Today we went down to La Jolla for blood work, IVIG and a visit with Dr. Kipps. The IVIG infusion was no problem as usual and for the most part the visit with Dr. Kipps was fine. The blood test results were good and not so good. My hemoglobin and platelets both remain at a good level. However, my white count has risen from 17,000 to 38,000. My lymph nodes and spleen are about the same size as last month, which is good news. So the question that Dr. Kipps pondered was why my WBC went up so much in a month, and yet none of the other markers / indicators had changed. So, he wants to once again wait a month and see what happens next. End of short report.
Dr. Kipps did feel that I may be fighting off an infection. The white blood cells are made up of a number of different components, one of which are the neutrophils which are the most abundant type of white blood cells found in humans and form an essential part of the immune system. In patients with leukemia the neutrophils can be low, but in my case today, they were high. He felt that one reason why my total white count was higher was because my body was fighting an infection, and in fact, I have felt like I have been getting a cold for a day or so. He decided to let me do my monthly IVIG in late April, and if the numbers are holding steady, not see him until late May.
Dr. Kipps once again discussed staying ahead of the treatment game by getting a list of possible treatments in place for me. He discussed with us 3 different possibilities that I may be a candidate for. One of the options is a Clinical Trial of a new drug that they are testing.
I am continuing to play golf as much as I can and we are still traveling as much as we can.
My Dad continues to regain the strength he lost in the hospital. He is taking longer walks, driving places and playing tunes on his organ. We are thankful for his continued recovery.
So, once again I am on this month to month watch and wait. Don't get me wrong. I am grateful for feeling good right now, but you feel like there is this constant threat of something going wrong, and you never know when that might happen. It kind of feels like a Twilight Zone episode.
Terry
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