Pneumonia

My cmv has caused pneumonia so now Im battling both. Just one of the luxurious side effects of the transplant. On a lighter note, Im being taken off some of my transplant meds so thats good news! And Im off to Chicago in just a few days for a followup! I have scheduled a fertility and hormone consult here in April since Dr Burt's nurse told me that checking my fertility is not part of their study even though i heard they did it with one of their previous male patients so i don't know!but my body hair has once again stopped growing and my menstrual period has all but disappeared. So we will see!

CMV

im startng to feel the CMV symptoms now.

runny nose
coughing
sneezing
muscle aches
joint aches
ear aches
migraines
cramping
nausea

i was worried i had pnemonia, which cmv can cause, but im almost certain im judt experiencing the cmv in general.

closing in on 6 months...

im almost at my 6 month followup. im doing amazing. i have been a little nauseas this week because i tested positive for CMV..i may be going in public a little more than i should. i cant wait for that part to be over. i have had some serious depression issues lately so hopefully going to chicago for my followup will help get me out of my rut. im also fighting a col, arthritis and migrainespretty bad but thats about all!

Update out of hospital

I was rushed to the ER Tuesday because I felt perfectly fine and then it suddenly felt like something exploded inside of me. They admitted me and I was put on vancomycin even though my labs came back negative for any infections. I started feeling better by Friday but Dr Burt told the doctors to go ahead with a colonoscopy and with an ultrasound on my liver and pancreas because my liver enzymes were high.

Ok here's the results: I got magnesium, my hemoglobin dropped to 8 but I didn't get a blood transfusion. They stopped my voriconizole and cell cept. Liver and pancreas are fine! My liver enzymes will be monitored!

My colonoscopy showed only 3 ulcers, a few polyps, significantly reduced inflammation, and the part of my colon which was once full of inflammation and ulcers nearest my small bowel is now completely clear.

In other words... The stem cell transplant in only 4 months has almost completely put me in remission!! God is so good and I can't help but cry at how blessed I feel right now!!

Update from mid january

Ok so I saw my GI dr. I'm going back on vancomycin for c diff even though my test came back negative, it could still be living in my body. I'm on Ativan plus pexeva to help with anxiety and sleep. I went to sleep before midnight lastnight and slept until 2pm and feel amazing today! I don't know if its because I was exhausted or because of the Ativan. We will see!  I'm also now on something for my migraines which is helping too. And I'm taking carafate to help coat my stomach and reduce the burning I'm having. So far so good!!

Note: I was also told to stop taking the phenergan for nausea because it is linked to causing me to have restless legs at night!! Thought this info might help some of you!

Four months post transplant!

Well I'm still being treated for c diff since my Crohn's symptoms have been suddenly and significantly worse this past week but I'm feeling better. It could very well be because of something I've eaten since I'm now eating anything I want now.. I'm thinking I should slow down a bit and allow myself to heal more. I also had a sinus infection and eye infection but its gone now after some antibiotics. I'm having issues sleeping again so it's back to the doctor for something to help me sleep and help with my anxiety since I'm having coping issues as well. We are also changing around my birth control and hormone meds because I was bleeding for 2 months straight and right after my blood transfusion, my hemoglobin dropped suddenly once again. But one positive thing is I'm never in pain from my Crohn's. I experience some burning in my stomach but I think it's from my acid reflux. Well! That's all dr now!

Improving

Updates aren't as common since I'm starting to really feel better. I'm having lady issues which I'm guessing is from the chemo since the doctors can't figure it out but other than that I'm seeing huge improvement since surgery a couple weeks ago! Thank you all for your continued prayers and I will continue to update you on my progress!