6/30/15 – My chemotherapy days for cycle 3 (June 17-19) seemed
to move well. We had a planned follow-up on June 30th but this ended
up being too long a span of time to wait to check my counts. The good news is
that I have not run a fever but I started to feel weak and tired around June
25. By the time June 27th came around I was also very light headed. On
June 28th I could hardly stand up. My wife took my blood pressure
and it was 67/45. This definitely explained my lightheadedness. We decided to
call the Cancer Center and was told to get into the ER. It was very likely that
I needed blood and platelets. Going to the ER at Hackensack University Medical
Center always stresses me out a little. It’s not because you get bad treatment
there… because you don't. They even have a separate Oncology ER and they have private
rooms…… it is because the hospital usually does not have hospital rooms available
in the oncology section and you end up being in the ER for many hours and
sometimes days. This ended up ne the case with me. I never made it to a
hospital room. All my treatment this go around would be in the ER.
My treatment in the ER began with checking my counts and
confirming that I was running a very low blood pressure. My counts were very
low across the board. As luck would have
it, my favorite infectious disease doctor was in the ER (Dr. Sebti) and he
stopped in to see me and reviewed my counts. He and my oncology team
collaborated on a plan which was to give me bags of platelets, 2 bags of blood
and precautionary antibiotics due to my 0.6 white blood cell count.
Over the course of Sunday, June 28th and into the
early hours on Monday, the 29th I received all the prescribed
treatments. When my counts were rechecked they were all back at safe levels. My
WBC was now 1.6. I was released later in the day on Monday because the ER was
able to give all the treatment I needed. Also, my blood pressure recovered a
little. I was running about 95/55. I typically run low. As my counts raise over
the next week the thought is that my blood pressure will go to normal levels. I
have a follow-up scheduled at the Cancer Center on Thursday, July 2nd.
So… this whole hospital visit could have been avoided if my
follow-up appointment was scheduled earlier. I am going to have to pay closer
attention to this. I am pretty sure a follow-up should happen no later than the
10th day of the cycle.
I am feeling much better today and looking forward to a great
month of July.
Here is a link to a great new song by Third Day. It is called “Soul
on Fire”. I sure hope I can carry the words and energy of this song into July
and to my daughter’s wedding.
For I know the plans I have
for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
More to come…
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
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