Check Up and Nationals

Tomorrow is my first check-up after the last biopsy. And on Thursday we leave for the Nationals in Durban (where the World Games will be next year). So hoping check-up goes well, been feeling a tad paranoid and anxious about it because it's so close to our trip. Eeeekkkk... definitely taking half a sleeping pill tonight.

Results!

So I did get a call later on Thursday evening and the preliminary results were no rejection :-) Praise the Lord! Dr said it was unlikely to change, and I haven't heard anything since so I'm assuming nothing changed. Have to see the surgeon for follow up on Tuesday so so will definitely get the full report then. Hopefully everything can return to normal after that.

It's been great having my sis here. On Friday evening we went to see the movie Fly Fishing in Yemen, very cute love story!!!! Yesterday morning we went shopping in Sandton and got some awesome sale specials! Had lunch at my parents house and in the afternoon my sis and I chilled at our house for a bit. Last night we went to see a comedy show called Mass-Hysteria at Montecasino and went for burgers before the show. The show consisted of 8 comediants each doing their set. Was pretty funny and made for good evening out.

This weekend has also been FREEZING. Right now it's 9:29am and 2 degrees C outside! (and not much warmer inside cos we don't have central heating). Having lunch at parents house again today. Was also planning on going to gym this afternoon, but with the weather being so crap (freezing AND windy) what are the chances of me actually going? I'll just pretend like it's for my health's sake (sweaty body plus freezing wind when you get out of the gym = bad combination) and not like I'm just lazy!!!

biopsy - check, lungfunction - check, status = waiting

Yesterday was the "long" awaited follow up bronch. Went fine, no issues. Lip very sore today (they must have accidently cut it open on inside) and throat a bit tender. Lungfunction on Tuesday was 101% FEV1 and 116% FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) but the FEV 25-75% number down a bit. Dr said I shouldn't worry too much about it. So now the big wait for the results! With last biopsy I had the results by now, so the fact that I don't have it yet is hopefully good sign.

First check-up after hospitalisation

Had my check-up today! Thank goodness because I've been counting the days leading up to this! All good news at least. FEV1% was 102% and FVC 109% or something but the other nrs were pretty impressive, so it's a new base-line best for me. YAY!!!! Of course I'm nervous that the nrs will drop once I'm off the steroids, but for now I'll take this! Gym's coming along well again. Went 4 times in last week and back where I was before I got sick. So life is pretty much back to normal. Just have to book biopsy now for middle of next month sometime. Then I'll figuratively breathe easier as well!

HOME

Am HOME thank goodness!!!!! Ugh hospitals suck. And uncertainty sucks more! Not feeling completely "out of the woods" but lung function was great today (FEV1% = 103%) and all phlemy noises gone. Have to go for follow-up lung function in 2 weeks time and another biopsy in 4-6 weeks time. However right now feeling too tired to stress about that. Steroids made my brain all fuzzy and feeling zombie-like after a few nights of almost no sleep. Can't wait for bedtime :-) Having nice steak and mushroom for supper (have lost 2kg... didn't eat much in hosp because everything tasted wierd. Hopefully the steak and mushroom tonight taste normal!). Back to work on Thursday so 2 days of rest ahead... heaven!!!

some rejections :-(

What a CRAP week... So the verdict is some early spotted acute rejection. But back to Wednesday... Barium Swallow test was gross. Had to drink what tasted like paint-cement-chalk mixture. Wanted to throw up. They then x-ray you while drinking it. Standing up and tilted. Test results showed no serious reflux but might still have some. Bloods were fine. Then bronch was done on Thursday. Was not bad at all. Was home by Thursday early evening. Went to work on Friday (although did feel a bit out-of-it but kept my mind busy.) At about 15h45 Dr Williams called saying he managed to get results back early and it's some bit of rejection :-( Luckily caught early. Finished up work, drove home packed my stuff and it was off to hosp.

Timing was perfect because Dr W was busy with his ward rounds when I got there and saw him immediately. He also put drip in for me and said not to freak out because they're just being prudent and all should be fine etc etc...Of course until I do follow up lung function on Monday and lung func back to normal I won't feel completely at rest. Getting treated with 1,000 mg of Solumedrol twice a day (and some antibiotics) for 3 days... depending on Monday's results. Going to look like puffer fish soon! Hospital hasn't been too bad so far. Seeing that last night makes night 18 spent in hosp post transplant like EVER... I'm not really used to it. Been having lots of visitors and keeping busy!

So... hope to be updating with with good news on Monday. Please pray for good results!!!

5%

So my cold (or whatever it may be) did affect lung function, it's down by 5% to 94% :-( Also feels kind of like my cold keeps on coming back in terms of nose and throat. UUGGGHHHH so frustrating. Because of the drop in LF I have to have a few tests done... did CT scan, sputum and additional bloods (did normal bloods on Sunday and they were all normal) yesterday. Today I have to go for barium swallow to test for reflux (been having some heartburn) and tomorrow my first ever biopsy/bronch post transplant! Eeeekkkk. These days they do the biopsies a lot more often on the newly transplanted guys at 3-monthly intervals but "back in my day" it was only done when needed. Will update as soon as I have have any test results back, should definitely hear about the bloods. Praying they find what's wrong and that it can be fixed soon!