Good news is my blood counts are almost really good! Platelets are 174 - within normal range, neutrophils are 1620 - above 1000 - and hemoglobin is 9.9 - still a bit low but not below 8. If it weren't for the fact that Drs. Begum and Silverman want to do another bone marrow biopsy NOW, I could have started chemo again today. But they want to know how many blasts there are before my marrow and blood are affected by a new round of chemo. I am having it done as an out-patient procedure at UIHC because I can have conscious sedation. I just can't handle another bone marrow biopsy without it. Call me a wuss if you want, but the biopsy is right up there with childbirth and all I get for it is a big bandage, a bunch of numbers and EOBs from BC/BS that will knock my socks off! Megan will be going with me since I can't drive afterwards. Dr. B did tentatively schedule a biopsy in her office for Thursday morning as well.,
Unless I'm told otherwise, I will then begin my second round of chemo on Friday. We'll see how I handle the second round. Today Dr. B was a little more optimistic that I'd make it through the full ten days. Last week when my counts were still not that good, she wasn't sure I could handle a full ten days.
I had to call and make the appointment at UIHC myself. That was a good thing for several reasons: 1) sometimes the patients get responses faster than referring physicians; and 2) Don and Paul still hadn't heard from the Donor Coordinator. It's amazing to me how she could tell the Patient Care Coordinator that they were on her list to call last Thursday and said the same thing today. This time she followed through because both guys texted me to let me know she'd called them. I think Julie is the person to contact if I want something done. I have a feeling if Dr. B's nurse had tried to set it up, she would have ended up talking to a scheduler and I wouldn't have gotten in this week.
It was a typical "Carol experience" though. I promised Dr. B I'd have the valet bring my car around, go find a cool parking place and call Julie right away so that Dr. B could schedule something else for herself on Thursday morning. So, I did just that. Called and talked to Julie who said she was sure she'd get me in for a biopsy this week, she just wasn't sure when but I could tell Dr. B I was good to go at the U. Julie told me she'd talk to the Donor Coordinator and get back to me this afternoon with appointment information.
So, as promised, I called Dr. B's office - from the parking lot - to tell them I would definitely go to the U for the biopsy so she didn't need to hold any time on Thursday. Just as I was about to end the call I said, in my own smooth, prim and proper way "Oh crap, I still have my PPIC line in!" You see, now that I have my port placed, I don't need the PPIC line anymore and it needed to be removed today because A) they didn't do it at the hospital when they implanted the port and B) because even if it was left in, the dressing had to be changed. Nina called back to the "Fishbowl" which is what they call the chemo center to see if someone could take it out for me and, of course they could, because they were planning on it anyway. I was just suffering from chemo brain - that or slightly low hemoglobin - take your pick because I'm certainly not losing my marbles at this point! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
It is dinner time and I actually want something to eat for a change. And, by the way, do you have any idea how incredibly good a Burger King Whopper, Medium Fries and a Medium Diet Coke can be? That was my treat to myself on the way home from my appointment. I'm off all diet restrictions at this point! Yahoo! Normal food. Salad, medium rare beef, fresh fruits and veggies. I'd better enjoy them while I can cuz it may not last long.
Prayers of thanksgiving for my son Brian are in order. He received a call today that he got the job for which he interviewed. I'm really happy for him and he is very happy. The Holy Spirit has been at work in his heart and he, as he said, has made his peace with God. He is seeing the power of prayer in my life and has begun praying himself. Thanks be to God!
Thank you for your continued prayers. You are keeping me "In His Arms!"
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