I've never been monitored so closely. I have my vital signs checked every 4 hours. Every day I do a neurological test that is very similar to a sobriety test. I walked heel to toe, stand on one foot, do alternating hand movements, and sign my name. So far I've gotten straight As, but if there is a decline in any of these functions it's a sign of neurotoxicity from the cytarabine, I believe.
Let's not forget about the cardiotoxicity. Bradychardia is something they look for, and my heart rate has been in the high 30s and low 40s fairly steadily lately. It's hard to lay flat because my chest and neck start to feel heavy and congested. If I become symptomatic, with dizziness or some such, I think they start using atropine to raise my heart rate. But so far so good.
Every morning my blood levels are checked, and they have been steadily declining. I can tell when I move around. I'm not numb anywhere, but I feel like I have to manually push the blood around to get it to circulate. A normal hemoglobin level for a woman is 12.1 to 15.1 g/dL. This morning mine was 8.2. My team would like to give me a blood transfusion when I get down to 8. So I got an extra bracelet this morning, a red one, with some bar codes on it that can be scanned for when I need that blood meal.
Just a few weeks ago, Amie and Dave and I camped right in a bat maternity roost. Total accident. Just so happens Amie is a bat expert, and told me all about bats that night. Turns out vampire bats are the sweetest of the bunch. Now I'm imagining myself crawling around at night looking for some chicken feet to painlessly lacerate and feed on.
Let's not forget about the cardiotoxicity. Bradychardia is something they look for, and my heart rate has been in the high 30s and low 40s fairly steadily lately. It's hard to lay flat because my chest and neck start to feel heavy and congested. If I become symptomatic, with dizziness or some such, I think they start using atropine to raise my heart rate. But so far so good.
Every morning my blood levels are checked, and they have been steadily declining. I can tell when I move around. I'm not numb anywhere, but I feel like I have to manually push the blood around to get it to circulate. A normal hemoglobin level for a woman is 12.1 to 15.1 g/dL. This morning mine was 8.2. My team would like to give me a blood transfusion when I get down to 8. So I got an extra bracelet this morning, a red one, with some bar codes on it that can be scanned for when I need that blood meal.
Just a few weeks ago, Amie and Dave and I camped right in a bat maternity roost. Total accident. Just so happens Amie is a bat expert, and told me all about bats that night. Turns out vampire bats are the sweetest of the bunch. Now I'm imagining myself crawling around at night looking for some chicken feet to painlessly lacerate and feed on.
In other news, I received the perfect gift today from dearest Alison. I have no idea how she even knew the address of the hospital. I don't even know my address here. How did you get these magical powers, and can you lend them to me?
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| Yes it does |
I also got a visit from Debby, who balanced my pulses and brought me mushy oatmeal and stewed plums with cinnamon and cloves. I ate that for dinner and breakfast. My guts have been so uncooperative, and my belly is so swollen it's hard to take a deep breath, but that warm, salty, brothy, sweet stuff seems to sooth it out a little. Thanks Debby <3
I have to know more about these bat afficianados Amie and Dave! How did you meet them?
ReplyDeleteAs the old saying goes: It wasn't magic, it was Amie 😘 (Although the difference is probably negligible)
ReplyDeleteI think 1920s bat lady is a good look for Halloween.
ReplyDelete