It all becomes clear...

(and I never thought I would write THAT!)

So, it was back to work on Monday. But, not for long. I had to leave before 11:00 to get my PICC dressing changed and then I had an afternoon appointment with Dr. Khatib. If you remember, he wanted to see me before the prescription for the antibiotics runs out (Wednesday morning).

So, I took 1/2 of a vacation day, rather than running around getting in an hour or so between the nurse and the doctor and maybe another hour after the doctor.

I pulled in the driveway right in from of Kim (the nurse). She took my vitals, drew blood and replaced the dressing. I told her that her damn blood work had caused me to now have to get more blood work done and see my primary care physician immediately afterwards. She asked what happened and I told her all I know is that the Infectious Disease doctor’s office called me last week and said they had to fax the results of my blood work to my primary care physician because of a “medical issue.” They either couldn’t or wouldn’t elaborate.

Then Dr. Pop’s office (my primary care physician) called and said they would be mailing me a prescription for more blood work and to call and set up an appointment for as soon as possible after getting it done. When I asked that nurse what was going on she just said some of my “levels” were off. She also either couldn’t or wouldn’t elaborate. So, I worried instead of knowing.

I asked Kim if she might have gotten my blood mixed up with a pregnant woman or something and she laughed. I asked her if she would be coming back to take out the PICC line and she said the doctor might today. I said, “What do I do with the two other syringes of antibiotics, all the saline and the heparin if that happens?” She told me to empty them in the toilet and throw the syringes away.

She said to please call her and let her know what happened at the doctors.

Since I had an hour or so to kill before leaving for my appointment, I went shopping; first to Home Depot and then to Kroger’s.

Home Depot was necessary as I realized on Sunday when I was thinking about burning Mom’s diaries that I no longer had my chiminea. So, where exactly was I going to burn them? If I had thought about it (it was a complete surprise, if you recall) I would have grabbed that fire pit Melissa and Dave had bought last year for Orion since it will probably be history soon. But, I didn’t.

Instead I went and bought the cheapest fire pit with a screen on top that Home Depot had ($39 US). Then I did the little bit of shopping at Kroger’s I was going to do on Saturday. I got home, unloaded the car, treated the cats and took off for the doctor.

Dr. Khatib explained that my white blood count was dangerously low as a result of the nine weeks of antibiotics. He said while he can’t be positive the infection’s gone, I really should stop using the antibiotics immediately. Since white blood cells are the body’s defense against viruses and bacteria, I am in harm’s way. (I have also heard it can make you feel fatigued and I sure have felt fatigued recently!)

He asked me if I would be worried if we stop and I said, “A little bit, of course, as I had the procedure for scrapping my spine if the infection’s not gone explained to me in GREAT detail. But, since it had been an extra three weeks more than you originally called for and now it’s screwing up my white blood cell count, we better stop.”

He volunteered to take out the PICC line and I gratefully accepted. You should see how white, wrinkled and yucky-looking my skin is where it had been covered so long by that 6” x 6” adhesive bandage! It didn’t bleed, but he put a regular band-aid over the hole just in case. I said I’d make another appointment in June and headed home.

I got there just before four o’clock (so I didn’t really have to deal with rush-hour traffic). I immediately started to put together the fire pit, so I could get the box it came in out to the trash yet tonight.

When I got it done, I took that box, the other box from the air purifier and a trash bag out to the road. Speaking of the air purifier, with the new while blood cell count wrinkle, I am very glad I got the one with the UV light that kills germs, etc.

I also cut the last two daffodil blooms remaining, since I don’t get out much to enjoy them. Back inside, I put the daffodils in a vase, and then I checked my email, both at home and work, and responded to a few.

Next I changed clothes, took a pain pill and took off my brace. I lay down to watch the rest of the evening news. The fire pit is on the kitchen floor, by the way. I’ll put it outside after they cut the grass and take a picture for you.

I wasn’t really hungry but I did need to take my evening pills, so I ate some cheese and crackers, downed my meds and called it good. I gave up on TV at 9:00 PM and just read until bedtime.