Dontcha love a good diagnosis?

I just got back from the hematology office for yet ANOTHER blood draw. At the rate I am giving blood, I will be anemic! The lab tech was much better today than the student who was stabbing at me on Monday. My right arm and hand still look like I got beat with a stick.

The good news is that my white count is down quite a bit from last month. I came in today at 13.6. The high end of normal is 12, so I am close. Last time we were at 16.9, which was my all time high. The hematologist has decided to "officially" diagnose me with Chronic Idiopathic Leukocytosis. In other words, my white count is chronically elevated for no apparent reason and its nothing to treat or worry about. Which is good, because I am already starting to feel like a walking pharmacy.

I started taking a drug for alertness (Amantadine) on Tuesday. It seems to be helping a little, but not as much as the other drug that I was hoping for (Provigil). The Neuro wanted to give the other drug to me as well, but the insurance companies aren't very fond of paying for it. So we need to try this one first and then we can request the other one if this one doesn't work.

On Monday I am going to add a drug (Gabapetin) that is supposed to help with the neuropathic pain in my hands and feet. I didn't start both at the same time because we needed to make sure that if I had a reaction to either one of them, we knew which one it was. I am hoping that it will help provide some relief for the constant burning and pain.

Anyway, I am happy that my white count is down and approaching normal. Also happy that I don't have to go back to the hematology office until the end of September! I am going to get to have blood draws every month if I get into that clinical trial at OHSU, so less is more as far as I am concered! Hopefully the student vampires will improve their blood sucking skills before I get to see them again.