Another Bump...

Things were going pretty well overall - fatigue and some aches and pains but nothing too bad - until yesterday. My sore throat and fatigue were more severe and persistent while at work so I checked my temp and it was high (above 100.5*). I called the oncology office and was seen in just a few hours, where they confirmed their fears. I had neutropenic fevers and my white blood cells had bottomed out. I basically had no immune system.



They did a bunch of cultures to try and find the source of infection and then started me on IV antibiotics and a shot to boost my immune system (neupogen). I felt better after those two and a bag of IV fluid but I had a pretty rough night - poor sleeping, fevers, aching and severe sore throat. Today, I went for my second dose of IV antibiotics and another neupogen shot and I was almost hospitalized. I had begged my oncologist not to hospitalize me but this morning, I would not have complained at all...



Luckily, things are turning around and while I will get IV's every day for 10 days, so far I have avoided the hospital. I can actually stand for more than 5 minutes - which I have not done in over 24 hours.



Steve was great and did not complain about picking me up and driving me home - even though he had to get both kids and get Nat ready for her part in the school play (the choir) yesterday. It really bothered me that I had to miss her show - but I felt so bad that I barely had the energy to crawl into bed last night. Steve was up a lot with me last night and did not complain about my 3 AM bath :-).



After both kids were absolute terrors this morning, I decided I really do need some help so a good friend, Diane, drove me to my IV appt and is taking both kids tonight so Steve and I can relax a bit. Another friend, Jen, is taking me (at 7 AM!!) to my IV appt tomorrow and another set of friends, Kara and Mark agreed to take the kids on Easter Sunday at 7 AM while Steve goes to my IV appt. I am a bit afraid to leave the house, but hope to get out and walk at least tomorrow.



This is a rare side effect - but it does happen. From now on, I will get a shot of neulastin (a longer acting white blood cell stimulator) after every chemo so this never happens again. At least they seem confident that it will not. I plan to stay at home on day 10 - 13 post-chemo, just in case they are wrong.



No more trips to costco, sprouts, chick filet or other spots for a few days. I hope I do not go crazy :-). I finally have enough energy to sit up and watch a movie so that may be the excitement for the weekend. The good part is that all our friends love the kids and they will get two 'easters' since the easter bunny will hit our house around noon and they will get to find eggs with their best friends Adele and Hayden in the morning.