CBC 11/6/06 and update

Max went to MGH for a clinic visit today. They have been having trouble getting a cyclosporene level that they are comfortable with. It keeps coming back low. So, Dr. Ebb wanted to do it at the clinic and did a CBC while he was there (of course). They were assuming his platelets would be in the teens or lower, but they were happily surprised to find out that they were at 21. However, he decided to transfuse anyway as Max would probably have needed a transfusion by tomorrow or Wed at the latest and seeing as we were there, we did it. I am not sure how I felt about that, but I have to say that the idea of driving back down tomorrow did not appeal.

Max did well with the transfusion, but got a few hives afterwards again. They gave him Benadryl again, and they went away, but this is worrying me.

He is getting used to being accessed through his portacath. He still isn't excited about it, but is getting much better at sitting still for it. As he got used to getting accessed through his arm and also taking his medicine (which he is wonderful about now), I think it will not take much longer before he is used to the portocath.

CBC Results:
WBC: 8.4
HCT: 32.4
HGB: 11.7
PLT: 21
ANC: 170

Dr. Ebb was happy to see the platelets, white count, and hematocrit numbers. However, the ANC level was an unhappy surprise. After last weeks rise, 170 was very disapointing to me.

The plan for the week is to have another nurse's visit on Thurs and then either transfuse platelets on Friday or Monday depending on the results.