More from North Country Regional Hospital...

My highlight so far today was taking a shower which might seems like no big deal but after a couple days of fever it felt like pure bliss. I am actually feeling pretty good but my white cell counts are still quite low and it looks like I will be here at least through Sunday, especially now that Lenore seems to have also picked up whatever bug James had last weekend. Just talked with her this morning and it sounded like she was headed back to bed once she got James to daycare.

The doctors haven't been able to pin down exactly what is ailing me but the treatment seems to be working nevertheless. My chart says I was admitted to hospital with 'febrile neutrapenia' (sp?) but that is really just a description of low white counts with associated fever. I doesn't say anything about what is causing the fever. I am continuing to receive broad spectrum IV antibiotics as well as the white cell 'jump start' shot.

My oncologist Dr. Shahidi stopped by yesterday and felt optimistic that round two of my chemo would probably go on as scheduled so that would mean that next Wednesday & Friday my white cells will take another hit! This time though my chemo regime will be followed immediately by timed-release version of the white cell production shot I am currently receiving. Hopefully that will prevent another unpleasant episode like this one. /dps