It was such a delight to have a nice, normal sleep last night! I woke up refreshed and thankful for the sunshine here. The clouds finally moved on, after 5 days of gloom.
We went to the appointment at 11:00 and they took labs right away and then the regular checkup and vitals. Several nurses coming and going. About 1/2 later, some results were starting to come in. The 2 things I need to get going are platelets, over 50, and neutrophils over .50. Teresa, my nurse tells me that the platelets jumped from 35 yesterday to 88 today. WOW ! that was huge news and they were excited for me. I have to hit both goals but need to hold them for 3 days or exceed this number, which could happen tomorrow, to go home to Denver.
The Doctor stops by and we chat, rash is almost gone now, I am feeling really good, and I wanted to ask about setting a date for check out. I knew we were pushing it for Monday, since that is only day 19, and the standard is 21, but I know I am ahead of the “standard”. She said I needed to get some potassium drips, because it dipped lower than normal. Fine, give it to me and let me take a nice nap while I am here. So they hook me up and expect this to take about 3 hours. She told me she would start to work on scheduling the check out appointments for early next week.
I asked Teresa, my nurse, why the potassium was dropping and she told me the cells are using it to re-produce and at the rate this is happening, this is too be expected. She reminds me to hydrate and eat more than normal to help give them fuel. Almost like little explosions going on inside to re-create my immune system. Fascinating!! I have learned so much since the beginning of this month and I am grateful for the team here at Mayo. They are so friendly and willing to help me with anything and answer any questions and always with a smile or a laugh.
I order room service and settle in for a nice lunch and a nap. About an hour later, she comes back so excited and wakes me up. “Your neutrophils jumped, from yesterday, .70 to 2.43 !!! Phenomenal work and she will now change appointments to FRIDAY. Unless something unusual changes tomorrow, I might be able to leave and head home on Saturday or Sunday!!! If I get released on Friday, that will be Day # 16.
It is a FABULOUS Day! But of course, I am pretty exhausted from not sleeping much over the past week, so lights out. More tomorrow.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Road less traveled 