Back on the Roller Coaster

Today started out rainy and dreary. We decided to let the rain pass and wait until noonish to go to the farmers market. The Saturday market is only 5 minutes from the apartment and directly across from the hospital. It is held at an elementary schoolyard. After the rain subsided we walked over there and bought a few things: onions, asparagus, apples and kale. Jim mentioned he was chilled on our walk. The temperature was dropping and it was damp out but I didn't think too much of it. We also walked to the post office and bakery before returning to the apartment. I noticed he was dragging a little. He took his temperature when we got back and darned if he didn't have a temp. It progressed to 101.2 so I gave him Tylenol. His armpit area was hurting too.

Now normally any temperature over 100.4 in a chemo patient requires a call to the doctor. But it is Saturday and in our experience the doctor on call will just say "Go to the ER". The infection is probably causing the temperature and Jim does not want to go to the ER so we waited. The temperature came down and he slept for a few hours. Around 6:00 he woke up in pain and wanted to take more Tylenol. His temperature was 100.4 but probably on its way up. I went ahead and called the doctor on call. I didn't want to give Tylenol and mask how high the fever could get.

To our surprise the doctor was very nice. He had reviewed Jim's case before calling me. His plan was for Jim to not take Tylenol. Wait and see what the fever does. Get the third dose of antibiotics in his system and if after 6-8 hours he is still having fever then go to the ER. I will be setting my alarm for sometime between midnight and 2 AM to take Jimmy's temperature. Let's hope this third dose begins to combat the infection.

The Silver Lining = if Jim had been admitted yesterday as planned then today would have been the first day of conditioning (a regimen of chemotherapy that begins to wipe out his immune system). If this infection didn't appear until today or tomorrow Jim would have had a VERY difficult time fighting it without much of an immune system. SO...he was not ready and luckily this infection will be dealt with before he goes to transplant.


I have no pictures today except the ones of the DC eagles I am following. They are only two weeks old.