The Empty Gas Tank: Days +1 to +3

                 

Entry #9                                                       February 27, 2015

Beautiful view out of the family room on the 16th floor of Prentice.
The setting sun casts sky scraper shadows on the ice on Lake Michigan.  

     The last few days since the transplant are living up to their reputation as being the hardest of them all.  At this point, the full effects of the chemo and rATG are shutting down the "memory" of the old immune system by destroying Dan's white blood cells.   But that's not all, his red blood cells and platelet counts are dropping which have required IV platelets but no transfusions to this point.   As of yesterday, Dan was officially neutropenic, or without a working immune system.  Time to be especially cautious about exposure to anything.  

Absolute Neutrophils is TLTC or too low to count.  Platelets have dropped from
227 million to 16 million in 8 days.  Today's count dipped to 12 by afternoon.

Platelets given at 5:00 this afternoon.

     I can't begin to imagine how Dan feels with all the "gas out of his tank" but he is hanging in there.   He has very little appetite, except for small meals or an occasional smoothie.  His back is causing him pain, probably from the deluxe hospital mattress, and his strength and endurance is at a low point.  All this combined with an inability to sleep much the last couple of nights (preferring not to take the nightmare-producing sleep medication) means he's pretty wiped out.  

     But attitude is everything, and Dan has never been one to let things keep him down. He keeps saying, "I want to get well,"  so he continues to work with the physical therapist to keep his body moving.  The heat packs from the nurses and heating pad I bought at Walgreens have eased the pain in his back, and we've gotten him malts and shakes from Pot Belly's, Ghiradelli's and McDonalds to satisfy the little bit of hunger that he has.  Walking everyday is encouraged but walks require covering up with a blue gown and gloves that act like a sauna.   Dan also has to take extra precautions against falling as internal bleeding is a greater risk at this point.  But in spite of the walker and garb, Dan was told by a nurse today while walking that he was voted "best dressed on the floor" in his flashy pajamas!  Word travels fast on this little floor.  His own nurse came to his room a short time later to tell him the same thing!  

Using all the required garb and equipment
to safely walk the halls.  Voted best dressed on the floor!

     The best news of the past few days has been that he is progressing exactly as expected.   After this morning's visit with the transplant team and the usual questions and answer session, Dr. Burt acknowledged all of Dan's concerns and smiled before he left saying, "Medically speaking, you're doing good.  You'll be getting out of here soon." 

The proverbial daily visitor pass.

View looking north out Dan's window nearing sunset,
just as I was getting ready to walk back to the hotel.