Day 20 - Walk and HOPE - October 3 2011

I have been pretty nauseated and a little dizzy since I started the antibiotic, Augmentin, for my sinus infection which I have to take every 12 hours. Jani has helped me out a lot by making a meal each time I have to take the pill and it seems to help some - along with Ativan 0.5 mg.

I decided that I didn't want to walk outside today and we walked inside The Timbers empty hallways instead. We also did 2 sets of stairs which are pretty difficult for me - my old strong Mine Hill legs have left me. We only lasted 0.31 of a mile.

The Timbers is located right next to I70 which has a lot of fast traffic on it, so walking in The Timbers parking lot is possible, but I question the air quality there despite wearing a mask. We have driven all around within miles of The Timbers and it hard to find a place to walk outside that looks clean and has no standing water (mold) in catch-all areas. Certainly, if I cannot have potted plants at home, I shouldn't be walking by standing - muddy water areas which seem to be everywhere in Aurora.

Now to the HOPE - I have requested via my Transplant Nurse Coordinator, Dana Godec, RN that I be allowed to move out of The Timbers and move back to Greeley, Colorado with Jani. My platelets are good and my white blood cell count is on the rise - Plus, the air in Jani and Robbyn's neighborhood is so much cleaner than it is here. Dana is going to plead my case at their weekly patient care conference tomorrow (Tuesday) and let me know the answer. Jani and I are keeping our fingers crossed. Jani wants to start packing up our stuff, but I told her that might be the kiss of death to idea - so, here we wait at The Timbers.

jm at The Timbers via Jani's iphone feature, October 3 2011

Day 20 - Afternoon Update - October 3 2011

I received the results of my nasal washing test done this morning, October 3 2011 - completely clear of all adult and pediatric viruses! I don't know if they sent the sample for bacterial cultures, but if they did, those results would take several days.

Day 20 - Morning Update - October 3 2011

Jani took me for my blood draw appointment at 8:15 AM. Since I have sinus drainage, the nurse also did a nasal washing for organism identification. It was not as bad as I thought it would be  - she used a syringe of normal saline and squirted it in my left nostril and then suctioned back to gather the sample. The result may take a few days.

My white blood cell count is 2.3 which I think is terrific. Remember, the 4.1 on October 1st was neupogen induced, so the 2.3 is more reflective of my real bone marrow function. My platelets are awesome at 87 and my hemoglobin is just about the same at 10.7.

My Absolute Neutrophil Count is 1.4 which is also good in my book. 

My protein (6.2) and albumin (3.7) levels are excellent and reflective that I have been eating adequate amounts of protein.

My weight in the BIC Center at UCH was 147 this morning with clothes on. My blood pressure was low with a systolic below 100, so they advised me to drink more fluids. I assured them I would, but getting up early enough to eat breakfast, get ready and be at the hosptial by 8 AM is hard to throw fluids in the plan too.