January 22, 2009

Here are today's labs
Date------Day----WBC----ANC--------Hgb--------PLT---- Transfusions
9 Jan-----129----3.9------3800-------8.7-----------163--------------N/A
12 Jan----132----0.7-------448-------9.5-----------117--------------N/A
15 Jan---135-----0.3------0-------7.9/9.4-----------35--1 Unit of Blood
19 Jan---139-----0.2------0----------8.2-------2/35-1 Unit of Platelets
20 Jan---140-----0.2------0----------7.7---------26----2 Units of Blood
21 Jan---141-----0.3------0----------9.5----------17----------------N/A
22 Jan--142---0.7----443-----9.0----13/43---1 Unit of Platelets


The top left picture is my IV pole today, I call it my Christmas tree. The top right one is one of many PICC Blood Culture draws, they really had a hard time getting blood to draw out of it. The is a picture of the Blood Culture Bottles that they have to draw on me every 24 hours. Speaking of Blood Cultures did I mention that yesterday they blew 2 of my veins in my left hand trying to draw one of the Blood Culture tests. They had to bring another PCA in because I would not let my PCA touch me again after he started digging & blew the 2 veins. Third time is the Charm because she did get the butterfly her first try, I told here where were you 20 minutes ago when I needed you:) The 2 pictures with green scrubs & needle to skin are of the 3rd/successful draw for a Blood Culture. The other picture is the peripheral line they had to put in me to accommodate all of the antibiotics & blood products I keep getting. My IV medication list has increased daily. They are still trying to figure it out, they only know I have the blood infection, the specific type is still unknown so they cannot tailor my treatment yet.

Marc came back up again today we are still not out of the woods the stress is really waring him down. Don't get me wrong I am glad he is here by my side & I would not have been able to get out if bed for the toilet or a shower yesterday without him. I know he is up here on FMLA leave without pay right now because he ran out of leave a long time ago. Some people in the past have been very generous & donated some time to him but he has exhausted that as well. I think he is too scared not to be here right now, that there are no assurances coming from the Dr.s at this point. Until they get theses fevers under control I don't know what to do. I am starting to get even more nervous because how long can my brain keep tolerating temperatures over 103 every day, several times a day with out being damaged by it.

As you all know I have always pushed myself when I have been up to it. Well yesterday remember I said I could not get out of bed with out Marcus. Up until yesterday at 9am I have been able to move around for the most part without difficulty, maybe a little slower than normal. At 9am I tried to get up to go to the bathroom & it was like a lightning rod shot through my neck & spike when I leaned forward to start to get out of bed, because of that pain my reflex was jerking my knees in towards my chest was automatic, the pain was instantaneous in both of my calf's. I yelped & laid back because it took my breath away & started sweating profusely immediately. I had tears running down my face the pain was more severe than Labor pain. Marc kept telling me it was from not getting up & moving around enough that I need to try to get out of bed. I told him no I don't. The Nurse came & gave me some morphine for the pain & paged Carli. In the mean time it took about 7 minutes, a lot of pain & a ton of motivation from Marcus plus bore most of my weight to get me to the side of the bead & on the toilet which is about 10 feet from my bed. I was bawling like a baby.It took about the same amount of time to get me back in bed. Carli ordered an ultrasound & Doppler of my leg veins & arteries & wrote an order for the Dilaudied, because the Morphine makes me nauseous. We found that the Dilauded does not do a thing for me which from what I hear is stronger then anything I have taken to date. We had to go through all that pain again to get a shower, only to have my fever break when I got out & I instantly soaked my clean bed clothes, you could actually wring he water out. So I had to get back up & get dry clothes on. I was so wore out by the time Bonnie got here but I was so happy to see her. Bonnie was able to spend the night, she went with me down to my ultrasound to make sure I did not have blood clots causing the pain.




Bonnie & I stayed up talking until a little after 11pm when I had to take my Benadryl & I was out by 11:30pm. I woke up at 2am from a fever spike up to 103 again. They gave me 3 more Tylenol to bring my fever down. So about 4am my fever broke &my bed was soaked literally. Bonnie slept in the recliner she looked so comfy. I am so glad she came down.


Benefit Scheduled for Saturday, January 24, 2008
Many of you who know me may remember I used to be on the Board & the Treasurer for the London Assembly #208 Rainbow Girls when Katie & Paige were in Rainbow. I was contacted by Mom Wendy Hall, Mother Advisor from The London Assembly #208 Rainbow Girls & they are holding a Spaghetti Dinner Benefit for me on January 24th from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at the Chandler Lodge located at 65 North Main Street, London Ohio. The Menu will be Spaghetti, sauce with meatballs, bread & butter, salad with dressing & a drink for $5.00. Desserts will be available for a donation & you can dine in or carryout is available. If you would like any information please contact Keith Hall @ 614-302-0431or airforcekeith@sbcglobal.net