Everyone has obstacles in their life. For some, it's a flat tire and late for work. For transplant recipients, it seems as though we are in a constant struggle to get healthy. We feel great. We get sick and have to start back at the beginning . Continually..
Immediately post transplant we want to go out and conquer the world. As years pass, our medicines take a toll and aging of our new organ creates some nasty side effects.
I'm at that cross roads. We're trying a new direction in treating my antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas. I've stopped all nebulizer treatments. Amikacin made it so I could barely get out of bed or make it through the day. Collistin tightened my airways so I could barely breathe. I struggled with the known side effects of inhaled Tobramycin and lost.
I now see a local Infectious Disease Specialist and Pulmonary physician. I was told the Tobramycin could cause hearing loss, what I was not told the loss is permanent. Since it affects the inner ear, loss of balance is a huge problem. I was starting to notice that issue, as well as painful tinnitis.
Yesterdays walk was a little slower pace. Today was at a snails pace. Granted we had high humidity too. My low grade temperature is back which means it's time for IV antibiotics again. We're treating with antibiotics - only- right now.
Instead of letting all this get me down, I will keep trying that walk. Remember... accomplish one thing each day. If that's all you do, you accomplished that ! I Downed a few Tylenol and drank a little Root Beer to settle my stomach. Took a short nap and now feel ready to face the afternoon.
This wee squirrel was my motivation on my walk. He ran down the sidewalk right up to me before realizing I was real. Looked twice and scampered off. He gave me my morning laugh.
