So what's this? I bust out of the confines of the hospital and stop updating? Pretty much, yeah. As of Wednesday, December 14th I am a free woman! Free to sleep in my own bed, free to roam without an IV pole (for the first time in many, many months) and free to work these new lungs.

I must say, it's weird being home and not having to constantly adhere to a physio schedule (I still do nebs for the next three months, mind you). But already I notice I have so much free time. Of course, I'm still healing from major surgery and require lots of rest, but I know that time is there to spare. What a nice holiday gift!

Most of this week has consisted of my returning to the hospital for exercise (with my green card) and relaxing around the apartment. Since it's busy holiday season I'm avoiding all public places and probably will for the next three months when my immune system is lowest.

The best update of all? On Monday I had my very first PFT (lung function test) test and I blew 57% (1.63 L), a number that I haven't seen since I was a child! To give you an idea of where I was before transplant, my PFTs were .61 L, which is 21%. It's mind-boggling that I can now do a lung function test without hacking and seeing stars after. I also got to have a look of my recent chest xray compared to my before transplant xray and there's so much improvement in my back already (perhaps why I'm standing up straighter?) Also, a lot of the gas trapping and hyperinflation I had from my old lungs has virtually disappeared. Amazing how quick that happens!

Smiley is happy to be leaving!

Making a run for it

Mom carrying my bags home since I cannot lift anything heavier than 10 lbs for 3 months

I have been feeling good great since my blood transfusion on Friday-- now I've really been able to work these new lungs! In fact, I felt SO good today that I was able to go home for a few hours on a pass (and home is literally up the street for me, so it was completely feasible). It was nice to sit on my own couch, lay in my own bed and rummage through my own fridge-- it's really all the small comforts you miss, and quickly become luxuries when you've been separated from them.

The only thing missing was my foster dog Penny, who has been staying at Chateau McCarthy with my cousins and being spoiled to death. I honestly don't think she even misses us... she has her green ball, and that's all a determined little Jack Russell could really ask for?

A THANK YOU to all the blood donors out there too! I went to exercise yesterday and got through it, but it was very exhausting. I had to stop on the bike every 2 minutes because I was SO dizzy. I put this down to 'I'm only two weeks out of surgery' but my physiotherapist, knowing how driven I am, wrote a note in my chart and insisted I tell the doctors.

Turns out my hemoglobin has been in the 70-71 range for a few days and they were hoping it would climb up by itself (and with iron supplements), however with my symptoms they decided it was best I go ahead with a blood transfusion. I must admit, I was a little icked out by the thought of it at first, and was prepared to say 'nah, I'm good, I'll just sleep until my body makes enough red blood cells again'. But when the surgeon said it would make my lungs happier and speed up the healing process I couldn't refuse! I will do anything to keep these beautiful pink lungs happy!

Starting back to rehab tomorrow morning... duh duh duh!

I really hope it goes well, as I seem to be an expert in suffocating myself. Like I mentioned earlier, my brain still thinks it working with diseased lungs and that, couple with the tightness of the incision, make the act of breathing hard. My friend M described it well earlier when she said it's like jumping right on the bike without any training wheels first--so there's bound to be some tumbles! I guess I can forgive myself for not adjusting to my lovely new partnership so very quickly.

Meanwhile, I went for two walks today, had plenty of naps, and did some light weight lifting.

In a way I can't wait to show off my new 'look' tomorrow...
My lips are pink.
My skin has COLOUR.
My hands seem softer and light.
And my voice is so clear!

Today I woke up with chills and sweats again (unpleasant) but my body seemed to fight the fever off by itself--telling me this new antibiotic, Vancomycin, is getting the job done. I am now medically stable enough to go home, exactly two weeks after my transplant (amazing what the body can do, eh?) but will be staying here to finish my course(s) of antibiotics since home care will not work with 3 antibiotics (Meropenum, Ceftazidime, and Vancomycin). I'm basically connected to this pole all the time, so until that goes, I stay here!

I started some light leg and arm weights today and will be heading back to the treadmill room on Friday. I can't wait to see what these babies are capable of! However, since I still have an infection, I don't expect I'll see their full potential for a while. Also, since my brain still thinks I have CF lungs, I have to constantly remind myself to take deeper breaths-- it doesn't come as 'naturally' as one would assume.

Tomorrow I may also have every other staple removed from my incision sight... I wonder how many there are?

Let's fly out of here!

Today we got to the bottom of things, literally. I had my very first Bronch around 12 pm that lasted about an hour (or so my mom says). The procedure was not nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be-- in fact, the most inconvenient part of the whole thing was fasting since midnight. Hungry Lindsay doesn't fair too well in public!

I was taken back down to the second floor where my transplant surgery took place almost two weeks ago. Then I was parked in the day unit, explained the procedure and transferred to the "freezing room". The room is ironically warm, but it's purpose is to deliver you all things 'freezy'. I gargled some solution to freeze the back of my throat (it supposedly it horrible, but I guess my tastebuds are still asleep because it wasn't all that bad), then I nebulized more freeze solution. After that, I said farewell to my Mom and was wheeled off to the procedure room.

Our blog updater, H, is now off in sunny Barbados (lucky gal)! So who more fitting than to fill her place than ME. That's right, right from the horse's mouth (I've never understood that saying).

I was 'scheduled' to go home today, but over the weekend I had fevers and my exercise tolerance dwindled so I knew something was brewing. I'm already on two antibiotics, Ceftazidime and Meropenum, but today when they walked in my room and saw that I was shivering and sweating at the same time they added a potent third: Vancomycin.

So far this afternoon I'm feeling some improvement, I was able to walk around without the walker and at a decent pace, and last for longer. Fingers crossed this does the trick!

Truth be told I did not at all feel comfortable going home with a raging infection, so hopefully a few more days will do me good. I will likely go home on IVs for a bit to keep the infection at bay. FYI my donor lungs were perfect and came without infection, unfortunately my diseased CF lungs left infection in their airways which is causing all this residual trouble.

Otherwise, I have my very first bronchoscopy scheduled for tomorrow to find out exactly what I'm growing, clear out some secretions, and check for any signs of rejection. May as well add this one to the 'fingers crossed it goes well' list.

and she might be going home monday!

Lindsay got her chest tubes out today. No more octopus arms hanging off of her. FREEDOM!

Here she is out for a walk with her sister and mom...sans IV pole....she is MOTORING.

She is up to 4 walks a day. Home time is soon soon soon soon! If Lindsay gets out of the hospital on monday it will be less then 2 weeks since she went in for her life saving surgery. As Linds pointed out...that's less time then she would spend for a CF tune up in the hospital, pre transplant. Modern medicine...astounding eh? Keep workin' those lungs Lindsay.
That's amazing you've already got the chest tubes out and 4 walks a day. Go go go go go go!

Lindsay has...
2 chest tubes left.
Central Line out.
New picc line inserted. (yes she had to get a picc line re-inserted. ugh how annoying)

all these are steps closer to going home!