At My Lowest White Blood Cell Count

August 12, 2023

Things are pretty much the same as they were last week for me: I still have literally no white blood cells and I feel, for the most part, fine.

This week they dangled the possibility of going home soon. I would need to go into their office every day, and then likely go to the hospital to get blood or platelets as needed, but at least I would be home. That was great news!

However, I’m not exactly the same from last week - I have some mouth sores which, unless you are in the know - are much worse than what you might think. Apparently we scratch our tongues and cheeks throughout the day as a result of various actions, and easily repair the damage. If you don’t have any white blood cells though, you don’t have any of those combat-ready Marines to go fix the damage quickly. It’s painful, and somewhat difficult to eat and talk with the sores. But, once I get some white cells, my mouth will feel much better.

So, I can probably go home once I get a few white blood cells and they aren’t worried that will get some larger infection from the sores. The earliest would be Monday, although I bet that’s pushed back a little further. Hopefully my blood report tomorrow morning is promising and shows a little uptick.

Tonight is Day 15 from the start of the Chemo; my blood cells should be at their lowest now (and I think they probably are). After today they should start rising with the new little bone marrow cells that have regenerated. Sorry scientists, I don’t know the names of the new cells!

My next bone marrow biopsy would be between days 21-28 from the chemo (different doctors say different dates) and that will determine the next course of action – if we can go directly into the bone marrow transplant, or another line of treatment.

The big event from this week was getting Chinese take out and eating in the Healing Garden to celebrate David’s birthday. John’s out tonight with friends celebrating the 21st anniversary of his birth. I don’t think we should bring beer to the Healing Garden, but its tempting.