LUNG INFECTION
In order to be able to deal with all the various ACUTE GVHD issues since early February, many high dosage of steroids and meds were given. Unfortunately, lots of different steroids at high doses also means that I am extremely immunocompromised and contracted a lung infection around the end of February. I began coughing on a regular basis and eventually it turned more into a wet wheezing. As it progressed, I began having more and more shortness of breath.
MC and Lynn March 2012
Early March, my best friend Lynn from Montreal paid me a surprise visit which was incredible. On March 5th, as she was leaving, I was well enough and was given an hour to allow me to go see her off in the lobby. As I made my way back up to my room, I realized I was completely out of breath and excessively dizzy. The nurses examined me and realized that my oxygenation was way too low. I was immediately put on oxygen. Subsequent Chest X-Rays, Chest CT Scans and Bronchoscopy showed that I had a lung infection.
Oxygen needed
I was on oxygen for a few days in early March.
They couldn’t however tell what type of infection, whether it was fungal and/or viral. Therefore, they had me on all sorts of anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-biotic meds. Again, all this was meant to treat the lung infection, however, all these meds were/are contributing to the elevated liver enzymes.
Everything I ingest, all the meds, all the steroids, must somehow be balanced out in consequence of the excessively elevated liver enzymes. As soon as I take meds that make the liver worse, then it all has to be readjusted.
Then on April 8th, after a day of fever, they confirmed I had pneumonia in my left lung. Again, various antibiotics are given in the hope of getting rid of this. Thankfully, I am no longer on additional oxygen which is a good thing.
I still wheeze a bit and there is still a little crackling in my lungs so that is not yet all cleared up.
Marie-Chantal
