Day 7-0--Only 30 More to Go

Dr. Tse called last night to say that Torger's tacrolimus levels were a little high, even though we've been gradually reducing his dosage. (Tacrolimus is the immunosuppressant.) So we got up this morning and went over to the BIC (BMT Infusion Clinic...our regular hangout) for another test. One of the other doctors is watching Torger's labs while Dr. Tse is in Europe, so we don't get to slack off. That temptation to slack is one of our biggest challenges right now, since Torger's been doing so well. Here we are in Denver, where some of our favorite people live, and where there's lots to do and plenty of tempting restaurants. But Torger tires out quickly, has to wear a mask in public, and his digestion is really sensitive, so things like shopping and museums and eating out aren't any fun for him...they actually make him feel bad. We have gotten the OK to get an occasional piece of pizza out, since it's cooked at such high temperatures. But after a couple of attempts, we haven't even been in a hurry to do that again because all the medicines have interfered with his sense of taste, so pizza seems slimy to him. And the one time we went out to look at a bookstore...when it was slow, during the middle of the day, with Torger fully masked...I got so paranoid about all the people coughing and sneezing around us that we cut it short and went home. This isn't a vacation, even though we're staying in a hotel. It's work. And every time we start to lose focus, hearing one sneeze is about the only reminder we need as to why we have to stay so isolated. So for now, a trip over to the nearby Walgreen's to buy bottled water is a big outing for us. It has made us both aware of how much frantic running around we do in our normal lives. It's actually kind of nice to have a good reason to sit still.