Rough Couple of Days

I started running a fever yesterday morning. I've had some congestion since last week. Maybe it turned into something. They ran a "nasal wash" test last week and found out I have infuenza A. They weren't concerned about the influenza, saying that it would go away when my white counts come up.

But with a fever, things changed. So I've been on antibiotics since yesterday afternoon. I am feeling a lot better tonight. To give you antibiotics they just hang a bag of antibiotics on the IV tree and connect the line into one of the existing "y" fittings. No fuss, no muss, no bother.

They started me on Neupogen on Friday. Neupogen is a growth stimulating factor used to boost the white count in people on chemotherapy. It's administered by needle. Actually I give it to myself in the belly. I've used Neupogen quite a few times over the last couple of years. The first time I gave myself a shot a couple of years ago I was shaking like a leaf. Lynda was laughing it was so comical. But it's like sticking a short needle in a ripe peach. Not much to it.

The Neupogen is on the protocol starting Day 7 which was Friday. I'll get it everyday until the white counts come up to 3.0. The count was 0.1 this morning. After the whites come up and they stop the Neupogen, the white count will fall again. The idea is for the counts to fall somewhat then recover and grow on their own. That process will take about another week or so.

I did get a wheelchair ride down to the 3d floor last night for a chest xray. That was fun. I'll do about anything to get off of this floor. Ha