[Chirley]

Hi, It looks like different doctors have different ideas. My haematologist is happy if my ANC is above 0.5. I have been told that it's okay for me to work and socialise and do what ever I want as long as it's above that level. Personally, I get a bit worried when it's under 1.0 because I work with people who have infections. These infections can range from H1N1, VRE, Norovirus, HIV, TB to the always present MRSA.

At present my ANC is 0.8 and I redeveloped cellulitis of my ankle, which I had in September and had to have weeks of IV antibiotics. I also developed and abcess over my medial ankle bone whch I had to have incised and drained yesterday (without any kind of local anaesthetic). The doctor used a scalpel and made (2) 1 centimetre cuts and I think I might have squashed the nurses hand from squeezing so hard. I am on 2 different types of oral antibiotics and have to go back tomorrow to see if it needs to be drained again. I'm not looking forward to it.

I think I would be happier to have Neupogen if my ANC is less than 1.0 (which it always is) but my doctor says that it may cause me to start producing leukaemic cells so I feel quite confused.

I hope the start of 2010 isn't an indication of what's going to happen for the rest of the year. First I cut my hand washing a jug and had to have 6 stitches (never had them before while I've been awake, at least I know now that they don't hurt) and then the ankle.

Best of luck to everyone for the New Year.

Chirley