I wrote last time that after the first biopsy, they treated me with huge IV bursts of Prednisone to try to get my body to stop rejecting the new heart. After several doses, I was then able to come home last Tuesday, the 12th of May. I was scheduled to go back on Thursday for my second biopsy to see if the Prednisone had done it's job and brought the rejection down. As most of you already know, the biopsy showed no change, that there was still moderate rejection, and more action needed to be taken. I was re-admitted Thursday to have 3 doses of a medication called Thymoglobulin, which is even stronger than the Prednisone, in hopes to stop my body from attacking the heart again.
I learned that the Thymoglobulin literally wipes out all of your lymphocytes, which are in turn your immune system. The average person's lymphocytes make up about 20-40% of their total white blood cell count, and at the last check, my level was at .01%! So right now, I literally have NO immune system to help fight off any infections or illness; but they want it that way so that my body stops attacking the heart. That is why it is so strict that I absolutely am not allowed in crowds or around anyone even remotely sick - because I would catch whatever they have automatically. So although it has been hard not being able to see everyone, I so appreciate everyone being so understanding and not coming around if they have any symptoms at all. It will be hard to be pretty much quarantined to home while my immune system is so depleted, but being out is not worth the risk of making things worse!
They ended up doing 4 doses of the Thymoglobulin instead of the planned 3, to really be aggressive about getting that rejection down. I was discharged again today (YAY!) but am scheduled to be back for the third biopsy on Friday. Until then, I am and will be praying hard that this medication worked, that the rejection has come down, and that I won't need any further intervention and can start to lower some of the other immunosuppression drugs that have so many side effects. I don't want to have to find out what the next step is if it hasn't come down.
Right now, I am just SO happy and grateful that I will be out of the hospital without any appointments or procedures on my birthday on Thursday! That's the best present I could have ever asked for. The doctors were reminding me to "please take it easy," not to have too many people over and of course no one sick, and to "just be so careful." I remember thinking, "It's not like I'm headed to Lagoon to get on a roller coaster and go paint the town red!" ;) I honestly will just be so happy to sit on my own couch, in the comfort of my own home with my husband and have a piece of cake!
I know I've posted a lot on Facebook about the visitors that have come and the many special gifts I've been getting. I am so blessed! I can't thank you all enough for all of your thoughts, prayers, and love. You all keep me positive, keep me smiling, and keep me going! Today I am grateful. Grateful for my miracle, grateful for my amazing husband who has been incredible through all of this, grateful for my friends and family that have come from far and wide to help me, and grateful to be HOME AGAIN!
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