One after the other!

The rest of this week has been spent at the doctor’s office or in the Outpatient IV Therapy Department. To date in Round 3 (through day 17) I have received 7 transfusions – 5 platelets and 2 red blood cells. (During Round 2 I didn’t have one transfusion!) Weekends and Holidays always pose a problem receiving transfusions. You have to go the ER – sign in – go to lab – wait – then be admitted if a transfusion is called for. That is what happened today. Got to the ER at 8:30 a.m. went through the process of getting transfused and left at 4:00 p.m. What a way to spend a Sunday. Fortunately I had a friend who stayed with me throughout the day.

It took all day. Sigh!

Janet (another amazing friend) picked me up at 8:00 for my blood and platelet appointment. When we arrived they told us it would take at least 6 hours to receive two pints of blood and one pint of platelets. UGH! Fortunately, Janet was able to go home for that time and get on with her life! She came back around noon to bring me lunch. She called me stubborn when I didn’t want to eat (is that a surprise to anyone?). She knew I needed the nourishment. It is a struggle, however, to eat through the mask I have to wear. I don’t enjoy the meal at all. So, I took a few bites and took it home to eat when I can enjoy the delicious sandwich she brought. Yes, it took until 2:30 p.m. for all blood to drip into my veins.

Hopefully, I'll feel better in the morning.

No golf on Saturday

More blood work today then an appointment with Dr. Koletsky. They took the blood from a finger prick which today yielded enough blood. The Phlebotomist brought the report to me saying that it had to be redone as the numbers were just too low and probably a mistake. Very disheartening! I knew they were true and not a mistake – WBC .2 and platelets 8. My red blood count was very low as well at 7.6. This figure explains my couch potato-ness. I literally have no oxygen flowing to my cells, making me tire at the slightest exertion. Dr. Koletsky confirmed my suspicions and scheduled me for two pints of packed red blood cells and one pint of platelets tomorrow morning. It makes me scared to come home.

I guess golf is off for Saturday!! Dr. Estrov told me to go home and LIVE. Golf is part of living for me. I thought I would be well enough to try and play on Saturday. Wishful thinking. But, there is always next week.