Hmmmm.....still don't know for sure

Ron had an appointment with the transplant team today; he's been feeling, weak, fatigued and sick to his stomach.  He has ulcers in his mouth - making it very difficult to eat, and he's lost 13lbs in 2 weeks.

We have 'transplant' friends, Jerry and Chandra (Jerry received his new liver 5 weeks ago) and Jerry is in the hospital in Cincinnati - with blood clots and being tested for the CMV virus. (Jerry's a little better this evening and hopefully they'll be going home Monday). 

I never heard of the CMV virus until Chandra mentioned it yesterday.  So of course, I Googled it...........

When Ron went to the clinic today - I asked that he be tested for the CMV virus.  So what is CMV? Caroline at the transplant clinic explained it this way:  the CMV virus is  in the Herpes virus family; 80% of the population have been exposed to the virus.   Ron was tested prior to transplant and he was one of the 20% of the population which never has been exposed. But word came today, the donor had been........meaning once the new liver was transplanted, the virus was introduced.

Healthy individuals exposed to the CMV virus usually aren't  affected at all, but someone with a compromised immune system (transplant patients taking anti-rejection drugs) - well, it can be serious. 

Post transplant the patient is given a medication, Valcyte,  for the first 6 months, which usually prevents the CMV virus.  Ron was tested for the CMV virus today - we'll hear something first of the week.

In the meantime, Ron's  back on Valcyte for 3 months.  His liver enzymes look great.  His kidney function is high - meaning he's dehydrated.....we're upping his fluid intake to 2-2.5 ltrs daily.  Because of the ulcers in his mouth (unsure if it's a side effect from the Rapamune or caused by the CMV virus), a culture was taken, and he's 'swishing' with an anti-fungal rinse.  His Rappamune levels are high - so they are lowering the dose from 5 a day to 4 daily.

Caroline will call us first of the week.