The test results did indicate that Mom has an infection, which is the likely source of the high fever that she was running. They've added another antibiotic to specifically target the infection. She seems to be doing better; her fever decreased considerably since yesterday.
Typically when red blood cells and platelets are used up in the bloodstream, the stem cells in the bone marrow produce new cells to take their place. Since Mom's transplanted stem cells haven't started producing cells yet, once these red blood cells and platelets are depleted, the supply runs out. As a result, Mom often needs transfusions of various products.
She's had several transfusions of platelets over the past few days. Today she received a transfusion of two units of red blood cells. After this transfusion, she perked up quite a bit. Her previous low red blood cell count level was contributing to the extreme fatigue that she had the day before. Today, she was able to go on her daily walk around the hospital ward on two separate occasions. This is a marked improvement over yesterday.
She also started shedding hair over the past couple of days, so she decided today was the day to get a haircut. I wasn't allowed to take any photos though, so you'll just have to take my word for it. She now appreciates the large selection of hats that she brought along with her.
Chris
So there goes Paula again, bouncing back like Tigger! This is me, SMILING ! ! ! !
ReplyDeleteI know this is still a challenging time, but it is gratifying that Paula has responded to the antibiotics and transfusions so rapidly and positively. It's always good when things in our medical arsenal help!!!!
As for the haircut, please share this story with Paula. 6.5 years ago we moved to our little farm in Idaho, and started working diligently toward a self-sustaining, independent lifestyle. Of course, I continued to work, practicing psychiatry at various rural clinics, while Thomas went from full time computer software engineer to full time farmer on a piece of land that had been neglected for many years. Lots of progress has been made since then ... along with lots of mistakes, in the "learn-as-you-go" program of becoming farmers.
One of the funniest stories (now, but it wasn't funny then!) happened in February, 2011. Thomas and I had been cutting one another's hair (as a part of our becoming more self-sufficient program) for about 3 years. And we'd gotten pretty good at it, too. We have very high-end clippers that we use on both the dogs and ourselves. (We sterilize them in between!)
At the time of this particular haircut, I had recently trimmed up one dog's face with a 1/4" guard on the clippers. I sterilized everything, and put it away ... accidentally leaving that guard out with the clippers instead of putting it with the others their special pouch.
When it was time to cut my hair, Thomas grabbed the first guard he saw (1/4"), snapped it on without paying attention to the size, and mowed a path right through the middle of my hair. Well, there wasn't much that could be done then except cut it VERY short all over.
Fortunately I was not working at that particular time. Because for the next 3 weeks, I didn't even go into town. When I DID have to go back in to start working again, I ran into the realtor who had sold us our farm in 2005. She very sympathetically asked me how long I had been in chemotherapy!
Unlike you, Paula, I didn't have any cool hats!!
Anyway, my hair did grow back, of course, as yours will in time. And now it is a funny story ... and I wish I had a picture of me with my "chemo-cut". So you might want to let Chris take a photo of you, just so you will have one to look back when this is all behind you. (You don't have to post it for all the rest of us to see.)
Our Dad had scarlet fever as a child (around 1920). His hair all fell out with the high fever. It was straight, and kind of a boring brown when it felt out. When it came back, it was very, very thick and black and beautiful.
I have heard from many oncology practitioners that it is not unusual for people's hair to grow back very different from pre-chemo. Different color, curly (or straight -- whatever is the opposite of what they had before), etc.
So who knows what fun surprise might lie ahead when your hair comes back!
Prayers continue for all of you.
Love,
Sally's "baby" sister .. hmmm, that doesn't seem right. I'm 61 now ... even though she will ALWAYS be MUCH older.
How about Sally's "little" sister. No, that's not going to work! I am a very plump psychiatry-practicing farm wife.
I guess I'll just say ..
Love,
Lynn :-)