Day 55

Hi!  I'm back.  After much discussion, it has been decided that once a week blog is better than everyday.  Sorry, most people get tired of hearing from me everyday, so we'll do once a week.  It's been an up and down week.  They changed some of my Meds around and I was walking around like a Zombie throughout the day.  I didn't have enough energy to do any exercising or just about anything else.  I went to TGH for clinic on Monday, told Dr. Haddad what was up and he had me stop one of the pills he had me start 2 weeks ago and moved another to the morning.  Now I'm not taking anything that will cause me to stay up at night and not be able to sleep.  So, I don't take anything as a sleep aid.  I am a terrible drug addict.  I have such a low tolerance that even the non-drowsy medications make me drowsy.  I am beginning to be able to taste food again.  Boy, it sucks when everything tastes so bland.  I have no desire for sweets, which used to be my downfall.  I used to want chocolate and Ice cream at night before bed.  I guess that's a good thing, not to want sweets.  But I don't know how I'm going to gain weight like this.  Remember, I went from 215 lbs. down to 159 lbs.  I am still at 159 lbs. Lungs are working well, breathing tests that I do every morning are good.  I don't cough when I eat nor when I talk on the phone.  My voice is okay, not great.  When I had the stroke, during the transplant procedure, it paralyzed my right side as well as my vocal cords.  I had a second operation to add filament to my vocal chord to allow it to vibrate better.  It has helped, but I still have to strain a little to talk.  Some think that's good because I won't talk so much.  After a year post transplant, they will decide if they need to do another operation for my vocal chords.    I can't complain, I'm in a much better place than I was before the transplant.  Remember every DAY is a gift, open it up and share it with others.