Stephanie78
11-05-2011, 03:04 AM
Yesterday John had a check-up with Dr Falk at UNC as well as the Ultra-Sound on his legs to check for blood clots.
At the beginning of each appt John has to do a Urine Sample. When Dr. Falk walked in, he sits down, looks at John and says " Mr. Stover you have become a boring patient". (YAY)!
He said that there was 1 plus trace of Blood in Urine (which he says a healthy person shows normally). He took him OFF of the cytoxan (another YAY). They did blood work but we won't get the results of that until today.
The goal... Now that off of CTX his "B" cells should hopefully come back. Two things can happen at that time. (I'm sure most of you know this already) BUT, Either his body reacts normal (meaning they were able to "reset" his body) OR the horrible cycle of "fighting" will return once the "B" Cells are back. Infection is still a danger to John (Just because right now he has nothing in his body to fight it). That is why they are so adament with getting his immune system repaired ASAP especially going into the winter months.
Last visit he tested ANCA negative. The ONLY things left to show from the disease is.... .(Of course his HUGE weight loss) but also the numbness in his feet and hands. His pulmonologist says that his lungs "should" heal. The nephrologist says that his Kidneys MAY get a little better however chances are they will still show damage. However the damage he will have remaining will not prevent him from living until 90 (his words :biggrin1:). His Cardiologist says that the aneurysm "may" possibly heal itself ONCE all the inflammation from the disease diminishes. He is still on 2 BP meds, 1 chlorestrol med and 1 dierutic med. His BP yesterday was 118/83 (From 180/120). We were told his BP will probably NOT be an issue once the disease is in "Remission". He still has some "Tunnel" hearing in his right ear (Muffled) and his nose seems to RUN constantly, but he doesn't complain!
His Ultra-Sound showed NO clots (Thank God)!.
He goes back in December for another follow-up.
This is a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG ways from where he was a few months ago. I literally felt we would NEVER make it to this part. The saying "What doesn't break us makes us stronger" has definitley proven right!
At the beginning of each appt John has to do a Urine Sample. When Dr. Falk walked in, he sits down, looks at John and says " Mr. Stover you have become a boring patient". (YAY)!
He said that there was 1 plus trace of Blood in Urine (which he says a healthy person shows normally). He took him OFF of the cytoxan (another YAY). They did blood work but we won't get the results of that until today.
The goal... Now that off of CTX his "B" cells should hopefully come back. Two things can happen at that time. (I'm sure most of you know this already) BUT, Either his body reacts normal (meaning they were able to "reset" his body) OR the horrible cycle of "fighting" will return once the "B" Cells are back. Infection is still a danger to John (Just because right now he has nothing in his body to fight it). That is why they are so adament with getting his immune system repaired ASAP especially going into the winter months.
Last visit he tested ANCA negative. The ONLY things left to show from the disease is.... .(Of course his HUGE weight loss) but also the numbness in his feet and hands. His pulmonologist says that his lungs "should" heal. The nephrologist says that his Kidneys MAY get a little better however chances are they will still show damage. However the damage he will have remaining will not prevent him from living until 90 (his words :biggrin1:). His Cardiologist says that the aneurysm "may" possibly heal itself ONCE all the inflammation from the disease diminishes. He is still on 2 BP meds, 1 chlorestrol med and 1 dierutic med. His BP yesterday was 118/83 (From 180/120). We were told his BP will probably NOT be an issue once the disease is in "Remission". He still has some "Tunnel" hearing in his right ear (Muffled) and his nose seems to RUN constantly, but he doesn't complain!
His Ultra-Sound showed NO clots (Thank God)!.
He goes back in December for another follow-up.
This is a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG ways from where he was a few months ago. I literally felt we would NEVER make it to this part. The saying "What doesn't break us makes us stronger" has definitley proven right!