Platelets, PICCs and perking up

Today I got two bags of HLA-matched platelets, bumping from 6 to 51. That was a very nice bump, and it earned me the distraction of having my PICC line rewired at my bedside. I wouldn’t say this exactly hurt, but it was a very strange sensation to have a wire pulled out of my arm and have another one inserted. Eeech. Well I’m glad to have it back up and running, because I had to be stuck three times last night after the PICC was deemed out of order.

I don’t think I’ve explained this recently, so just in case anyone is wondering, PICC is short for peripherally inserted central catheter and is a form of intravenous access like a Hickman, although easier to insert.

I had a better night’s sleep last night and an early morning fever of 100.7, which is lower than it has been. Dr. Martha Wadleigh, who heads the team supervising my daily care, looked me over this morning and said, “You look well. We’re very pleased.” This picked me up considerably.

I hardly watch any TV, but tonight I thought I might get a laugh from last night’s episode of “The Daily Show.” I turned Comedy Central on early and caught the end of “Scrubs,” the hospital comedy. The story centered on three transplant patients who had each received an organ from the same donor. Turns out the donor was infected with rabies, and one by one the previously cheerful patients were shown dying. Once I saw what was happening, I turned the show off. Not a good distraction.

I did the sixth-floor walkabout twice today and am about to head out for a pre-bedtime stroll. Walking is good for my lungs and of course for my general well being. If I count and walk, there isn’t much room left for catastrophizing.