Day Plus 51-64-Staying Healthy

For the past 14 days, from Friday Sept 8-Friday Sept 22, I've just been trying to stay healthy. God has been kind to allow me not to catch anything since I've had the transplant and now have a weakened immune system. I've been swabbed more times than I'd like, but every time the results came back negative. During this time, a lot of our friends who have planned to visit have either gotten sick or were around sick people. It must be that time of the year again. Becky even got a flu shot, but she ended up getting sick with congestion and other symptoms so we had to take additional precautionary measures.

Despite my transplant being successful, my weakened immune system was due in large part to the Ganciclovir grenade I've been taking for the past month to treat the cytomegalovirus (CMV) that was detected almost a month ago in my blood. It was expected that this antiviral medication would lower my white blood cell and platelet counts, which have been steadily on the decline. Fortunately, with the CMV now being at undetectable levels in my blood, the doctors decided to take me off of the Ganciclovir just yesterday, so my white blood cells and platelets should start rising again. So at this point, all I've been trying to fight off is the occasional nausea that comes in the evenings.

In other efforts to stay healthy, I continue to try to drink at least 2-3 liters of fluids per day, ranging from water, to Gatorade, to iced tea, to lemonade. We've also been trying to exercise, key word being try, by doing walking videos in the apartment or going to the gym for some cardio. I'm still 25lbs lighter than when I first checked into the hospital, so I'm glad I haven't gained what I lost with my diet being back to normal.