[Previous entry: "Happy Mother's Day"] [Next entry: "What a Reception!"]
05/16/2006: "Home! - with some results"
Hey Everyone,
Got home last night and it is so great to be here. I can't believe how beautiful it is around the yard, with roses in bloom, etc. It was cool and industrial-like in Tijuana the whole 3 weeks. Awesome to be with my family and in my own bed as well.
I feel good physically. I have had trouble sleeping the last week or so. Hoped it would be better here but I was up last night and out of bed by 4:30 this morning. This will improve as the effects of treatment go away.
Speaking of which, one test they do is called, "Advanced Digital Microscopy and the Augusti Reticulo Endothelial Profile." Basically, they prick you finger and put a few drops on a microscope slide. The Dr. then puts a slide cover on it and smushes (another technical term) it pretty thin. Sliding it under a microscope, he increases magnification to 15,000 times. The image comes up on the computer screen, which he turns toward you. The image below is what I saw on the test during the first week.
These are red blood cells with a white one in there. There were two concerns here. In the open area you can see very thin lines. These are protiens and represent liver damage. The other problem is that the red blood cells are chained together - not good. Cell membranes carry a charge that cause them to repel each other. Free radical damage steals electrons causing charges to change and cells to attract. A chain of red blood cells is too big to get into the smaller capillaries so they can't carry oxygen to organs, etc.
Here is the image taken two days ago. The liver has improved and the red blood cells are looking better. The larger cells are white blood cells. You could see all cells moving around and activity within the center of the white cell.
There were a few different procedures and protocols they did that I will try to explain this week. It is great to be home and hopefully, on a road to better health.
I am "attending" the TAC meeting from our den as I type this comment. I'm using that HSN free Polycom PVX desktop system, Logitech camera, and the HSN bridge. Comes in good. Three sites connecting - CCCOE, Liberty and me. Just thought I'd add that to get you thinking of something else. Mark and I just know that one of these days you'll be back in the thick of this tech stuff. You should present at a conference how your blog was so helpful to you and others during this difficult time!