we finally made it out of the hospital last night. my bloodcount rebounded enough for me to face the outside world. i was beginning to think it would never happen. it's great to be home. i almost don't know what to do with myself. my nerves are racing. it is hard to sit still. i feel like i constantly need to be doing something. it was great to get back in our bed last night. i know i speak for megan as well. i feel so bad that she has to sleep on that hard convertible chair-bed in the hospital. i wish it was softer and nicer.
i have to go to the clinic today and tomorrow to get my neupogen shots that boost my white blood cell counts. monday i go back to the doctor to get my blood counts checked and possible admitted for chemo. i have a feeling that it will be a couple days later before i get chemo again. right now i am going to take a nerve pill and get a shower so i can go in. i hope that makes me feel better and keeps me from driving megan crazy with my jitters.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Monday, April 19, 2004
i am still in the hospital. the doctors say maybe i can go home tomorrow or wed. i will end up being in here longer with this problem than i did with my knee surgery. when i came in on thursday i only expected a 1 night stay, and it has turned into 6 or 7 nights. my white blood cell count has not come up any in the last few days. it is still at 0.4. in some ways i am getting used to hospital life. the food is probably one of the worst things. even when i choose what i want from the menus they give me it is still bland and tasteless. the dietary workers ask me if i even want it anymore when they come. sometimes, one lady just leaves my tray outside the door cause she knows i won't eat it. i have been living on graham crackers and nutter butter cookies for the last couple of days. they are the only things that really stay down. we did find out that one of the pills that i was taking was causing me to throw up. they are now giving it to me in an IV form. things are getting better. at least i feel better. the blood gives me more energy and pumps me up a bit.
my family and megan have been with me the whole time. i have not had a moment alone. i am greatful for that. without someone here to talk to and share the load i think i would go crazy. one of the nurse's aids likes to give me a hard time. she trys to make me mad so i will show her up and eat more or walk the halls or do something more productive. she gave me a coveted remote control for the tv today. ususally you have to use the button on the bed rail to change channels and turn the tv off. it is so annoying and won't let you go back throught the channels. anyways, i know i have fewer days left than i have been here. also, my chemo will be pushed back until next monday which is a good thing. there is no way my body could handle it any sooner.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
well, i have been in the hospital since thursday. still here on sunday and i bet i'll be here a couple more days. i got so weak and my blood counts got really low. i have had two blood transfusions to bring my red blood cell count up. my white cells that fight infection are still really low. they are 0.4 and need to be at least 1.0 before i can go home. only time will help them to regenerate. being here is like being in jail. the walls feel like they are closing in on me. i know i need to be here until i get better but it still upsets me. initially i was just to have a blood transfusion on an outpatient basis and go home. i was running a fever and they ended up keeping me.
my next chemo treatment will have to be pushed back until i re-gain my strength and white blood counts stabilize. these beautiful days are killing me. i just sit and look out the window at the sunshine, trees, and people going by on their merry ways.
well i think i am going to take a nap. all of the meds that i am taking make me tired. i am on 3 different kinds of antibiotics to prevent any infections that may arise and several anti-nausea medicines to keep me from getting sick. they haven't been working that well on me for some reason. the last coulpe of days i have thrown up just about everything that i have eaten. my stomach has just gotten into a routine of rejecting food, which makes me even weaker. i think it is getting a little better. i am just eating small meals.
