Thank you to Cheryl Johnson for being my underground supplier of People magazine and to Bill & Cathy Clarke for the "Team Deets" hats. A special thank you to my brother Doug for keeping me company during my treatment on Friday.
If you are thinking "I thought he was supposed to get treatment on Thursday?" you are in good company. The visit to Dr. Frenette's started just fine (weight, pulse, blood pressure, etc.), but came to a complete stop when the results of my bloodwork came back. I felt great, looked average as normal, but apparently the previous treatment had wreaked havoc on my immune system. My white blood cell count was insanely low, as was my Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC). These cells are particularly important in fighting off infection and are the first responders to the traumas your body might experience, so you do not want to go without.
Fortunately for me, modern medicine saved the day again. Dr. Frenette ordered up a shot of Neupogen and sent me home to wait for 24 hours. Neupogen is aptly named, since it is designed to quickly increase your Neutrophil count, through stimulation of your bone marrow. It is strong stuff and made my bones ache like I got hit repeatedly with a baseball bat.
I was naturally pessimistic upon arrival to Dr. Frenette's on Friday, thinking that there was no chance of receiving treatment and that my prognosis was tanking. Jennifer, my oncology nurse for the day, was more optimistic however. As she told Stuart and me, "I would bet the farm he is getting chemo today". Why did she think this? Neupogen works great in young, "otherwise healthy" people. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that description of myself, I would be a young, rich, "otherwise healthy" person. She turned out to be right though.
This treatment was a little quicker than the last, maybe 3 1/2 hours all told. The side effects were similar...fatigue, nausea and that crazy pain in my mouth. I graded the days as:
Friday: 7
Saturday: 5
Sunday: 4 (I did manage to force myself out to trick-or-treat with the kids for a few minutes)
Monday: 6
Tuesday: 8
Keep your good thoughts and prayers coming. 1 cycle down, 5 to go.
We're thinking of you, praying for you and sending positive thoughts your way!
ReplyDeleteHi Dan – it is great to read thru your blog, strong faith, prayers and thoughts all with you.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes – also remember that there are way too many casinos left in the world we still have to hit soon…
super thanks to Ruth for introducing me to the blog…
Kunal
Barb - thank you so much! It's your thoughts and prayers that are getting me through with flying colors.
ReplyDeleteKunal - I am looking forward to seeing you in an exotic location soon. My thoughts will be with you and Neha on your special day this month. I wish I could be there in person.
No worries Dan, I will send some picz n maybe even a short video on all craziness that will happen...take care
ReplyDeleteKunal - I can't wait to see the pics
ReplyDeleteThe Deets.....thanks for throwing a little science our way in your blog. I was pre-med before realizing that it would limit my TOTS, Marriott, and Sand Volleyball time. A little balance in college is a good thing right?
ReplyDeleteSounds like you thought the nurse was "all bag". One of my favorites from the golf course with the Deets.
Sending you some mad love vibes today. Hoping that today is a 9 or 10.
thinking of you and wondering how you are! praying for rest and energy tomorrow....for stuart too!!!
ReplyDeleteThompson - I loved the trip down memory lane. Those are three of my favorite things from school. Thanks for the good vibes. For others reading the blog, someone who is "all bag" on a golf course is all clothes, clubs, talk and no game. Unlike me, who has none of the above.
ReplyDeleteCambre - I appreciated the reminder to post again. Thanks for the prayers for tomorrow. Stuarts parents just got into town to visit and help out (Peyton's 6th birthday is today).