Eating again

I got onto things pretty quickly this time round and I think by self medicating with an anti-fungal liquid on Monday I've managed to avoid a long stretch of suffering.
The hospital has prescribed a systemic anti-fungal which I started on Tuesday and by Wednesday I was able to swallow fluids again. Today I was able to eat cornflakes for breakfast, all be it rather soggy ones.
Most of the ulcers have subsided apart from a few really painful ones on the inside of my lips. I'm sure they will be gone in a day or two.

Sounds silly and insignificant to be complaining about mouth ulcers after all the medical dramas I've been through, but I can assure you that having thirty ulcers is thirty times more painful than having just one, and on Monday I was a pretty pitiful sight. Unable to eat, drink or even talk properly. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I was awoken by a sore throat on Sunday morning. By Sunday night I had developed several mouth ulcers. By Monday I could not swallow and the ulcers were numbering in the thirties. After a sleepless night last night I phoned the hospital and relayed the symptoms. They suggested I come in straight away.

My mouth and tongue have gone completely white, a symptom of oral thrush. But I've never seen it get so bad so quickly. I can't swallow without severe pain and drinking any kind of liquid is very difficult. Solid food is impossible.

I'm really annoyed about this because after all the care I went through during chemo to avoid problems with my mouth I've developed exactly what I was trying to avoid. It was this time last year that I suffered the same thing and lost 15kg in weight when I was unable to eat for two weeks. Hopefully this time it won't be as bad.

The really good news is that I had a blood test today. All my counts have doubled since last Saturday. Most are now back into the normal range. The platelet count has shot up to 38 and looks like it's going to rocket up to a normal level in a few weeks. This means that the Bone Marrow transplant has definitely engrafted. I can stop worrying now.

Ugly is the state of my mouth. I hope it wasn't the Indian food I had on Saturday night to celebrate! I've never seen so many ulcers come up all at once. Today in hospital they gave me a litre of fluid via IV as I'm already dehydrated through not being able to swallow. The doctor also took several swabs from my mouth and tongue to see if they can grow anything in the lab. They want me back in again tomorrow.

Platelets rising.. Cause for celebration!

I've just had another blood test and all my counts are up on last Wednesdays figures. My Platelets are now 24, not exactly a high count but significant in that they are not only holding their own but have gained by around 10%.

When measuring the success of a bone marrow transplant one of the significant factors is the point at which the patient gains a platelet count greater than 20. So this is a milestone in that it would appear that my stem cells have engrafted and are now producing marrow and bloods.

I've asked if I can come into Ward 1 tomorrow and have my PICC line removed. It's been in my arm now for over six weeks and it will be great to be untethered from it.

Tonight Sarah and I shall go out for dinner and celebrate!

Wow!

Kurt is away from work for a couple of days. He's racing Thunder-Cat power boats in the Far North. I've just spent the entire day working on cars. One of the jobs was quite physical and yet at no time have I felt fatigued. I can't believe I am feeling this good so soon after treatment.

Here's hoping tomorrows bloods look good and I can get this PICC line removed and back to a normal life.

Marrow recovering ??

It's too early to be absolutely sure but today's blood counts are all higher than Mondays figures.
Platelets in particular are up to 22 from 20. Any increase in the platelet count is indicative of marrow recovery. I'll wait until Saturday's counts before I celebrate, but it does look promising.

I've been flooded with calls from people congratulating me on Sunday's win at Mount Victoria.
It's a nice feeling knowing that there are people out there that take an interest in my motorsport and are genuine in both their concern for my health and their praise for my good fortune behind the wheel.

Healthwise I feel really good. Last night I went for a walk for half an hour and felt no fatigue at all. My rising haemoglobin count of 118 might account for that. I can see me getting out for regular exercise within the coming weeks and slowly regaining my stamina and strength.