I can't believe it's already been FOUR MONTHS since I got my bone marrow transplant. It really is amazing and humbling to think about where I was health-wise not so long ago compared to how I'm doing now (a lot better!!). God is so good.
 |
| Me looking out over the ocean, thinking about how far I've come...LOL (also check out that hair growth!!) |
In the beginning of June I was able to take my feeding tube out which was EVERYTHING to me. Me and the tube had a love/hate relationship, that's for sure. I only needed to have it replaced twice in two months (I've said in earlier posts about how much I hate getting them put in) which is really good. The one time I had to get it taken out and replaced because it was clogged and we literally tried unclogging it at home for THREE HOURS. That was not a fun time. I was so grateful that it provided me with the nutrition I needed to stay alive but my gosh I missed eating without it in! With it in I had to take more time to chew and swallow and just trust me, life is way better with it gone. With the help of an appetite stimulant, I had enough of an appetite to finally eat enough without needing the extra nutrition from the feeding tube so Momma pulled it out and we celebrated. Being done with the feeding tube was a huge step forward in my recovery!
I was really feeling a lot better for a while. I had a good amount of energy and I got up to walking a mile and a half around the local park with my mom almost every day. However, towards the end of June my ANC took a big dip from like 2,000 to 400 and I had a little obnoxious virus for about two weeks. It wasn't anything I had to go to the hospital for, but I just felt really tired and that was a huge bummer since I'd had all that energy earlier in the month. I had also stopped taking my appetite stimulant around the same time so my appetite fell too. It was just not a great couple of weeks. Since then, I went back on the appetite stimulant, have had more energy, and my ANC skyrocketed to over 4,000 (although that number is always changing). I'm not going on long walks everyday anymore. I've decided to take it a little bit easier than I did initially.
 |
| Me feeling tired and laying around. This is my spot on the sofa. Everyone has one, right? |
 |
| The best little cuddler |
On June 26 I passed my three month mark since transplant. At that time I got to stop taking this one med that I had to take 12 pills of everyday. I was so so relieved to be done with that one! Another thing that changed is that I don't have to wear masks in public anymore (unless I want to or feel like that's the safer option) and people who come over don't have to wear masks anymore either. I still have to make sure I stay away from people who are sick or who have recently been sick. I especially have to stay away from people who have been exposed to chicken pox or shingles. That hasn't been a problem so far though. So no huge changes, but still I'm moving forward in my recovery.
 |
| Celebrated three months post transplant with Custard Shack- DUH |
I had this really weird side effect go on with my nails that has never happened to me before. My nails were growing new ones underneath and it was so weird and ugly and painful! My doctor said it was a side effect of malnutrition because I hadn't been eating normal food for like two and a half months. So I got myself to a nail salon and fixed that with some fake nails for now.
 |
| EW and OW |
 |
| Much better! 💅👍 |
My last doctor's visit went really well and they are very happy about how things are going for me. I admit that I don't really understand what's going on in my body and so I just listen to what they say to do. What everyone says is that I have the immune system of a baby...cool. My body's ability to fight bacteria and viruses right now is limited and so that's why I have to take so many precautions. I'm thinking, though I'm not 100% sure, that it will take until the end of the year before I can be in larger groups of people.
I have found ways to keep myself entertained throughout this healing process. I am one of those people who loves to-do lists and checking things off. On my phone I have a list of things I do daily, today or soon, and whenever. Some of my "daily" things include stretching, reading the Book of Mormon, drinking three water bottles, and things like that. The "today or soon" list varies and the "whenever" list includes things like listen to a podcast, read, and edit music library. My to-do list really helps me to feel like I've done something with my day and it motivates me. Plus it feels so dang good to click the little box and get a check mark (do I have a problem??🙃).
I love to read and so I'm doing a lot of that as well as going in the pool. I've been able to go out and do some fun things too since passing the three month mark like going to the movies (I've seen Avengers: Endgame, Aladdin, SpiderMan: Far From Home, and The Lion King), shopping, or going out to eat at off peak times. I'm just happy to get out of the house sometimes.
 |
| I even get to go to church and sit in the hallway sometimes. That's a new discovery and I will be taking advantage of that. |
 |
| Does this girl look like she needs a feeding tube? NO. |
I feel very blessed that my recovery has been as smooth as it has been so far and I hope and pray it continues to go that way. I am definitely learning patience through this process. It is hard when I feel good enough for normal life but my blood work says I'm still recovering. As I've taken things a day at a time, really the time has been going by so fast!
Thank you for your continued prayers and support! When asked how I'm doing, I am happy to report, "really good!"
