John is having trouble w/ his immune system again

Hi.  Brrrr, it's chilly this morning.  And I am up too early.  Well, it's not that early, it's 7:24, but I'm tired for some reason.  And I've got too much to do today to go back to bed.  For one thing, I need to get fitted for bifocals.  I don't know if the lenses will be able to go into my current frames, or if I will  have to get new ones.  Either way, I am feeling old, LOL, and I am not yet 45.  Oh well.

I need to tell you all how John is doing.  I'm sorry I waited this long.  I was waiting to get results from tests he took this week so I could give you an accurate answer. 

First let me say that a lot of it is good.  His bacterial infection (sepsis) is completely gone.  He has a very high hemoglobin and hematicrit count.  Don't get scared off by the terms.  That just means he has enough energy because he got that blood transfusion.  He is finally in the normal range and has enough blood!  He hasn't been in the normal range in months and months, as far as having enough blood, or oxygen in his blood.  So we are excited.

His Creatinin level (this determines kidney function) is holding real well!  Still not great, but not at the level of needing to be dialyzed yet.  His bilirubin level is good, which means he does not have Hemalytic Anemia, which he used to have all the time.  Remember those blood transfusions he used to get all the time?  Sometimes as many as seven bags of blood (red blood cell packs) a day?  Every day?  Well, he doesn't have that problem at present.

Okay, now the problems.  While the platelets have come up, they are still too low.  The count is 90.  Normal is 150.  He told me he will NOT stop using his manual razor even though he could cut himself.  I didn't think he would stop.  There is no point in me hiding it, he would just ask for it back.  I believe him.  Or maybe he would go buy another one.  Hmmmmm.  Stubborn.  Then he made a good point.  The electric razor gives him razor burn, which could give him an infection because his white blood cells and ANC are low.  While a razor could cut him, it may not leave as bad an infection as the electric razor which just tears his neck up and makes him raw.  It is all a weighing game.  Which is worse, having a clotting problem or getting an infection?  Because platelets being at 90, he probably would clot anyway.  Probably.

I don't know if that last paragraph made sense to you, LOL.  All this medical stuff gets complicated.  I hope you are not bored and are still reading!

Finally, one more problem.  This is the bad part.  John's white blood cells and ANC are plummeting.  This is frightening to us.  They are doing it very quickly.  The doctors have no explanation for this. 

Recently he received three shots that made his immune system soar.  Above normal.  He should be doing really well.  He dropped down very quickly.  He just may be neutropenic by his next test on Monday, he dropped so very drastically. 

We are concerned about this for two reasons.  We wonder why it is happening.  Dr. Claxton in Hershey doesn't know.  The other reason we are concerned is he could get very sick again if he doesn't have an immune system.

So that is how he is doing.

So how am I doing?  Things have been really rough for me.  A lot has happened in the last two or three months that have been a real challenge.  I mean I am fine, but I am exhausted.  I just want a break - time to do some fun things.  I am looking forward to Christmas and spending time with John and my family, and not worrying about things I have worried about. 

I hope you all are having a great Advent season and time getting ready for Christmas.  This is truly a beautiful season!

Thank you all who have asked how John was doing.  Next time I will try to get an entry in sooner, as soon as John's tests are done.

Love you all, Krissy

        

Tags: bifocals, how John is doing, razor, WBC, ANC, immune system

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