'Tis the Season!

It's inevitable that we are going to have some kind of funky cold run through our house this time of year. Started with a sore throat for me this weekend and progressively worsened with a cough, fatigue and finally, last night, the dreaded fever...typically this would've just been a Nyquil kind of night, but because my immune system is compromised (chemo's not only great at killing cancer cells, but also wiping out the good germ fighting bugs and can also lower the white blood cells  in my body making infection dangerous), my oncologist wanted me to check in to the emergency room, have some blood tests run and possibly get a dose of an antibiotic for good measure (this was an urgent situation, not an emergency...I would've just been able to head into my dr's office if it weren't so late in the evening!)

So...

1. Grabbed my huge water jug and trusty prepared backpack equipped with my gigantic medical binder, snacks, chapstick and gum and headed out for a fun evening at the south austin emergency room

2. Was admitted right away because of neutropenic precautions (neutropenia is an abnormally low level of white blood cells produced in the bone marrow that ingest bacteria. Neutropenia makes the body vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections. Because of the chemo drugs, I am at risk for neutropenia). I was actually thankful for this special treatment because the ER after 8 pm is a scary place...between the drunk guy who swallowed the beer tab, the huge guy who was convulsing because of a new antipsychotic med and the lady who was high pitched screaming for 2 straight hours...I was ready for a private room asap!)

3.  Drs. ran some blood cultures, ct scans, and started drip with an antibiotic to treat any infection present...scans were good and my blood counts were great...we will periodically find out more over the next few days regarding blood culture results (they can tell more over time about what types of infections are present in the blood and what antibiotics are effective against those strains of bacteria)

4. Went home with yet another 'scrip for an antiobiotic and I have a follow up appointment this afternoon with my oncologist before heading to Aunt Stinky's for the holiday

So, all in all, uneventful, but necessary. I'm feeling okay, just typical cold symptoms, but in combo with the fatiguing effects of chemo, not so fun at all!! And those are the facts folks. I'm sure Jonathon will have his own version of the story which will include making fun of my huge binder, snack crumbs I had to wipe off my chest for the ct scan and the crazy guy, joseph, who had the beer tab stuck in his throat that he will post at a later time :)

On another more fun note...

'Tis also the season for creepy Santas! Papa Payday and I took Austin to get his pic taken at the mall earlier this week. It was hilarious. Austin was really was into Santa, but I think only because I told him Santa gives out suckers if you sit on his lap. Austin chased him around and then practically pushed the kid in front of him off Santa's lap for his turn. Kid really likes suckers.

 

He wasn't so sure about the guy once he got up on his lap

Love
Jenn