June 24,2009 10:45 PM

Time for the first medical update in a month!

It was somewhat of an adventure at the hematology lab as they claimed that they could not draw my blood because they did not have some codes for some of the tests that the doctor had ordered. It makes no sense to me and it didn't make any sense to the doctor either as he did not ask for anything that had never been done before. In any case, it took over 45 minutes before they finally took me in the lab. And when they did - did they ever make it count! They took 20 vials! I don't know what the doctor had ordered but it was the 2nd most number of vials that I have ever had taken at one time.

When we finally saw the doctor, he looked at my counts and proclaimed them to be fine. This resulted in thecutting of one of my immuno-suppresents for 1.5 mg twice a day down to 1 mg. If all goes well in July that will be further cut to .5 and I'll be off of it by the end of August. At that point the other drug will be cut from 2 mg once a day to 1 for the month of September and, by October 1, I should be off of them! That will be super! But, I know that I am getting a little ahead of myself. I just have to slow down and take it a day at a time. Impatience is no virtue!

He did look in my mouth and he said that he noticed a little lace like growth that seemed to turn my cheeks from red to a pinkish color. This he claimed was a minor manifestation of graft vs host disease. He then asked if I felt any sensitivity in my mouth to acidic food and when I said no he then said that there was really nothing to be concerned about here.

I know that I am doing well because we have connected somewhat with a fellow who had his transplant about 10 days before mine and he is on a two week interval between visits. So, obviously, I am progressing better than he is currently doing. But, the weaning process is no cakewalk so we do have to be conscious of everything that is going on.

Boy, it's easy to write these entries on the day that you visit the clinic - there's lots to say. Because of the test code issue, everything was delayed somewhat this morning and we didn't get to leave until quarter to nine. What a bummer! But, it was nice to be able to touch base once again with some of the staff and catch up on a few things. Of course, their main concern is my health and appearance and they commented on how much healthier I looked from the last month. I guess that it must be true as one of my daughters had a picture that was taken shortly after the transplant and even though, at the time, I thought I looked pretty good - I had that cancer patient look about me. Somewhat wan and pale looking. When you look in the mirror, you see what you want to see and not what's actually there.

The next appointment is July 29th - 5 weeks hence! So not much medical news to report until that time unless something totally unexpected happens.

I've been more than longwinded, so I'll come to a halt here...

Bob