Wow. The last few days have been like a whirlwind, but not like you would think. Going through what i have been through over the past couple of years, i still am surprised, by some things.
Thursday was an amazing day! i worked the Classic Worship service in the morning, and The Easter Encounter Service during Encounter. i told everyone i was planning on taking multiple naps on Friday, until dad and i met my brother and sister in law for the Friday evening service. (Which was wonderful, and made even more so by having Steven and Betty there!)
Sleeping all day on Friday, i barely noticed that my temperature was rising. About an hour before we going to leave for church, it was at 99.8. Close to the go number, but not there yet. Right before we left, i started getting really hot and sweating. My temp came in at 101. But i was starting to sweat, so it felt like my temp was breaking. i decided to give it until after church and see what my temp was. It was perfectly normal, 99.1. All good.
Unfortunately, Saturday and Sunday became a roller coaster of temperatures. It went from 99.8 to 102.1, breaking, both days. i did not call the doctors office, because within an hour of hitting a higher number, it would drop down under 100.
However, Sunday afternoon, my temp went to 101, and stayed there for over an hour. So i did what i was told, and called it in. They said i had to to go to the ER as expected. By the time i was able to find a ride, my fever had finally broke, and was down to 99.8. i told them if it went up overnight, i would go to the ER, but otherwise go to my doc on monday.
i was able to sleep through the night. And when i woke up around 5 am, i had a fever of 103. i was about 3 hours from my doctors office opening, so i was going to wait until then. i contacted a friend (Shout out to Misty!!) who came over and took me to the oncologists office. My temperature was 101.7, my heart rate was 140, my wbc was .97 (down from 1.3, normal starts at 4.5) and my anc was .08 (down from .76, normal starts at 2.0). no bueno. i was having trouble getting a deep breath, and sometimes when i tried to, one of my lungs felt “cold”.
They gave me fluids and meds in my iv over a few hours, and i started feeling much better. i still want to sleep all the time, but i’m not feeling sick like i did. Since i had expressed trouble catching my breath, they decided to do a CT scan just to be sure something else wasn’t going on. The results came back close to normal, and for the part that wasn’t, it was determined it possibly was an issue resulting from my heart rate and dehydration. Since being hydrated, i don’t feel the cold, but i am still breathing more shallow than normal. But i’m still breathing, so that is good.
Anyway, on the way home i was getting hungry, so i got a little something to eat, and not long after arriving home, i slept. i felt like i had been through a marathon, and i couldn’t stay awake. i had an hour+ nap, woke up, and went to bed. Starting to become the norm! ha ha.
i rested all day Tuesday as well, and am going into work here soon. i’m feeling much better. Still not my usual bouncy self, but able to do a few things. Yay!
Since my insurance has approved Neulasta for me again, they will probably use it with my next infusion this coming monday. Hopefully i won’t get so low on wbc, and it won’t wear my body out as much over the two weeks. That would go a long way!
A side note – whenever i go there and get treatment they have a list of about a thousand questions that they ask. One is if i am depressed or anxious. i don’t feel depressed or anxious, but am concerned if i will ever have any energy to do anything again. i have friends who watch their grandkids, one that is doing some home remodeling herself, some that go to or lead exercise classes…my activity routine is limited to crossing the room. or getting dressed. i am glad i am able to continue work through this, as i think it is actually helping build myself up while i am getting treatments. But right now a trip to the grocery, even in a cart, is out of the question. i pray that my energy will return, but that’s something i’m still looking for on the horizon. Thankfully i can eat more now. (Even if some people don’t think so)
On behalf of me and my family, thank you for reaching out, praying, or just treating me like i’m still normal.
He is Risen! And He is powerful. This is His fight, and i am just along for the ride. All praise to Jesus!!
