When Chest Pains are a GOOD Sign.

[fullygoldy]

barley52 has been having chest pains all week. Not the gripping, can't breathe or move kind, more like the achy, deep kind of pain down in his bones.  This is a side effect of the blood growth drugs he's taking.  Did you know that when you are born, you have marrow in all of your bones, but by 6 or 7 yrs old, pretty much only your torso still has marrow (and for some, the long bones in your thighs)?  So that weird, deep pain he's got in his sternum means the drugs are kicking his marrow's butt. Finally.  

This is borne out by this week's numbers, which are nicely improved.  That neutrophil count is at 850, so we're really close to the magic 1000.  Hemoglobin is really close to normal, being 11.7.  They don't let you donate blood unless you're above 12, but the lab report says 14 is on the low end of normal.  His platelets are 14, which excites only his Dr, him and me.  The nurses just shook their heads, because they're looking for something over 100 to be considered normal.  But after so many results in the single digits, 14 is an improvement.  Especially since the only reliable way to boost them is with transfusions.  He had his last platelet transfusion last Sat., so he's at the tail end of those (lifespan is 6-9 days).  If next week's count holds steady or improves, that'll mean he's getting some spillover from the Darbo and Nupagen.

We're in pretty good spirits, considering that on Monday, Mavis stayed home with a stomach ache, on Monday night, I had a fever and ended up staying home on Tuesday with flu-like symptoms, and Rupert stayed home with a stomach ache on Wednesday.  Monday and Tuesday nights, DH slept in the living room by himself.  Whenever we were in the same room, we both wore a mask.  And I had to wipe down the bathroom with disinfecting wipes every time I used it.  With all these germs floating around, DH managed to stay healthy!  I washed the comfy flannel sheets and he remade the bed on Wed. so we could be together again.  The bed really is too big without your partner.

Of course, we're still waiting on the final part to make our vacuum work properly.  We thought we'd rigged a lid that would seal okay, but when I tried to use it last week, nada.  I'm kinda nervous about not doing the vacuuming, but hey, he survived flu germs, so as long as he doesn't roll around on the floor, I think he'll be okay.

On the insurance front, we were rejected by Badger Care - too much income.  We may be able to qualify for a "spend-down" program though.  And Meriter has sent the paper work to apply for "uncompensated care."  That will all apply to Jan & Feb's expenses.  As of March 1, we're covered by United Health Care.  It's expensive, and not very extensive, but it should allow the blood & marrow typing to get done.  I may be added to the JCI payroll as early as May.  At that point, all these insurance worries will be gone.  We'll just be paying off whatever's left of the Jan & Feb expenses.  I feel pretty confidant that whatever that number ends up being, we'll be able to handle it.  It won't be much fun, but we'll handle it. ::nod::

Isn't it funny how you can receive many positive and uplifting comments, knowledge, wishes, etc., but all it takes is one harsh or negative thing to deflate your mood?  We try not to let the "ones" actually burst our balloon, but it takes an awful lot of energy.  I'm really really grateful that so many people, including total strangers, are willing to keep contributing to the positive side of the equation.  We couldn't be doing this without all your support.