I am very happy to report that my platelets today, a full 17 days after my last IVIG, were a very healthy 216,000, down from 308,000 a week earlier.
This means that surely I needs the IVIG, or the fall would continue. But how low would it go? Who knows? I don't plan to find out.
But more importantly, it is pretty safe for me to travel to Israel and I should be safe for at least a few weeks from a platelet point of view. To add a margin of safety, I am getting a higher dose of IVIG to safeguard my journey.
The rest of the CBC was WNL though my HGB dropped a bit from 14.6 to 13.7. I won't worry about that unless it looks like it's the start of a trend.
The IVIG seems to be doing a better job post transplant and post splenectomy. My platelets have been much more responsive to the protein coating from the immunoglobulins since my scavenging spleen was removed more than a year before my transplant.
I will gingerly try to stretch out the infusions to 3 weeks when I return. I could live with that non remitting life style for a long long time. And I mean that literally.
We leave for Israel tomorrow afternoon. Patty and I are so excited. We are having Sabbath dinner with my donor and his 11 younger siblings.
I hope to see the details of my BMB before I take off and will share the news here.
Have a safe and replenishing trip. The dinner is sure to be special although not for the food. By the way, there is a special vegan deli in Tel Aviv which serves a meat look-a-like which everyone on the web raves about.
ReplyDeleteTomD
TomD,
ReplyDeleteDo you have the name of the restaurant?
Brian
Brian
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time and enjoy your first and very special trip to Israel.
Look forward to continuing good news and tales from your trip.
Be sure to do the Jerusalem tunnels, they are amazing.
love
Susan in rainy old London
It is #22 on this list (Taim Hakaim):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.airlinecreditcards.com/travelhacker/top-50-vegan-and-vegetarian-restaurants-in-the-world/
I have only been to #2 on the list. The comments on the web are very supportive of #22. FYI, I think it is more deli than restaurant. Perhaps your donor could add more. Have a great trip!
TomD