My next appointment with Dr R. was Friday November 7, at 10 am. I was to go to Phlebotomy first. After check-in at the clinic I was sent back to Phlebotomy to get my blood typed.
The test results showed that my hemoglobin was still dropping, down to 8.5 g/dl, and my white blood cell count was down to 1.19 10x9/l, as expected. Dr R. ordered a blood transfusion to help with the anaemia and the fatigue, which was quite profound by this time.
In the infusion clinic the nurse ordered the blood, but again there was a long wait. I was put on a saline drip as before. It was 1 pm before the blood arrived, and the drip was started. A unit of blood is about 2 cups or 450 ml, and takes about two hours for a transfusion. At Roswell Park all the blood is irradiated to prevent any risk of an infection being transferred.
I also had an injection of Neulasta (a stimulating factor) to help the white blood cells grow and mature, as the chemo had killed off most of my white blood cells and thus I would be prone to infection. I had no side effects.
I was finished about 3 pm and we could go home.
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Please know we are praying BIG TIME for a swift return to strength and a sense of good health Sheelagh! You are, most certainly, in our thoughts and loved by all of us!
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