Recuperate -- Word for the Day -- Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Recuperate
DEFINITION: (verb) to regain health after an illness.

Well, Friends, I believe Chemo Sabe is having an affair. I washed his slacks last evening and when I took them out of the dryer a comb fell out of his pocket. As I approached him while he sat in the recliner I exclaimed, "Are you having an affair? Whose hair have you been combing with this?!!!!!!!" He looked sort of stunned and then we laughed.

We have a doctor's appt at 2:00 p.m. today to see how he is recuperating. His WBC was 2.59 from Sunday. We do not have his lab from yesterday, yet. I believe it will be time again for the mask, but he thinks the growth factor shots will boost his WBC. Stay tuned for the "rest of the story".

He still continues to work all day. Yesterday when he got home he went straight to the recliner WITHOUT turning on the tube. Usually, it is the tube at full throttle and the remote keys clanging from the rapid key strokes. We were upstairs in bed by 8:15. He was out like a light as I read the paper and watched my pre-recorded soaps. The kids must have been tired, too, because they went straight to the sun room and I didn't hear a peep out of them until the coffee pot beeped and paper hit and door step this morning.

I am looking forward to both of us recuperating. I believe I have felt more of the symptoms of the MM than he. I know, I know.... count my blessings!

A little bird told me that tomorrow (Wednesday, July 16) is Chemo Sabe's birthday... For the past two weeks I have been thinking it was Thursday. I suppose that isn't as bad as him forgetting my birthday about ten years ago. You're right...I won't let him forget that one! ha

Here is the "rest of the story". WBC was 10.5 yesterday. I tell you this as I whisper, "he was right about the growth factor shot boosting him." BUT, he was SUPPOSE to be below 2.0 by today. The doctor discovered he was getting the growth factor shot and he wasn't suppose to. He is to begin it when the WBC is. 1.5 and not over. So, we have lost about three days of the cycle. We calculate he will be neutrapenic by the weekend.

With that, we came home, changed clothes, pulled the bikes out and went to Abe's Feed House and stuffed ourselves on fish, fried food and dessert. We asked Roger and Billy to join us, but Roger is getting lasix and Billy's WBC is 0.034. Yes, he is very, very neutrapenic. But, they both feel better than the first round, just as Chemo Sabe, so this means their recuperation will be quick.

We were also advised today that after we crash and become neutrapenic, and after the growth factor brings the WBC back up again and he levels off and is recuping from the second round of chemo, we should have almost two weeks off before we have to go back for the stem cell transplant. We are hoping we do get two weeks to recover and get back in the full swing at work before taking another dive.

Before the transplant, the heavy dose of chemo will be given 24 hours before. This will knock him to his knees and the chemo only takes 20 minutes. We are already beginning to hear some 'horror' stories about it. Such as, going in with a lot of energy and not being able to walk out. BUT, haven't we already heard stories about what we have gone through already. Won't be any step for the stepper, will it?

Guess we will cal it a night. Everyone in bed, but me. We didn't get home from our ride until 9:30. It was nice to feel the cool air on our faces and the temp being 77 deg. Chemo Sabe tells me it feels better to ride bald than with hair. Is he telling me I should get shaved? GET OUTTA HERE!

Love -- Pepper