Day +38

All is well!
Just hangin and watching some college ball.
High potassium is still and issue, I’ve done everything I could do on my end to lower it so now it’s on them.
They are changing my rejection meds to resolve that issue.
I’ve been cleared to drive (not alone), and to ride my bike outside. Yes!
Now I can help Lauri run the doggos in the morning.

Day +35

All is well.
Eating, sleeping and working out and keeping very very hydrated.
Next Mayo visit is Friday. Hopefully no issues and I’m in and out of there.
Although I should not complain, a two hour visit is much better than being admitted!

Day +33

All is well!
Just battling to keep the potassium levels down and my magnesium levels up because of the meds I’m taking.
One day it will be within range, and I think I’m doing great, but then the next Mayo visit labs say otherwise and I have to have and IV or fluids and/or magnesium.. (Which adds 2 hrs to the visit ugh!)

Other than that, I feel great!

Here’s an interesting test they do. (Chimerism analysis). For all you Biology majors.

Interpretation

Peripheral blood, chimerism analysis: CD3-positive T-cells:  The CD3-positive fraction contains approximately 50% donor DNA and approximately 50% recipient DNA. CD33-positive myeloid cells:  The CD33-positive fraction contains approximately 100% donor DNA and approximately 0% recipient DNA. 3 informative loci were used in the analysis of this sample. Signing Pathologist: Matthew T. Howard, M.D. The pre-analytical cell sorting was performed on a research basis only. The analytical sensitivity of this assay is approximately 5% in a posttransplant specimen (donor and recipient DNA mixed chimerism). T-cells and myeloid cells were enriched to a purity of 95% or greater. Markers analyzed: D3S1358, D8S1179, FGA, SE33, vWA, D21S11, D22S1045, D10S1248, D16S539, D18S51, D5S818, D1S1656, CSF1PO, D2S441, D13S317, D12S391, TPOX, D19S433, D7S820 and D2S1338  

Day +30

All is well! I feel good!

There is a minor issue with high potassium levels, even though I’ve been watching/checking those amounts on the stuff I eat. Dr said that of all the things they check, a high potassium level is no bueno. (It’s because of the meds).
So...the only way to eliminate potassium, is to... well eliminate. He gave me something that’s gonna make me poop all afternoon. I can hardly wait. Even the nurse was laughing  at me after I drank it. Telling me to have a wonderful afternoon!

Shared this with my family the other day. Attempting to grill brats in 115 degrees;

My brats, my brats, my brats are on fire, burn mother f*ckers burn!

Day +28

Still chugging along, nothing major to report!
Focusing on healing.

Day +24 & 25

Nothing new to report!
Just keeping busy and focusing on healing.
Eating well, keeping busy, active and napping when I need it.
It’s tough not being able do the stuff outside I’d like to do, ( I try but then I get yelled at)
I’ll get there.

Day + 23

Another excellent day.
No issues at the Mayo visit, In fact they have reduced my visits to just two a week now.
All labs looks good. Potassium was high, so I need to lay off the bananas when drinking other high potassium protein drinks.
Got the ok to start some light resistance training in my excersize routine.
Here’s a pic of my constant companion, and her pink bunny she uses as a pillow.

Day +22

All is well.
Another restful, healing day.
Looks like I’m down to just two visits a week at Mayo starting next week.

Check out what I just started. Not sure who’s into Stranger Things, but this looked pretty cool.

Day + 21

Smooth sailin’

Another day closer to 100 days. Since every transplant patient is different, I’m hoping it will be less than 100 days when I’m cleared to get back to my awesome normal life.

I’m  crossing my fingers that during my next Mayo follow up on Friday, they back me down to only two days a week visits.

Before all this started, Mayo research asked if I’d like to be a guinea pig and participate in studies, I said sure why not, and signed up. Today, we were asked  to participate in a study that ASU and Mayo are doing, and they are going to pay us $85 each .  ( it included the care giver as well) Not a bad deal just to answer a few surveys.

