Low Platelets

Yesterday we went to John’s monthly appointment with the oncologist. He had his blood draw before the doctor came in and by the end of the appointment we had his lab results. On August 23rd his platelets were 254,000. Normal is 150,000 to 450,000. Yesterday his platelets were 110,000. Not super low but low enough that the doctor wants another blood draw next Thursday. He’s worried about Thrombocytopenia which of course we know all about thanks to Colby and his Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome that caused his stroke. Temador the chemo drug that he is on causes your platelet levels to drop. Happens to everyone on it. It doesn’t become a problem until the counts don’t come back up. That’s why he has to have another draw before starting the third round. In most people this doesn’t become a problem until later in the treatment plan. Kind of a bummer right? Hopefully on Thursday his platelets will be up and he can start round three on Sunday night just not this Sunday night like it was planned. The doctor gave him a slightly lower dose and said that this just shows that John will be one of the ones who is more sensitive to side effects. He said it’s probable that he will eventually get back up to a full strength dose so not to worry. Easier said than done right?

After we went to that appointment we headed up to his appointment at the Air Force Base. The Army is trying to move him into the wounded warrior unit so we’re not sure what will happen with that. Basically his job will be to go to his doctor appointments. Get paid not to go to work? Okay! Except we’ll lose his special duty pay of $450 a month so that’s kind of a bummer if it happens. Colby did not want to walk around the exchange while dad was at his appointment so I had to make him take a nap. Got some Christmas shopping done there since I didn’t have to pay tax. I figure if his salaries going to get cut I better start thinking about spreading things out in anticipation of it.

Then we went to the mall where for the first time in over a year I got some new clothes for my birthday next week. I’m excited to wear something other than free Army t-shirts that are stained and holy. I appreciate my husband forcing me to spend a little something on myself even if I kept thinking there were better uses for it.

After that we headed up to my inlaws house to pick up the girls and then we went home. It was an incredibly long day. I’m used to the drive down to Salt Lake City but in the truck it seems longer than in my car. Guess I’ll have to get used to that since that’s what I’m driving now.

Anyway that’s what’s going on for now. The doctor will call us on Friday and let us know when to start or if he should or shouldn’t start. I’ll post when I find out.