I expected bone pain on Monday. It's one of the joys of my chemo plan. I get a Neulasta shot on the day after infusion, which helps my bones produce white cells more quickly. The drawback is that I get bad bone pain (lower back, hips and legs) 3-4 days after the shot. At least I can plan for it, which means that I knew Monday would be tough.
I made it until about 11 at work and decided to go home and try to get some work done from there. On the way home, I started feeling overall yucky. I wasn't even logged in to work before deciding that work wasn't going to happen just yet. I needed a nap. I felt like CRAP. I told the girls that I was going to grab a nap, and went to bed around 1:30.
The next thing I remember, it was nearly 5 and Kevin was home from work. I was chilling, had a splitting headache, and was overall miserable. I took my temperature and it was 101.6. We are to call the on-call doctor if it reaches 100.5, so I asked Kevin to call. I could barely think, so I knew I wouldn't be able to make a coherent phone call.
She called in an antibiotic, which Kevin went to pick up for me. She also told me to go in for blood work first thing this morning. I woke with a temp under 100, so I figured I'd get blood drawn and then go in to work. Wrong.
They drew blood from my port, drew blood from my arm, took a urine sample and took a chest X-ray. I waited about an hour for the results, and knew they weren't good when my oncologist came in to deliver the news, instead of the nurse. She told me that she doesn't like to see white counts under 2000, and mine were 700. Paired with my fever the night before, she wanted to admit me. *sigh*
A new problem developed when they found out that there were no beds at the hospital where I was. I would have to go to the Kansas City location. I called Kevin, who left work to come get me. I was exhausted, still had a headache, and didn't feel up to the drive. Plus, by this point, I was a little bit scared. We finally headed out around noon, grabbed a bite to eat, and got to "the big hospital." Seriously, one can easily get lost here.
By the time I was in a room, it was 2:00. Kevin had to go home to get some necessities for me (I had no phone charger or computer or toothbrush, for heaven's sake!) They accessed my port again, finally gave me some Tylenol for my headache, and I settled in.
From what they say, I'll be here a couple of days. I have no fever, and my headache is down to a dull roar when on Tylenol. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been in the hospital, so I'm not quite sure what to do here. I guess I'll just do as they say, lie here, and build white blood cells. Thank goodness for in-room internet.
10 comments:
Oh Rachael, I am so sorry to hear this. But at least, maybe, you will get a little bit of rest while there. I am glad you got your husband to drive you there. You sure didn't need to try it on your own. I saw your daughter's picture. She is soooooooo pretty and has a smile that will break hearts one day! take care and God bless you. I am praying
Oh I hate to hear this!!!!But like Carlene said, maybe you can get some much needed rest. I hope the days go by fast for you.
Sorry to hear. It all stinks
Glad your headache is down some, anyway. Get that rest, they'll get you better.
Feel better, babe. Hospital food sucks. Ask for a double mocha latte from Starbucks and a fruit salad from the cafe'. :)
When I had my surgery, the anesthetic made me sick to my stomach, so Jim ate my breakfast. (They wouldn't release me until I ate and I wanted the hell out of there,)
That was a highly dramatic scheme in order to get out of cooking dinner.
Hee....does it hurt when you laugh? Don't laugh! I take it back! *hug hug huuuu-uuuug*
That really sucks big time! I hope you can go home soon. Hang in there! I hope this won't delay your chemo but sometimes a little break is good!
Sending good thoughts your way and yay for in room Internet.
Jeannette
The first thing I packed when I knew I had a hospital visit coming up was my computer and my phone charger! Of course you didn't know about the stay in the hospital for yoursef. I also had a daughter who brought me 1 or 2 meals a day from her home or a fast food place which kept me happy! Get better soon.
Thank God for the internet. Without that, you'd be stuck to switching channels all day. Hope you're up to par soon, though. You're always in my thoughts.
Ah, the dreaded dropped white cell count. The bane of anyone on chemo. Hope you get yours up pronto, Rachael. That was not a nice episode.
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