Crash

Chemo is officially over. From here on out, I’ll be getting a little better every day. Or so I believed. But on the day of my last treatment, I learned my blood counts crashed — red cells, platelets, white cells were all below normal, some of them seriously so. Which explains the profound fatigue I have been experiencing. That same day the doc ordered transfusions of red cells and platelets. The transfusions (which take hours, unfortunately) provided a quick boost, but I felt so good I squandered the energy in one day of activity, followed by more days of fatigue. All this comes as I am experiencing increased frustration at not being able to get on with my life. I yearn, for example, to get back to the gym, see friends, launch into work, and more. But it is not to be — yet. The (wonderful) RN at my doctor’s office says it will take a month for my energy levels to return. And another five months to really be back where I was pre-chemo. So until then, I have to try to moderate my activity, lie low, and learn the lessons of patience.