Before the War

So, I was in Friday for my 'bonus' appointment to check on my kidneys.  Everything was looking good for just a quick bloodwork, and then home.  They didn't even have me booked for fluids. But, I forgot, it was Friday.. Results came back, and the kidneys were doing much better, but the Hemoglobin was down to 81.  For all you LBMT fan's out there, you know what that means ! Transfusion ! Of course, I don't have up to date blood cross match, and they didn't expect I would need it, so they didn't draw blood for one back at the start of my appointment. I could see the writing on the wall.  I was going to be on the road before noon.  Now, it certainly looked like late afternoon. Sure enough, by the time the cross match was done, and the blood arrived, and the two bags slowly dripped in, it was 5:15.  Rush hour.  On a Friday. Yes, I still feel like crap.  Fortunately sitting in the truck, driving, is not very physically taxing, and pretty calming.  Th

Prednisone is over now.  I did the last decrease to nothing on Friday, so that I would have the weekend to suffer the effects, and so that if anything went really wrong it would be there for my Monday appointment.  I had some pretty bad joint and muscle pain, and crippling fatigue for most of the weekend.  The pain was pretty much gone by Monday, but the fatigue is still there. The fatigue is probably caused by lack of eating as the taste buds are gone again along with the desire to eat. Got up early for my Monday appointment, and the commute was crazy light.  The Port Man bridge was only backed up to Johnson Hill - like a holiday or early Sunday morning.  It was weird.  I got in about an hour before my appointment.  It gave me an opportunity to go to the special pharmacy to pick up some more Cyclosporin. Got in to my appointment at LBMT, they took my blood, and since there were no fluids scheduled, the nurse was wondering if I wanted to head off right away.  We decided it would

So my hair has been coming back for the last little while. With a vengeance. One of the side effects of the Cyclosporin is hair growth.  Seeing as the radiation, chemo, and weight loss had me looking like one of those hairless cats, one would think that some enhanced hair growth would be a good thing. Seems like my body, and the drugs, are making up for lost time though.  I have hair growing everywhere - places that I never had hair before.  There is hair growing out my ears.  There is long hair growing on my fingers.  There is no break from my eyebrows to my beard.  My beard grows right up to and onto my nose. Yes.  Shaving is quite tedious - especially when you have low platelets. I even have slow growing hair in my previous bald spots on my head.  I know what you are thinking guys, and yes, Cyclosporin is a great baldness treatment.  A common side effect of serious and possibly fatal renal failure does make it a bit of a slow starter in that market though.  Looking like th

As mentioned in my last post, I was way to sick to be able to do the Lung Function tests they had rescheduled for me on Tuesday, but I was going to try and make the Thursday ones. I wanted to get them out of the way, and even if I was still going to be messed up, I would probably be able to do them.  There was a Eye exam, Dental Exam, Blood Work, and CT Scan. Thursday morning, I poured myself into the truck, and started the drive to the appointments.  I still have the cold, and combined with the drug level changes, I was not a happy camper.  I do find the driving relaxing though.  It's just too bad that with all the construction I have to plan for about a 2.5 hours drive. The first was the Eye exam.  They needed to do a tear production test, and a general slit lamp exam.  The Dr. left a student in charge of doing the start of the exam, but he kept focusing on the previous stuff in my chart instead of the Day 100 tests that needed to get done (I had the Dental appointment comi

-Monday = Dosage Changes Again.. -Still in isolation when at LBMT due to virus. -When test comes back negative, isolation restriction will be lifted. -Had been rescheduled for Lung Function test on Tuesday at 8am.  There was no way I was going to be able to make that my current state so I had to call and cancel again.  I don't know why they rescheduled it for so soon, or so early. -Other tests are scheduled for Thursday, and I am hoping to make it to them and get them out of the way. -The drug level changes on Monday really messed me up by 5pm ish last night.  It was a pretty rough ride and I skipped eating.  Not eating lead to a very low blood sugar level.  I knew something was very wrong, and eventually did a blood sugar level, and quickly got some sugar juice in.  The drugs messing up my natural insulin were almost gone, but the artificial insulin was still active and forcing my level down.  I have to plan in the morning for the evening and sometimes it is wrong. -Go

I still have the cold, but it seems to be getting better.  It was too bad to be able to do my Day 100 tests, so they will be getting rescheduled. Next LBMT is on Monday. I am back on the insulin.  It looked like I might be back to working normally after the last Prednisone drop, but no.  Perhaps the next drop on Monday will do it.  It was nice to not have to worry if I am too high, or too low, every time I feel extra crappy. Warning to all the normal people - Don't be breaking your Pancreas.  Diabetes sucks the big one.  Modern Carbs are evil - The "Oatmeal" guy probably wears a hat to cover horns.  The best I have ever felt, and the healthiest I have ever been is when an average meal was along the lines of a big greasy hunk of meat, and a great big salad with oil/vinegar dressing.  Atkins was right - it's the croûtons, fries, rice, garlic bread, or pop, that will screw you over, but they are just so damn yummy.  I know how to screw up my blood sugar, I know

Still have cold virus. Pretty nasty.  Mostly at night.  Can't sleep.  Prednisone dosage change on Monday from 15 to 10 is having a big effect on my system as well.  Walking is pretty messed up.  Feet and Hands are still numb most of the time as my system stabilizes and I work out my insulin dosage. Forgot some of my drugs last night when I was sick, so that's probably not helping.  Made up for them as supposed to, but still affecting me. Day 100 tests for the 2-3rd have been postponed. Also, to whoever is calling my cell with caller ID blocked, either leave a message, or unblock you number.  Too sick to talk to marketers and wrong numbers.