Hello Dear Ones --
A very good day today! Had a 2 week follow up appointment with our nephrologist Dr. O'Neill at the Poly Clinic. Craig had lots of labs done yesterday. The urine test shows a NORMAL amount of protein!! This is a spot test, as opposed to a 24 hour collection, but it usually gives a fairly good estimate -- Craig used to be 8 to 14 gms in 24 hours and now he is 0.2 gms! Anything less than 0.5 gms is normal.
The serum albumin is still holding at 2.1, but as depleted as he was, this may take some time to build up. We'd like to see it over 3.5.
Weight is holding steady in the 150's. This is not okay with me since I now weigh more than my husband!! No sir, that is not okay with me at all!! When Craig had testicular cancer 25 yrs ago, his weight got down to the 140's, so he knows what that is like and he knows that he can come back up from that weight.
The doctor asked Craig if he was depressed which made me start to cry -- maybe he was asking the wrong person! The doctor pointed out that most people would be depressed going through what Craig has gone through, but at the moment we are feeling very hopeful that the Rituxan is working and that things are starting to turn around.
The prednisone is down to 15 mg a day and in one week Craig will start on Cellcept, which is a different, non-cortisone way of suppressing the immune system -- the Rituxan has wiped out the B-type white blood cells and the Cellcept will make them behave when they grow back.
Craig is starting physical therapy to try to regain some of the muscle mass that he has lost. He went to a lecture tonight at Third Place Books about a guy who tried to see as many butterflies as he could in one year -- I think that's a good sign too!
Love, Sharon
Yay!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI confess I was getting a bit worried not seeing any updates but couldn't be more delighted with your news... See as many butterflies as you can!!!
ReplyDeleteDan
Awesome! Go Craig!
ReplyDeletePraise God ... I've been checking in every day ... and am so glad for this good report!
ReplyDeleteHi Craig,
ReplyDeleteWe too were getting worried about not seeing any health updates for 2 weeks. So glad to hear that things are beginning to turn around. Wish we had some words of wisdom, but we don't. Just thrilled to hear that your proteinuria has hopefully ceased. We think about you and your family every day. Wish we lived closer, we'd come over and give you all really big hugs. Love ya!!
The Longs
I've been checking in periodically and was so encouraged to read this news. Hoping that things have continued to progress well over this past week. You all remain in our prayers.
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