All quiet in the chemo ward today. Of course, no experience at TKO is without gaps in communication. We learned that we are supposed to call in mom's Neupogen (med used to treat neutropenia = low white blood cell count) the day before her chemo. When I asked if we were supposed to get a call from TKO to let us know if mom had been give the green light for treatment, I was told that they only call if the various blood count tests are too low for treatment.
Note to caregivers: always call to confirm
So obvious given the already mediocre communication that we can't rely on TKO calling. In addition, I found out that once Neupogen is started, it's continued throughout the cycle. No one told us that and we could easily have left thinking it wasn't ordered.
What a hole-y patchwork. Really sad because there are only a few dots to be connected and healthcare providers are so entrenched they can't see the potential gaps. How any sick person without an advocate can navigate through any US healthcare system is beyond me.
Mom slept, ate, drank, and read her way through #4. She is not at fighting weight, but has slowly gained some poundage back. She made a determined effort to go into this next round as fit as possible and she succeeded.
We've got some new ideas and meds for the coming week. Maybe we'll get through it with less strain on mom.
Everything crossed.
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