WBC - 1.6 (up 800 from previous day)
Platelets - 77 (up 34 from previous day)
Hemoglobin - 9.2 (down 600 from previous day)
Hematocrit - 25.9 (down 2 points from previous day)
ANC - 976 (they say this number can fluctuate up and down, but today it looks great, since 1000 is apparently the goal, and even 500 is a great number!)
Get a load of those white blood cells!!! Wooo hoooooo!! I've got a double or nothing bet on tomorrow's results which should make me poorer by 2 dollars and also absolutely joyous! I'm predicting 2.2 -- my night nurse, Mike, says 2.4. I would absolutely love to lose to him again! Today's nurse, Karen, whom I love, is going with a more aggressive 2.6. See why I love her?
Oohh! And there's something called a "Seg/Band" which is some sort of marker in the white blood cells which reflects the really important, best part of the white blood cells. Apparently you want this number to be high to get the best reflection of positive changes in the WBC, and I have a high number, apparently! There's a calculation which uses the seg numbers and the band numbers to calculate the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) which is very important in its reflection of new healthy cells. Segs + bands x total WBC = ANC. That's one way to combat chemo brain!
Now the red blood cells are not doing as well as the white, but that's ok. Angie, you asked me a couple of days ago if I'd been given any blood transfusions or platelets. I have not received any platelets (and I'm participating in a platelet study as well!) but 2 days ago I did get 2 bags of blood, as I did this morning also.
I'm happy to report that I didn't have any fevers last night! Now that is definitely a step in the right direction!
Still got the mouth/throat/head pain, so the PSA (morphine pump) is still a strong ally. I'm hoping that the hemoglobins I'll get from this morning's transfusion will increase the oxygen volume of my blood, thereby allowing my nice new white blood cells to rush to perform repair in my mouth and throat right away.
I'm going to take a nap now because I had an awful night's sleep last night. Then early this afternoon I'll get in some walking laps. With my counts going up I'm feeling much better able to get in some cardio.
I'm going to miss seeing Lorraine today, but she needs to take care of herself now and knock down that cold or flu! I'm so glad she's got a doctor's appointment tomorrow -- maybe she'll be able to get some medicinal support to speed it along before I come home. God, I can't wait to go home.....I miss everybody so much.....
About Me
- Sarah
- I'm a 43 year old, happily partnered lesbo. I was raised in downtown NYC in a commune, and the woman who raised me was the real Auntie Mame. I've lived also in Italy, India, and Ireland. By the time I was 10, I'd already lived with over 4,000 people. When I was 2 1/2, I drank oven cleaner. I didn't know I was gay until I was 26. My partner of over 9 years is one of the finest people I've ever known. She's from Brooklyn. I was treated for Stage IIIB Hodgkins Lymphoma, subtype Mixed Cellularity. First I did 6 months of ABVD chemo, and that secured a 14-month remission. My relapse was caught early and I went right into a stem cell transplant. The cancer had already returned when I had my 3-month post-transplant scans. There's no cure available to me at present, so I'm now entering a period of palliative care. We're hoping a Gemzar/Navelbine chemo combination will keep my cancer at bay for as long as 4 years -- that's the prayer. In the meantime, I am focused on savoring every moment....and maybe even losing a coupla pounds!
2 comments:
Atta girl! I'm going to put my money down on 3, but only if you watch this video ten times before the next blood draw. Guaranteed high numbers will follow!
Keep up the good work!
B
Sarah, looks like you're doing pretty good with your blood counts! Goooooooo Sarah!!! Keep it going, fight strong and get some rest. You're missed at the HD board.
God Bless,
Anne
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