Vorlon Whispers

June 19 Update

I was about ready to go into the office when I started to feel really tired. I left a voice mail message on my phone, saying I would be late into the office.

Then I laid down to rest. I read some advice on the net. It said, when the chemo hammers you, you may not be able to sleep, but you can still rest. I thought that sounded like very good advice. That’s what I did, but I still fell asleep.

I woke up, felt a little better and went into the office.

At 1:30, I showed up for my treatment. To my pleasure, the nurse found a vein on the first try. They tested my blood and my white cell count came in at about 30,000.

That’s on the high side. A little higher than I wanted. In retrospect, I was right, but acquiesced to their recommendation. I had wanted to skip Saturday and only get a “booster” Neupogen on Sunday Morning.

The oncology nurse recommended I NOT skip a day, but do both days. The seemed to carry some weight in my mind and I agreed. I now think my original plan would have been better.

With my very high white cell count, they said they didn’t want to give me a Neulasta shot. While I cannot refute that argument, I have scheduled a blood test late this Friday afternoon to see what my white cell count is. I found I as able to talk to the girl doing the scheduling and I got no argument at all. Her only response was, “What day and time do you want?”

I expect my white cell count to drop like it stepped into an elevator shaft, so Friday should be a good day.

I’ve developed a model in my mind for how the white cell count works with a chemo treatment. Here’s my model. When I first get injected with the chemo, the chemicals go after my white cells like a machine gunner shooting clay targets at a gunnery range. At first there are so many targets, the machine gunner just sprays bullets in the general direction and targets explode all over the place.

But after a while, there are fewer and fewer targets to hit. Now the gunner has to aim to hit the targets and the targets explode with fewer frequency. In addition, my liver is trying to detoxify the noxious chemicals in my system. The gunner has to reload for frequently and his machine gun fires more slowly.

So I expect a very quick reduction in white cell count at first and then it tapers off, but a very low level. So I think Friday should be a good day for a test.

I’m meeting with my oncologists for his cursory exam tomorrow morning. I’ll run my model past him. The only problem is, I have so little time with him that I need to prepare well ahead of time. It seems his practice is getting busier and busier.

I found out over the weekend that he suffers from lower back pain. It’s a very short slightly built man. I suspect he may have injured his back perhaps attempting to move a patient that was in a bed. I plan on relating to him the Vorlon Father’s experience with a similar situation. The Vorlon Father has already emailed his doctor’s name and address. I’ll forward that on to my oncologist.

I had mentioned it to him very briefly Sunday morning, but he objected to the temporary nature of the solution. Tomorrow morning I will offer his some advice, “Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.”

After my treatment, the Vorlon Wife had not returned. I headed out the door and started my walk home. Part way home, I tried the Vorlon Wife’s cell phone. To my surprise, she had it on and actually answered. I told her I was walking home and where I was. She sounded surprised to hear I as walking home. It’s probable only a 1 ½ mile to 2 mile walk from the oncologist office to my home. I was huffing and puffing all the way, but I didn’t feel I couldn’t make it. She showed up about ten minutes after my call and I rode the last ½-mile home.

I felt pretty good the rest of the day and later went out for my 1-mile walk with the Vorlon Wife. Now I’m feeling rather tired and am getting ready for bed.

Posted by The Vorlon at June 19, 2006 9:27 PM