Cheering for strong white platelets

Seems like the past few days have been spent in a car. Weird, but true. Monday we went for my treatment and of course they gave me a shot in my arm and sent me home. I didn't pass the lab test again. My husband is so patient. Apparently, my ongoing side affect from one chemo drug is that it continuously fights against my white platelets and wins. That drug sure is trying awfully hard to eliminate them! Not fair. Just not fair.

Went back to the clinic Tuesday and passed the lab test so I stayed for 9 bags of drugs. Woot! Woot! Then came home like a zombie and spent the afternoon in the recliner sleeping like a zombie and snoring loudly. Thank goodness for the Meal Train.

Then today I was pretty shaky but managed to tap the energy from that shot and the steroids they inject into me. Drove myself - successfully I will add - to a dental appointment in Tonawanda. There I learned that I must have a tooth pulled and go through the implant process. Now I'm thinking, how does one do that with no white platelets and not get an infection. The answer: get the implant specialist talking to the oncologist. Makes sense, me thinks. The specialist and I will discuss that on Friday.

During my lunch break, I had a marvelous conversation with my Chicago sister and then piled back into the car to take my little Claire for a Christmas haircut so she looks pretty to meet her cousin, Indy, from Indianapolis at the end of next week. 

Blissfully let myself veg in the car while I waited for Claire to become Miss Cleopatra. Hated to go to sleep and make the groomer's neighbors think there was a dead person in the front seat. So, I wrote in my journal and texted people with whom I needed to reconnect. 

Now I'm home and happy to be home. No car stuff till Friday.  Amazing how wonderful it is to have those little white platelet guys active inside my body. Gives me life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That shot they give me  miraculously gives me that energy I used to take for granted everyday. 

Interestingly, now, the oncology team have set up my future appointments differently so the first day I go for the shot and the second day I return for the actual treatment. Hey! I could have a worse side affect. And I learned this week, that I'm not unique to this dilemma. It haunts many other cancer patients as well. 

So if you are in treatment and reading this, you are not alone. It doesn't have to get you down like it did me in the beginning. Enjoy the upside when you have a little energy and plan your week accordingly. You'll get a lot done in those first 48 hours! And I guarantee you will thank me for sharing this information. It gives us all a reason to sing 'Hallelujah' and celebrate those little white platelet fellas!

Keeping my chin up and praying lots, The quilting cancer girl