The backpacking trip on Fire Island has been cancelled. All my gear was ready - dusted off and aired out since my last backpacking trip a year ago in Oregon. The good news is that I've been exchanging emails with the organizer and she will be planning other backpacking adventures!!! I'm excited!
I found a website that sells freeze dried vegetarian meals for backpacking - http://www.packlitefoods.com/ - My order should arrive any day now! YAY! I got a Katadyn water purifier and a Jetboil too. I'm ready! Got some Under Armour base layers for the cool weather. For some reason I call it Armour All - the stuff you clean the car with! LOL
This Sunday there is a fundraising ride for the Guide Dog Foundation. Do I dare attempt the 50-mile ride? Hmmmmmm......
October 3rd is the date of my next hike which will be in the Catskills. This will be my first hike in almost a year. I'm very excited!
CLL Clinical Trial - Hydrochloroquinine. Basically, this is medication for Malaria. I've been asked to participate in a Clinical Trial by Dr. Rai and his staff. For some reason, this medication reduces the WBC (white blood cell count). A normal person has a WBC of around 3,000. Mine is currently at 46,000. I've been taking the meds for almost two months now. I go every four weeks to give blood samples. Four weeks earlier, my counts were 58,000. So, my WBC has gone down by 12,000 injust four weeks. This can be just normal fluctuation. I'd like to think the meds are working. My platelets and Hgb dropped a little, but still are in normal range.
A friend of mine at work was looking at my arm and horrified to see how bruised I am. Actually, I have quite a few bruises on my arms and legs. Some I can explain, some I have no idea how I got them. My friend insisted I call my CLL doctor. I did. My doctor wants me to come in to do some blood tests. I'm going to think it over and decide on Monday if I want to make an appointment and go in to LIJ. I'm feeling pretty good - just been a bit tired, but I've had a lot on my mind the last week or so and haven't been sleeping as soundly. TGIF I'm sleeping in tomorrow!
