+312 : Numb

My hand and foot are becoming more numb, still can't fix this problem after more than 6 months.

I think GVHD also affected my vision, it make the vision slightly blur.
These are typical complain I make to Dr.Alan

I have stopped the morning exercise for the past two weeks , Now I find a new exercise, WII - video game.

Day +278 : Follow Up

I am fine today.

I have a follow up with Dr Alan today. My last follow up was about a month ago 30 June.

HB : 14.7 (13.6) ( Normal Range 13.0 to 18.0)
Platelets: 126 (151) Normal Range 150 to 400)
Total WBC : 5.3 (8.9) Normal Range 4.0 to 11.0)

The platelets drop mainly due to GVHD ( a rejection). I asked Alan why I always feel breathless. For example, even working from car park to Dr Alan's clinic O( about 150m), I feel short of breath. The answer is - GVHD happen in my lung. Today, he add additional drug which to be taken at alternative day. The side effect is the drug make you drowsy. My next follow up is two weeks from now. I will do the lung test by that time.

Day +274 : Side effect of Prednisolon - steroid

I am fine today. I spent more time in the office now. Sometimes I spent whole day in the office. I am more actively involved in the daily business.

I have been taking steroid Prednisolon daily since my transplant as a measure to combat the GVHD. Currently the dosage rate has been reduce from 2 tablets to 1.5 tables per day.

• According to document on the Wikipedia, the side effects of Prednisolon includes:
  weight gain
  facial swelling
  depression, mania, or other psychiatric symptoms
  unusual fatigue or weakness
  Mental confusion/indecisiveness
  blurred vision
  abdominal pain
  peptic ulcer
  infections
  painful hips or shoulders
  osteoporosis
  acne breakouts
  insomnia (sleeping disorder)
  severe joint pain
  cateracts

Currently I have facial swelling and acne breakouts only

The doctor start reducing my Prednisolon dosage. It can be life-threatening to stop the drug abruptly especially for those who has taken it over a long period of time. Therefore, I would expect it will take months before I can stop taking this drug.

Day +219 : Follow Up

I am fine today.

My Blood Count Today: 9 June 09
Readings in square bracket [] are result from previous test.
Compared to the result on 26, May 2009 –
Red Blood Count (HB) = 12.5[11.6] (Normal 13-18)
Platelet = 126[159] (Normal 150-450)
White Blood Count (WBC) = 6.5[4.7] (Normal 4 - 11)


The blood count results are considered OK . Dr Alan Teh said the drop in platelet was due to the GHVD, which is good to prevent re-lapse of the deasese. Now, I am not too particular about the test figure, the most important is I feel better. I still have to take the Ciclosporin, the immunosuppressant that was used to treat GVHD. I have started taking this drug after bone marrow transplant about 7 months ago

I asked for advise how to reduce the dumbness of my foot. Dr Alan recommend to eat more banana and oranges to increase the potassium level.

Day +101 : Follow Up

I am fine today. The Imaging report on the chest said "the area of consolidation in the right lower zone of my lung has decrease in size, the cavities are smaller. Appearances are in keeping with resolving infection"

I don't need to continue the IV infusion of antibiotic, but need to continue the tablet. One weeks Ciprobay antibiotic. This drug cause drowsy, that is the only complaint I have.

Still facing the dry mouth problems, I asked Dr Alan how long this will last. The answer is a bit scarcely, It may take a year to totally get away the problems. The dry mouth sometimes causing swallowing and eating difficulties.

Day +28 Medicine Taking

I am fine today. I just back from 30 minutes garden wlak.

This is my Day 28 after transplant. My hair lost again due to conditioning treatment prior to stem cell transplant.Many people asked me what medicine I am taking now. So I will give you some picture about the medicine that I consume everyday. At Day +28 after transplant , 21 table per day consumption

Ciclosporin - 6 table

Fluconazole - 2 table

Antiaviral - 2 table

Prednisolone - 8 table

Nextum - 1 table

Supradyn - 4 table ( multi vitamin)

The most important drug that I am taking now is called Ciclosporin. It is used to prevent Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD). Ciclosporin is an immunosuppressant drug widely used post-allogeneic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the patient's immune system and so the risk of organ rejection. In other words, it carries a message to the immune system, “Good boy, don’t attack them, they are friends.” This prevents the immune system to attack the organs.However, this message might also make the immune system makes friend with real enemies such as bacterial, virus and fungus, resulting the patient getting infection easily.

Today, my appointment for blood test and addressing for my PICC port, which was inserted by a minor operation at my arm, these port can be used to repeatedly for drug administration, blood taking and blood transfusion. they are useful and could be kept for months, however they need to be look after as problems such as infection and blockage can occur. careful aseptic handling and regular flushing with heparin are part of essential maintenance care.