wait, especially not knowing exactly how it would look or when it would happen? Well, I learned in the past week that,  even if that something is NOT really exciting, and even if it is something you would just as soon not take on, waiting for it is difficult.  Here's the skinny. Last Tuesday we met with Dr. Brow, my oncologist ( See Sur...