When I had my nose piercing, it never got infected. I let it close up because the stud bothered me, and I liked the ring, but I couldn't remove it easily myself, which became an issue back when I was having the occasional seizure and head injury and MRI.

Now that I'm less likely to do that, maybe I'll get it pierced again.

eta: ita, I don't know. My mom couldn't do chemo but that was 22 years ago, and I was pretty much a wreck and don't remember anything.

Also, sorry, and I hope they can figure something out!

ita, she may just need to postpone the next round. This page is safe to look at: [link]

interview went well, may be up to 2 weeks before I hear something.

The interview with placement agency #3 also went well and they are recommending me fora job, but that company requires additional skills testing. I should know in 2-3 days if the company wants me to move on.

They said there's some expensive treatment she can get--she can't take her scheduled chemo today, and if she's not back up by next week they'll give it to her.

ita !, I'm sorry to hear it. Hopefully it can be resolved relatively easily? Keeping my fingers crossed.

msbelle, yay for a good interview! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you too.

Off to prenatal yoga, hoping my crossed fingers don't interfere with Downward Dog...

ita, if you'd like, I can put you in touch with my sister. She's usually great about translating doctor talk into straightforward language. She'd know about the white blood cell count, for example.

Monique (Buffistas/Bronze) just finished chemo for breast cancer, maybe she has a good idea? I'll ask her to take a peek in here.

I just ordered a new mattress set, going up to a queen from a full. I'm a little saddened about getting rid of my old bed, it was the first new piece of furniture I ever bought with mine own saved up money. But the mattress was well over a decade old, and sleeping on it blows.

I got a new mattress pad, sheet set, and dust ruffle to fit it, but think I'd like to get a new cover: [link]

It says burgundy red, but that looks like a bright red on my screen. Anyone? I'm looking for a bright lipstick red.

Someone set my expectations: white blood count too low for chemo--how bad is that, and what can you do in a week to fix it?

It's quite common. It's not so much that it's too low for chemo but that the next round of chemo might drive down her white count to the point that she's really prone to infection.

There's a drug [link] that's been approved here for about 10 years and longer in Europe that stimulates white blood cell production. They may see how her count does in a week and try again or they may start with Neulasta right away.

ita, all best possible thoughts to your mother. I hope one of the people Buffistas rec can help you understand doctor-speak.

Good luck, ita's mom!

I have determined, after a visit to the Mayo Clinic website, that I have chronic sinusitis. It's really fun.