Home Again, Albeit Brief

We returned home safe and sound Saturday and car is unloaded and we are procrastinating on the unpacking part.

Treating Joy for the fungus infection (Candida) was paramount and there is no way she can really tell if that is improving or not without the benefit of additional tests and procedures. The nausea issues continue so we await diagnosis and direction for that issue when we return in a couple weeks. She still feels like she has the stomach like flu and symptoms have continued since January. I don't think she wants to think about the options on this one.

So, on or about April 11th we hop in the family truckster and head for nice weather again. I will keep you abreast of our journey at that time.

Update from Durham

Joy has been released from the hospital after receiving IV's and meds to target the fungus infection in her esophagus although she really doesn't feel any better than when we arrived. They say the tablet form of the IV drug Diflucan should eventually resolve the problem. We will see. Questions remain as to the treatment of the slow emptying esophagus and stomach issue so will have to address that when we return in mid-April. They did not feel they could address that issue now given the massive infection issue. It would have been fantastic if they would have identified this infection when she was in the emergency room in Illinois but, I guess that is why we chose to come to Duke. They identified the problem quickly.

So, we leave for home tomorrow and will get home in time to unpack, regroup, re-pack and return to Durham in a couple weeks. But again, it is what it is and we bought into that long ago.

Weather is beautiful with temps in the upper 70's and low 80's and trees and flowers are blooming in typical southern spring splendor.

Sunday Night Update

Today was a virtual repeat from yesterdays update in that meds continue, nausea continues and Joy still feels like she has the flu . Hopefully her doctors will return from Easter weekend refreshed with some answers.

A "new" transplant friend died yesterday after a very difficult struggle from lung transplant surgery near the end of last year. She was in her mid 20's, weighed 50lbs and died in her sleep after going into a coma a few days ago. She recently checked herself out of the hospital and gave up on her fight and wanted to die in her own home. She has had an extremely difficult journey. That is 3 of our transplant friends that have died since July.

Stay tuned.

Durham Saturday Update

Joy arrived to her hospital room about 6PM last evening and in addition to receiving her standard issued meds, they started an IV medication targeting the esophagus fungus infection.

Otherwise, she feels about the same and very anxious to get these current issues resolved. At this point, we really do not have any more information. I will update tomorrow night.

A Happy Easter to everyone.

Durham Friday Update

Flu like symptoms continue and they have identified the specific infection so we are awaiting a call from Duke for admission later today. The course of treatment is expected to be a couple IV's and oral medication. Length of stay is expected to be short but we have heard that before.

It is only fittin' that we be here for this Easter since that has been the norm for the last two years.

It is what it is.

Update from Durham

The multitude of tests have been completed and now we await the results of the biopsies. specific diagnosis and treatment.

Preliminary findings show a massive infection in Joy's esophagus and a delay in food emptying into the stomach. How they treat the infection will depend upon the results of the biopsies taken on Monday. The doctor has indicated that he will address the infection issue first and then focus on the delayed emptying.

He has advised us not to leave and so we wait.

Joy continues to experience "flu like symptoms" and very tired. A couple days ago she said she felt the sickest since pre-transplant days.

Recent Developments

Several of you have asked that although Joy is home and through the initial phase of the transplant process, that I update the blog periodically to keep you informed.

We returned to Duke for a series of scheduled procedures, tests and clinic visits in late February and just returned a couple weeks ago. Joy is happy to have the feeding tube removed and received generally good results from that visit. Extreme nausea / dry heaves have plagued her since leaving Durham in January and seemed to have worsened these last few weeks. Our next scheduled return to Duke is in mid April and then probably around the one year anniversary, July 1st.

However, we are returning to Duke this weekend for their evaluation and hopefully resolving the nausea issue. Several hours in our local hospital including x-rays and CTscan revealed no obvious culprits and in consultation with our Duke doctors, strongly recommended we seek their advice and direction.

Joy hasn't had much energy since we returned and rests a lot throughout the day which is about what the rest of our transplant patients friends do so she has no exclusive on that however, the severe nausea appears to be more than anticipated so we must check it out.

Hopefully, they can find the solution to improving her quality of life.

Thanks for your continued caring and until we meet again,

GO BLUE DEVILS AND BEAT THE TAR HOLES (whoops, I think they are Tar Heels)