Ta-Da! (just because life needs more “ta-da’s!”
these days).
Returned to chemotherapy today, and we did
resume the regimen with a couple of med dose changes (as we’ve discussed, doc
is playing it conservatively, onco-walking the I&I tightrope
(Immunosupression or Infection), and my side-effected innards are almost back to normally outwards.
Some of my lab numbers are low, some high,
but we needn’t get specific, unless you’re med-geek driven by hard data. For
those amongst you who simply must know, let’s take my basophils, one of the
several types of white blood cells we all have.
My basophils count today is 0.0 (it should
register between one percent and two percent of my WBC (white
blood count), coming in at zero to 0.3 cubic millimeters.
Basophils too low? Higher risk of infections.
Too high? Lower immune power.
That’s the I&I highwire: my always
walking and sitting two-tiered pyramid.
One backstroke bug in the soup today, as my
IV insertion site blew (it happens) and the site infiltrated quickly. The fluid
went off into the tissues, and because I was distracted at the time, wracking
my brain for the five-letter answer to my ever-present infusion unit crossword puzzle, the clue for “Zulu language group,” I didn’t notice my arm until it looked like
half a topside Popeye.
But, strong to the finich, and without the
spinach, I recovered. Hot packs were applied, and a new site, opposite arm (four attempts and three nurses later), was inserted. Pre-meds and chemo drugs finished running-in successfully, and before I left the unit (for the crossword geeks who I’m sure were one hand
and arm ahead of me here), “Bantu” popped in my head and I finished the puzzle.
I took the rap for the arm bomb. I’m guilty
of not drinking enough overall (more important when cancer and cancer
treatments are in the big mix), thus my blood plumbing isn’t as optimal as it
might be.
BUT, we’re back in the treatment groove, balancing
in the air.
I biffs ‘em and
buffs ‘em
and always out roughs
‘em
and none of ‘em
gets nowhere
… I’m Bantu the
Sailor Man.
More as we go,
El
