Impeccable Timing

I decided to get a cough this last week, that turns out to be somewhat of a hacking cough today. The doctors needed to know the color of the material I coughed up, but I will spare you. They are putting me on antibiotics because the blood test Friday showed that I was somewhat low on white blood cells. There are several different types of white blood cells, but the most important type are the neutrophils. They are the infection-fighting white blood cells. My neutrophils are enough that they are not that concerned with me flying to Texas, but they are low enough that they want me on preventative antibiotics.

The reason I say impeccable timing follows from the convergence of these three factors:

1. Today is 10 days after chemotherapy, called the "nadir" point. 10-14 days is the typical nadir for the blood cell count to dip, and it is when I am most susceptible to infection.

2. I got the mucussness from Reno. The cause of the mucussness may be alergies, and not an infection, but the existence of the mucus in my lungs and face are breeding ground for infections.

3. I will be flying to Texas on a commercial airline and therefore exposed to other people that may have their own contribution of bacterial colonies that would like to live in my sputum.

But the doctors approve, I get to go to Texas. There is a slight risk, but not too bad. I will keep checking my fevers and should be flying out tomorrow.