Tuesday +48 (12:30 PM)

Just a couple of quick items. Today was the first day for us to see Jackie's actual transplant doctor. He is currently on his yearly 2 week "on call" status at the transplant center at the hospital. For those that may not recall, all the doctors cycle through the hospital for a 2 week period about once per year. We had not seen Dr. Hogan since before the transplant.

He/We are waiting on the results of the latest CMV PCR test. He thinks it will be negative or nearly negative. Depending upon the results Jackie will likely go to either a once per day Ganicyclovir treatment or to an oral anti-viral. We should know the results by later tonight. I also don't have blood test results for today. The lab people were running behind due to the holiday.

The doctor reduced by one third one of the anti-rejection drugs she is taking (Mycophenolate). This reduces by 3 the number of pills she is required to take per day. Yea! They will also begin tapering off the other anti-rejection drugs. This could cause a reoccurrence of GvHD problems. He was optimistic that any problems might be minor due to the fact that she has had few problems to date.

Jackie is feeling tired today. It is one of those low energy days. This is probably due to some of the pain meds she took this morning for her back pain.

Later today she has a hair appointment. She is going to get a hair trim. I tried to talk he out of it....but no luck. She thinks they can make the hair she has look a little better.

I'll post the blood test results and the CMV results later tonight as they become available. For now I have to work on the Italian washing machine/dryer. They brought a new(er) one in this morning to replace the one that sprung a leak yesterday. I'm not certain, but the new(er) one is making a terrible sound. It is vibrating enough to nearly shake the entire apartment! Is there some kind of limit as to exactly how may clothes you can put in a washer? Is it OK to just fill the entire tub? That should work...right? :)

Until later....

Bruce and Jackie
From Rochester, MN