The Perfect Crime

Roller Coaster Continues

On Wednesday evening, Pam was so nauseated that she asked me to work from the Rat Maze on Thursday so I could talk with Dr. Holtan when she made her rounds. So, I cancelled some meetings and got to her room at the RM at around 8 Thursday morning.  When I arrived, Pam was absolutely perky: talkative, joking, and she actually felt hungry and was thinking about eating. It was awesome.  I settled in and got some work done and had a phone conference with one of my customers from one of the relatively quiet RM hallways on my cell phone.  But feeling human was short-lived.  By 10, she started getting nauseated and vomiting.

Dr. Holtan came around 1:30, and she couldn't be more pleased. All the numbers indicate that Pam is ahead of schedule, and BIG NEWS:  she thinks Pam can be discharged "within 7 days".  All that is keeping her from being discharged is being able to take her medication orally and eating...  meaning I need to get my butt in gear.

Nauseated and Vomitey

It is now Friday, still no relief from the vomiting and nausea. The team here is jockeying with the anti-nausea medications, but haven't found anything that takes care of it without making Pam so lethargic that she can't stay awake.  Dr. Holtan said it will probably just resolve itself before they find anything to control it. I am guessing that it will resolve very soon. 

Pam is so tired of this, she starting crying the first time this evening while I was talking with her.  You all know that I am normally a ROCK, but I shed a few tears myself. I feel helpless.  I am guessing that all of this being "vomitey" will resolve soon.  It still amazes me how quickly everything changes with this disease and with chemotherapy.  VERY sick one day... feeling pretty OK the next. Big difference from what I am used to in my old physical therapy days, where improvements tend to be slow and not nearly so dramatic.

Superhero Blood Cells

Big, important news, Pam's Active or Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) count is now at 868 and is rising rapidly.  The ANC is a count of the white blood cells that are responsible for fighting infection. Anything below 500 is considered neutropenic and at risk for infection. Around 1500 is considered normal. 

The Perfect Crime

Pam now has two blood types.  Eventually, one of the blood types will win this war, and she will end up with only one.  Very weird.  Jason has talked about having Pam rob a bank, and leave some blood droplets behind as forensic evidence for the CSI investigators.  Billiant plan, but she will need to get better soon before we can pull of any sort of heist.

Another Beautiful Day
from Pam's Penthouse

Another day at the Rat Maze.

Pam's assessment: "I feel like CRaaaaaaaAP!"