Day +4

Well my intestines feel like I drank some Drano, and the fluids they have me on are making my skin very puffy and tight which has led to the on-again off-again headache I've had throughout the day. The headache medicine they gave me left me with some voodoo-inspired nightmares which were not at all pleasant, especially since I am not used to remembering my dreams at all. The worst part of this whole thing is that right now reading makes me nauseous, which is terrible because that's pretty much all I ever want to do. These symptoms should wane in a few days, although others are certainly waxing on the horizon.

The good news is that this morning I received my last chemo I should ever need (not the last drug though, ha!). Chemotherapy will have no more place in my life when the transplant takes hold, Amen! To continue a metaphor from before, this roller coaster has taken its main plunge and is at full speed ready for the loop-da-loop, upside down twist, and final drop. The dangers I face now are graft problems, which are generally treated with steroids, opportunistic infections like shingles and pneumonia, which are generally treated with antibiotics, and the occasional need for blood products.

The remote chance of disease recurrence, or relapse, which is treated with another transplant, though with far fewer chemo treatments than my current undertaking and with better success rates is, thankfully, just that - remote. (Upon second relapse a third transplant has a poor prognosis, so we won't consider that.)

My job is to stay focused, eat right and exercise (classic doctor recommendations!), and have faith. I do not doubt that our Lord is taking care of me; the thoughts and prayers of all my loved ones are sure proof of his grace operating in our lives.