Post-Transplant Update: 21 February 2020

Well, I'm a day late on getting this started, so lets go right to the labs...

17 Feb 20 Labs

*Creat:   2.71 (NC)

*HCT:   38.7 (+0.5) IR

*Hemo:   11.8 (-0.2) IR

*Lymph:   13.5 (+8.2) Low

*Lymph ABS:   0.9 (+0.5) Low

*Neut:   77.1 (-1.1) High

*Neut ABS:   4.8 (-0.4) IR

*RBC:   4.23 (-0.01) Very Low

*WBC:   6.3 (-0.3) IR

*BUN:   38 (+5) Very High

*CA:   9.0 (NC) IR

*GFR:   25 (NC) Extremely Low

*Gluc:   103

*K+:   4.2 (+0.5) IR

*NA+:   138 (+1) IR

*MG:   2.1 (NC) IR

*Phos:   4.0 (+0.7) IR

          NC= No Change     IR= In Range

*Urinalysis:   

Appearance:   Normal

Color:   Normal

Glucose, UR:   Negative

Hgb,UR:   Negative

Ketones, UR:   Negative

Leuk Esterase:   Negative

Nitrite:   Negative

pH, Urine:   6.0 (Normal Range is 5.0-8.5)

Prot, UR:   Negative

Specific Gravity, Urine:   1.015 (Normal Range is 1.003-1.030)

My labs this month look good. Though the BUN remains far too high, and the GFR is way too low, my Creatinine held steady--which is great!-- my Hematocrit increased for the second or third month in a row, and once again, my Lymphocytes (and ABS) took a big jump after the most recent precipitous drop (...the yoyo continues...).

My Urinalysis looks great! The kidney appears to be filtering very well.

The monthly infusion of Belatacept went well; aside from an extra attempt at cannulation. As is now normal, I have had zero side effects from this med that once saw me label each infusion as 'the Belatacept Blues' due to the excessive intestinal gas and soft stools that would happen for months following my getting on this vital med. I am soooooo glad that those days are behind me! (Yes...pun intended!)

My headache this past week have been manageable. My daytimes have usually been good, with any headaches controlled with Excedrin. However, the evening have seen the headaches increase so that have to take the T3/Excedrin combo. 

The best news on the TMD headache front is that my average daily T3 usage has fallen to 1.8 tablets! This is a terrific decrease in both headaches and med usage!

Hope remains that I will conquer the TMD once more!

My weight has stayed steady, ranging between 121 Kg's and 122 Kg's. The days that I take the Torsemide no longer see my urine output exceed my intake by huge amounts...only small ones of 0.5-1 Kg. However, on the non-Torsemide days, I just retain that fluid once again. So, no win, no loss overall.

Energy-wise, I am still getting incrementally better. I did grocery shopping last evening, and after three stops over about three hours, I came home, put the groceries away...and wasn't exhausted!    Tired, yes. Just not so exhausted that I could hardly move.

So, I'm seeing good progress on this front.

The neuropathy in my feet also improves in very small increments. The numbness has decreased significantly in both feet; but the pain lags behind that improvement. I have actually had a few more  small areas on my feet that feel less pain and heat; but the overall majority of both feet remain tender and hot.  I have been thinking that I may need to examine newer pharmaceutical options for reducing the pain so that I can get shoes on for more than an hour. I will be doing some research on what might be available, and whether or not any of the options are compatible with my meds.

Well, that's all I have for this entry; some decent or good progress all around. (How long has it been since I've been able to say that?)

My next scheduled appointments are both coming up in March. One with my Nephrologist, and one with the surgeon who excised three of my Parathyroid glands. The surgeon just wants a routine follow-up, and likely discuss my daily Calcium intake.

Plus, my next labs and infusion are on the 17th.

With not much to discuss right now, it might be a couple of weeks before my next entry.

Until then, may you all enjoy what remains of the Winter of 2020, and remain safe in all that you do!

Good Health to All!

ScottW