Number Nine...Number Nine...Number Nine...
Today marks the nine month bench mark of my transplant.
Only nine months? Really?!?!?!??
The road has seemed longer than that. We've covered so many different scenarios.
Jumped through so many crazy hoops. Overcome so many arduous obstacles.
Jumped through so many crazy hoops. Overcome so many arduous obstacles.
Now with the hope that the tx recovery gestation period is over - I am ready to move on.
The latest nutty impediment has been the CMV virus, but I found out yesterday at clinic that I am winning the battle. My CMV levels, when they were officially recognized several weeks ago, were 64,000 and now with the help of some darn powerful drugs and plenty of clean living, those levels have dropped to below 200 which the tx center considers "negative." They tell me that once I've tested negative three times in a row (over the coming months) - they will consider me victorious over the active infection.
This is such a welcome change as some of the issues that have bugged me for the past 9 months have been alleviated here lately and now can be directly blamed on the CMV.
The doctor told me that although they had given me the prophylactic IV's in the fall, kept me on meds to deter CMV, and had tested for it regularly, he suspects that somehow it had been "disguising itself" in my system and this has them baffled. He said he has even brought my case up at a conference at Penn recently to discuss this and alternate ways to detect the infection sooner.
Again, a CMV infection to most people is not a big deal, but to those with transplanted organs, it can really spell trouble so I am glad this is moving into the rearview.
Although my red blood count, and my H & H, aren't where they should be yet, most of my other bloodlevels are coming along nicely and my new organs ("grafts" as they are known in the business) are performing wonderfully. To be quite honest, although I still feel that I have a few things to be worked out medically, this past week has probably been the best that I have felt physically since my transplant.
Both the transplant nurse and then later the doctor told me that I "looked good" yesterday (?) and when I asked the nurse about this she said "Bob, there was a time, before your transplant, when you really weren't doing well. You were really pretty sick."
Funny, I don't recall them saying as much at the time but these people are all so positively optimistic that I probably shouldn't be surprised.
But all of that is now downstream. Life is upstream.
That's where I'm headed.
Thanks for the past nine.
Thanks for checking in here.
The latest nutty impediment has been the CMV virus, but I found out yesterday at clinic that I am winning the battle. My CMV levels, when they were officially recognized several weeks ago, were 64,000 and now with the help of some darn powerful drugs and plenty of clean living, those levels have dropped to below 200 which the tx center considers "negative." They tell me that once I've tested negative three times in a row (over the coming months) - they will consider me victorious over the active infection.
This is such a welcome change as some of the issues that have bugged me for the past 9 months have been alleviated here lately and now can be directly blamed on the CMV.
The doctor told me that although they had given me the prophylactic IV's in the fall, kept me on meds to deter CMV, and had tested for it regularly, he suspects that somehow it had been "disguising itself" in my system and this has them baffled. He said he has even brought my case up at a conference at Penn recently to discuss this and alternate ways to detect the infection sooner.
Again, a CMV infection to most people is not a big deal, but to those with transplanted organs, it can really spell trouble so I am glad this is moving into the rearview.
Although my red blood count, and my H & H, aren't where they should be yet, most of my other bloodlevels are coming along nicely and my new organs ("grafts" as they are known in the business) are performing wonderfully. To be quite honest, although I still feel that I have a few things to be worked out medically, this past week has probably been the best that I have felt physically since my transplant.
Both the transplant nurse and then later the doctor told me that I "looked good" yesterday (?) and when I asked the nurse about this she said "Bob, there was a time, before your transplant, when you really weren't doing well. You were really pretty sick."
Funny, I don't recall them saying as much at the time but these people are all so positively optimistic that I probably shouldn't be surprised.
But all of that is now downstream. Life is upstream.
That's where I'm headed.
Thanks for the past nine.
Thanks for checking in here.
Baby steps take longer, but they add up eventually! Great news! I will update everyone here in Boston!
ReplyDeleteHappy 9! You have for sure come a long way...I know it has been rough at times...but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...and stronger you are! Would love to read your case study...an interesting story about an interesting man beating an interesting virus. So happy to hear the hardcore meds are helping you beat the virus...better living thru chemistry! Have they tried giving you a shot of erythropoetin to boost your RBC's? Either way...you should celebrate with a big juicy steak to help boost your hemoglobin...thereby making the RBC's you have more efficient! doctors orders ;) Cheers bob!
ReplyDeleteContinue to be sound...
9 months!! Well, It's kind of like.....being pregnant!! and you have given birth to a new life!!! Congrats!!! As always, Jo ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd as always...thank YOU for keeping us all posted. It has been a journey of cosmic proportions in many ways. I for one, am glad your journey is taking you "upstream" now. Take good care,
ReplyDeleteLisa
Another milestone! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan!
ReplyDeleteYou've had many.
You set the bar high.
: )
Still checking in...looking for updates. Hope all is well with you!
ReplyDelete