What now?

Well, I set an alarm this morning and made myself get up. I started learning Zumba steps today. I didn't even get through all of them before I had to stop. It is pretty pathetic - and funny so nobody can come and watch! :)

Dr. Rich took some more blood today to see how my immune system is doing. It is doing poorly - I am very low and will be until probably Monday or Tuesday of next week. What does that mean? Well, according to Nancy, the P.A., I CANNOT GET SICK!!!! Specifically, that means:

• Memorize the handouts on "infection" - symptoms, prevention, and management
• Don't go out to eat
• Don't eat raw fruits or vegetables unless I can peel them or wash them really, really well
• Don't go to church on Sunday
• Don't be around sick people or crowded places
• Wash my hands a lot and use hand sanitizer
• Drink LOTS of water and go to the bathroom every 2 hours
• Check my mouth for sores
  

If I get sick:

• Take my temperature. If it is 100.4 degrees, call Dr. Rich and then go to the lab or the ER, depending on the day of the week and the time of day
• Give the medical people the list of tests I need done [filled out and given to me by Nancy]. I keep this list with my antibiotics.

The tests include blood work through my port AND my arm, a urine sample, and if I can't breathe well, a chest x-ray.

• After I have had all the tests done then I begin taking the antibiotics and treating symptoms.
  

Did you know, by the way, that studies are showing that it is better to let a fever run its course in little kids? Unless it is off-the-chart high and the child is screaming in misery - don't give them Tylenol etc. Because we have used such meds so freely, our antibiotics are not very effective anymore.

Sorry for the little side-tracking! Anyway, the long and short of it is - DON'T GET SICK!! Interestingly enough, Dr. Rich is much more laid back about all of this. He sees nothing wrong with going to church etc. if I feel like it. He said to stay away from salad bars but not restaurants. Hmmm. You know I'm going to go with the hyper stay-away-from-germs mode! So - phone calls welcome. :)