Acyclovir...

How long did you take Acyclovir post transplant? Right after transplant, my mom took Valcyte for 2 weeks and then was switched over to Acyclovir. The Acycolvir was supposed to be taken for 3 months and then completely discontinued. Today our TC called for my mom to stop the Acyclovir (3 weeks short of the 3 month mark), because it may be the reason for the low white blood cell count she is having. We are still trying to figure out what is causing the low white cell count.

Hi Hep93...she doesn't really venture into the supermarkets yet, but the once or twice that she did, she had her mask on and I didn't let her hold the cart...those carts are covered in germs. She isn't allowed to do laundry or clean the bathrooms. I have been doing it all. Even though, she has done laundry a few times because she wants to keep busy. I was over at my parents house today...its extremely clean (my dad does a lot where he can), but I am thinking about hiring a cleaning lady one time a week for dusting and washing the floors, etc.

She was on Prednisone for 2 months. Which medication is the antifungal?

BTW...I always use those supermarket wipes to clean the bottomed of my purse, too

The Antifingal mike took was nystatin. The swish and swallow kind. For a month. Both of us have a jug around. I take an inhaled steroid for COPD and it gives me thrush from time to time. And mike had a bout with mouth sores from one of the meds.

MamaLama

WD, I actually had to look it up. After all, it's been 21 mos. since TP. I was taking Acyclovir (antiviral), Nystatin ("swish and swallow," which is the antifungal and took for about 5 wks.) and Bactrim (antibiotic.) Also CellCept, and Prednisone. The CellCept was stopped at about 2 or 3 mos. and the Prednisone after 4 mos.

Now I only take 1/2 mg of Prograf twice a day, magnesium oxide twice a day, Lasix, Lexapro, and metoprolol (BP med) once a day, vit. C and a MV once a day, bedtime meds to help me sleep (Trazodone and Tizanidine...not sleeping pills), omeprazole (tummy protector), and Tums 1000 mg (for calcium.)

It's very important to avoid germs as much as possible the first 6-12 months, but eventually one's own immune system strengthens after the antirejection meds are decreased to a minimum (which is different for everyone.) You still have to be careful, but not so fanatical about it.

Hugs,
Connie

Generally just once a month now. But in the beginning, it was very frequent. Sometimes I will have extra blood work prior to a scan. For example, they will test my creatinine and BUN prior to an MRI with contrast. If those aren't normal, they won't use the contrast...which basically renders the MRI useless as they're looking for evidence of liver cancer.

Sorry your mom has a UTI. She needs a sulfa drug for that. Cranberry juice only helps to prevent a UTI. Once you have it, only antibiotics will knock it out.

Hugs,
Connie

Hey WD! No, Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is not in the sulfa family, although some docs do use it to treat UTIs. I try to avoid it because it messes with my stomach, but I'm allergic to Sulfa-based meds.

I agree that the Cipro will probably do the trick. With me, it just tears my stomach up, as does the Z-Pak (but usually works wonders!). My stomach is super-sensitive to antibiotics (& a few other meds).

Connie, I also have a history of horrid bladder/kidney infections and kidney stones (mostly during my pregnancies - AWFUL!!). After having them for about 20 years, they all but stopped 10 years ago. Weird.

I started asking my docs to stop CTs, as there is a lot of radiation. Since then, they have done MRIs and ultrasounds, except one time, when they needed a quick look. I have had a few x rays over the past few years. My yearly MRI is coming up before 2014.

The "tunnel" doesn't bother me at all. It's the staying still for nearly an hour that has every bone in my body hurting.

She may also have a chest x-ray. Undoubtedly, labs and consult with her transplant coordinator and TP surgeon, who may order additional testing. Possibly an EKG.

Hugs,
Connie