Just back from the hospital and Friday’s collection was down, again. It was 350,000. That was the last day of collection before I started the two injections a day of Leukine. I started those after I returned to the apartment Friday (still giving myself the four shorts per day of Neupogen). I think the collection today will answer a lot of questions about going on with the collection. We are hopeful that the numbers will be up and there will be no need for decisions.

The appointment tomorrow is for 12:00-blood specimen and 1:00 collection so cross your fingers for a good gathering.

I am tired and achy; the desire for food is waning and I must make myself eat. I do not want to get in the same shape I was last fall when I ended up in the hospital with dehydration. I think it was due to the combination of medicines I was taking (when the steroid, Dexamethasone was added, my system seemed to be unable to handle it all). I was in the hospital for two days while they hydrated my system. If you get to the point you cannot eat or drink, please do not wait to see your doctor. Once you get to a certain point, you will have to have help. I could not even drink water because it had such a terrible taste. Everything tasted metallic or extremely sweet. Foods with carbs were intolerable because they tasted sweet. Something sounded like it might taste good but with the first bite, I would become extremely nauseous and unable to continue. After I returned home, friends brought me wonderful soups and stews. I could not eat the solids but the broths tasted great and I think were the answer for my recovery.

Numbers: February 7, 2005:
Creatinine Serum - 3.2 High
White Blood Cell Count - 42.4 High
Red Blood Cell Count - 2.59 Low
Hemoglobin - 8.9 Low
Hematocrit - 25.9 Low
Platelet Count - 94 Low