Just a little addendum to the "Rest Sweet Rest" update. The nurse called me today to say that my white cell count is a little bit below the normal limits. Not dangerously low, but still low. I need to be a little bit careful not to expose myself to a lot of germs - HELLO? I have FIVE kids at home!!! Not going to happen! :-)
But, seriously I do need to be a little more careful than I would have been if not on chemo, wash hands a lot (I already do that), not hang out with people who are coughing and sneezing, and probably not volunteer to teacher aide at our homeschool co-op. :-( It's not anywhere near a dangerous level but it would not add to my comfort on the chemo to have head colds and flus and stuff all winter. Also they had already told me that my white counts would likely slowly decline over the next year and since they are already low, I am guessing they will probably stay low.
My hemoglobin is in the normal range but near the low limit too. I have been on iron suppliments since surgery but my family doctor says it takes up to six months to regain iron stores.
Goin' to bed on the early side if I can tonight!
Karen
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Rest Sweet Rest!
Well I am nearing the end of my 2 week rest period off the Sutent and savoring every minute of it. I feel pretty good. My mouth is almost all better - milk still tastes weird but I guess that will be the case for the rest of this year. I can eat yogurt and other dairy ok though. Otherwise I feel pretty good and am taking advantage of it while getting the homeschool year started and trying to iron out any wrinkles in that routine so that I am all set for the weeks on the med. I asked that the meals be postponed while I am feeling well so that I can get back to a bit of taking care of my family. It makes me feel "well" to try to make things as normal as possible. We still have had a few meals during this rest period and they were very helpful because as much as I want to feel like my old (new) self again, I am just not completely strong yet and I do tire more easily than I want to. Meals will return on wk 2 of the chemo a bit, and more will come on weeks 3 and 4 when I will be in hardest part of the chemo which will be wonderful!
I saw Dr Flaherty yesterday. He wants to try me next round on the lower dose. If I tolerate it very very well, he will raise it again. If I am nearly bedridden as happened on wk 3 last time, they will lower the dose. If I am only moderately ill they will leave it alone I guess! FUN! I was under the impression that the first month would be hard but not as bad as it turned out to be, and that the months after that would be much more tolerable as my body adjusted to the med. Now they are sounding more like the way my body reacts to it is the way it will continue to react, and will get a little better each round, but will not get suddenly a lot better. And as the year wears on, my body will get tired of the stuff - that is when the white blood counts and things might start to decline. So it all is a more gradual process than I was expecting. Ok - whatever it takes we are doin' it!
Thank you for hanging on with us as we adjust to living on chemo - its a bit different than my life was before June 2nd but I am thankful for the blessing of each and every day that God gives me, and hopeful that He will allow me a few thousand more days on this earth!
The insurance mess DRAGS ON but we have heard a little progress in the last week or so. Our lawyer is told we will have a written offer from the business insurance company by next week and he made it very clear to them that it better be a REAL offer and not something no where CLOSE to our losses or we will end up in non-binding mediation or filling a lawsuit before the ink is dry on the offer. :-/ PLEASE pray that this would end soon. We are so stressed with the costs of the kids curriculum (and I kept is as cheap as I could) and some classes for the kids and new sneakers for a few .... we just really really need this reimbursement asap.
Rested up and almost ready for the next round!
Karen
I saw Dr Flaherty yesterday. He wants to try me next round on the lower dose. If I tolerate it very very well, he will raise it again. If I am nearly bedridden as happened on wk 3 last time, they will lower the dose. If I am only moderately ill they will leave it alone I guess! FUN! I was under the impression that the first month would be hard but not as bad as it turned out to be, and that the months after that would be much more tolerable as my body adjusted to the med. Now they are sounding more like the way my body reacts to it is the way it will continue to react, and will get a little better each round, but will not get suddenly a lot better. And as the year wears on, my body will get tired of the stuff - that is when the white blood counts and things might start to decline. So it all is a more gradual process than I was expecting. Ok - whatever it takes we are doin' it!
Thank you for hanging on with us as we adjust to living on chemo - its a bit different than my life was before June 2nd but I am thankful for the blessing of each and every day that God gives me, and hopeful that He will allow me a few thousand more days on this earth!
The insurance mess DRAGS ON but we have heard a little progress in the last week or so. Our lawyer is told we will have a written offer from the business insurance company by next week and he made it very clear to them that it better be a REAL offer and not something no where CLOSE to our losses or we will end up in non-binding mediation or filling a lawsuit before the ink is dry on the offer. :-/ PLEASE pray that this would end soon. We are so stressed with the costs of the kids curriculum (and I kept is as cheap as I could) and some classes for the kids and new sneakers for a few .... we just really really need this reimbursement asap.
Rested up and almost ready for the next round!
Karen
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