Tuesday… after the dermatologists!
May 20th 2008PeterGetting My Life Back!
The posts are a bit like buses - none for ages then two come along at once!
Yesterday was a rather more prolonged visit that the bone density scan (although, like the bone scan, no blood samples!). There was a long wait, during which I swapped GvHd stories with another patient, and then in to see the consultant, Julia. We discussed the pros and cons again, including an article I had discovered in thee British Journal of Dermatology questioning the effectiveness of ECP. However as a one off paper, it was felt that it was inconclusive. So having weighed up the pros and cons, on the balance of probabilities, I have decided to start a course of treatment. The reasoning is that I have little to lose, but potentially much to gain. The GvHd is unlikely to resolve itself, and there is always the risk of additional flare ups, triggered by some infection, that will cause more damage. There is already a reduction in my mobility (mainly around my shoulders) which may be reversible if caught at this early stage. I was also mindful of the problems John had, and I also came across another web site baldy’s blog which describes in great detail the possible progression of GvHd.
Although the decision is probably the better one, it does mean that I will be starting treatment again - for up to twelve months, so in some ways it is putting my life on hold, again and psychologically I feel a little unhappy at the prospect, but if it resolves the GvHd the long term benefits will be worth it. On the plus side, I had a verucca I have been trying to get rid of for four years zapped with liquid nitrogen! (Too much information!)
Back on the tech front, I still have an occasional network problem, but I think it is actually being caused by one of the computers on the net. It has caused a couple of other problems lately, and yesterday, when I came home, it had ‘frozen’ and the network activity was high. Unplugging that machine from the network freed up the network, which points the finger at the computer. I have disconnected it from the network today while I am at work.
So new experiences beckon… Onwards and upwards!