today's counts

hris went to the cancer center today for blood draw and GM shot.  I didn't go in because I'm feeling under the weather and didn't want to share my germs with other patients.  I'm sleeping in Magnus' bed until while Chris' counts are low and I'm feeling a bit froggy in the throat. 

Anyway Chris shows me his counts and they are lower than they were yesterday when he was released from the hospital so I call and talk to Dr. C's nurse Patti.  She says she is going to talk to Dr. C and that Chris definitely has to get the shots tomorrow and Saturday and he probably won't be starting his next round Monday.  We are going to talk to Dr. C tomorrow or Monday for more info.  

The numbers that matter the most are the neutrophils and absolute neutrophils.  Because his absolute neutrophils we 1.48 yesterday he was able to go home for the hospital.  I do not know why they went down so much between yesterday and today, that's something we are asking about.  

Here are some links to some info about neutrophils for those who are interested:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-neutrophils.htm

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20030

Even tho this dance with trying to get his neutrophils up is typical of his cancer and treatment it's pretty frustrating.  His Dr. was telling us that until the GM-CSF shots were developed about 10 years ago there was nothing they could do to help patients counts go up in between rounds and the process was much much longer.  

When he goes in tomorrow morning for his blood draw for counts and shot we will get some more answers to questions I have.  

todays counts

Counts for today are attached, waiting on the neutrophil diff. from the lab.  I tried to zoom in more on just the last few days info so hopefully it works better, let me know.

I have a scratchy throat so I'm wearing a mask to protect Chris from my germs.  He's pretty tired but feeling a bit better.  He's developed some painful mouth sores over the last few days.  

I'm heading to work about 3 to get some hours in today.  

Chris in hospital for neutropenia

Chris developed a fever late yesterday afternoon while I was at work.  We got to the ER at 6:45 and they took blood, urine, and did a chest x-ray.  His blood counts are low enough that he is neutropenic and is on IV antibiotics.

They haven't found an infection and probably won't, his body just acting like this because his counts are so low.

They finally found a private room for him on the 8th floor at nearly midnight.  8SW typically deals with diabetes and heart stuff and they have their own procedures they have to follow.  One of which was the ludicrous policy that they refused to let him drink water until his nurse was finished getting the info on her other patients since it was a shift change, then she had to get medical history from Chris, and then she had to call his dr and ask him for orders.  It was after midnight so I went ahead and got him some water myself rather than waiting any longer.

Thankfully there is a room opening up in a few hours on 7SW, the oncology wing.  It's extra difficult when we have to deal with staff who have no idea how to treat him so we will be glad to get him back to the wing he belongs on.

I'm going to try and figure out how to post the spreadsheet of his counts that I created.  It would be much easier to update that and have it visible than type it out in a note every time.  

I'll post the room he's in when we know so anyone that wants to send the online cards can.  I'm thinking that he'll be here until he's over the neutropenia and then maybe go right into round 4 chemo.  His last stay for neutropenia was 7 days and the rounds are about 5 days so he could be here for awhile.  

A not-so-great screenshot of my spreadsheet:

counts low, next round postponed

Chris' counts are still low, too low to start his next round of chemo.  So he will be getting the daily GM-CSF shots to boost his white blood cell levels all week.  They will check his blood levels again on Friday and hopefully he can start round 4 next Monday, October 4th.

Magnus left with Grandma this morning for his return to Texas.  They are going to stop and visit with Aunt Nancy and Kathy on their way thru Dallas.  And extra thank you again to them for their generous gift to us!  The truck repairs ended up costing about the exact amount, what luck!  

It was a time wonderful beyond words to have our little boy visit us for a bit.  Mary is doing such an amazing job taking care of him! 

Here is one of the photos I took of Magnus yesterday for our upcoming seasonal cards:

He looked at the pictures on my computer this morning and found the back with the hat and decorations and led me outside to re-create the "set" again.  He is far too cute.  

blood counts low

Since Chris' counts were pretty low Monday he's had daily blood draws in addition to the GM shots to boost his white blood cell levels.  They aren't as high as they need to be so Monday morning instead of checking in at the hospital for the start of round 4 we'll first have to go to the cancer center so they can draw his levels.  If they are high enough he'll go across the street to the hospital and start round 4.  If not then he'll keep getting the shots until his levels are high enough to start the next round.

Since we haven't had to deal with this situation yet I don't know exactly how things will work if his round is postponed; we'll have to wait and see.  

As they have been telling us "take it a day at a time".

When his 8 cycles of chemo are complete he will also have radiation on his chest.  That will probably start sometime in January.  It will last 3-6 weeks, length to be determined as it gets closer.  After radiation is complete he will start maintenance chemo which will last 2-3 years.  It is my understanding that maintenance chemo is outpatient and he can resume "normal" activities.  

Oh and good news, we got confirmation from his Dr earlier in the week that he is officially done with spinal tap chemo!

