Neutrophils R A Go

By Love is...... A husband who cant talk back

Just joking,  He is having trouble speaking and when he does it sounds like someone else with a very deep voice.

Sunday   day 16
Great news Colins neutrophils bottomed at 0.09 for 2 days.  Today they are 0. 56 which is fabulous.  They need to be over 1.9 but I think if they keep climbing and all stays well he may be able to come home after another week.  It means 3 day appointments to hospital a week but just having him home and sleeping in our own bed will be so much easier. It doesn't discount being readmitted for infections or adverse reactions though. 

GRAFT VERSUS HOST DISEASE - GVHD

GVHD happens when particular types of white blood cell (T cells) in the donated bone marrow or stem cells attack your own body cells. This happens because the donated cells (the graft) see your body cells (the host) as foreign and attack them.

It is difficult to say who will develop GVHD after a transplant. We don’t know exactly, but somewhere between 1 and 4 out of every 5 people (20 to 80%) having a donor transplant will develop some degree of GVHD. Some people have a very mild form which doesn’t last long. For others, GVHD can be severe. It may even be life threatening in a few cases. Some people may have GVHD over many months, or even years.

What's scary is that Colin could develop graft versus host any time,  even after 2 years.  A serious complication.  If he can  get through the first 100 days without too many problems then he will pass the acute stage.

Wonderful to come home to;
*a shower i can stay in for as long as I like
*my beauty products
*semi washed dishes on the bench - NOT
*a warm house
*open living spaces
*my own bed
*My kitchen and pantry
*peace and quiet (no alarms going off continually)
*Cameron at home with Lucy the cat

MONDAY day 17
I feel revived after a Better nights sleep at home.  Colin is feeling better too and throat slightly less  painful as the neutrophils have risen to 0.80 fantastic. He has a dry irritating cough which kept him awake but xray is clear of the lungs.  On his walk around the ward this afternoon I noticed he was walking at a faster pace.  Last few days he was walking so slow I felt like a snail. I have managed to cook dinner at home and have arrived at 1pm all sorted for the rest of the day.

Tuesday  DAY 18
Still progressing slowly but well. Finally had the NG tube removed and ate his dinner so much more easily.  Big smile on his face when it came out. Will have to work on gaining weight.
His tiredness is from continuing nights of broken sleep.  Neutrophils are 1.4 which is amazing.