Oh yeah! I'm so working it today!
I got through the night with NO FEVER!! I slept a couple of 3 hour stretches plus a couple of short sleeps on either side of those. I probably got 7 hours of sleep and though I still feel slightly tired, I feel LIKE A MILLION BUCKS!! AND I LOOK LIKE IT, TOO!!
I woke at 7:00 - time for vitals, blood work, etc. and then couldn't get back to sleep even though I really wanted to. I think it was partly because I was so excited to have had a good night.
So I got up, walked down the hall and got myself fresh towels. I bathed. Lotioned (I smell so good). I have a fresh purple long-sleeved T on. I washed my scalp. It looks pretty funny. The little hairs left are a maximum 3/4 inch long and even those sad little suckers are still trying to curl, so I have these little wings sticking out all over my head. I got cleaned up and then tackled make-up. Make-up is going to be important, I can tell. I'm not so good at make-up. I played around with the bit of stuff Hannah brought me from home and ... well ... pretty good if I do say so myself. And then. THEN ... I put on my wig and ... HUBBA HUBBA!! Really. I mean it. Someone oughtta be taking me out on the town somewhere. The races? Yachting? A gallery reception? A small, intimate concert? A garden party? Oh yeah! I look THAT GOOD!! If I had my camera, I'd post a picture for you.
That's enough gloating for now, I think. I know you'll forgive me given the circumstances. I'm not normally so full of myself, right? But I needed this moment. Maybe you did, too.
Today is a real about-face from yesterday. You can tell, can't you? When those oncologists visit me today, they're going to say, "What are you doing here? Get outta here!" Now, I know it will depend on how long I have to be fever-free before they can release me and I know it will depend on where my white blood cell counts and neutrophils are at, but I KNOW I feel well enough to go home.
I do have a bit of a cough. I had two doses of codeine to get me through the night. A nurse told me this morning that a lot of people in the hospital get this cough. In fact, they call it "hospital cough". I'm calling it "kennel cough". It might actually be turning into a cold, but if my immune system is working again, I should be able to go home with a cold. Besides, some poor soul is probably in agony in Emergency waiting for my bed. They need it more than I do today.
By the way, I got a little fiesty today and I even REFUSED my Heprin shot. I mean, REALLY! I'm walking around, doing all kinds of things for myself. I have no swollen limbs. No swollen anything! I AM SO FINE. I DO NOT NEED HEPRIN! It was very empowering to refuse it and to feel confident that it as okay to do that.
God, yesterday morning was awful!! I can't thank Hannah enough for seeing me through that part of this. It was great that finally Kevin was able to come up and see me, too. I needed that. And Luke. I needed Luke. Thanks Carol and Pat for getting me over the hump of a horrible experience, too. Jim and Lynne ... thanks for coming and sorry I didn't properly get to say good-bye what with the timing of medical visits. So nice to see some people from the office, all of whom I miss a lot. Lou and Nora came by ... they're so calm and relaxed ... I can't help but pick up on their good vibrations. Bob and Jo (and a quilting magazine ... yessssss), thanks for stopping in. Happy retirement, Jo!
And thanks to all of those who emailed or commented and who wanted to visit but chose to wait knowing it was a crazy day for me.
I'm also happy to report that some fine people from the Infectious Diseases department did an assessment and determined that there is nothing like that causing my fever. The Doctor explained that sometimes they never find out a cause for the fever. Sometimes it's just because of being neutropenic (low neutrophils). He explained that if you look at the correlation between the pattern of my fevers and my white blood cell counts, I really am improving and he suspected that I would now be over the fevers and ready to go home. He was RIGHT!!
So ... I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs ... hoping they take one look at me and spring me!!
Have a happy Saturday everyone! It looks fabulous outside. I miss outside. Seeing it is not quite the same as being out there!
Man, I look GOOD!!
Glad to here you are feeling better. Can't wait to see a picture of you in the wig! Get home, there are less germs there than there are in the hospital! You probably already know this but keep to your own towels, put your tooth brush separate from everybody elses. Just practical things. When I had chemo I wouldn't let anyone in the house that didn't get a flu shot that fall. Thought it would keep my daughters dudd boyfriend away as he was afraid of needles but oh no... can't control the world I guess but I can try!
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,How totally,radically you have shifted in one day.We are so thankful here that you are feeling so-o-o-o-o much better within yourself and by all accounts looking pretty stylin`to boot!We await the debut of your total hotness minus the fever ofcourse!Love Chuck
ReplyDeleteHi Heather. I am so sorry you have had to go through so much. I am glad that you are having a better day and I hope they will soon release you from the hospital. Home is a much better place to be (especially with that great family of yours!)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you look lovely in that wig (did you opt for the blonde look?)
Take care Heather! I am thinking of you and hope to get to see you once I can walk again (2 1/2 more weeks of non-weight-bearing).
Talk to you soon.
Cheryl
Thanks for the tips, Anne! You are such a great resource! Sorry about the dudd boyfriend. Good try, though!
ReplyDeleteHi Mimi! Yes, yesterday seemed like a radical shift. I really rebounded. Since yesterday morning, things have leveled out a little. I'm not quite so ebullient since then but I do feel well enough to go home and start adjusting ... just in time to get knocked down with another treatment. ARGHHH!!
Hey, Cheryl! I've been thinking about you. Are you still in Davidson? I was going to give you a call but I didn't know your number in Davidson. You must be so tired of recovering from surgeries! May this be your last!!
I will NEVER be a blonde, Cheryl! Not even a fake blonde! I did try on a blonde wig and the room suddenly grew very quiet. We can now happily through that "blonde fantasy" out the window. *shudder*!!
We'll talk soon!
Love to you all ...
Heather