November 21, 2009

I got good news this week from my doctor. I'm still in remission, which is a relief. I am waiting for my blood counts to rise from the radiation treatment, so I've been getting frequent red cell and platelet transfusions. Once my levels start holding their own, I'll be able to stop going in so often. Right now, I'm in 3 times a week, getting bloodwork and transfusions. Thank goodness for all the people that donate.

Maybe by the end of the Thanksgiving weekend I'll be getting better. Once this stage is over, I'll be visiting the doctor every two months. It'll feel like a vacation.

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving.

Update 11/1/09

This has been one of my tough weeks. While understanding all this treatment will have payoffs, it's getting to me a bit. My platelet count tanked this week. Normal people have 150,000 and up in their blood, mine went from 75,000 to 15,000 in about a week. Since platelets stop bleeding, it is necessary to replace them before there's a problem. I ended up having a platelet transfusion on Friday and may need more. I'll be tested again on Monday to see what's what with my counts. This was expected, but happened sooner than I thought. I certainly would have cut out more fabric if I knew - now I'm at a standstill. No cutting for a while. No sharp objects.

Many of you have asked what you can do for me. Donating platelets or other blood is certainly something that would be beneficial to not only me, but others at MDA that need it.