Hospital stay

Hi Annemarie,

Thanks for your advice on the temperature and white cell count.  It's such a scary thing to experience for you.  Hope you're feeling better now.

I've just had my second chemo and feeling quite queasy (day 3).  My 14 yo son is home with a head cold and feeling like he's in isolation. We're both miserable because can't give the usual hugs.  Worried about next week when wcc is at its lowest.  Will keep checking temp.  Thanks.

Hope you're travelling along ok today.

Take care,

Karen xx   

Hi Tracey, my oncologist told me that I could have Neulasta with the first chemo but I would have to pay $2,000 for the privilege, or wait and see and if my blood count dropped below 2 (I think) then I'd be eligible. As we didn't have that money due to all the other costs we'd built up with surgeries etc I declined. So of course my white cell count was basically below 1 when admitted to hospital so the Neulasta was then covered by Medicare, as were the following 5 injections. I still can't understand the logic of this particular policy as it would have cost the govt a hell of a lot more than $2000 for hospitalisation, oh and lot less stressful for me having to deal with an infection due to non-existant white blood cells! Hopefully this is something that will change in the future. Jane xx

Good grief Annemarie, it does give you a fright when you have to do a stint in hospital when your white cells drop. I spent a week in hospital with cellulitis around my mastectomy wound. Very frustrating. I agree totally, keep an eye on your temperature. Take care, Tracey B ??

Oh ladies, I am terrified of infection. I'm on fortnightly AC & was due for second dose 2 days ago. My bloods came back with white count at 2 which delayed my 2nd dose for a week. I will be given the injection after the next dose but wasn't entitled to it with the first dose. Does anyone know why? It wasn't very clear. Oncologist said they need to see the chemo is working but the breast nurse said the government doesn't subsidise the first one. I just go with what they say but it has perplexed me as to why I would be left exposed.

Off topic a little, my hair came out in clumps in the shower yesterday :( 

Great advice Annemarie, these things can come on quite suddenly. I also spent 3 nights in hospital after my first chemo due to neutropenia, definitely not much fun. For the following 5 chemo cycles I was given Neulasta by injection the day after chemo and this helped keep my white blood cell count up. 

Hope you are feeling much better now and that your remaining chemo sessions are much less eventful. Jane xx

Hi I ended up in hospital for 2 nights after my first chemo, it was the pits. I had to have antibiotics as well just as I was about asleep they would come along and wake me not alot of joy. I hope you are feeling much better now