Re: what to expect after 1+ month of treatment

From: Shawntel--cart0413@metnet.edu
Date: 03 Dec 2004
Time: 21:20:04 -0500
Remote Name: 65.29.12.147

Comments

Jerilue, I initially started out at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, But then switched to Abott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis Minnesota for my ATG/cyclosporine simply because it was an hour closer. I was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia Oct 9, 2003, started ATG around the end of Oct, was released from the hospital Nov 7, 2003 with an anc of .4 ( I was also on intravenous antibiotics due to a staff infection in my chest port when i went home). It took me about a month before I was transfusion independent (really fast response). During this time I stayed isolated in my home until february 2004. I never got sick during my recovery but I rarely left the house, I wore a mask when i had to go to the hospital and I washed my hands all the time. I also had someone dust my room daily while I was in another room. Now a year later I look back and I can hardly believe that I had the disease. I have no lingering health problems and all my counts are "normal". Of course there is always a fear of relapse but there really is so much hope. In the beginning everything seems SO overwhelming because there is so much new information to read and understand. It really does seem like it never ends at times, but you just have to have faith that someday your brother will be well. I listened to a lot of imagery tapes and I imagined my healthy marrow growing...I also ate a very healthy low bacteria diet. Treatments these days are very successful and continue to develop. Eventually you get to know all the medical jargon. you can email me at cart0413@metnet.edu if you want to know more about my experience. Shawntel