TODAY, WE RIDE....

...WHAT ELSE AM I TO DO?

 

     Today, I didn't have to call the Porter Ranch clinic because they called me first! Dr. Cohen asked her staff to call me to come in and get my IV. I did. I was there by 10:00 and weighed in. I haven't been this weight in 8 years, at least. I'm not too concerned, though. I've lost about 30 pounds since finding out I had cancer. I may have blogged that before - I can't remember. I'm anxious to get this part of treatment over so I can put my tennis shoes on and run. That's pretty much all I think about when I think of chemo #6. While soaking in the hydration my lab results were given to me by Collette - not so good. Two items of concern: WBC, Critical low - 1.7 and reference range is 4.0 - 10.0. AND Neutrophil, Critical low - .08 yes, that's not a typo, .08 and the reference range is 1.56 - 6.13. Dr. Cohen told me my count was 80 when it should be 8,000. This makes me Neutropenia. I can't have the cystoscopy on Wednesday (I thought it was tomorrow - good thing I called them) because of the Neutropenia. But, I need to see Dr. Sender anyway to figure out what is going on with the bladder/kidney stones. I am peeing blood and have pain when peeing. Dr. Cohen feels this is all related to the stones. I need to see him and go over everything and let him advise us next. Should I take the antibiotics for 10 days instead of 5? Change the antibiotic? Have another CT scan and see if puss is evident in the kidneys? And, my head cold is terrible right now, too. The antibiotic Dr. Cohen prescribed covers all the bases. When I saw her in the kitchen this morning she didn't recognize me at first but quickly realized it was me and hugged me. She is very sweet. She asked how things were going as we fixed our teas. I told her that when she texted me that there were no 24-pharmacies where she lived and I was lucky to find one (on Sunday, she gave me her cell number because she was wrangling kids when I called about my bladder issue)I thought about the pharmacist in NC (that served people and animals) that left his home number on the door and would come in, at any hour, to fill a prescription. She was shocked and asked what town that was. She told me her husband was worried that she gave me her cell number. We laughed about that. Seriously, that is funny when you think about it. But, that tells you what kind of a doctor she is. Wonderful. I feel like she should be my doctor - no, she is my doctor. Dr. Glaspy has been absent. When she was given my lab results she came over talked to me and told me we could lower the Carboplatin on chemo #6 because I was on a very high dose that could be reduced 20 percent. I'm all for it. She made me laugh, too. She is just a well-rounded doctor. I love her. Tomorrow, more fluids at Porter Ranch. I'm glad for this as I didn't urinate much, even, after the IV today. As a result I had more pain while urinating tonight.

 

No work tomorrow and I will call off Wednesday, as well. I don't mind. I really need a break from there, especially, now.

 

There is a great line from a 1963 movie, "In the Cool of the Day" with Jane Fonda and Angela Lansbury; Jane Fonda's character is talking to Angela Lansbury's character - they don't know each other well and Lansbury is scarred on her face. She doesn't go anywhere because she doesn't like being stared at or pitied. Fonda replies that she used to feel that way all the time when she was ill but then "learned that most of the time people don't really care enough to pity us". That's it in a nutshell, isn't it. I felt, oddly, validated by that line in this movie. That is was delivered by a young and beautiful Jane Fonda was a bonus. Not that I was feeling 'uncared' for today - quite the contrary. My friend at the VA that couldn't be my friend, not so long ago, has been a very good friend. He texted me this morning and asked if I was alright and told me to take care of me. Over the last couple of weeks he has been a very good friend, after all. I'll take it. My friend, Scott, texted today, as well. He never waivers from being my good friend. And, Joe - very good to me today. I hate that he will be leaving again in less than 10 days for 5 weeks. I will miss him. In fact, I miss him already. He's had too much work to tend to on the plane since his return. I hope we see something of him before he leaves.

 

My school assignment for week one of this new class was a bear. It's quite possible that I made it more difficult than it was. I'm having to read and reread to comprehend. I, swear, there are times it's like reading a foreign language! I have to walk away and come back another time and try to comprehend again.

 

With so many sleepless night in my rear window I decided to take a pain pill prescribed by the beloved Dr. Schmit after my surgery and a valium. I want a decent few hours of sleep tonight.