Thursday, December 28, 2006

Update # 87

Day Plus 16

Good Evening,

We're home but it has been just as busy here with Jeff getting a routine started.  And Heartland Home Health came to do an assessment of Jeff.

Let me back up and fill you in on the last days in the hospital.  Christmas night Jeff was told he tested positive for "C-Diff".  It's a common colon bacteria problem after patients have been on antibiotics.  Jeff has always been checked for this each time he was in the hospital -- all the way back to 2001.  Every other time the test showed negative but this one came back positive.  I guess Jeff had to have it one time!  Being on antibiotics causes the problem but the irony is -- you take an antibiotic to cure it!  So starting that night, when we left the room, we had to gown and glove and when people entered the room, they had to gown and glove.  He'll be on this antibiotic for 2 weeks.

Tuesday morning was the Doppler on Jeff's left arm to check out the hand swelling.  That test showed all clear -- no blood clots.  They weren't sure what was causing the swelling.  It could possibly be a dermatitis that became more inflamed when his counts rose quickly.  Each day we notice improvement.   

Jeff's counts came down a little on Tuesday so he was given 2 units of blood plus some magnesium.  The count that we were glad to see coming down was the anti-rejection medicine level.  It was back in the normal range and getting pretty close to where they like it.  But they still did not want to resume the dosage.

Wednesday morning the doctor came in around 9:30 and asked Jeff if he felt like going home.  We're were a little surprised but knew it was coming this week.  Back on the 22nd, they indicated that if Jeff kept continuing like he was,  there was a possibility of going home on the 26th or 27th.  Then that medicine level soared and the weekend with the days following were definitely not an improvement so we assumed release would be put off.  The doctor had then thought maybe discharge by the end of this week due to the problem.  But that medicine level took a good drop on Tuesday and Jeff had more energy.  So we were out the door of the room 24 days after entering. 

And we were thrilled when we were able to come "home" home and not just in StL to Hope Lodge.  Dr. DiPersio had told us back in August that probably Jeff would go there 1 or 2 weeks following discharge.  But according to the docs, Jeff is doing well enough to be at home. 

Now when I say Jeff had more energy that does not mean anywhere near normal.  He tires easily and it takes effort to do normal tasks.  We have to fill out daily papers on temperature twice a day and the amount of fluids he drinks.  Then he has eleven pills that are taken differently and scheduled at three separate times of the day.  He did resume the anti-rejection medicine last night and only at a third of the amount of the original dose.

I had mentioned in an earlier update about Jeff's pulse being fast since the transplant.  His blood pressure is higher than usual for him since that time also and it's due to the medicines he's receiving.  It will return to his normal numbers as the medicine is tapered off.  So for a short period of time, Jeff is on a low dose blood pressure med.

This anti-rejection medicine level has to be checked twice a week.  We had called our home health to see if our local hospital could test that medicine.  The hospital sends it out to a different lab so we cannot get that result the same day as the blood draw.  So for now, we'll have to go to Siteman twice a week.  One day will be blood work with a doctor's visit and another day for just blood work.  When they figure out  the proper dosage for Jeff, then we hope to have that second blood work done locally.  

So Jeff and I will go to StL tomorrow morning just for some blood work.  Due to the holiday next week, we'll see the doctor's nurse practitioner on Wednesday after they do more blood work.  We hope to then find out which will be our regular weekly  day to see Dr. DiPersio and which other day will be for the second blood draw.

We are pleased that Jeff received this early birthday present of being at home.  He'll turn 23 on Saturday and we'll spend a quiet day at home -- what better place to be!  Ken has a wedding at 3:30 that day so he won't have to quickly drive down to StL afterwards.  Sounds good to him.

All of you have given us your prayers and support and now you can see the wonders of your words.  Please continue to help Jeff in this recovery.  Each of you are very special to us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  God bless.

love,

Marcia