Almost 4 weeks since my last posting; they are becoming more and more spaced out as I perceive less and less change. In fact these last couple of weeks feel as if I have been going backwards but it’s only a stage to be got through and I should come through the other side OK. At least Spring is moving forward even if I’m not. The catkins of March have been superseded by April’s blossoms: The Daphnia is scented amongst the Primulas while the Daffodils have missed Easter this year and are only just underway.

The ciclosporin levels have continued to be reduced by 5 mg each week and are now less than half of what they were. It’s really taking the brakes off the immuno-suppressant and is giving a bit more space for the new cells to start taking over. However, being the container for this battle ground is proving to be not particularly pleasant for planet Rodg: headaches, flaking skin, diarrhoea, and this week, a sudden drop in haemoglobin. Liver tests done at Dumfries today show a rise in Alk. Phos.(ALP) and GammaGT and ALT. Not sure what the implications are of that ( might account for the upset stomach ?) but I’ve been told to sit tight for a week and wait for a decision from the Glasgow team next Monday. A little bit of Graft vs Host Disease (GvHD) is supposed to be good as long as it doesn’t get out of hand. The aim is to give my new French stem cells a little more leeway to start operating properly, allowing them to seek out and overwhelm my own remaining cells, including any indolent Lymphocytes still lurking in the depths. I was warned before embarking on this lark that the price of staying alive ‘might’ involve permanent GvHD. Let’s hope I’m one of the lucky ones and it remains mild and doesn’t last too long.

At last week’s meeting with one of the Glasgow consultants I was cheerfully informed that at my age the recovery could take more than a year .... perhaps two or more !! Not really what I want to hear just now; life is moving at a frustratingly slow pace. Without the haemoglobin it’s very difficult to exercise properly; the one mile walk up the hill to the ‘summer seat’ had me gasping yesterday and my head was booming. I expect that if the level is still low next week they will be organizing another blood transfusion. Ah well, just another day in the life.... no big deal.

The nice thing is that Christine’s had a good Easter in the Pottery. Very positive feedback from customers to the new work which is most encouraging for her. She’s still in a bit ‘stressed out’ about loosing the best part of three months work because of my illness but that can’t be helped.