Plumbing!
Re: Plumbing!
Discharged home to stay. Just out-patient visits for now. The plumbing was yanked out—literally yanked, by a physician from Croatia, who said Slavically, "Is troublemaker. Is stuck. Will come though." And so it did, though not before he had lifted me bodily off the bed by the tube. Very nice man.
Next hurdle is when the cyclosporine is reduced in 2-3 weeks. This is an immunosuppressant that serves initially in an anti-rejection role to prevent my own marrow killing off the transplant. Since the transplant looks like it has already killed my marrow (fingers crossed!), the drug now serves to keep the transplanted marrow from attacking the rest of me, which it will see as foreign. But the cyclosporine is nasty stuff, and one can't stay on it forever, so we start to reduce it at about Day 70 and see what kind of auto-immune things happen. Acute Graft Versus Host Disease usually takes the form of rashes, severe diarrhoea, and breathing difficulties. It would be treated with steroids. The later, chronic form can occur anytime in any type of autoimmune disease.
Next hurdle is when the cyclosporine is reduced in 2-3 weeks. This is an immunosuppressant that serves initially in an anti-rejection role to prevent my own marrow killing off the transplant. Since the transplant looks like it has already killed my marrow (fingers crossed!), the drug now serves to keep the transplanted marrow from attacking the rest of me, which it will see as foreign. But the cyclosporine is nasty stuff, and one can't stay on it forever, so we start to reduce it at about Day 70 and see what kind of auto-immune things happen. Acute Graft Versus Host Disease usually takes the form of rashes, severe diarrhoea, and breathing difficulties. It would be treated with steroids. The later, chronic form can occur anytime in any type of autoimmune disease.
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Re: Plumbing!
Major stuff. Fingers crossed!
- Murray
- Murray
Re: Plumbing!
Finding myself with camera and film, I thought I'd do a series of self-portraits which may be a bit too honest for comfortable viewing. It's been an intense experience, and I still don't know how it will turn out. Wears you down a bit.
It is nice to know that I haven't forgotten how to process a film after an eleven month gap!
It is nice to know that I haven't forgotten how to process a film after an eleven month gap!
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Re: Plumbing!
Chris, I'm impressed that you are back home, processing film! Thankfully, it would appear that the chemicals only burned off what was on the outside of your head.
Hang in there. We're still rooting for you!
- Murray
Hang in there. We're still rooting for you!
- Murray
- Sam
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Re: Plumbing!
Chris Glad to know you were home. The pictures look wonderful and I’ve always thought that black and white photos convey much more emotion then color. We just hope your recovery goes very well and that you speed right along.
- fallingwickets
- Clive the Thumb
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Re: Plumbing!
last pic could be used for the poster of hitchcock's next film *the shaver*
keeping all crossed for a speedy recovery
clive
keeping all crossed for a speedy recovery
clive
de gustibus non est disputandum
Re: Plumbing!
Welcome home!
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
Re: Plumbing!
In the earlier photo, you look a lot like Bill Murray.
Get better, Chris!
Get better, Chris!
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Re: Plumbing!
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
- Sam
- M'Learned Friend
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- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:13 am
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Re: Plumbing!
You now have more than me!
Re: Plumbing!
Chris, congratulations on the return of the hair. I hope it brings you added strength and energy as well.
- Murray
- Murray
- fallingwickets
- Clive the Thumb
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Re: Plumbing!
Didn't that leave a hole in your jugular?
"If this isn't nice, then what is?" - Kurt Vonnegut's Uncle Alex
Re: Plumbing!
Everyone should have one!
"Press here. Press hard. Will stop."
"Да, drug!"
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Re: Plumbing!
"Tragedy plus time equals comedy." - Steve Allen
"If this isn't nice, then what is?" - Kurt Vonnegut's Uncle Alex
Re: Plumbing!
I’ve had two chest tubes removed. Not a pleasant experience at all, but I must say that once they were out I felt a hell of a lot better physically.
Bryan
Re: Plumbing!
Only remaining problem is graft versus host disease of the gut. A month on a liquid diet has led to a 41lb weight loss:
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Re: Plumbing!
Thanks for the update, Chris. I've been wondering how you were doing. Though that's a very large weight loss, you don't look gaunt or unhealthy in the photo.
I've never heard of "graft versus host disease of the gut." Does it have anything to do with the change in blood type to that of the bone marrow donor or is it typical of transplants in general? (Or none of the above?)
- Murray
I've never heard of "graft versus host disease of the gut." Does it have anything to do with the change in blood type to that of the bone marrow donor or is it typical of transplants in general? (Or none of the above?)
- Murray
Re: Plumbing!
Thee new immune system regards all the rest of me as foreign tissue as no match is perfect. Consequently one gets any kind of auto-immune (though it's not quite auto in the sense of self here) disease you can imagine. This is lumped together as graft versus host disease.
"Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse."
Pierre-Simon de Laplace
Pierre-Simon de Laplace