The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep.
Don't let your throat tighten with fear.
Take sips of breath
all day and night, before death
closes your mouth.
The morning wind spreads its fresh smell
We must get up and take that in,
that wind that lets us live.
Breathe before it's gone.
Dance, when you're broken open.
Dance, when you've torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood
Dance, when you're perfectly free.
-Rumi
- I am feeling better and stronger every day.
- Jaw/neck thing is happening less frequently. I think I might to take some potassium around chemo time on my next round to see if that helps.
- My PT/INR is back in normal range (2.8...I ROCK!), so I can stop the Lovenox belly shots (yay!).
- Magnesium and thyroid levels are all in normal range.
- White Blood Cell count (WBC) & Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) are both low, just as they should be at this point. These are the two most important numbers to track when on Taxotere.
- When the numbers are low, you are considered neutropenic which basically means your immune system is compromised and you are more vulnerable to catching things.
- So, you're supposed to take neutropenic precautions.
- I try to be a bit more careful when I know I am neutropenic, but I don't usually freak out about it too much and I kinda ignore most of the precautions.
- Yet another shining example of my stupid rebellion.
- The irony is that I usually feel pretty good when my counts are low.
- That can be dangerous though because it's hard for me to not do stuff when I feel good.
- Red Blood Counts (RBC), Platelets, and Hemoglobin are all in normal range. They usually are for me.
- Just for comparison's sake, here are the actual numbers:
WBC (Normal Range: 4.0-10.5)
- Magnesium and thyroid levels are all in normal range.
- White Blood Cell count (WBC) & Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) are both low, just as they should be at this point. These are the two most important numbers to track when on Taxotere.
- When the numbers are low, you are considered neutropenic which basically means your immune system is compromised and you are more vulnerable to catching things.
- So, you're supposed to take neutropenic precautions.
- I try to be a bit more careful when I know I am neutropenic, but I don't usually freak out about it too much and I kinda ignore most of the precautions.
- Yet another shining example of my stupid rebellion.
- The irony is that I usually feel pretty good when my counts are low.
- That can be dangerous though because it's hard for me to not do stuff when I feel good.
- Red Blood Counts (RBC), Platelets, and Hemoglobin are all in normal range. They usually are for me.
- Just for comparison's sake, here are the actual numbers:
WBC (Normal Range: 4.0-10.5)
10/01/08 - 7.4
10/08/08 - 1.9
ANC (Normal Range: 1.8-7.8)
10/01/08 - 6.6
10/08/08 - 1.0
- What a difference a week (and butt-kickin' chemo drugs) can make!
- I keep a spreadsheet of all my numbers, it's kinda interesting (for me anyway) to watch them go up and down over a three week period.
- They are supposed to fluctuate, and I am supposed to be neutropenic. It means the chemo is doing its job.
- The most important thing is that they are back in normal range by my next chemo treatment (10/22).
- I have had a total of 45 chemo treatments in my life (so far), and every time my counts have rebounded back into normal range when they are supposed to (so far).
- This is why I don't freak and/or haven't required anything to boost my counts (so far).
- No big plans for the upcoming weekend other than just enjoying the nice weather we're having while it lasts. I'll be swingin' in my swing, reading, and sleeping.
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