Sunday, July 30, 2006

John is doing well

Hello you all.  Many of you have been asking how John is doing, and I wanted to give you an update.  In many ways, he is doing amazingly well.  It has been four weeks since he came back from being hospitalized, and he has not had to return there.  He has only had to go to Hershey for check ups.  For this I am amazed and grateful. 

His last appointment in Hershey was this past Monday.  The rash turned out to be Graft Verses Host Disease.  This means the donor is rejecting you.  But the rash was mild, and could be handled with medication.  This was not the complication the oncologist was worried about.

The complication the oncologist is worried about is John's Creatinin level.  Technically, John has chronic renal failure.  Yes, his kidneys are failing him, at some level.  His Creatinin level is 3.5.  The Creatinin level shouldn't be over 1.5.  I looked up on the net how high your Creatinin level must be before they put you on dialysis.  The answer is 10.  But I also read that they do it as low as 5.  Hmmmmmm......

Anyway, the fix that the oncologist has decided to do at this time is to lower one of John's meds (an immunosuppressant), which will hopefully lower his Creatinin level.  The only problem with this is, the lowering of the med will increase the chance of Graft Verses Host Disease.  So the oncologist had to significantly increase John's Prednisone, to fight the GVHD.  For those of you who know about Prednisone, it is nasty stuff, LOL.  Mood swings, etc.

Okay, one more thing.  John's counts have gotten higher!  Yay!!!  Finally they got high enough for him to have surgery on the ingrown toe nail of his big toe.  It is doing remarkably well!  He has contracted no fevers!  It is truly amazing.  And the toe is healing nicely.  I don't take any of these small things for granted after so many complications.

Okay, I must run, my in-laws are coming this morning.  Thanks for listening to this update.

I love you all.  :)

29 comments:

  1. Thanks for the update! you and John are in my thoughts!

    Sharon
    http://journals.aol.com/buggieboo1/ThisMommasDrama/

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  2. Sounds like good news Krissy.  Just keep taking it one day at a time.
    Jackie

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  3. All I can say is Praise be to God for his many blessings !  Enjoy the visit with your in-laws.  Happy Sunday !  'On Ya' - ma

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  4. God is good!!!  glad to hear John is doing so well!
    Becky

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  5. Glad John is doing well.Good luck in all that happens.Praying for you both

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  6. I pray that he continues to improve and Im glad he is doing so well.

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  7. that's great that Johns been doing so much better! Hopefully this switch in the meds will help even out those levels.  Glad he got in for the toe surgery and is doing well.  It's all these little things that add up to life...it's the journey, not the destination :)
    I'll be keeping you both in prayer, take care my dear~
    ~Bernadette

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  8. John is amazing and so is his wife! Tell him he and you are in my prayers!

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  9. Krissy this is truly wonderful!! When Jordyn was going through her BMT we'd been told that a little GVHD (stage 1 and even 2) was actually good because if there was any disease left in the body it'd attack the disease. Jordyn never had any GVHD and there's always been that "what if" in the back of my mind.

    I will definately be praying for both of you as his doses of Predisone goes up. Oh that is nasty stuff. The mood swings, the crazy mood swings and the increade appetite sometimes can make you feel like they're going to eat you out of house and home!

    You both remain in my prayers.

    God Bless

    Christy

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  10. Thanks for the update on John, Krissy.  I'm sure you are both growing weary of this fight.  But, hang in there....I'm so glad he's got good doctors and his Heavenly Father watching over him.  Linda in Washington      

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  11. Great news!  Hugs to both of you.
    d

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  12. I am doing the happy dance!!!!!

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  13. I'm so glad John is finally doing well, it's been a long struggle for you both. Jeannette xx  

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  14. Glad to hear he is doing well!  Yay!  Let's hope the dialysis doesn't have to happen...Jae

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  15. Thanks for the update on John. It's great news!
    Barb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK

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  16. Very good to hear John is gradually improving. It is a tricky balancing act, as always. Many medications can adversely affect kidney function, but it very important to try to improve if poss.

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  17. Very happy John is on the true road to recovery now...you have been one awesome nurse for him...hugs Krissy,
    Have a very nice week!
    Joyce

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  18. It's always good to hear how well John is doing.... It gives you hope that good things DO happen to good people!

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  19. I'm glad there is good news!  (Even with some bad.)  You two still amaze me.  
    -Kellen

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  20. Thanks for taking the time to update us Krissy. Good news re Joh'ns toe nail, ingrowing toenails are very very painful. Take care.
    Lots of love,
    Sylvia xx

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  21. thanks for the update on John, Krissy; I was wondering how he was doing

    betty

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  22. we love you too. I'm so happy John is doing better. The news is good. I know it will only get better.

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  23. dear Krissy, hugs! Im so glad that John is doing so much better! Cheers!
    love ya,natalie

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  24. Thanks for the update, sounds like things are looking up.

    Greg

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  25. I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT JOHN IS DOING SO WELL..IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH HE WENT THROUGH AND IS STILL IN GOOD SPIRITS. YA'LL ARE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS
    TAKE CARE
    NOELLE

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  26. Thank you for posting this as I have been wondering how he is doing.  God Bless to you both and you are still in my prayers and thoughts.  Hugs,
    Lisa

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  27. Hey girl, sorry I haven't been by lately. Haven't been feeling well and then never having enough time to be on the computer.  I just read your all about me entry also.  I like your hair long also.  Glad to hear John's numbers are up and he got that toenail taken care of. They can be so painful.  Take care of yourselves and I'll try to catch up with ya soon!
    Hugs Barb

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  28. Krissy,
    Reading your entry today made me smile. I am so happy to read that John is doing much better.

    I am continuing to hold him up in prayer.
    Hugs, LuAnne

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  29. I am continuing my prayers... all sounds fairly calm.. I hope it will stay that way!  

    be well,
    Dawn

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