Answers to good questions

My pseudo-sib Sid emailed and asked some good questions, the answers to which might be interesting to all of You.

"When will your new marrow be functioning on all cylinders?"
Well that's a bit like 'how long is a piece of string'.... but they have given me some guidelines that I am so far way ahead of. My new marrow comes from the new blood producing cells that are official engrafted and they have started to produce blood cells the white and neutriphils demonstrate that. I guess at this point I have to wait until I have red cells and platelets rising upwards, as well, before we say the new marrow is working right, but it is working.

"And how long will you be in hospital"
They say around day 30 (I'm at day 15) but I may be going sooner as my counts came up quicker but I think it will be based on achieving the following mile-stones:

No mouth ulcers
No pain meds needed for mouth ulcers
Switched all other meds to tablets
No nausea or need for nausea meds except the odd pill
Counts back in the normal range
Eating and drinking well
Self-caring
No temperature or signs of infection
Able to care for Hickman's myself.

Based on that list it may be that I go to the unit mid THIS week. I had the ultrasound of my liver today so that may mess my perfect world up.

"When will your immune system be working mostly okay and will you have to take anti-rejection drugs?"
The immune system will come up behind the counts and take months to be great. I have to be in touch with the hosp up to day 100 on an in patient basis (Actually its a different clinic but you get the idea). I will need blood products from time to time as mine lag, if they do. I will be taking anti rejection drugs up to 100 days. I will be in danger of infections up to 100 days at a diminishing rate of course. But the sores in my mouth and throat have started to clear up already and should be healed in a couple more days.

The dog can't lick my face for a year. The cruellest blow, but I can see her and pet her then wash my hands. I can't go near the horses for a year, I won't be Gatton this year or at the annual show. I can't go into crowds during the 100 days, I can't eat out (questionable food) for the 100 days.

I still have the possibility of Graft versus Host Disease at anytime in the 100 days - where my new immune system attacks my body as it sees it as 'other'

more later
Chris