I am still battling a cold--the worst cold I've had in a long time. Exhaustion, body aches, sore throat, headache, etc. Today (as I was feeling sorry for myself) I was thinking about how I don't get as many colds as I used to get. When I was in high school, college, and grad school, it seemed like I got several really bad colds each winter. When I was in grad school, I was diagnosed with neutropenia. Click here for more info:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/204821-overview
When they gave me this diagnosis, the doctors made it sound like this was something that would be life-changing for me, but it definitely hasn't been. After a couple of visits to a hematologist and a bunch of tests, I continued with my everyday life and rarely thought about it. In fact, I think I was already engaged to Bill before I even told him about it. It just never came up.
When I first started at UNI about five years ago, I had a physical and it seemed that I still had the low level of white blood cells. However, I was feeling well, so my regular doctor didn't recommend seeing a specialist unless I felt like it was necessary--and I didn't feel it was necessary. I haven't had any follow up since then. I am wondering if my white blood cell count is higher now because it seems like I get sick less and have fewer infections.
I don't believe neutropenia makes you more vulnerable to colds or other virus. It only affects how prone you are to infection. However, I believe that it was playing a role in how every time I got a cold it was turn into a sinus infection that I would have trouble getting rid of. That doesn't happen to me anymore, so I am wondering if my white blood cells are up. Having a cold right now has made me realize that I don't get seem to get colds as often anymore, and they rarely develop into the sinus infections and ear infections that they used to. Maybe I don't really have neutropenia anymore.
Today I was eating my generic oatmeal and (as usual) adding a touch of vanilla soy milk. I finished the soy milk and then wondered if I would be able to find a cheaper substitute for the soy milk I've been using. I don't think they have it at Aldi, but I am going to check. The soy milk I've been using is about $3.19. I typically use Silk or 8th Continent. I would really like to find a more budget-friendly alternative. Let me know if you have ideas. It really is somewhat of an unnecessary expense for me because I just use it to add to my oatmeal, but I love a little bit of it on my oatmeal!
I am also looking for ways to make dog shampoo. It appears it's easy to make it by combining ingredients such as glycerin, liquid dish soap, aloe vera, and apple cider vinegar. I may give it a try. It'll save some money and might be sort of fun.
My dad came up for the UNI men's basketball game last night. He called in the afternoon and asked if it would work. Fortunately, I thought ahead to order a ticket because they had sold out by game time. And I would have felt like a real ass had he come all the way up to Cedar Falls and there were no tickets available. Anyway, he seemed to be doing well and it was good to see him. And he got to hang out in the McCleod Center, which he often sees on TV and the internet live feed. Not a nail biter of a game--we beat Drake handily--but I'm glad he could see a UNI win.
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