Getting Better all the time

Sorry it's been way too long since I've posted. There's been a lot going on, some of which didn't make me feel like posting too much, even though I should have.
Well after the transplant and the infections and the fevers, I am getting better. I think it was mentioned that my central line was replaced and moved, and this took care of the remainder of the infections. I was on quite a lot of medication at first, and Diane stayed here for a whole week helping me get along. It was really great of her.
At first the worst part was the diarrhea. One night it particular I had it rough, and much of it got on the bed and and the floor and everywhere. Yuck. The nurses and staff cleaned it up, but poor Diane was there through it all. You know it's really love when your wife can put up with, but maybe not clean up, your messy poop.
Within a day or so of that, I started to have the pee problem. Apparently the total body radiation can do a number on your bladder, and it got mine. I was having lots of pain -- banging the walls type pain --and not putting much urine out for my efforts.
Finally the docs and nurses decided I needed what's called a Foley catheter, basically a long rubber tube stuck up your penis into the bladder that is designed to drain the pee. The procedure itself, that is the insertion of the catheter, is painful but not terrible as it sounds, The worst part is having an appliance stuck into one's most sensitive organ!
After having the Foley in for a day or so, I was having these awful bladder spasms. I dare not attempt to describe them. So then it was time for the real fun: Constant bladder irrigation. This involved removing the existing catheter (Ouch!) and inserting a larger and more complicated-looking catheter that the nurses aptly called it the "garden hose." Once inserted, one of the lines into this catheter was connected to giant three-liter bags of sterile water, on an additional pole I might add. This combined with my natural pee was evacuated from my bladder through the Foley. Lots of fun, right?
Anyway, I had this arrangement for about a week, and it sucked as much as any of the treatments I've had so far. It was, however, effective. The constant irrigation was stopped Friday and the Foley was removed I am doing OK without it, except for a seemingly constant need to pee. We're getting beyond that, though.
Other than the the bladder Issue, I'm great. I have the white blood cell count of a health man, with lots of germ-fighting neutrophils. My fevers are gone, my neuropothy is feeling better. The only other issue is my feet and lower legs are very swollen. I think all the time stuck in bed because of the Foley has a lot to do with it, but with all the medications I'm on that may also have something to do with it.
Hope all is well with everyone and I appreciate your letters and cards. Thanks again for everything, and I apologize for talking more about my urinary tract than likely any of you ever wanted to know.

weekend recap

Hey all!

This weekend was kind of spacey and full of weird infections and such. I was out of it most of the time, but Di wasn't. She wrote a great recap on her blog, and I didn't think I could do better, so here it is:

http://francescanova.blogspot.com/

Anyway, thanks for your notes and posts and such. Keep 'em coming.
-Matt