Interesting Week

On Wednesday, I went for blood work and we had a visit with Dr Jiang. The visit went really well, I looked and felt great and the doctor was impressed and decided that we should keep on with the chemo schedule.

THEN - On Wednesday evening I had some dinner and took my pills (xeloda).
I was immediately weak in the knees, short of breath and dizzy. I could not stand up or walk across the room without holding on to furniture. Went to bed real early thinking that a good night's sleep was needed. Did not sleep. Conditions did not improve on Thursday and the breathing was getting worse, I could not talk for a minute and a half without gasping for air. Tried to get a good night's sleep with no luck.

On Friday morning I called my contact at HMC only to find out that she started a ten day vacation on Friday. Her backup called me and we discussed my condition. My thought was to stop all chemo for three weeks (when we see the doctor again). She told me that she would discuss this with the oncology staff and get back to me. She called back and told me to get to an emergency room immediately to check for any life threatening symptoms and I was not permitted to drive. If I wanted, she would dispatch an ambulance from Hershey, but I could go to any ER I wanted.

I called my wonderful wife Patricia, who immediately left work. We went to HMC since that is who had all of my records.

After a chest X-Ray, EKC, CT Scan and blood was drawn, we waited.
All tests came back negative except the blood work. That showed a low blood count. The decision was made to transfuse me with two units of blood.

So we spent from 11:30 Am to 7:45 PM in the ER, but I must admit that I have been feeling better since the visit. I have resumed my pills with no symptoms.

Thank you ALL for the thoughts and prayers

Dan & Patricia