Thursday night

A nice normal start to the day: Jessie and I went to the park, walked both loops. I didn't see the heron, but I have chosen not worry about that.

Today was blood count day. I can't say I was really worried about it, more curious to see what it involved. I arrived and was weighed - I think they weigh you every time you're there. I learned that I have lost 5 pounds since the first chemo treatment, and a total of 12 pounds since the day of the surgery. I certainly don't mind, although if weight loss continued in a linear progression over the course of the entire 20+ weeks of treatment, it could be problematic. I doubt that will happen. And nurse E didn't even mention it as a concern, so...

They drew my blood, and then I waited. Then I was taken by a nursing assistant to the group chemo room. There my pulse, blood pressure and temp were taken (all fine). Eventually nurse E came and talked with me about my experiences over the past week. She had suggestions about a gentler plant-based laxative. I told her about the slight numbness in 3 fingers of my left hand; she didn't seem worried, but told me to keep taking my B vitamins. Eventually my blood counts came in. They were all fine, very good in fact. One category, I had 13.2 and the bottom range of "acceptable" would have been .8. Quite a difference. Good red cell count. Good white cell count (due to the NuLasta).. Good platelets (but I knew that would be okay; over the past couple years I've donated platelets and was able to do a double or triple due to my high platelet count). The only unknown was magnesium level; I guess it takes longer to get that reading. Nurse E said she'd call me later with those results. If it was too low, I might have to come in one day next week for an IV magnesium infusion. If slightly low, I'd have to take magnesium tablets.

One interesting thing was spending about an hour in the group chemo room. It was good. There was spirit. There was camaraderie. Not evenly among everyone there, but still. (Most everyone in the room - about 8 patients - were nurse E's charges, which I think was part of it). I realized that if I am in the group room next time, that will be fine. Maybe I've adjusted some, taken a first good stride toward acceptance, but it was good to find myself among people I know are in my shoes, and I in theirs. And of course, I realized that of those in that room, many are in shoes far less hopeful and harder to wear than my own.

That was the morning. The rest of the day was good. I cleaned up my home "office" a little bit. Did some grocery shopping. Went to the post office to mail some letters and my brother J's birthday present. As I was leaving the PO, nurse E called; turns out my magnesium was just slightly low, so I bought the mag pills and now have to take those 3 times a day. That makes 10 pills a day on a regular basis--okay, all vitamins/minerals, but I am not a keen (or experienced) pill taker.

Other news - I think both my kids and my grandson will be coming to visit in mid-December. They're coordinating and I'm waiting to hear final dates.

It's supposed to rain tomorrow. That's okay. It's been a good day.

Peace.