AML: Waiting for Nadir... @ Home

It's so nice to be at home rather then waiting this out in the hospital. Everything is going fine so far.


I have to do daily blood work to see if I need blood or platelets. During the weekend I go to the outpatient area of Sanford hospital at 7:00 am. During the week, I will go to my Dr's office. I still have my PICC line in my arm, so I don't need to be stuck by needles all the time.

I will get blood if my hemoglobin falls below 8. (today it is 11.9 and has not really fallen at all since the chemo). I will get platelets if they fall below 10,000. (today they are 22,000). If I run a fever of 100.4 I have to go back to be readmitted to the hospital.

I have not needed any transfusions this weekend. It looks like my platelets may be low enough that I would need them tomorrow. My hemoglobin is actually higher then when I had my chemo. If I can avoid getting hemoglobin this go around, I'll be happy. It takes several hours to get hemoglobin. Platelets are much faster.

I expect that my counts will hit bottom towards the middle of this week (10 days after my chemo). I am not on any meds right now. I feel good with a healthy appetite.

With my white counts so low, we are avoiding visitors at home and I am being extra careful around my wife and kids. We're adjusting so far.

All is going fine on the home front.