Dragonsanddemons’s Health Diary

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D&d

I haven't updated this for a while because everything was staying about the same. I was supposed to get my second dose of chemo today, but in the labs they ran beforehand, they found that I have no white blood cells, so we're giving my body another week to recover and see where I'm at then. From what I've read online, this is not an uncommon thing to happen, I saw that a fair number of people had to have their second treatment delayed because of low/no white blood cell counts. There's a drug that can help bone marrow produce more white blood cells, but it can increase the toxicity of one of the chemo drugs, so they don't want to give it to me if it isn't truly necessary. Since I have basically no immune system, I'm supposed to start taking the anti-fungal med again as a precaution, am also getting a preventative antibiotic, and will be isolating myself mostly in my bedroom to try to avoid catching anything off of anyone else in my family. Having such a weakened immune system can also lead to opportunistic attacks from microorganisms that normally live harmlessly on and in the human body, is part of why I'm getting the preventative meds.

I was trying to decide whether I was going to get my usual haircut soon or get my hair shaved off so there wouldn’t be so much mess if it was going to be falling out. My appointment is for the eighteenth, and based on the amount of loose hair I’m getting out just by tugging it lightly, I suspect I won’t need to make that decision after all, I’m not going to need a haircut by then. At this rate, I may not even need to shampoo it tomorrow.

I made the mistake of looking up some statistics on NSCHL. It turns out that while I’ll probably be fine now, long-term may be much more problematic (in large part because of the chemo). Now I’m a bit scared. Not of dying, really, but of continuing to live with the health issues and having the threat of a drawn-out death always hovering over me, and of having to undergo cancer treatment again (either because the NSCHL came back or because I developed a secondary cancer). And having to have all these tests done, even if it’s just to monitor things, gets tiresome, and it looks like that’s not ever going to stop. I realize now that even though I’ll be cured, I won’t be able to act like this never happened or anything.

Super kitty hugs, Miss D&D.

Third dose of chemo was on Thursday, and now I get heart fun, yippee I’ll probably have to go in tomorrow to get my heart checked out, or to the ER if my heart starts racing again in the meantime (my mom called to ask about it). I’m guessing it’s probably nothing to worry about, but we’re being cautious since one of my chemo meds can cause heart problems.

I hope the heart thing comes out “insignificant.”

How are you, otherwise?

Doing pretty well. I haven’t been sleeping well for the past week or so, but otherwise can’t complain too much. I really feel like I’m getting off very lightly as far as chemo effects go, and I think that also helps my overall mood and outlook.

Wished I could help. Hope you are staying strong and especially positive.

It won't last forever and you life counts most!

At the ER now with an elevated heart rate and some chest pain. Waiting for test results. They said it could even be as simple as dehydration, I'm getting fluids while I wait.

They kept me overnight for monitoring. My heart rate is still a little fast (90 when I had just woken up) but down from last night. I'm fully expecting to be sent home later today.

Thinking of you D&D and hoping your heart rate and discomfort are settling down. Hope you make it home soon. X

Wishing you health hope you are feeling better

I did get to go home yesterday evening, with a clean bill of health (except for the lymphoma, of course).

Lymphoma? What's that?

Neoplasms of the lymph nodes.

I hope you’re feeling better.

Wolfman Hugs for the Dragon!