The lady at the beach

TWO MONTHS POST TRANSPLANT: today is the 60th day after my autologous bone marrow, or stem cell, transplant.  Below is a list of changes that have happened since my transplant, to help anyone having the procedure understand how things have progressed for me.  It was better than feared as the nausea only lasted 6 weeks.  The weakness is slowly turning in to stamina. 

I will not have my original vaccines until June 2023 (polio, smallpox, varicella, meningitis, etc.) so I rarely go out except to take a walk.  I don't travel and won't be able to until July 2023.  Thank goodness for my children (who are with me) and for books. 

I have received emails from people unsuccessfully trying to write comments on my blog.  If you have questions and can't comment on the blog, please email me.  

COUNTS

- I stopped feeling perpetually nauseous about 2 weeks ago (6 weeks after transplant)

- my white blood cell count is on the low side of the normal range

- my platelets are in the normal range

- my hemoglobin and red blood cell count are both below the normal part of the ranges (these have never been in the normal range since my transplant)

- my IgG is still below the bottom of the normal range

- I am currently 5'5 1/2" (MM made me shrink 😂 an inch)

- I weigh 113 (was 121 before transplant) but my weight is now stable

MEDS

- I take Bactrim to prevent pneumonia 

- I take acyclovir to prevent viruses

- I take D3 to try to keep my bones healthy

- I stopped taking asthma medicine in March and have not needed it (eager to avoid cortico-steroids)

DIET

- I no longer feel very sick when I smell food (stopped approx 1 week ago)

- I have eliminated almost all processed foods from my diet

- I drink coffee and water only (used to drink Snapple & diet Gingerale). tastebuds rejected chemicals 

- I hardly drink alcohol anymore

EXERCISE

- I walk an average of 4 miles a day which makes me tired but no longer exhausted

- I have completely lost any muscle mass that I had.  This has been tough.  I'm trying to add something back, but progress is very slow

THE LIVER

- I had AST & ALT liver enzymes which were way above normal (despite no Tylenol, Advil or alcohol).  I started taking NAC, N acetyl cysteine, which you can buy at Whole Foods.  It has been approved by. the FDA to use in emergency rooms to mitigate liver damage related to Tylenol overdose.  

- After taking 500 mg once daily for 2 weeks, my liver enzymes came back into the normal range.  Liver problems scare the heck out of cancer patients and I was no exception.  The meds that cure liver disease make cancer worse and vice versa.

THE BEACH and THE LADY AT THE BEACH

I was at the beach last Friday with my youngest child just before she left for college.  I dared to take my hat off with the hope that the sun would help my hair grow (I am bald).  A woman walked up to me and gave me an individually wrapped latex glove (I cant go anywhere in public without them). 

"I've been there." she said (with a lovely full head of hair shining in the sun) "I wish you love." 

I thanked her and I wished her good health and love.  She understood that healing is all about love.  I appreciated that encounter so much.  She validated my belief about the power of love. 

I wish you love. 






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