Day +20

All is well.
Walked the dogs this morning. Well, walked with the dogs, as Lauri wouldn’t let me have one yet. Felt great. Also hit the recumbent bike for 30 mins later that day.

Hydration, hydration, hydration. Since I’m still on the pro-graf  meds, (prevents host vs. graft rejection)it’s rough on the kidneys and they want to make sure  I’m flushing them out. Also, makes my visits to Mayo short if I don’t need to get an IV for fluids.

Day +19

All is well
In and out of my Mayo follow up today. Blood labs continue to rise.
Haven’t had such a high hemoglobin count in over a year.That alone is promising news that the transplant is working.
Got permission to be outside, which means I can now walk my doggos!

Day +18

Ahhhh, relaxing Sunday.
All is well, feeling better day by day.
Energy levels increasing, road the bike for 30 minutes and it felt pretty good.

Wish it wasn’t so fricken hot out.

Day +17

All is well.
Back on track with hydration and eating.
I was yelled at by my nutritionist, the doctor and my wife about keeping hydrated, and eating more.
(In all fairness, I did have very irritating sore throat)
I feel much much better.

Day +16

Ahhhh, home sweet home.
Feeling good! Blood counts continue to rise. !

Had to go back to Mayo to get labs done,. That will be the schedule 3 times a week as they continue to monitor me. We are fortunate that Mayo is so close to us.

My man cave downstairs is all set up, and it was nice to have some homemade chicken and rice last night for dinner. No more hospital food.!

Day +15

I’m outta here! Will continue this journey from home!

Feeling good. Have a nasty sore throat, but I’ve been told that it should clear up soon with the increased white blood cells.

Can’t wait to sleep in my own bed, and not get bothered by nurses!

Go cells go!

Day + 14

I’ve been here 3 weeks!
Lab numbers are starting to take off. Platelet numbers doubled. Hemoglobin numbers increased. (First time in 8 yrs I’ve seen those numbers actually increase !)
White blood cells are on the rise, and most importantly, neutrophils were almost high enough for me to go home. (Needs to be .50 or higher, and mine were at .40 today)
So....I’m assuming I’ll be out of here tomorrow.!

Go cells go!

Day +13

All is well,  no blood products needed today, and my counts are continuing to climb.

I had one more side effect show up yesterday as I was taking a shower. My hair started to fall out!

So I just had the nurses finish the job:

Go cells Go!

Day +12

Feeling good!
Started my morning with a pint, a cup of of coffee, and an OxyContin. Breakfast of champions!
Platelets and white blood cells are starting to increase.
I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Go cells go!

Day +11

Howdy, Howdy, all is well, still waiting for these blood counts to up.
Nothin exciting planned for the day.  Maybe except for some LEGO time:

Day +10

Still here! Still chillin’
Just waiting for the numbers to start increasing.
Some good news , platelets did increase, even though I got some platelets yesterday, they didn’t spike that much last time. Doctor said platelets are the first to increase.
Still holding out for a mid-week release.

Go cells go.!

Look at this bad boy waiting for me. Can’t wait!

Day +9

Happy Friday!
Feeling good, even better now that I’m no longer connected to my IV pole. I can now move freely around the cabin, and It definitely makes showering and sleeping a lot easier . One step closer!

Received an awesome snack gift basket from the Oliversons yesterday. (Thanks Gary & Jill, you guys rock!)

Today is bingo day,  for a chance to win coupons from the gift shop. I know, sounds lame, but at this point it’s the highlight of my day on Fridays.

My babies are still waiting. :(

Day +8

I’m officially stuck in Ground Hog Day. Thank god I’m able to leave my cell and walk around the pod. My favorite time of the day is doing a Facetime dinner with the family.  Of course what they are having always seem to look better than what I had!

The doctor confirmed that it’s probably gonna be another 7-10 days before I’m released. (From yesterday) So hopefully by next Wednesday. I figure it’s best that my blood labs are where they should be before going home. 

Still minimum side effects from the chemo, well except for this:

Doctor said it should clear up in a few days. 

Go cells go!