Greetings Everyone;
I don't know how to locate this follow up closer to my original one on page 2, perhaps the geeks at CC can transfer it or attach it to my original, I can only hope.
Wed, 3/26, still very tired. Very little taste in the food that I'm consuming. I want to touch on my blood counts so you can see how all this chemo effects your numbers.
When I was admitted, 3/16, my whites were at 2.8, my reds 9.5 and the Plates 357. But there's a sub component of the whites that is so high the Drs. don't even bother testing cause if the whites are norm these are sky high. They call them A N C. Don't remember what that stands for. On 3/21 my whites were 2.6, but on 3/22 they were 8.2! Only numbers that have risen. Reds fell to 8.7 and Plates at 174. Why the HUGE increase? If you'll recall, I had that T cell infusion of Friday, 3/21. Yes, it made that much of a difference! 3/23 Whites 3.9 (imagine what they would have been w/o the infusion?) Reds 8.8, Plates 155. The A N C is now starting to be measured, 2496. 3/24 Whites 5.3, Reds 8.4, Plates 118 and A N C 900. No large changes in any number during the next dat. But, on 3/26 Whites 7.8, Reds 8.9 Plates 58 and A N C ZERO. No visitors! Mask in or out. Wash hands often. Infection is a serious possibility. Even though the White cells are high the Drs. aren't certain they haven't been masked by the T cells infusion and they aren't taking any chances. 3/27 Whites stable, Reds 7.5, you know what that means! Plates 40, A N C ZERO. I get 2 units of Red blood cells. I can't stop walking around the ward. Way too much energy in those little bags. 3/28 Whites 6.7, Reds 11.4, Plates 21 A N C ZERO. 3/29 Whites 6.8, Reds 9.1, Plates 11 A N C 100. Drs. are happy, A N C is starting to move. They want to see how much from now on. 3/30 not much movement, except my Plates 6. 1 unit of Platelets coming right up. 3/31 Whites 6.0, Reds 8.0 Plates19, A N C, ooooppps, somebody in the lab forgot to test for them. Yes, there's a few of them working here also! I also receive another 2 units of Red blood cells. 4/1 Whites are at 9.0, Reds 10.5 Plates 18, A N C 2800! 4/2 Whites 11.7, Reds 10.5, Plates 22 A N C 4700. Dr. tells ol' K.C. "Your numbers are holding, make arrangments for D.C. I tell him to give me 2 units of Reds and I'll walk home!
What amazed me about seeing the blood counts charted everyday in my room was how the chemo would just devour the cells. Even with an infusion, 2 days later and the numbers were low again. This chemo was just a cell eating machine.
The Drs. still don't what to say to my questions about my White blood cell numbers and the T cell infusion so I'm going to ask your patience in asking me any questions. This study is too new for any results yet. However, If given the the chance to participate in it I would strongly urge you to. I saw what the chemo did to my other cell counts and it only stands to reason it would have devoured the Whites cells also if not for the infusion. Perhaps in the near future, they'll take units of the other blood types outs and re infuse. Maybe they'll shorten recovery to days instead on weeks!
In closing, I again want to thank you for all your support, inspirational words and prayers. But the next time you hear from ol' K.C. he'll be sitting on the couch playing with Brindle's ears and enjoying some HOMETIME R. and R.
Take care;
Kevin