December 22, 2008 10:00 PM

Well, it's good to be home again!

We left the hospital about noontime and stopped on the way home to have something to eat.

This time the reaction to the chemo was a little different than the first time. Nothing severe mind you. The first time, I got a fever that was easily corrected by taking 2 Tylenol. However, they assume that any fever is caused by some kind of infection and immediately load you up with antibiotic and start collecting all kinds of stuff that eminates from your body to test if that really is the case. This time, fortunately, I had no fever. But I did get a rash. The chemo, coupled with the hospital environment, dries your body out. Now that chemo is over - the rash will go away.

I said fortunately regarding the fever. Because if there were any kind of fever, they would keep me in the hospital until my counts went down to zero and returned to their normal values. This, most likely would be several weeks!

This time, the hospital visit was very frustrating at times. Especially the way the collected my "vitals". I mentioned the 10:00 arrangement that I thought I had - but that lasted only the one night and it didn't even work correctly then. Last night was a doozy - they came in at 12:45 AM to do it! Needless to say, I had been sound asleep. They also compound this by making no attempt to be quiet with anything that they do. Doors are noisily closed. Trash containers are slammed closed, etc.

Additionally, last night, someone disconnected my IV from the wall to plug in the IV for the gentleman who had come in. I found this out at 3:30AM when I awoke for a bathroom call. Fortunately, there is a battery backup. But, still, to simply unplug the cord from the wall without looking to see what it powers is a little selfish and/or shortsighted.

So everything is in place for the short term. Off to Manchester on Monday and Boston on Friday; continue my oral health care exactly as in the hospital(I am not allowed to brush my teeth as yet); and take a fairly strong antibiotic twice a day. And, of course, the usual - avoid crowds, people who have colds, flu, etc., close contact with children,... In general, anything that could possibly cause me to get an infection.

Well, it is great to be home for the holidays although they most certainly are not going to be celebrated in a fashion that we would have preferred. But I look at it positively. The disease was diagnosed before it had a chance to overrun my body and do more severe damage which could possibly have prevented the aggressive course of treatment that I am now undergoing. Secondly, with that course of treatment, I am in full remission. Thirdly, I came through the process so far with flying colors. And, lastly, I have the support of an untold number of people who continue to keep me in their prayers. I have nothing to complain about!

Sharing a hospital room is lousy for a number of reasons. But, it does put everything in perspective for me as I see other people who are not as well off as I am. I have much to be thankful for! God is good!

Bob