February 14 Transplant Day 71

Since my last post just five days ago, a lot has happened. When I woke up last Friday I was feeling sick and had a high temperature. As I stood up to start the day, I got light headed to the point that I blacked out and collapsed. Rose was watching all this happen and stepped up to catch me as I collapsed and eased me to the ground. At this point, the best thing was to get me to the hospital. So with a call to 911, we rode with the local ambulance to the University of Washington Medical Center. (I am sparing some of the more unpleasant details here. If you have experienced this or been with someone who has, you can fill in the blanks). I was in the Emergency Room for the entire day. My blood pressure was 72/40, pretty low when I arrived. I was admitted to the eighth floor, generally reserved for those who are cancer patients. This seemed appropriate as I am still recovering from a stem cell transplant. Here the doctors loaded me up with IV-fluids and antibiotics. A chest x-ray showed a new shadow on the left lung. Later a CT Scan showed this to be a single shadow, likely some aspirated stomach material. Over the next four days, a lot of IV fluids, antibiotics and two units of blood and my blood pressure was back at a safe level. Before discharge, I was walking the hospital halls to regain some strength back into my legs.

We have hopes that this will be our last month here in Seattle. Before we move back home in the next two weeks there are several procedures we have scheduled so we will not be driving back across the mountain passes in March. In the next two weeks I have a heart biopsy, a bone marrow biopsy, several clinic visits with my hemonc doctor and an eye doctor.

Oh and one more thing.  Happy Valentines Day.