specialk1957's Journal

This is an update on my doctor visit this past Thursday.  Well, after being on Gleevec for four months, all my counts are good and the doctor is very pleased with my response to the Gleevec. My platelets are a little low, but he isn't concerned about that, as he believes the counts will now start to go up because from the other numbers, it seems like the bone marrow is now starting to produce good cells.  My white count is 4,700 and the lowest it should be is 4,300...the highest number is 10,000.  If that drops below 4,000, then he needs to make adjustments, but he thinks that since the bone marrow is starting to produce good cells, that number will now start to rise.  There was one other white cell count that was a bit elevated, but he told me allergies can do that, so he wasn't concerned about that either.  The thing he is concerned about is the diarrhea I've been having. Some days are worse than others, so the doctor thinks it may be diet related....something I'm eating that is interacting with the Gleevec.  So for one month, he wants me to write everything down that I eat and see if we can pin point what is causing the diarrhea. I've also been a little "extra" tired the past two-three weeks and I thought maybe I was anemic, but my Hemoglobin is good.  He told me that I cannot overdo it because it will take me 2-3 days to recover because my bone marrow is not making the normal amount of good cells yet and therefore, I should rest when I need rest and try not to overdo it.  Well, as we all know...that is easier said than done.  Anyway, I go back to the doc in one month and have my bloodwork done again before that appointment.  Overall, I guess this was a good visit.  We will see what next month brings, but I'm staying positive and how can't I be positive when I'm reading entries of people who have been dealing with this for 10+ years.  How wonderful that is!!!