Last Friday (the 22nd), I received my last infusion of the chemo regimen, but that didn't mean it would be smooth sailing. In fact, the last week has been pretty rough: constant low-level nausea plus endless profound fatigue. It was a real chore goin' anywhere, doin' anything. Now, I try to avoid all activity.
This morning, as per my Fridaycentric schedule, I went to Newport Beach and got another blood test and I visited with the nurse practitioner. My blood numbers were lousy: WBC is at .73 (normal starts at 4.0); RBC is at 2.59 (normal starts at 3.8); Hgb is at 7.7 (normal starts at 13.3; critical is below 7); platelet count is at 28 (normal starts at 150); and so on.
No wonder I was feeling shitty.
Sarah, the NP, explained that these are the numbers they pretty much expect a week after the (last) infusion; these numbers, she said, are not yet alarming. (Whew!)
She said: Go home, rest! No touch-football, beware of spiking symptoms, stay away from sick people, yada yada.
I got a referral for a post-infusion PET/CT. I just now scheduled that for next Tuesday morning. That test will tell me how well the chemo has worked.
It's pretty important.
No exercise! Fasting! Hi-protein, low-carb diet the day before! —The usual demands.
I'll let you know how it goes. I have high hopes.
Be sure to listen to Episode 58: America This Week, with Matt Taibbi and Walter Kirn
This week: Canadian hypocrisy plus Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart"
