Maybe... someday...

Thu Oct 23, 2025 - Blogging Tunes: None currently (at Marin Health)
Fri Oct 24, 2025 - Blogging Tunes: SomaFM Drone Zone

I got to Marin Health at around 7:35a and was getting my blood drawn by 8:00a. Thanks, Sarah!

It’s now 10:00a and I’m still sitting in the Cafe. No Complete Blood Counts (CBC) results. The problem is, my counts are so fucked (aka “abnormal”) that — even though they probably had the prelim results before 9:00a — they don’t release them until they do a manual inspection of them (which takes at least another hour, sometimes longer).

Sometimes around 9:30a, I call up to Outpatient Infusion (OPI) and ask them to call down to the lab and find out WTF is going on. Other times I just go up to OPI with that “I still don’t have the CBC results, do you?” look on my face. My oatmeal is long gone, but I’m still sipping my small coffee, so I just got a croissant and will write a little more here, see if the CBC comes back, and, if not, I’ll just head up to OPI (5th floor) shortly.

I’m expecting to need one bag of platelets and one unit of red. Since we probably wont get started til 11:00a, I’m looking at a late day here since those two transfusions will be 4 hours minimum. Wheeee!

:party-emoji: :rolling-eyes-emoji: :blood-drop-emoji:

* * *

OK, so I’m up at OPI now. HGB at 6.2 and PLT at 8. Both under their respective transfusion threshold. They want to give me two bags of red and one platelets but if we do that, I won’t be out of here until 6:00pm. Fuck that. We’re going to do one and one.

It’s already 11:30a and I just got my IV. This isn’t OPI’s fault, it’s aforementioned protocol with the lab where they won’t release the CBC until it’s been smeared and manually looked at. That’s just stupid. They should release the prelim CBC as soon as they have it — since all we need is the HGB and the PLT numbers to get started — so we can start the transfusion(s) much sooner.

I mean, with the blood drawn around 8:00a, and the other 2 results — Type & Screen and CMP — back before 9:00, why not release the CBC? But nope, not til 10:30a. To be clear, this is not because they didn’t have the results, it’s because they won’t release them since they are abnormal and requite manual screening. Well of course they’re fucking abnormal. They’re always abnormal. So can y’all please just release the numbers prior to manual inspection of the blood so we can get started with transfusions? Good question! That’s what I want to find out… and I mean like today.

And if OPI can’t authorize the lab to release the prelim numbers, maybe Dr. Lucas (the Marin version of Dr. Lee) can. I’m sure you blog readers are all on the edge of your seat about this mishigas, so I’ll keep you posted.

* * *

Took a break from Thursday bloggeing to do a little work and watch some Facebook Reels. I’ve always loved Neil DeGrasse Tyson, but haven’t been really watching his stuff in a while. His Facebook Reels are awesome and it’s cool to get the 2025 refresher on relativity, space/time, etc.

* * *

It’s now Friday late morning and I need to get this posted. I still don’t have the deeper CBC results in my MyChart, thought Sheetal (at OPI) was able to show me the numbers on her computer.

We have a bit of a problem. The White Blood Cells (WBC) are finally starting to come back but Neutrophils are not rebounding at all. So what’s making up this WBC? Probably nothing good.

In fact, the Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) is stuck at 0.0 (not pictured). We might be able to do some GCSF (Neupogen) shots to try to stimulate the Neutrophils but then we run the risk of increasing leukemia too. As I understand it, there’s no point in doing more chemo if my ANC is 0.

A Bone Marrow Biopsy (BmBx) is the only way to get the telemetry we need, but I’m hesitant. We’ll discuss more with Jerry on Monday Oct 27.

In the meantime, ANC of 0.0 means I basically have no immune system, so I’m still on lots of daily meds — anti-this and anti-that — to try to help me deal with whatever yuckies I’m exposed to.

Speaking of yucky exposure, tonight I’m hoping to go to my first concert since this whole Palliative Care shift — JRAD at the Fox. Never thought it’d be possible, but here we are. I’m feeling better than I have in weeks, so why not? Gonna need to mask big time and stay in not crazy-crowded areas, but I think I’m up for it.

This “feeling pretty good” thing — despite my blood being fucked — is really just a nice, unexpected bonus. So I’m trying to enjoy each moment. Even working for about 10-15 hours a week, which feels great!

What else to report? I’ve been able to get a few (slow-paced!) jetty walks in with Heather. See some nice pics from this one on strava. Also, On Wednesday I had a nice visit from my ol’ CCE pal, Vijay. Alas, no pics.

Last Sundee we did homemade hoagies for the Iggles/Vikings game! First time this season. Orion again wins the award for best hoagie construction and presentation. Goofy pic of him, but great pic of the sando.

This Sundee it’s the Gi’nts again. As much as it could mess with with juju, I’m inviting Mink over for the game. There’s no way we lose twice to Fart Dart, is there? Plus, he’s gonna bring beg’lls. Just make sure to get here by kickoff, Mike! And to all you East Coasters who think 1:00p is the best time for a football game, believe (you) me, 10:00a is the jawn!

Speaking of food, the Meal Train has been an absolute life-saver. It’s extremely rare that either Heather or I will have the energy to cook (let alone shop) — Hoagie Sundee was the exception — so thanks again to everyone who has dropped off yummy food this month.

Earlier this week it was Dawali at the Greenes with Kala making wonderful saag paneer, baingan bhartha, and a an India chicken dish that I had never heard of.

And yesterday, our good friends, the Roths brought savory homemade short ribs, exquisite mashies, yummy brussels, amazing corn, and even pumpkin bread! Thanks, friends!

Despite all that’s fucked in the world and in my blood, I’m just trying to be present with my family as much as I can. All of this “feeling good” stuff could turn on a dime, so I gotta enjoy every moment of what’s good. Like coffee this morning in the hot tub before my first meeting.

So that’s what’s up. Go Blue Jays.

-jg