There is Some Good News and Some Bad News Today
Dear Fods,
We will start with the good news. My counts are finally headed in the right direction! The wbc was .8 and the ANC is 768. The wbc has not been this "high" since August 17th. This means that my immune system is finally limping back onto the scene. We have had steady progress on the counts for the past 3 days and hopefully they are getting ready to launch. The BMB results should come back soon and that will tell us what is going on in there.
The bad news is that I have a new back pain that is excruciating! They think that I pulled a back muscle and I am headed down for a CAT scan later this evening. I was in the bathroom @ 2:00 AM tending to womanly things (for 4 weeks now already -- God has some splaining to do here!) when I coughed and it felt like a thousand knives were jabbing into my back and flank area. Since it was in the middle of the night, they decided to treat it with pain medication, i.e., 3 mgs. per hour of dilaudid delivered automatically and another .5 when I pushed the pain pump. For the non-medical folks, that is a ton of pain medication, but down here they are used to dolling it out.
They reattached drain bag just in case there was something going on with the gall bladder. I am drinking my contrast for the CAT scan. They are trying to rule out an infection of the gall bladder and the surrounding tissue. The pain team spent a lot of time with me today and added 5 mg of valium 4 times a day to try to relax my muscles. I am experiencing leg spasms, but who knows what I did to my back. I do not have the strength to sit through an MRI which is what I need to identify the source of the problem. Joe will come down with me for the CAT scan.
Debbie dictated most of this and is now resting in preparation for the CAT scan. As always, she appreciates your blogs, cards and morale support. Hopefully, things can start looking better for her -- God knows that she deserves it.
Debbie sends her love to all.
posted by Joe @ 4:56 PM
20 Comments:
Pain sucks!! Dilaudid's cool, though. Thank-you, God for poppy plants. Hope it's just a minor muscle thing and valium and heat give you relief.
And the girl thing can just stop right now and go away and leave you alone!!! You've got enough to worry about.
Haven't blogged for awhile. Not been on the computer much. Got out of my routine of checking e-mail and your's and Bob's sites. (had almost 200 emails accumualated) Prayers didn't stop, tho'. Kate moved home and then to Ca. She's still looking for a job, but has temp work enough to cover living expenses. Also, we're remodeling and got a puppy three weeks ago. He's sooo cute. But Friday I was ready to take out a classified "free to a good home". He was wound up and just couldn't settle down. Kept chewing my feet and ripping my pants. So I locked him back in the kitchen and he proceeded to pee on the floor. While I was on my hands and knees cleaning it up (guess the position triggered something) I felt his paws on back and turned around to see his little hips gyrating. I stood up quick!! Then, I decided to take him for a walk to burn off some energy, and he wouldn't walk. Just sat and watched leaves blow. Had to pull him a couple of blocks before he started walking. But, in the end, I won and he's been delightful since.
Hope you have a restful night and a good appetite. Are there many calories in that contrast?
Love, Mussie
Dear Debbie, Joe & all The T's..
WOW, is right.. why you have to put up with so much I just do not know.. I can only believe that major major great things are on the way. So very happy to hear the news that numbes are climbing... hope the back pain is solved right away...
Lots & lots of love
Visitor Alison
Ay caramba!
Love the news about the counts.
Hate the news about the back!!!!
Thank God for the Pain Posse.
Hope the exam goes okay and that you can rest comfortably the rest of the evening, honey.
I love you Chizzie
K
Dear Deb, Joe, and family,
Yeah for the good news. Boo for the pain. Hope all fixes itself soon. I knew you were just slow on the uptake. Lots of prayers going out for a shining BMB.
Joe you are the best. Take care.
Love, hugs, and prayers.
jean
Hey Deb,
I love that count, but what the heck??? A new pain? Please God the ct is okay and it's just muscular. Now, let's take an inventory...marinol, valium and dilaudid. How are you keeping your eyes open????!!!! You sounded better today despite the pain. It was good to hear that you dictated.
And Deb, the troubles are supposed to come once per month...not last for a month. Did I read that correctly...4 weeks now? You pooooor girl.
Well, saying tons of prayers and keeping every thing crossed for only GOOD things to happen now.
I love ya Deb, Mo
I m thinking it all must somehow be related..back pain and women problems,, will explain more at another time.. but i've been there...just so sorry after all the other stuff you've had going on, you can now add this one to the list!
But im excited about the ANC so high, and the wbc climbing up!! and we are down to 5 more days.. hang tough deb.. fresh air is coming soon! love, mdf
WAY TO GO DEBBIE,
The counts sound good and we so glad to hear that you will be home soon. Listen, don't worry about the women thing until you get one of those bouncing balls in the bathroom stall. Remember the one that I had that bounced off my white sneaker and went clear into the other person's stall. Now that's a women's problem!
Hope you remembered that story and had a good laugh!!!!
We're so happy for you. Stay well.
Love,
Your friend Donna
Hi Joe and Deb,
I really hope this new pain has started to ease up. God only knows you sure deserve a break from all this pain. Just keep pushing that pump and hopefully they'll figure it out soon and you'll get some much deserved rest. I sure hope tomorrow is a much much better day!!!
