Clinic Vist 9

We had an interesting few weeks.  Jane started the intravenous steroid bolus for rejection about middle of January.  She had to do it for 3 days in a row (then followed by steroid pill taper) and it lasted about an hour and a half each time. Which went well for the most part, she got some of that old edema (swelling) back in her ankles cause of all fluid along with trouble sleeping. But we had some positive effects to the steroid too. It jump started Jane’s appetite.  She very close to eating normal sized meals again which is helping gain her weight back. Today long after the bolus she still has her appetite.   Another bronchoscopy and biopsy will have to be done in March to make sure the rejection treated by the steroids is gone.

Jane with,  Dr, Ankit Bharat

Right after the steroid bolus she started getting a bad cough, and here breathing number were starting to drop. All of her other vitals were fine and she did not have a fever. We called transplant team in and they asked us to come in week sooner for the next clinic and they will do a chest x ray. As the appointment date approached she was feeling better so pushed appointment back again.  Then in the next couple days the cough traveled to her chest and sounded horrible.  We made a same day appointment with her primary, who listen to her lungs, said the sounded crystal clear.

At the clinic visit last Wednesday at NW Hospital all the tests were good and her chest x-ray has looked the best it has yet since the transplant in June. Both of us were very glad to hear as we were worried! They are thinking the cough is due a sinus drip cause by allergies (which she had before transplant), she is going on Allegra and Flownase to help it.

As of today breathing is still not back what it was but it improving and cough seems to be getting better.

Before we left while waiting in to get a Starbucks coffee we got a special treat, ran into her transplant surgeon.  Here is a picture of Jane with the surgeon that did her transplant,  Dr, Ankit Bharat

We have a mild winter here in Chicago, so hoping for an early spring! Will blog again in March after the bronchoscopy.