Now Comes the Hard Stuff...
There were certainly difficult times leading me up to this point but the next month will be by far my biggest challenge. My neutrophil count bottomed out yesterday. (Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that fight against infection). This was expected but it means that I am now neutropenic. This happens 7-12 days after receiving high dose chemotherapy. I was on day 6. I am the most susceptible to infection right now. My immune system is completely wiped out and I have no ability whatsoever to fight any virus or bacteria that comes my way. We are vigilant about sterilizing and hand washing. I must avoid all uncooked vegetables and fruits. I must avoid all salad bars and deli counters, consume only pasteurized dairy products, The list goes on but the reality is I can barely eat anything due to no appetite and the difficulty it is to swallow. My diet consists of an occasional protein shake, scrambled eggs, applesauce, broth, some canned soups and V-8 juice to help with my low so