Turning the Corner

My temperature is down today, which is a good thing. My clinical nurse stopped by earlier and said that I have turned the corner today: my white counts are 250 and they should be 500 tomorrow. This means I get to go home tomorrow, but only if I don't spike another fever today.



I'll be happy to get home and sleep in my own bed without a nurse coming in at 4am to check my vitals and weigh me. Seriously, does some evil doctor order the nurses to bother patients as much as possible? Why couldn't they weigh me during the daylight hours? The last two nights, she needed to draw blood at 4am. She couldn't get it out of my IV so she left the task up to phlebotomy, who comes in at 6am. I'm pretty sure the nurses don't have any choice over when this stuff needs to be done, or do they? Maybe they're so bored overnight that they break up their tasks throughout their shift just to give themselves something to do. "Hmmm, I know, I'll draw blood at 4am, that'll be fun!" Sheesh, no wonder I'm so tired when I wake up in the morning.



I'm on my own today as Mike felt comfortable enough to leave me so he could go to work. My clinical nurse commented on what a good gatekeeper he is. He's been really good fetching me ice for my boost, ice water, clean sheets, and anything else I need. He's not getting much sleep either because every time the nurses bother me, they bother him. The evening nurse asked me to turn on the light so she could open up the Tylenol packet. Mike was not a happy camper. The overnight nurse who brought me some more medication had the decency to simply open the bathroom door and use its light. Mike's pull-out sofa is not as comfortable as the other ones he's had here, although he was hopeful when he first saw it. He'll be glad to be home too.

I won't be alone all day as my brother, Michael will be stopping by this afternoon. I think Kathy is coming by sometime today and Melissa will be here tonight while Mike goes to his volleyball playoffs (I hope his team does well). Right now I'm enjoying the quiet while I write this blog and watch a little tv.



I hear the Irish team outside my door. Please hold for this brief commercial............ Wow, for once I can actually hear what the clinical nurse is telling them about me before they troop inside for my debrief. They're gone and it seems like I'll definitely be going home tomorrow (still depends on the fever).

I'm having Boost for breakfast. I was going to order cereal, but Boost probably has more calories and I definitely need the calories. Strawberry Boost is pretty good, but only if it's really cold or poured over ice. I don't think I'm up to eating lunch yet (especially hosptial food) so I may order more Boost or one of those slushies.