Day 329
Yesterday, I had the first clinic appointment with my new oncologist, whom I like a lot. He’s seems very intelligent as well as kind and gentle. I told him that while I’m sad that my former doctor left, I’m glad to have him as my doctor now.
Overall, my counts were good:
WBC – 5.0, up from 4.1, normal and the highest it’s been in a while
Hgb – 11.1, down from 12, below normal of 13
Plt – 199, down from 238 and still at a good level
AST-SGOT – 43, down from 68 (below 42 is normal)
ALT-SGPT – 46, down from 92 (below 40 is normal)
My liver enzymes are so close to normal and all my other counts are good. My new doctor agrees with my former doctor had suggested about just leaving me at current levels of anti-rejection drugs, and that in a month or so, we’ll probably be able to start the weaning process again. In a month, I’ll be close to a year from the transplant, so they’re also going to do another bone marrow biopsy/aspiration (woohoo!) to do chimerism studies.
Slowly but surely I really feel better and better over time. I’ve started exercising more (mostly tennis and biking) because it became clear I was just out of shape from almost total inactivity for over 6 months. I’ve already noticed an improvement in my endurance and rate of recovery from getting winded, and it feels good.
My only complaints are mild stomach cramps occasionally and my taste problems that have led me to not enjoying eating much at all anymore. It may be some kind of payback from my enjoying eating too much before the transplant, but it still sucks to not even enjoy foods I like (or once did). I do get hungry and I do eat because I know I should, although I think I could easily skip many meals if I didn’t think it would be harmful. My new doctor says that theoretically, GvHD could attack any part of the body, including taste buds; and he’s seen it occasionally before. I believe the condition will improve over time, but even if it doesn’t, if that’s the worst I suffer from GvHD from here on, I’ll consider myself quite lucky.
I’ll probably report again sometime in the middle of August. Thanks again for all of you concern, support, and love. I couldn’t have made it this far without those things.
Love,
Justin
Overall, my counts were good:
WBC – 5.0, up from 4.1, normal and the highest it’s been in a while
Hgb – 11.1, down from 12, below normal of 13
Plt – 199, down from 238 and still at a good level
AST-SGOT – 43, down from 68 (below 42 is normal)
ALT-SGPT – 46, down from 92 (below 40 is normal)
My liver enzymes are so close to normal and all my other counts are good. My new doctor agrees with my former doctor had suggested about just leaving me at current levels of anti-rejection drugs, and that in a month or so, we’ll probably be able to start the weaning process again. In a month, I’ll be close to a year from the transplant, so they’re also going to do another bone marrow biopsy/aspiration (woohoo!) to do chimerism studies.
Slowly but surely I really feel better and better over time. I’ve started exercising more (mostly tennis and biking) because it became clear I was just out of shape from almost total inactivity for over 6 months. I’ve already noticed an improvement in my endurance and rate of recovery from getting winded, and it feels good.
My only complaints are mild stomach cramps occasionally and my taste problems that have led me to not enjoying eating much at all anymore. It may be some kind of payback from my enjoying eating too much before the transplant, but it still sucks to not even enjoy foods I like (or once did). I do get hungry and I do eat because I know I should, although I think I could easily skip many meals if I didn’t think it would be harmful. My new doctor says that theoretically, GvHD could attack any part of the body, including taste buds; and he’s seen it occasionally before. I believe the condition will improve over time, but even if it doesn’t, if that’s the worst I suffer from GvHD from here on, I’ll consider myself quite lucky.
I’ll probably report again sometime in the middle of August. Thanks again for all of you concern, support, and love. I couldn’t have made it this far without those things.
Love,
Justin
