Update on Dave

It's been almost two weeks since Dave's last Rituxan infusion. He's feeling better. It's still hard to distinguish between the way the drugs make him feel and the disease. The extreme exhaustion, the wacky blood test results, and the obvious physical changes have routinely been blamed on the Prednisone. He has started to taper down, so we are both hoping he will feel better as his dosage goes down.

Dave saw the Nephrologist yesterday at UCI. We are disappointed that his kidney tests are still showing significant loss of functionality. In fact, he has been given a referral to a vascular surgeon to get a fistula placed in his arm, should he need dialysis.

While that was a little hard to hear, the doctor told him that we won't know for sure if the Rituxan has worked for another 2 months! His kidneys could be healing but they also could be too scarred to ever regain complete function. It would essentially mean that Dave might need a transplant in the near future, and in the interim period be on dialysis. The main objective is to get the Wegener's into remission, so it won't hurt any other organs. Kind of like the old "we may lose the battle, but win the war" metaphor.

In the meantime, he is going to start working out again. building up the muscles he has lost by taking the Prednisone over 6 months. Walking, and a bit of weight lifting...done slowly, will hopefully give him some positive results. We're both looking forward to being active again. I sort of fell into the sedentary lifestyle right along with him! Not good!! Especially being a stress-eater! But all of us will enjoy the pool and some nice walks this Summer.

Anyway, please keep him in your prayers. We still are believing in God's healing! We are holding firm that God is in control, over everything. So no matter what is thrown our way, it will be OK.

On a different note...I have been told that there have been some problems in posting comments here. Sorry, I don't know why or how to fix it. Always know you can email me directly, anytime. lcstrnad@aol.com