Well, last week was a bit rough due to nupagen(sp) injections and the associated pain. Nupagen is used to stimulate the body's production of white blood cells and can cause pain in the bones, specifically the hips and lower back. The pain was so great that Chrystal was only barely able to walk. In addition to this, there was severe abdominal cramping because of the pain medication used to alleviate the pain brought on by the nupagen injections. This abdominal cramping was enough to cause vomiting. The doctor had warned against any type of straining (i.e., vomiting) because of low platelet counts. The platelets are used in clotting. Subsequently, if any internal bleeding were to occur, we might not have been able to properly control it.
Chrystal received platelets and packed blood. The first bag of platelets caused a severe allergic reaction, which in turn caused severe itching and a second round of platelets. The second round of platelets was required because Chrystal's body rejected the first round.
Currently she is feeling better, but is slated to undergo chemo again on Oct. 2nd. Then we will have to start it all over again...(i.e., nupagen injections). We are just taking it one day at a time.