Stupid virus

Last Monday I wrote that, due to impressive counts, I was “promoted” to every other week clinic visits instead of every week. I had a little separation anxiety, but it didn’t last long, since I was quickly “demoted” to every week.

That’s because once again I tested positive for CMV, a virus that often pops up after transplant when your immune system is weak. The virus can lower your counts, as can Valcyte, the drug given to fight the virus. I had already been through this in October, when I had to take Valcyte for so long that my counts were in the basement.

So I went into Boston yesterday for a 1 p.m. appointment to get my counts and the viral level checked, not really anticipating too much change since it was only a week after my previous visit.

My white count (3.1) and platelets (112) had only dropped a little, but my hematocrit was 23.8 (and hemoglobin 8.5), meaning it was transfusion time. A few days earlier I had huffed and puffed going up the stairs, making me wonder if my red count was dropping. But I’ve been walking without any fatigue, although I did feel exhausted after Thanksgiving dinner.

In any case, due to a backlog of patient visits after the missed day of appointments on Thanksgiving, the blood wouldn’t be ready until about 7 p.m. This meant arranging to stay with Diane in nearby Newton and making sure that, back home, Katie and the dog had a place to stay. Everything quickly fell into place, thanks to my wonderful support network.

The whole afternoon was ahead of me, and although I had a book, I couldn’t see spending any more time in the waiting room. I had envisioned a quick clinic visit followed by a short (masked) trip to the Chestnut Hill Mall to return a shirt. I figured I might as well go to the mall while I waited for my blood. On the way to the mall I got a coffee and a scone (I was pretty tired but not too tired to proceed), and, when I arrived at the mall with some coffee still left, I didn’t want to waste it.

So I put on my mask and took the coffee cup into the mall, pausing now and then to take a quick sip underneath the mask. Still wearing my white patient ID bracelet, I went into JJill to make the exchange and try on something else. I had to wonder how I looked: A masked woman with a hospital ID bracelet, holding a shopping bag and maneuvering a coffee cup.

After a quick stop at Diane’s to charge my cell phone, I went back to the clinic for the transfusion, starting a little before 7. Diane’s husband, David, dropped her off at the clinic around 9, and she drove me back to her house for tea and cookies and a good night’s sleep.

I’ll be back at the clinic next Monday. Woohoo.