C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
A C-reactive protein (CRP) test is a blood test that measures the amount of a protein called C-reactive protein in your blood. C-reactive protein measures general levels of inflammation in your body.
High levels of CRP are caused by infections and many long-term diseases. But a CRP test cannot show where the inflammation is located or what is causing it. Other tests are needed to find the cause and location of the inflammation.
We have always fondly called CRP -- crap, because to us it is a sign of inflammation or infection. Most often Poppy is a <5, which is not inflammation or infection at all.
Today was much as the same as yesterday. His WBC is at .10 (yesterday was .70) , platelets are 27 (yesterday was 20) and CRP is 54.2 (yesterday was 47). So, he is more neutropenic and his crap has increased. Clinic is still amazed his hasn't had fever, nausea or diarrhea. He only had Invanz today which is an antibiotic. Tomorrow he is set for a bag of blood. I'm guessing a bag of fluids, too.
He isn't drinking the two liters of fluids he is directed to take. Today I don't think he has even had a quart. He got a little agitated when I asked him at 4:00 p.m. how much he had. When he told me he had been drinking all day I pointed to his cup on the bar that I filled at 7:00 a.m. It went with us to clinic and he didn't drink any there. When we got home he sat it on the bar at 11:30 a.m. and thus still there at 4:00 p.m. I did not offer to get him any more or something else. Just gave him "my look" and strongly suggested he get up and get him something. He obeyed well. He emptied it and filled it again and it has been sitting on his table since. It is now 6:00 p.m. Has had none of it.
His BP is staying at a good range. Something else clinic is surprised about as he is normally very low. He hasn't had any BP meds since Wednesday to raise it. He did run a low grade fever last evening and this morning before we left (99.9), but hasn't since.
After our little thermometer tiff the other night with him not wanting to wait three minutes for it to register....I bought two more new thermometers. The other new one I had from a few weeks ago reads your temp in TWO seconds. I'm just not use to someone registering that quit. I don't trust a lot of new technology. That's why I was using the three minute one along with it.
Well, the two new thermometers I got Friday are somewhat similar to what I originally had. The neatest one is placed against the temple and registers in less than a minute. It beeps when it reaches temp. He surprisingly suggested I use the three minute one to compare. I thought I would faint when he said that... I really trust the one on the temple. I can check it while his is sleeping, too. Don't have to keep telling him to put it under his tongue. KIDS!! LOL Now I have four thermometers. The three minute one is what I had when Tommy was little.
I was up at 1:30 this morning calming the kids down. There was something in my swinging bird feeder again. I let them out and they wouldn't come back. Ended up, I had to take boards out from the bottom deck and persuade Pete to come out. He acted like he didn't know how. It was raining and I was in my T-shirt, with a flashlight, pulling boards out and then putting them back in. Sugar was out there to help by barking at Pete and waiting to jump him when he came out. Poppy was on the deck yelling at her and I finally told him it wouldn't help. I thought he was still in bed. I bet it would have been a comedy to anyone watching. I have since raised the feeder and will probably empty it tonight. I believe it may be a raccoon.
It would have been nice to have a fire in the fireplace today, but we don't have any wood. What's on the ground is now wet. I haven't taken time to clean the fireplace either since the last time we used. it. I'm thinking we will call someone to deliver it and drop it in the driveway. We've never done that. We have always gone and got a trailer load and have thrown it over the privacy fence to the back yard. I can't see that happening any time soon. But, we always plan on that because that's just what we always do. Would you call that 'tradition'? LOL
I've been visiting with an older woman and her husband in clinic. They are from Marietta, GA. She looks to be about 70-75. She just finished up her second transplant in the last few months. She doesn't seem to be feeling well and seems a little down. But, she always smiles and is pleasant when we talk. She was diagnosed in March this year. She was surprised Poppy is an eight year survivor.
We were talking Friday while Poppy was in the back POD. She was in a private room. As we spoke she kept using the words - fight, battle, struggle when she was talking about the myeloma. I shared with her a few stories about Poppy continuing to work, his appetite, how he helped me around the house even when he felt bad. She and her husband said they just couldn't imagine that with the 'battle'... I told them we kept doing everything we did before. We haven't changed our lifestyle, we have just adjusted because we consider it a "journey". Her husband responded, "Hmmmmmmm, journey".
This isn't the path we chose for our lives. We still do not ask God why because we know there is a reason. When people travel on a trip (journey) they don't know what will happen. Their car could break down, they could have an accident, can't find a motel, or many others things. We started our journey to retire and live our life just rocking on the porch together and we had an incident along the way. So we enjoy our 'journey' the best we can. We use it to make memories and to share. Aren't we all on a 'journey'?
Good Night and Love -- Pepper
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