day 163 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Seems like a long time that I have blogged and I miss it but thankful that there has not been anything so exciting that it was necessary to write.

Monday I went to the clinic to see a dermatologist to get a skin biopsy to see if I indeed had Graft vs. Host disease. The rash on my face, chest and back is not any worse. Probably the same or a little better. The welts are gone and now it is just a little crusty, like dry skin. Now I have two stitches in my back.

I was scheduled to go back to MCV on Wednesday but heard that the weather was suppose to be  bad on Wednesday morning so I called the clinic to see if I  could go on Tuesday. They said that would be fine, so I went back to MCV on Tuesday! They took blood work and the doctor said that things looked good. He wanted me to come back on Friday but then he said that I should call him on Friday and we would talk over the phone.But if it got any worse to call ASAP. Then he scheduled me to come in on Monday, so now I am headed back to MCV again in the morning.

On Thursday I had to go to AMC to see an endocrinologist about my thyroid. She was a very nice person and I was really impressed with her caring way. She sent me for blood work and I won't know that results until this week. She did not change my meds because she wants to see the results of my blood work first. I go back to her in 6 weeks. It is getting so hard to keep up with all the doctors that I have seen.

Scott, Beth and the kids are planning to come home on Friday and I can't go back to the clinic until next week -- hope that I can convince the doctors of that. I am really looking forward to seeing them. I haven't seen them since Christmas.

Saturday was the day for laundry and cleaning. By now Rodney has it down pat really good. He now realizes what all it takes to keep the house clean. I did go down to see Rodney's aunt at the nursing home. She was so surprised to see me. We went down when there was no one in the halls and we just stayed for a couple of minutes. That was the first time since August that I had seen her.

I have been able to eat some different food this week. I found a really good spicy Healthy Choice TV dinner that was really good. That was exciting! I have not lost any more weight but am maintaining. I still can not stand the smell of coffee or the taste of a soft drink. But I did enjoy sauerkraut, hot dogs and dumplings - think that maybe my donor is German? 

This morning for our "worship service" Rodney and I listened on line  to one of the sermons at Scott's church in NC -- it was awesome. Then this afternoon we took Rodney's mother for a drive just to get her out of the house for a while. I know what it is like to be here and not be able to be out. I am so thankful to be home but I would like to be able to do more. I would really like to get some sewing done or some cross stitch but they don't want me to to do that yet. I would also like to clean out closets or to go down stairs to do picture framing but there is too much dust for me now. This too shall pass. I have read a lot of good books and still have some to go.

Well that pretty well sums up my week.

Take care -- miss you all so much.

Love,

Gloria

day 156 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

This has been a long week without blogging. The weather this week was pretty nice and I got to walk several days. It was good to be out and to stop to talk to the neighbors.

Monday I went to AMC to see the doctor and he said that it was time to address the no appetite issue -- I have lost three more pounds! He put me on some appetite enhancer medicine. He said that it is not serious yet but he doesn't want to wait until it does.

On Thursday I went with Rodney and it was a really nice sunny day. The day was longer than we thought when we left but that was ok. We both had our lunch packed and we sat in the car and ate lunch. That night when I got out of the shower I noticed that my face was broken out with a rash. I didn't think too much about it. My back has been really itchy but they always told me that it was dry skin. By Friday morning my chest and arms were broken out also. I called MCV and they wanted to see me right away but I told them that I did not have a ride but I could come down on Saturday. They said to be there at 11:oo. That is how Rodney and I spent our Valentines Day. I got to see Dr. McCarty and he looked at my chest, face and back and he said that he was 90 - 95% sure that I had Graft vs Host disease. This is what they have been expecting since they reduced my immune suppressant medicine. Dr. McCarty said that my body finally got to the place where my donor wants to make a few changes and he said that a little change was good. They want a battle but not a war. There are three levels and I am at level two. He took labs and put me on steroids and raised my immune suppressant medicine. He wants me back down tomorrow at 10:oo so I can see a dermatologist  and get a skin sample to make 100% sure that it is Graft vs Host. My Dad and Corinne are taking me down. If this is G vs H I don't know what tests I will have to go through but I guess that I will know more tomorrow.

To think that Rodney and I was thinking about going to see the kids in NC this weekend. I just felt uncomfortable with all the questions the nurse asked me when I asked if it was ok to go (closest hospital, clean house, animals, sick kids, etc.) and also with no appetite I could not even smell some foods cooking. I felt that it was just not fair to anyone. When I talked to Scott about it I think I could hear a sigh of relief. He said that he was afraid something would go wrong and he didn't want it to be because of coming to NC too soon. They are coming here the last of February and that made me feel better. It will give me something to look forward to.

Well I have to get to bed because I have a long day ahead of me. Please say a prayer for me at 10 tomorrow. I will keep all of you up to date on how the day goes tomorrow.

Take care,

Love, Gloria

Today 150 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Today was another nice day. I could get use to this but I know that it is too early to get too excited about. Rodney and I got to walk this evening and it was good to get out for a while.

I went to AMC to the clinic this morning and I lost another 3 pounds! The doctor said that he felt it was time to do something about it. He put me on some meds. I hope that if this medicine makes me hungry that it will also improve my taste buds. It would be awful to be hungry and not have anything that tastes good! They did lab work and it was a very quick visit. I go to MCV next Wednesday.

I have decided that today is a good mile marker to start blogging every Sunday and not every day. When I am here by myself all day there really isn't a lot to blog about. So starting now I will not blog until this Sunday (unless something really exciting happens).

