Lifesavers for Latasha

Happy May, everyone! Yesterday marked 10 months since my transplant.

I am still dealing with vomiting. We think it’s from one of my anti-rejection medications. The doctors are still trying to adjust the dosage. They monitor the level of this medication through my blood work. One week, the level will be stable; the next week, the level will be low, so they’ll increase my dosage. Then, the next week, the level will be high, so they’ll have to decrease it; then the cycle continues the next week. When the level is high, that’s when I seem to be really sick with vomiting. It is very frustrating. On Monday, I’ll have labs drawn again, so we’ll see if it’s at a stable level or not.

Chris and I were hoping to go to Alabama next week for our nephew’s college graduation and then to take a mini-vacation in Tennessee, but we decided not to risk wasting money since I’m still getting sick. Hopefully, over the next couple of months, this medication dosage won’t keep changing and my levels will stay stable. Once that happens, we’ll think about going on a trip somewhere.

On a positive note, my right side doesn’t seem to hurt as much as it has been. It still hurts, and I have a lot of discomfort, but I am able to wear my bra for hours without being in total pain.

Also, my hair has finally stopped falling out in clumps. After the transplant, my hair would fall out in clumps, especially when I would wash it. Chris got some biotene shampoo and conditioner to try. I’ve been using them for a couple of months now, and my hair has finally stopped coming out by handfuls. I don’t know if it’s the biotene shampoo and conditioner, or just healing from the transplant surgery, or a combination of both, but I am glad my hair isn’t falling out anymore.

I am looking forward to having one full week of feeling good and not being sick, then a full month, and so on. It is so hard to plan anything when I don’t know how I’ll feel that day. But, I think (and hope) that I’m getting closer to not being sick multiple times a week.

My next follow-up appointments are next month. They say things are supposed to get easier after the one-year mark, so we shall see how things go over the next few months.

Thank you to each of you for continuing to think of us. As Chris and I have both said, this journey has been difficult and has been nothing like we expected it to be. We are thankful for you all and the support you’ve shown throughout. I want to say a special thank you to Chris. Being my husband and caregiver has not been easy over the past several months, but he hasn’t given up, even when I probably would have. He also hasn’t let me give up, despite the number of times I have wanted to give up. I don’t know where I would be right now without him by my side. I love you, Chris!

Best wishes to each of you!