It’s almost two weeks now since the last chemo treatment for Tim. We’ve been to the clinic twice since then. First was at one week out for counts which returned acceptable numbers. The clinic was ready to give Tim some platelets but his count was 48, low but not critical to do a transfusion. Both Tim and I thought he had already been through the low platelet trough so we were not expecting a transfusion. Surprising though was that his neutrophil count was 0.9, higher than we thought it would be. From past experience we had been expecting close to zero sometime around one week out from chemo. The clinic was convinced that counts were still going down and so they wanted another data point and we were back in on Monday to do that.
Again, the clinic thought he would need platelets, but we were pretty sure that would not be the case. So instead of taping his port, it was just a stick for counts. And things had improved. All his counts were up. Platelets still low but higher at 75 and neutrophil count of 1.1. Even red cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin were all up. Not quite to normal ranges but definitely recovering. Tim feels a lot better as well. So we were sent home. A good thing!
Graduation was held on Thursday and Tim was able to make it. Since we didn’t yet have data on counts, we didn’t let him “hang” with friends after the event. He still has the pins and needles feeling in his fingers and toes and walking was a little tough for him on Thursday. But on Friday, he was able to attend another friend’s graduation party.
On Sunday, it was autocross day. I subbed in for Tim’s work shift since it was really hot that day. He got in 5 runs in the GTI, placed first in his class and in the top 25% for adjusted times. Michael also drove and did well in the TT. They need to drive the same car some time and see how they compare head to head.
So now, its rest, recover, gain some weight and start to get back in shape. To that end, Tim and Michael made it to the Y and worked out some. It was a surprise to Tim (but not me) that he doesn’t have any endurance and strength is very low. It will take time to build back up. He’ll try to start up on his summer job shortly.
I think we are through the potential for a hospitalization due to fever. Just two weeks out and Tim is already making a lot of strides in recovery. Next up are scans at the end of June to take a look at that pesky syrinx and make sure that there are no cancer cell clusters in the lungs.
--bob
Again, the clinic thought he would need platelets, but we were pretty sure that would not be the case. So instead of taping his port, it was just a stick for counts. And things had improved. All his counts were up. Platelets still low but higher at 75 and neutrophil count of 1.1. Even red cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin were all up. Not quite to normal ranges but definitely recovering. Tim feels a lot better as well. So we were sent home. A good thing!
Graduation was held on Thursday and Tim was able to make it. Since we didn’t yet have data on counts, we didn’t let him “hang” with friends after the event. He still has the pins and needles feeling in his fingers and toes and walking was a little tough for him on Thursday. But on Friday, he was able to attend another friend’s graduation party.On Sunday, it was autocross day. I subbed in for Tim’s work shift since it was really hot that day. He got in 5 runs in the GTI, placed first in his class and in the top 25% for adjusted times. Michael also drove and did well in the TT. They need to drive the same car some time and see how they compare head to head.
So now, its rest, recover, gain some weight and start to get back in shape. To that end, Tim and Michael made it to the Y and worked out some. It was a surprise to Tim (but not me) that he doesn’t have any endurance and strength is very low. It will take time to build back up. He’ll try to start up on his summer job shortly.
I think we are through the potential for a hospitalization due to fever. Just two weeks out and Tim is already making a lot of strides in recovery. Next up are scans at the end of June to take a look at that pesky syrinx and make sure that there are no cancer cell clusters in the lungs.
--bob
1 comment:
Time for a tread mill, Bob!
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