I'm home!

I had another very positive experience. The inpatient chemo went very well. I received one drug that they chose not to give me while I hospitalized, because I was so sick. They administered that one very slowly, in case I reacted badly, but it was fine.

I was discharged to the outpatient unit where I got the shot I needed. I found it a bit unsettling that there was a long list of possible side effects that would require calling 911. It's been about 12 hours, though, and I seem to be fine.

I was home by noon.

I'm very tired. I had to remind myself that I may become more tired this week, as all of my blood counts plummet.

Purell is my friend. I'm neutropenic now -- not enough neutrophils -- and am vulnerable to infection. I picked up my planner and thought, I had that with me outside ... I touched it when I wasn't worried about infection ... it's on the floor.

The apartment is full of things that I last touched when I wasn't worrying about bacteria.

The Purell is within arm's reach.

Meals on Wheels -- Wow!

I found out Wednesday that my insurance company offers "10 frozen Meals on Wheels" after each hospitalization. I decided to try them to see whether there was any way I could work them around my allergies and other medical restrictions. They were delivered today.

"Ten frozen meals" does not do them justice. At all.

Each meal includes a frozen entree with veggies, juice, bread or roll and snack. The juice is all 100%, not corn syrup. The bread and rolls are dairy-free. There was an insert with serving suggestions and full ingredient / nutrition info. That will also help me figure out what some of the little cups are.

There were instant coffee and margarine servings, that would be appreciated by others.

Will all the meals work for me? No. The cheese omelet entree is completely off limits, and I'll have to discard the "sour cream and chive" potatoes and "loaded potato."

But most of the food will work. It's easy to prepare, easy to clean up, individual servings, varied...and FREE. It's been prepared in a commercial kitchen, and the produce is all cooked, so I can eat it when I'm on a neutropenic diet.

This is huge, just huge. Each time I stay in the hospital overnight I can request a box of ten meals. I cannot express my gratitude and relief.

Update: I ate one of the meals last night, to try them. There won't be a black market for these; I'd rank them a little below a Banquet frozen dinner. They contain all sorts of fractionated food components that I usually avoid like the plague, e.g., soy protein isolate. Many of them contain sodium caseinate, which is a dairy product, but in very small quantities.

That does not change the fact that I am grateful for them and am relieved to know they are available after future rounds of chemo. They are easy to prepare, easy to clean up, single servings and free.

Hi! I'm home!

I'm home from the hospital. I have not reconnected my computer, and probably won't tonight. I did charge it before I packed it.

My cable modem, on the other hand, was never disconnected.

I can use my computer tonight as long as the charge from hospital lasts.

I'm home. The day went well. Some of my biggest concerns turned out not to be problems.

Yes, I'm tired. I'm also healthier than I've been in a long time.

I have a lot to do, in a lot of different areas, starting with getting all my new medications straight.

But I'm home, and it feels good.

Thanks!
Flo