Love,
Jeanne
hey, hi from OC
so great about the counts-menopause too???HIS hand is on the back.
prayers daily @ 5pm
tony & jill mascena
Mrs Teklits,
it is just one thing after another after another-- I hope you find some relief to this back pain pronto!!!!!!
But on a good note! That is great that your counts are coming up!! I was so excited to see the big jump from yesterday to today-- Tennis Way here you come!!! Hope the pain meds are doing there job... and you will be home in your bed soon like you deserve to be!!!
Sleep tight <3
love
alli
Deb,
I have been keeping track of your saga...I cannot believe the stuff you are going thru. i am still thinking positive thoughts and will be praying for you in temple over the upcoming Jewish holiday. Your smile and sense of humor is something i miss in the office, along of course with all my other thoughts...
Hang in there and get better.
Love,
Rich
Wires..crossed?!?!?!
On the conference call at 5pm every evening... there was one clear request... change Debbie's life!!!.... I guess with all the static the message got confused.. we didn't ask that Debbie experience "the change of life" in HUP.. we wanted the life to change!!.. now that communications have been cleared up.. all else will follow...
and so it is... and so it will be... love without end.. Amen
Good point!!!..Anonymous,"Wires crossed"..and cute!! I hope God gets the message now...as to the horrible back pain, I can only hope and pray that it is a tempoary setback and will ,"git while the giting is good"...another message for God ...PULEEEZE....BACK PAIN SUCKS...At least the counts are on the rise..a definite good thing...Hope the Ct scan goes O.K. will ckeck back later..God bless honey..try to slip a smile in every now and then ,it'll help the healing..LOVE AND HUGS XXOO :)Bev
Hello Deb and Joe,
I feel very bad because I have been unable to blog you in a very long time. I just didn't feel my words would be of any value anymore. The worse your reports got the less inspired I became. Besides I couldn't see the keys through all the tears. I prayed ane prayed for the Lord to ease your suffering, and give me the strength to write the correct words of encouragement. I spoke to a long time friend and Pastor I know and he made me see that I was questioning my faith. At the first sign of adversity, we are all tested. Sort of like a Friday quiz from God. I have read your blogs every day religiously. After todays reading, it hit me like a ton of bricks. My Grandfather who raised me, God rest his soul, in his infinite wisdom always told me that the good lord does answer our prayers. Do not qestion ,nor doubt his love and compassion. I see a .8 and 768 as a miracle. It is a giant leap forward, and one can hear the renewed strength in your words. My heart is rejoicing. Deb, you keep on fighting. My fervent prayer is for you to get home, get better, be with your loved ones, and be able to visit with all the FOD'S, especially Artie and Cathy. I can't wait to give you a big hug. I have faith that day is coming. We love you!!! :)
Artie and Cathy
Dear Debbie,
So glad to hear the number count, sooo sorry about your new pain, I can empathize with back pain. Doubling the prayers.
Hope you'll be home soon.
God Bless you all.
Love,
Pam Kuntz
HI Debbie! Heard the good news yesteray at tennis. Karen filled me in since I had not seen the BLOG on Monday night. Saw Mo down on the first court - she was hitting them hard! Karen is ready to take care of you back on Tennis Way. As we all are!!!! Hope all your aches and pains are resolved soon and you can just laugh at Donna's bathroom stories. I can just hear her telling it again.... Looking forward to more GOOD news. Always lots of prayers and love,Trudy
Hey Deb,
It's been awhile.
I really miss you.
Glad to hear that your counts are better, but wish the pain would just go away.
I know things would go sooo much better if you were home. And I'm confident that you'll be home soon. Know why? Asked the eight ball. That's right. I asked the eight ball and it said "Signs point to yes." Never argue with the eight ball. . . .
I could hear your voice in that last blog and that's always makes me feel better.
BIG HUG coming your way.
Susan
Here is an interesting story..
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a
well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and
help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he
quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel
dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up.! Each of
our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less
NOW ............
Enough of that crap . . . The donkey later came back,
and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
The gash from the bite got infected and
the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:
When you do something wrong, and try to cover
your ass, it always comes back to bite you.
Hey Mrs Teklits!
I just spoke to Joey and he is on his way home from visiting you-- he was so happy to get down now that his cold is gone!! I know how excited he is to have you home again soon!!! As we all are!! you are the best-- hope you are feeling better tonight... sleep well..
LOVE YOU!
Alli
ps- me and Kiernan sang this little light of mine for you the other day-- and he was SMILING so much! i thought i was going to get him to laugh!!!! <3
Hope all is going in the right direction...I took Jessie and Becca ( Anita too) out for their birthday dinner tonite ..of course we spoke of you,Debs,had a few laughs,I told the "burning bloomer" story...they are such a terrific audience,they never stop laughing...also about the dock collapsing into the lake last year(apparently Anita never told them that one)..also about Tommy(Lee's"baby")... when he was rubbing my thigh under the table at your house, while Jules had her freezing cold hands down my boobs to get warm...of course they were in tears of laughter...thought I come home and share..maybe bring a twinkle to your eyes and a smile to your lips...hoping so...also here's to pain control and rising numbers Love you lots..keep smiling XXOO:)Bev
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