After the Storm

Well, it blew like the dickens around here this weekend. There are trees down all over the place and many, many homes without power, including my sister's. Thank God we're all ok, though.

My cold/bronchitis is improving, too. Yesterday I really started feeling better. Just in time for a formal dinner at which my sister and her husband were being honored! (See photo) It was a wonderful time and I felt good. And I was very, very proud of them. Mom flew up on Thursday and will be returning to Florida tomorrow.

I saw Dr. Schuster on Friday. It was a very positive visit. First of all, he said that my lungs sounded clear. That was a relief. Secondly, he discontinued my Prednisone completely. Wow! I've been on that stuff for so long, I can't believe it. Also, I can now eat raw fruits and veggies. I've been sooooo careful for so long I just couldn't wait to go out to a restaurant and order a salad! He also reduced the dosage of one of the other meds. So, I'm really started to taper off.

I asked about my vaccinations...like which ones I'd need to get and when would I get them, etc. He explained that I should actually have the immunizations from my donor (Avram). At the two-year mark, we check and see if I have the titres and, if necessary, have whatever boosters I may need. Maybe none. Interesting and surprising.

Of course we spoke about the fact that I was left high and dry and felt abandoned when I was feeling so sick over the past couple of weeks. He did apologize and explained that while he's changing locations/offices, etc., during this time of transition, there are bound to be some glitches and the phone situation is one of them. He also said that if and when I feel I need to see a doctor, I should probably go to my primary care physician. Unless it's specifically Bone Marrow Transplant related, there's no reason I need to go to see him. Until now, everything went through him. I was not permitted to take any medications with aspirin or ibuprofen. But now, he said I could just go to my PCP. I guess he's pretty much done with me. I'll see him in another month at which time he'll further reduce the meds. Hopefully, this will be a quick and painless process.

On other fronts, everything is pretty good, thank God. I'm leaving to Florida tomorrow with my Mom. I'll be staying with her for a couple of days and then heading down to Miami Beach to prepare for Passover. Am I looking forward to this??? Yes and No. It's going to be a lot of work and I didn't really want to do a lot of work this year. But I'm glad that we'll be together...most of us, anyway. Avram will be working in Arizona so his family won't be with us this year. They will be missed.

Thanks again for checking in and for your continued thoughts, prayers and good wishes. Believe in Miracles!

Friday Afternoon Update

OK, here's the deal. I've had a cold and bronchitis for about a week but it's starting to get better. I had a chest x-ray on Monday to rule out pneumonia and Thank God it was negative. So, I've been taking Vantin (antibiotic) since Monday and started feeling an improvement yesterday.

Another thing going on is the "issue" with my doctor. I don't remember if I've mentioned this before, but Dr. Schuster has left New York Presbyterian Hospital and is now at Stony Brook University Hospital. Needless to say, I totally freaked out when I heard he was moving. I can't imagine what I'd have felt if this were six months ago. I had a choice of staying on with him or staying on at NYP with another doctor. I chose to go along with him. Honestly, now I'm questioning the wisdom of that decision.

Last Saturday, I was feeling really sick. So sick, that I called the phone number where I'd been told I'd be able to reach him or a member of his team "24/7". Not only did I not reach a person, there was an answering machine with a message telling me that the office is closed and that I can leave a message. It didn't even give an emergency number. I couldn't believe it. I was left totally high & dry.

Monday, I still hadn't heard from him and so I called my local General Practitioner. At least I was seen right away. She's the one who sent me for the chest x-ray and put me on the antibiotics. I finally heard from Dr. Schuster late Monday afternoon. I told him what was going on and he said that I should continue with the meds.

I guess I'm kinda rambling on about this but it's really bothering me. I don't know what to do. I'm still on the Prednisone, along with a few other meds (VFend, Vasotec, Valtrex & Nexium). I'm going to have to get all of my vaccinations soon. (Remember all those "baby shots" we all got? Well, I gotta get 'em all over again). Do I change docs?? This is really distressing. Any suggestions?

OK, Thanks for letting me vent. Thank you for your continued support and prayers and good wishes. Have a great weekend, Shabbat Shalom. Believe in Miracles!

Note to Devorah: I hope you're doing well. I sent an email to your gmail address. I hope you got it. If you can let me know, that'd be great. If not, I'll try to reach you again next week. Be strong & stay positive. Shabbat Shalom.