11th August - 156 days post transplant

Hi all.

I guess those of you who have not being following Mary on Facebook may have wondered what had happened to me?

A short synopsis of events from the 23rd of July is that I was taken into Addenbrookes in the very early hours of Tuesday 24th July with a raging temperature. Frankly I have little recollection as to what transpired over the next 2.5 weeks until I was released on Thursday 10th August. I was admitted to C10 the transplant ward and within a day or so transferred to Intermediate Dependency Area [IDA] as my temperature had spiked at 41.5 and my SATS showed 90% oxygen in the blood Here I was on Oxygen at 70% level and at a high rate of delivery. IDA is one stop before intensive care!!

I had 4 xrays, 2 CT scans and 2 ultra sounds plus arterial blood samples taken (ouch!!) as well as the normal twice daily blood tests

I had visits from Haematology, Heart, Chest, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Disease Consultants, all trying to figure out what was wrong.

Haematology said that on my paper results I ought to be in Intensive Care but physically I did not stack up against the figures.  We Welsh like to set puzzles! 

Eventually it was discovered that one of the rare side effects of one of my drugs was to screw up oxygen levels in the blood. Stopped the drug, put me on an intravenous alternative and SATS started to improve.

After further exhaustive tests no one could find out the root cause of the infection I had, except to say it was chest related. So as my fever had abated I was discharged home.

I feel as weak as water and as if I have been through a wringer backwards. Lost weight - great I don't think!!

Thanks to all friends and family who supported Mary and my children in prayer and practical ways over the last 2.5 weeks. Keep praying that I will make a full recovery and that this is the only blip I have.

I now have a week ahead of visits to Addenbrookes - more on this next week.