November 4, 2003

My white counts were good today. My total WBC was 5.7 and the granulocytes were 4.8. Great numbers!! All was going well until I was about to leave work. All of a sudden I started feeling feverish and a bit light headed. I think this may have been the result of accidentally hitting my catheter with my pencil (it’s a long story…don’t ask!). what I didn’t know at the time, was that this was the beginning of two week journey….because I’d developed a bacterial infection. I stopped en route to chorus rehearsal to buy a thermometer. I needed to keep tabs on my temperature and make sure it didn't go above 100.5. My fever was only 99.5 – whew, I had a full degree to go! When I got to chorus, I old one of my assistant directors that I may need to leave early because I wasn't feeling well. I got that energy boost that I always get at rehearsal…the endorphins must have really kicked in! During sectionals I checked on each section and then took my temperature again. It was 99.7 – uh-oh! I continued on with rehearsal because I was feeling ok. By the end of the night though, I was really feeling it. I was tired, and achy, and I could tell the fever wasn’t going away. I usually go out after rehearsal and socialize a bit. Not tonight. Gotta get home. On the way home, I took my temperature again. Uh-oh….it’s 100.5. I took it again to make sure…now it’s 100.7, then 100.8 —YIKES! I pulled off at the commuter lot near Potomac Hospital. It’s time to call the after hours number to report my fever. They’ve told me not to hesitate to call. They drilled it into me at my initial session. Call any time, day or night. A fever this high while on chemo can be dangerous – life threatening!!! (ok, ok, I get the hint!!!) If it’s after hours, I’ll need to go directly to a hospital (hence my stopping near the hospital). After leaving a message with the answering service, I waited about 5 minutes before my cell phone rang. Dr. Kula from the Manassas office told me that because my counts were Ok that morning, I do NOT need to go to the hospital, but that I should check in with the office first thing in the morning, as they may want to adjust my chemo schedule and put me on antibiotics. By the time I arrived home about 20 minutes later, I had shaking chills. I felt like I had Parkinson’s disease. I couldn’t hold my hand still. I called my doctor's office and left a message on their machine and explained my symptoms. I asked whether I should come in for treatment tomorrow. I took two Tylenol and went straight to bed.

November 5, 2003

I did not feel great when I woke up. I still had a fever, although it had gone down a bit. When I didn't hear back from the office (from my call the night before) I called in to double check whether I should come in for chemo or not. They told me they never got my message! Apparently it goes to a central answering service and the message was never relayed. They told me to plan on coming in, and they will try to get in touch w/Dr. Reid for further instructions. I arrived for my 3rd chemo treatment, fully expecting they’ll tell me they can’t treat me. My oncologist is not there on Wednesdays. They’ve called and left a message to tell him about my fever, but he hasn’t returned the call. They started me on pre-meds (anti-nausea drugs) just in case. While the meds are pumping, he called back to tell them to stop treatment, and start me on antibiotics. What I didn’t realize at the time, is that this will be day one of a 14 day course of anti-biotic treatments. The drug they will be giving me is called Vancomycin. It takes about an hour and a half to administer via IV through the catheter. I have to come back every day for a little over 2 hours, to get this treatment. It hasn’t sunk in yet….EVERY DAY FOR 14 DAYS –including weekends! By the end of the treatment, I was itching all over. It was driving me nuts!!!!