Free! (Round up)

That is right.  After 13 days or so, I got out of the hospital yesterday.  As much as I love my nursing staff, and appreciate my treating doctors, it is quite nice to be, at the house, with my family. Staying in the hospital presents several challenges, that require preparation, both mentally and physically.  I'll save you most of the details, but it's definitely not for everyone.  When I say that, I really mean that things like boredom, attitude, and lack of perspective, can drag a person down quickly.  Personally, I haven't met the inside of a hospital that could hold me.  I flexed and busted out of there.  It's definitely not the first time I've had to flex and bust out of somewhere, but it was probably the scariest for them.  I can't imagine they've seen someone, so sick, with muscles that ripple so hard, the nurses thought they were watching a Jurassic Park replay on cable.

People have been asking me if I've selected a treatment, and if so, what's the prognosis.  I still don't have an answer for you yet.  I'm currently undergoing a pill regimen of Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressive drug, designed to help suppress my immune system, so my bone marrow can produce enough blood cells to correct my anemia.  This medicine requires 6-7 weeks for maximum benefit. I'm now at week 5.  I wasn't sure that this pill regimen really constituted a treatment, but I've spent enough time in the hospital, more time in patient than my previous regimen of chemotherapy, to say this definitely constitutes a treatment.  My Doctors, here in Dallas, are not very enthusiastic about this pill regimen, while my specialist, at Johns Hopkins, seriously believes these pills will help my numbers rebound.  Specifically, because they've seen issues, with white blood cell production, surface as a result of viral infections.  I've had the influenza and another viral infection since I've returned to Texas.  At the new year, I had 800 ANC (i.e., I had 800 white blood cells that are worth a plug nickel).  By the time I was hospitalized, for the flu, 4 days later, I was at around 250-300.  By Valentines day, I had 30 (ANC).

Obviously, watching my ANC, white blood cell count, swan dive from a semi-respectable 800, 1000+ is considered normal, to 30 was a bit disconcerting and worrisome.  However, I've had lower numbers, and it's all about perspective.  I spent 3 whole weeks with 0 at one point.  While it's still too early to tell, I noticed that on the 15th, I was up to 40 (ANC); On the 16th, I hit 70 (ANC); and on the 17th, I hit 100 (ANC).  Additionally, my red blood cells went up, a little bit, as well as my overall white blood cell count.  I get my numbers checked again on Friday, and I'm really excited to see if the upward trend continues.

As far as my feelings go, it's difficult to remain even keel.  I'm prepping for a long difficult road to recovery, so it's been hard to allow myself to believe that I could potentially recover, by taking a pill, when the next level of treatment is so much more intensive.  I'm of the mind that this is a classic prepare for the worst and hope for the best scenario.  If you have any feedback/suggestions, leave a comment, or send an e-mail.