I was alone in the office a good share of the morning and the phones and walk-ins were coming in from everywhere and most of the phone calls weren't quick and easy answers. I needed to research transcripts, test scores, etc., etc., etc. I hadn't had a headache in about three months but I ended up with one yesterday. But, it wasn't anything a couple of ibuprofen couldn't handle - that and a walk through the drafty halls of Linn Hall! The weather was glorious and the construction guys were swapping out windows. Oh darn, the breezes were wafting in again and I just kept drinking that peach iced tea!!!!!
In the afternoon I had an appointment with Dr. B, my local hematologist/oncologist. I so love that woman! Megan was sweet enough to come down to be with me. She brought Jack and Maddy with her. Dr. B loved the kids and the appointment went well. My blood levels are pretty much hanging around where they have been. My platelets were down to 10,000 again so I had to have one unit of platelets today along with my chemo. My neutrophils continue to be over twice what they were when the labs were drawn at UIHC. I'm very happy about that -- I can still eat fresh vegetables!!!!! My hemoglobin is down just a bit below 9 if I remember correctly so I'm a little more tired than usual but, all in all, I'm doing well.
I did get THE LECTURE though from Dr. B. Because I actually feel better than I have in about six months and possibly because of the steroids in the Dacogen, I have spurts of energy and apparently I move to fast so I have all of these bruises all over - even more than the ones reported previously! So, I have to be good and slow down!. Brian is coming over tomorrow to help with a couple of things & I know I'm going to have him carry my vacuum down the steps but I may even try to beg him to do the vacuuming for me - remember, I am not the most graceful swan in the pond!
It was great that Megan and the kiddos could hang around at my condo while I received my chemo after the appointment with Dr. B. When I got home I had fun watching Jack scoot and roll around on the floor exploring all sorts of things and Maddy and I waxed artistic and did some watercolor painting. I love her color concepts!
But I digress! Dr. B is a little perturbed with the docs at UIHC. She's not happy that I haven't been hooked up with the Transplant Service yet. She really wants me to be ready to start the stem cell transplant process as soon as I'm done with my fourth cycle of chemo. She wants to get the show on the road immediately. As I understood it, she thinks we should be starting to look for matches now instead of waiting until after the fourth cycle because we will have wasted precious time. I guess I agree with her. She was going to send her report to Dr. Carter and communicate to him she wanted to get going on things. We'll see what happens in the next week or so. I will see Dr. B again next Friday and I have lab draws Mon., Wed., and Friday to see how I have responded to the first 10 chemo sessions.
I do have a particular prayer request right now. For some reason financial concerns are mounting in my mind again to the point where I am a bit weepy if I talk about it. I know I'm in His Arms and things will work out but for some reason, right now, finances are weighing heavy on me. Could be because my car needs a new timing belt and new tires over and above the oil change I've put off the last two weeks because of my crazy schedule with chemo. Not quite sure but your prayers around this nagging area of concern at the moment would really be appreciated.
As a matter of explanation, I'm not in dire straights by any means. I will have long term disability and I do have retirement funds as well as other funds and my medical insurance will continue for one year after the first day of long term disability. So the worries are probably not realistic, but they are there. The overshadowing concern is probably the fact that I very likely will lose my job. I think that may be what has struck me right between the eyes right now. We had a staff meeting on Thursday and we discussed our upcoming evaluations. We have to make goals for next year and, right now, I'm not sure what my status will be. It is remotely possible they'd keep my position open but, until I know more about the whole stem cell transplant thing, I just don't know. From what I've heard, the likelihood that I'd be out of work for less than 90 days is extremely remote. That is all FMLA allows.
In an effort not to end on a downer, tomorrow is my last day of chemo for 18 days! Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition! Being free of a hep-lock will be wonderful. I've had to be fairly careful not to get the wrapping wet and not to whack it (easy for anyone but me to do) and I'm really looking forward to being able to wash my hands briskly rather than gingerly! Thank heaven for my dishwasher! I've still had to do some hand washing but I am "very coreful" as Megan used to say when she was about Maddy's age.
Once again, I thank you for your continued prayers because I truly feel them. I felt them before and during our staff meeting and I needed them then. God knew what I needed and your prayers were heard!
Peace, joy, hope and love to you all.
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