So much stuff!

I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks and I apologise. We got back from the Omega Institute on the 5th, and on the 6th I had to see the doctor and get transfusions of platelets and red cells. For a change I got the platelets first and had a reaction to them. Benadryl and solumedrol (sp?) in the IV and I continued on with red cells. But then I had spots all over and itchy palms until I went to bed that night.

The next day we packed to go to the beach. It was Fall Break for the girls. I was supposed to spend the week at the beach in Florida with friends, while Mike & the girls went to VA Beach. But as the medical stuff prevented me going to FL on my own, it made sense to go with the rest of the family. The doc wanted me to get another unit of platelets before we left on Wednesday morning, so that put us leaving just before noon. It was raining hard and there were a couple of accidents that slowed us down, so it was nearly dark when we were approaching Abingdon, VA. I had been really cold and we decided to stop for the night. After we got everything into the hotel, Mike took my temp and it was 105°. Yikes! The doc says I'm supposed to go in to his office or to the ER if my temp gets over 100.5°. We either had to go to a strange ER or head back home. So Mike reloaded the car and we turned ourselves toward home.

Now I have antibiotics on hand to take in case something happens, so I immediately took one of those as well as a benadryl. Wound up sleeping most of the 7 hours back and we got to the ER here at 2:00a Thursday. They gave me something to stop the chills and after 5 hrs in ER, they had my doctor check me into to the hospital. I was put on IV antibiotics and they ran a bunch of tests. Never did find out what was wrong and my blood counts had tanked again. Friday I got two more units of red cells, but no platelets.

Because I have no immunune system there were all kinds of weird things. When they took me from ER to the room, I had to wear a mask to filter out any airborne germs. I had to have my own individual stethescope, thermometre, blood pressure cuff, etc. No raw fruits or vegetables. No flowers in the room. And no black pepper.

So you all have heard before how I hate medical needles, blood, etc. I get really stressed with the IV and it was in for three days. Stress makes my fever blisters erupt. (Unfortunately I have two of those on my lips.) Fortunately that doesn't happen often, but this whole episode brought out both of them.

Finally on Saturday after lots of IV antibiotics and no fever for over 24 hours I got sprung, but I had to come home and rest. Sunday and Monday I was still trying to get over the fever blisters, so didn't do much of anything. Yesterday I was feeling a bit better and my Mom came over to visit for a while after her doctor appointment. The afternoon was spent looking through some cookbooks and I was thinking I might be doing pretty well today.

Well, during the night my mouth started bleeding again with all those gloppy clots. Sheesh! We had an appointment this morning but I called the doc and had to get blood tests this afternoon. Sure enough, my platelets are all low again, so I'm set up to get a transfusion of those tomorrow. Probably in the the afternoon. And this was supposed to be my week not to have to go do anything medical! At least I don't need any red cells tomorrow. Next week I start my fifth round of the Vidaza. I'm thinking positively and keeping my fingers crossed! And certainly am hoping that next week is better than this past one.