Thanks to each of you that have been faithful about keeping up with my progress. I know that your prayers have helped me get this far and I will welcome any continued prayers.

Take care,

Love,

Gloria

day 149 after transplant

 

Hello everyone,

It was a beautiful and warm day today. Rodney and I went for a drive just to be out to enjoy God's creation. It was nice just to be together and enjoy the day together.

I have to get up early tomorrow and go to AMC (Fishersville) to the clinic. I don't know what they will do but I am hoping that it will be a short visit. This is the clinic that is a short distant away (30 minutes) and I will go by myself. I just hope that they can do something about my lack of appetite. I was hoping that it would be better soon but it seems that it is getting worse. It is really hard trying to find something that I can eat. Rodney got me some chocolate ice cream and I could only get one bite down.

Take care and hope that you have a wonderful week.

Love,

Gloria

day 147 and 148

 

Hello to all,

I did not blog last night because there was not much to blog about! Today is not much better -- but it was warm enough outside for me to take a walk! I didn't make it as far as I was hoping but I know that I will have to work up to it. There was a lot of people outside doing yard work and walking. Haven't seen that for a long time. Tomorrow is suppose to be even nicer.

There is still a lot of flu and colds around. I called Barb and Gregg to come up tonight and they both are fighting colds. They didn't think that would be a good idea to come up. I talked to Ryan last night and he said that Jennifer has been fighting a cold all week. I think that Rodney and I are going to watch a movie tonight. Rodney did a lot of work today -- laundry and cleaning. He has been terrific doing all the things that I use to do. Hope that soon I will be able to do some of my share.

Take care,

Love,

Gloria

day 146 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Well, here we go again, another cold night. As I am writing this it is 7 degrees! It will probably be very close to zero by morning. I am really looking forward to spring time and warmer weather. This weekend is suppose to be a lot warmer but that will be short lived.

Rodney got home and we went to get some steamed shrimp for dinner-- that was very good. I did fix some mashed potatoes and they did not go down very well. Please say a prayer that my taste buds come back soon. I am getting a little tired of things not tasting the way they use to. It is getting so hard to find something that will work for me. Poor Rodney, he ends up eating the things that I can't.

Take care and stay warm.

Love,

Gloria

day 145 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Hope that everyone is in out of the cold weather. As I write this it is 11 degrees! Please remember to bring your pets inside. I just saw on the news that a cute little puppy was rescued from being frozen to a tree!! An elderly Harrisonburg man died after he had fallen and was outside for 14 hours -- please take care when you are out.

Today was a day that I got some needed paper work done and then I started a new book. Rodney started the laundry before he left for work and I finished it.

Made spaghetti for dinner and that tasted pretty good-- so did the milkshake that I had this morning.

Take care and stay warm -- it is going to be warm this weekend.

Love,

Gloria

day 144 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Today we woke up to a winter wonder land. Snow was clinging to all the trees and the sun shone and made the snow sparkle like diamonds. I rode to Woodstock with Rodney just to see the beautiful scenery. It was good to be out for a while. I know that the kids were glad to be out of school today.

After I got home Sara Walton came up for a visit. It was nice to see her and get caught up. Several people called and offered to bring food and to give me a recipe. I still do not have much of an appetite.

Take care,

Love,

Gloria

day 143 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

This morning woke up to sun and not so cold but by the time I got back from the clinic (3:45) it started to snow and now we have 3 inches on the ground! It is a real heavy snow and it is just like a winter wonder land. I bet the kids don't go to school tomorrow.

The clinic went well today -- I got lab work done and a chest x-ray. Then I saw the nurse pract. and she said that my blood work looks very good but she is concerned with the loss of appetite and the weight loss. She wants me to eat protein and she wants me to drink 2 milk shakes (made with soy milk, ice cream and bananas) everyday. Dawn (next door neighbor that took me to Richmond) asked the nurse pract. if she could have a diet like that also. I really appreciate Dawn taking me today -- it was good to get to know her better. We always see each other in the yard and just make "small talk".

I go to AMC this Monday and then back to Richmond on Wednesday the 18th. Then next month I will have to have my 180 day biopsy -- fun fun!!

Take care and be safe if you have to go out in this weather in the morning.

Love,

Gloria

days 141 and 142 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Man, am I bad !?!?!

I didn't blog last night because Rodney and I started watching a movie and Rodney's Mother and sister came to visit. They left a little late and when they left we finished watching the movie. I was too tired to blog.

Yesterday was a busy day with doing laundry and cleaning. Rodney is so domesticated! I sure hope that I will be able to do more of my share when the weather gets warm because I know that Rodney will want to be outside to do the lawn work.

Today we went to Wal-Mart early before the crowd (or so we thought). A lot of people were there getting stuff for the Super Bowl game tonight. Then I sit in the car while Rodney went in to the nursing home to see his aunt for a few minutes. It was nice out today and I did Sudoku while I waited. Betty Browning came out to the car and it was so good to see her. She is such a sweet lady. As we were leaving the home I noticed Rodney's aunt standing in the window waving. I got out of the car and "talked" to her through the window. We hadn't seen each other since August.

Ryan and Jennifer are here to watch the Super Bowl and to celebrate Jennifer's birthday. I will have to get to bed early tonight because I have to leave early in the morning to go to Richmond. I am hoping for a short visit so we will be home before the snow comes! I haven't heard how much snow they are calling for but I don't want to be caught in it on the way back from Richmond.

Take care,

Love,

Gloria