Day 104

           I know it hasn't been a week since my last post. Good news, I got a call with results from Tuesday's biopsy and clinic. Biopsy came back negative. No rejection and no infection. Lab work came back great all levels are good and kidney function is good. They also cut back on some of  my steroids from 20 mg per day to 15 mg per day. The goal is by the end of the first year to have these steroids down to 5 mg per day. I also asked if they thought that I would be able to stop the insulin injections at some point. The answer was an educated yes. Oh, and now clinic will be once a month instead of every two weeks. Yeah!
         I started walking again, after getting scolded at the hospital on Tuesday. Somewhere around 2 miles per day. I'm over the 7 to 10 mile walks. Remember it's mid 90 degrees here.
        These are the reports that I like to hear. It shows real progress and it lifts the spirits. Have a great day.

Day 102

     Had my lung biopsy this morning. Had to be at the hospital at 6 a.m., and Lovely Linda had to drive me. She also picked me up afterwards at 12:00. This was a rough procedure. Not sure why, but while waiting for Linda I felt like I was going to pass out and felt nausea as well. Came home and slept until 4:30. Feeling better. I was told that I need to exercise more, that is the only way to build the stamina. Okay, I already knew that but I guess I've been lazy. Going to look into a low cost gym in my area.
     Thanks to Linda's push,  I've begun trying to give back in my own small way for this gift of life. I am getting re-involved in a website called Transplant Buddies. When I was searching for information, this was a great resource. It is a web site that people that have had transplants can share their stories. It is also an area where people who are diagnosed with ailments and may be in need of a transplant can go and ask questions and get more information about the process. That was something that I felt was needed, a place to get specific information. Not just medical information from doctors and hospitals, but actually experience information from someone who has gone through it. It is a scary prospect learning that the only way to get back some quality of life and continue living is to have an organ transplant. Who'd a thunk it? Something like this that usually happens to the other guy actually is happening to me.
    I've been discussing moving with Linda. It is too much to try and keep up this house and we need to cut expenses, so we are thinking condo. We have to stay close to here for Lin's job, which enables us to get health insurance albeit expensive. I also need to stay close to the hospital, which seems like my second home. I visit every 2 weeks. Anyway, we'll see.
    Most importantly, I'm feeling good. Wow, can you believe no complaints from me? I've got a lot of ideas in my head about other ways to continue this journey and to contribute to society. Don't just go through life, let's participate. There is a lot of anger out there, especially now with the economy, the Gulf crisis and other world events. Let's start showing more compassion in our little world and watch it spread. It could turn into an epidemic, a good one. Take care.

Day 96

    Passed the 3 month point. Feeling good. Just disappointed with the level of stamina, or lack of stamina. Still weak on the right side, but overall I feel good. My appetite is good, maybe too good. I've gained another 3 pounds. Better start slowing down. With the energy level low, I don't burn as many calories as I need to maintain a low weight. Trying to maintain at 175 lbs, I am at 174.
    Linda and I went on a road trip to Kentucky to visit our good friends Mike and Gloria. They just transferred to Louisville from Portland Oregon. Beautiful house, beautiful area and such good friends. Thanks for a great time. We drove up on Friday and returned Tuesday. Good trip, except it took two hours to go through Atlanta. The trip turned into a 15 hour ordeal. Fortunately we broke it up into 2 days.
   It's hot here in Florida and that makes it more difficult to get out and do things. Especially in my condition, I have to cover up and protect myself from the sun. Hat, long sleeves, long pants and sunglasses are usually the dress to do outside tasks. My immune system is compromised by the medications that I am taking. Remember the doctor said that it is not if I will get skin cancer, it is when will I get skin cancer. Boy, if that's not a pleasant thought. Speaking of doctors, I have a lung biopsy on Tuesday the 8th. Wish me luck.
   It seems that every week I am ordering more medicines, what a mess. Thanks to all for their support, it really helps offset some of the medical expenses. Hopefully at some point, I can repay your kind generosity.
  At some point in the near future I am going to explain, in detail, the psychological impact of this disease, the transplant and post transplant. You don't know how many times you think about death throughout the process. I mean an intimate look at your mortality, and whether this is your time to go or not. I never saw the white light or anything, but I felt sure that I couldn't take anymore. But that is for another day.
   An interesting perspective that I heard this weekend is, when you are beginning to get frustrated by someone, step back and look at them from another angle. Not physically! Look at them as a neighbor or mother or brother, not as a salesperson or work mate. Try to understand there perspective.

Day 88

Okay, so it's the 88th day since my bi-lateral lung transplant.Two days from the magic 3 month mark. Remember they said I will feel twenty years younger and ohh so much better at the 3 month mark. I feel good, but I don't feel twenty years younger. Still gimpy on the right side. Now I have a burning sensation in my right hand. I asked the doctor at clinic last week and he said it's because I am gaining strength in the hand, but cautioned me to keep an eye on it. What the heck does that mean? If it falls off let him know?........... Gaining weight, up to 171lbs. That's a grand total of 12 lbs gained.Gaining strength, walking and working out with a exercise ball and working out with Nintendo Wii. Gaining energy, still not jumping out of my seat but getting more stamina and energy. Overall, it's all good....Went to the picnic for lung transplant recipients and those waiting for lungs. See pictures on blog. Heard a lot of stories. We are all thankful for this second chance, but I can tell you everyone has had their challenges. Interesting observation by Linda, my wife, most of the recipients look great. You wouldn't know that they had had a transplant.Oh, and I found out that I was #201 transplanted. They had done 200 lung transplants at Tampa General Hospital before me. The program is 5 years old. That's pretty amazing. Actually, the ability to do 1 is amazing to me..............Had to go to Tampa General today, my Prograff level was low at the last clinic so they increased my dosage to 8 pills of Prograff daily. Prograff is the main anti-rejection medicine, so it's at the top of the list in importance. I can't tell when the level is low or okay. There are no effects I can feel..............I go June 8 for another lung biopsy. They say this is a routine procedure, but if they use anesthesia and go down into your lung and snip a piece I don't look at it as a routine procedure. But hey I better get used to it because I will have them on a regular schedule forever...........My car broke down over the weekend, the transmission went out. Sometimes you just have to laugh because you know that even when you think you are on your way back down the road to recovery that around the next corner there may be another challenge. Oh well that's life............Went out and mowed, edged  and trimmed the yard today after the hospital trip. I was able to complete this entire task without having to stop and rest. Now that's progress!.............I hope this doesn't sound like Donnie Downer's blog. I really am in a good place and very thankful for all the support. I am a very fortunate person, I got a second chance at life and I have lots of love from family and friends and even people that I have never met. I guess as I always say patience is a virtue that I never quite acquired. Today's task. Wave at somebody, they probably have had a worse day than you.