Tuesday, July 22, 2008 ~ ps to uneventful

Humph! I left the doctor’s office at 10:30 am and got home to eat lunch and post to this blog. During that hour I recieved messages from Tad and a call from my doctor. I called the doc first to find out the blood test (Hematocrit) I had just taken a few hours ago revealed a low red blood cell count and he was very concerned.

My number was 24 and normal for women it should be around 36-45. When I was in the hospital it was 32. I see now, why I am short of breath going up the stairs and dancing. Also explains the fast heartbeats and maybe the strange sensation in my lungs when I take a breath. I have been so tired but thought it was the prednisone. (I blame everything on that!) Not sure what my blood pressure has been because Walgreen’s won’t keep a machine at their pharmacy. Ugh!

So, tomorrow morning, 8:30am sharp I return to the hospital for another lab test. If the results are the same, I may require a blood transfusion after surgery. I also intend to find out why the count is low. One of the reasons could be bone marrow failure, and is that related to the azathioprine I am taking? I hope I don’t forget to ask.

Note: Latest word is surgery will be Friday, July 25. I am the first case!