Our Magnus Magnet Magpie boy is heading back to Texas with grandma in a few days.  It's been a pleasure beyond description to see his happy face during this time and we'll miss him more than words can say when he goes back.  He's in great hands and has learned so much with Grandma!

update

Chris and I went to the cancer center today for an appointment with his Dr. and to have his levels checked.  Dr. appt went fine, everything is on track.  His counts are low but not too horrible, he'll be getting the GM shots everyday this week and round 4 starts Monday.

He's feeling pretty terrible right from the effects of the GM shots but should be feeling better in a little while.

Mostly we are enjoying seeing our beautiful boys face!  He is too cute for words!  

update

Chris' chemo went fine this morning - no more trips to the cancer center until Monday!  

I've been busy getting the house ready for Magnus' visit; he and grandma should be arriving any minute!  So excited!!!

Chris' old roommate died

We got up to 7SW(oncology) and they told us Chris' old roommate Jr died over the weekend.  Not much else to say.  It's a pretty typical rotten Monday.  I brought a 12 pack of ginger ale for Jr and left it there last week, he was supposed to be coming back up to 7SW from ICU.  He never got to drink any.  

They told us radiology wouldn't be ready for Chris until 1 so Pat, the coordinator for 7SW, let us go out to "lunch" in the cafeteria until then.  Basically we aren't supposed to leave but we got a stealth ok for it and we are at home and then we'll go back by 1 this afternoon for his spinal tap chemo.  

here is a link to Jr's obituary:

http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=703228&fh_id=11366&s_id=6E4B1B3D962802EC030FF7233418EE60

spinal tap chemo

We are waiting at the cancer center for Chris to get his blood drawn so they'll know if he needs his GM shot today.  Then we'll check in at the hospital across the street for him to get his spinal tap chemo.  We usually come to the cancer center after his chemo but figured we would try it this way so he can go straight home once the hospital releases him.  It's usually about a 6-8 hour process at the hospital from check-in so hopefully we'll get home around 6 p.m. today.  

We didn't sleep very well and I was distracted this morning and forgot to make sure Chris took some nausea meds along with his normal morning meds.  So he's feeling a bit pukey as we wait; thankfully he can get some nausea meds once we get across the street.

Hopefully I can find someone today who can tell us how many more spinal tap chemo's he has or if this is his last one.  

Chris at home!

Chris is safely at home!  He is waiting for the nausea to subside and then he will attempt to eat some dinner.  It's good to have him home!  

Today his Dr. said he only has to get 6 or 8 spinal tap chemo procedures, not the 16 Chris and I thought!  So the one he is getting on Monday might be his last one!!!!

The house is santized thanks to one of Chris' wonder friends here, Sandra.  She was a caretaker for her grandparents and best friends during their battles with chemo so she knew exactly what to do!  It was beyond fantastic for her to come over to the house today and help me clean before Chris got home!  

update

He had spinal tap chemo today and it went fine.  He is nearly done with the mandatory 4 hours of laying flat time that is required after the procedure.  Good thing because he is about to chew his arm off! 

He is in room 7026 @ St. Francis if anyone wants to send an online card to him.

https://www.via-christi.org/body.cfm?id=1991

high counts and homeward bound!

hemoglobin:              8.7 (unchanged and above 8.0 is what they want to see)

platelets:                    234!  (yesterday was 153)

white blood cells:     6.3! (just 5 days ago he was only 0.3!)

neutrophils:                19! (up from 5 yesterday)

His white blood cell count is now also in "normal ranges"!  Woo hoo!  Just saw the Dr. and Chris gets to go home today!  It helps that Chris is a lot younger than most of the patients so his counts can bounce back a lot faster.

Now we just wait on his nurse, he's never had this one before.  Chris told me she came into his room about 5 minutes before I got here and tried to tell him he had radiation at 10:30 today?!  He had to say um, NO that is not me who is getting radiation lady, check your records.  On her way out she said "oh this order is for Martha not you".  Maybe she should check that before she goes into a patients room?!  

No matter we are heading home soon!

Back on Monday for start of round 3.

Wednesday's #'s are up too!

hemoglobin:              8.7 (unchanged and above 8.0 is what they want to see)

platelets:                    153!  (yesterday was 84, 153 is within normal ranges!)

white blood cells:     2.9! (yesterday was 2.1)

neutrophils:                 5 (still very low, but they were 0 for the last week)

His Dr. hasn't made rounds yet today so we don't know if he is coming home today.  I don't know, but I'm thinking his neutrophils need to get a bit higher first.  He hasn't had much energy yesterday and today.  He's been pretty nauseous and hasn't had much of an appetite.  I want him home before he has to come back on Monday but I mostly want him to feel better before he has to start chemo again.

He has been here 7 days, his longest hospital stay since this all started.  It's no fun having low counts but the private room has been wonderful.  I'm usually at the hospital for 8-12 hours a day with him, when he shares a room I don't stay as long.  

I'll update again after we see his Dr.