treatment update

Sorry for the faults in writing. My glasses are downstairs

I just wish I could go back to the once every three weeks schedule of treatments, even though that made me lose my hair, at least I didn't miss any treatments due to low counts. I just talked to my brother in Taiwan a few minutes ago and found out that he had surgery and the hospital there is a lot better than mainland China. His nose was packed because they scraped it out to help his breathing and they also cut something in the back of his throat to help reduce his snoring. He will be in the hospital for a couple more days and hopefully then he will be doing much better. He was saying his full cost was about $80 for three days because his insurance paid for everything except the private room. Have a great weekend!!!

My sister also hasd a nose surgery a couple of months ago. The doctors thought it was sinus, but she had a sort of benign tumor that was pulling her nostril to one side. So it was surgery, not to worry, but bothersome. I would not want to lose my hair again. But it came out very baby like and I´d love to have it thicker. We´ll see what happens when it gets longer. HUG!

They started contacting me and saying they were high about a year ago. I began doing donations a few months after that. I am not sure why mine are high, they were at about 450,000. When you give platelets your body decides you are needing more and so it kicks up to a higher production. I have not asked my doctor if I should be concerned. I know my brother used to have high platelets and donate them and so did my dad. I am also like them in that I am always warm, and I wonder if it is all part of the same thing. I know that 86% of the population can safely receive platelets that are my type--o+. I was so touched, the first time I gave they said it was so beneficial for the cancer patient that received them that they wanted me to come in as often as possible. I do. It is a half hour drive away from here, but it is a town where I like to shop anyway, so we will make a day of it. I give a triple unit of platelets in less than an hour. I clot back up nicely though when I am done, no excessive bleeding. No leg cramps, good hemoglobin. I feel very fortunate and healthy and I feel like it is a special blessing to give. Anyone who has 150,000 or more can give. I know some people try and cannot, though.

I know they can give people platelets because my mom had a problem where hers went away all the time. When she would get down to 4000 they would give her loads of them. How do they get that high??? I have always heard that normally they are at around 100,000 so I know that being as low as I am is not good, but at least I don't bruise from a simple touch. I'm glad things are going well for you. Have a great weekend!!!

I don't know if they plan to try to give me platelets or just let me build back up naturally. They say I can get treatments as long as my count is at or above 70,000. I just wish I could get finished with these treatments and be able to get back to just living! Oh well...

I'm so sorry to hear about the trach. I have seen people with those and it seems like it would be a lot of trouble getting used to it...but I guess you can say that about any new thing they do to you...like my colostomy. I hope that does help her get around better. I hope she is doing better and you are doing well as well!

I would think so, but she sure had better be planning on taking care of it herself, or I very well may be looking for another job!

I can't wait to be totally rid of the oxygen. I think my doctor really thought it might only be days, but I guess I got dependent on it like a blankey for a baby or something. My kitty is doing fine, but I don't really know if she ate her medicine or not so I guess I might need to bring another sample in to the vet to get rechecked. But I think I will wait for some other sign that something is wrong rather than just checking. Have a great weekend!!!

Thanks for the response! I saw you visited my blog. I hope you liked it. Have a great weekend!!!

I guess the main thing is how is her quality of life. I think if I was told I was incurable I would go somewhere else because traditional western medicine doesn't look into all possibilities and only looks at what the pharmaceutical companies are pushing. I have been told that ovarian cancer recurrences tend to be chronic and I can accept that. If it looks like treatment isn't working any more and it is making me sicker than the disease itself is, then I might look into other options sooner. I hope I go into remission at least long enough that my doctor lets me travel so I can look into medical tourism to see if I can find a better way. I pray that your mom stays in high spirits! That is half the battle and gives her the best chance!

I also hope that the red cell counts improve. They don't add white blood cells so they just have to build back up. I am more worried about the platelet count since that was the problem that eventually killed my mom. I know what you mean about always being hot in southern California. I remember those days even though I haven't been there since about '97 or so. I'm glad we finally got rid of our month of 100 degree days here in MO. Unfortunately the drought killed most of the corn crop here but at least we got some rain both last weekend and today. Thanks for the response!

Just out of curiosity, how old are the twins? If there was a sleepover either they are in grades school or older. I hope that went ok. I guess it is just a matter of taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly...Have a great week!!!

12 and their older sister is 15.

It is definitely true! My brother keeps telling me that he could never deal with some of the things that I have dealt with over the years, but I am a strong person and have always been. I know that all these little trials are making me stronger and I just have to remember that saying. Thanks for the reminder!