Post-Transplant Update: 13 September 2018

Another week has gone by with some positive signs as well as mixed results.

On the positive side, my energy has again increased slightly. Though I am still far, far away from boundless energy, I finally felt up to getting in a walk of about 200 yards. By the time I was about half done, I was walking slower, but still moving. By 150 yards I was limping, struggling and had to resort to using the cane I had brought along just in case this very thing happened. However, I made it all the way around the loop I had decided to try!
After needing to rest a couple of days, I did that same loop once more last evening, had the same result...but I finished. The long road to better strength always has to start somewhere, and this walking route was my somewhere.  I am finally on my way!

Also on the positive side, for the third week in a row my labs showed  nine results that were in the desired ranges. This is now a pattern, and clearly demonstrates some stability in those labs.

As far as the mixed results, let's begin with the headaches. The week has been one that looks like a graph chart...up; down; up; down...   There have been a few days that the headaches were minimal and I took no T's and barely even took any Tylenol alone. 
This is a definite improvement.
However, I have also had several days that were filled with sharp, intense headaches that T3's barely even touched, so I had to resort to either just getting through it; or when I was miserable, resorting to taking something stronger. Luckily, that has happened only once.
Anytime I can have a mixed week with the TMD headaches, it is a good week!

Along with the mixed results on the TMD, my latest labs are also a mixed bag. I already discussed the stable labs, so let's take a look at all of the results, then I'll discuss a few of these...

11 Sept 18 Labs

*Tac:   NOT MEASURED!

*Creat:   2.40 (+0.04) Dropping

*HCT:   33 (-1.7) Low

*Hemo:   10.5 (-0.5) IR

*Lymph:   9.5 (+2.8) Extremely Low

*Lymph ABS:   0.6 (+0.2) Very Low

*Neut:   84.4 (+0.3) Extremely High

*Neut ABS:   5.4 (-.08) IR

*RBC:   3.62 (-0.15) Very Low

*WBC:   6.4 (-0.9) IR

*BUN:   43 (+6) Extremely High

*CA:   10.2 (-0.1) IR

*GFR:   29 (-1) Extremely Low

*Gluc:   104

*K+:   4.1 (-0.5) IR

*NA+:   139 (-2) IR

*Prot:   7.0 (-0.3) IR

*MG:   2.1 (-0.1) IR

*Phos:   3.0 (-0.6) IR

*BK:   Not Checked

*CMV:   Not Checked

     IR= In Range     NC= No Change


First of all, the Kidney Clinic doctors removed the Tac test from my labs altogether! That test is now a thing of the past!

The Lymphocytes jumped again, so I am not holding my breath that they will stay there. It would be nice if they did; but there will be no surprise on my part if they drop once more.
Along with the Lymph rise was a commensurate elevation of the Lymph ABS...just as it should. 

The Neutrophils took an unexpected turn in the wrong direction. After a few drops towards range, I am surprised to see this increase.

And speaking of things trending in the wrong direction... The BUN took a second jump; now back into the 40's. This may be temporary (I'm hoping), so next weeks' labs will be a good indicator of either something going wrong, or it just being an anomaly.

In conjunction with the BUN, the GFR result also showed movement in the wrong direction. Again, next week will be a better indicator.

I am not at all concerned with the Creatinine, Hematocrit, Hemoglobin or RBC results. These are going to bounce around a bit; so unless something falls (or rises) precipitously, there is little to worry about here.

Last, I have my next Kidney Clinic visit next week, so any concerns the doctors might have will be addressed at that point.


Aside from the things discussed earlier, the week has actually been OK. My sleep has been decent; my dreams are under complete control; I have been stable as far as daily fluid intake at around 3.0 Liters every day; my appetite has remained in check commensurate with my activity level; my weight is up a little (hovering around 117 Kg) but I am addressing that every day; and my daily vitals have been good.
Body temps have had a tendency to be lower than normal (now 97.7 degrees f), and have hit a low of 95.0. In general, I am registering at around 96.9 degrees f.
Blood Pressures have been fairly stable with 115-133 diastolic in the A.M, and 126-146 diastolic in the P.M.
Heart Rates have also been ranging from the mid 60's to the low 80's, depending on my activity level.
All in all, not bad. 

Finally, I am slowly prepping for our upcoming move. The condo that my wife and I live in is being sold by its owner. Luckily for us, a brand new townhouse [just up the road from where we now live] will be complete in about two weeks from now, and we already have a contract to live there. So, my next two or three blog entries could be sporadic, a bit glossed over, quick or all three. What energy I have will be quickly used as I pack things in preparation for the move on the last weekend on this month.

Once I am settled in, and my home office is set up, I will again get back to my regular entries.

Until then...Enjoy the final few days of Summer, and following the Autumnal Equinox, get ready for some beautiful Fall weather!

Good Health to All!

ScottW