My kidneys are "the best they've been"

2 week old Black Russian Terrier puppies! They are 6 weeks old now and really cute, Three girls and a boy. Jo and Gene are really happy.

For those of you playing along at home you know that my kidney function has been less than perfect (shitty in fact for a couple of weeks) and this was/is because of the imunosuppressant that I take. But we lightened up on the IS about 4 weeks back and last Friday's call from Doc Schoozenbootz was good. Still making my own red cells, they are up a bit further. And he said my kidneys have improved alot. See quote in title above.

So I still have to get off the IS drug and hopefully won't get GVHD, which would be the chronic kind at this late stage. Doc says I have a 50/50 chance but I rekon that as I get lower and lower levels of IS drug then my odds have got to be increasing. Anyway We're going to Bribane to see him next friday Aug 3rd so will report .....

more later.

Chris

I'm making my own red cells now!

well that title pretty much says all the news so .......

Just kidding! A couple of weeks ago when we came back from Brisbane my red cells were at 96 (normal is 140 tranfustions usually happen if I get below 100). Doc Schoozenbootz said i wasn't getting a transfusion as we were close to the time when my red cells are supposed to kick in. I did a blood test a week ago last thrusday but didn't hear from him and then last Thursday and talked to him on Friday. He says the previous week I was at 102 and this week at 113 so I'm seriously on my way. He says my kidneys are okay as well.

Day 129 now, and the the red cells kick in at day 120 ,we were told, so I'm right on schedule. The red cells are the last to kick in so this is a pretty big milestone. The doc still hasn't seen the DNA results to make sure that it the new cells are doing the work now, but he's pretty confident. I have a more sceptical approach and figure that it's not over until the 'fat cells sing'. Or something like that.

Okay fort those of you keeping score. the final milestones were and are.
*get red cells kicked in
*I'll take DNA results for 100, Bob -'What are my NEW cells' ........is the correct response!?
*get off the immune supression drugs - currently down to 5/8ths of what I was taking when I left hospital
*don't get GVHD - Oh come on you can't have forgotten already what that stands for! Say it with me...Old kids help the new kids... Graft Versus Host Disease. At this point if I get it now it means it will be the chronic kind and I have a 50/50 chance at this point.
*get Schoozenbootz to sign me off in about 4to six months.

pretty good eh! doc says that i haven't been reading the book on how to be a patient as i'm breaking all these records. Bluey i pretty happy too.

more later
Chris

115 days on 07/07/07

Well I have lots of little stuff to report and catch you all up on our movements over the week.

We had a great time at the July 1st Canada Day event at the Mckay-Wright's. (shown) That night we met a friend of our friend Jerry McNamara, from Sydney. Karen and her boyfriend Chris were up for a conference and came to dinner on Sunday. It was big fun and nice to be able to host someone in our home again. Monday Joyce went back to work and I took a total break. Tuesday and Wednesday I did a bunch of unpacking and errands. Thursday we travelled back to Brisbane to see the doc on Friday.

Sian and Callum came up with Gene and the truck last Friday and went back with us on Thursday. It was a great but quiet trip back. We had a nice dinner with Bev at the local and then on Friday did the inspection of our old unit and then got intrgram at the clinic and saw Doc Schoozenbootz.

He told us I was doing fabulous. he hadn't seen me inthe past two weeks due to his time off and he thought my hair growth was the best for this time in tranplant process. He didn't give me the reuslts of the DNA test but will later when he gets them off the other computer system. I'll get a blood test on Thursdays and he will talk to me Fridays but I won't go back to him for 4 weeks! We though it was going to be fortnightly but he's gone straight to monthly! he is a little concerned that my kidneys have started performing poorly and has dropped my cyclosorin a little bit. this is the immune system supression drug. I'm now at 5/8ths of what I was on when I came out of the hospital and will over time go to zero (I hope). Anyway this should improve kidney performance and that produces more IPO or EPO which in turn triggers more red blood cell production and that's the last cells that a tranplantee starts to grow themselves.

Anyway the next week bodes well for a commercial bath for Chilli, more truck driving for me, unpacking the last of the boxes and a big big sweep out of stuff. Both Joyce and I have come back with a plan to clear out "stuff" from our life. We have too much stuff and are anxious to reduce beforw we move to a new house.

Our plans are for me to take this time of inforced non work to drive forward the house. I'm doing research on solar electrical systems, solar hot water, energy efficient stoves, funky louver walls, selling solar electrical back to the grid, recyled water systems etc. We get our plans from the steel homes company shortly then take them to the local draughtsman to add windows etc. then on to council for approval.

more later
Chris