1. Rather than being pitch black with mighty rain like last Monday, today's 5:45 sky was zinc gray, affording me much better visibility as I launched the Camry, without incident, from Kellogg to Spokane.
This morning I had blood work done and then had an appointment with the transplant team.
After Angela drew my blood, I sauntered down to the Outpatient Health Center's coffee shop for a parmesan bagel and a cappuccino and my lab results began to pop up on my cell phone.
Result after result looked solid to me and, indeed, when Dr. Samer Abdulkhalek arrived in the examination room, he immediately expressed that my labs looked very good.
A couple of results were pending.
Before long my blood will reveal whether my dosage of Tacrolimus is still right where the doctors want it and we'll know if my immune system is continuing to keep the BK virus at bay.
If the BK virus isn't a problem, I'll have labs done in two weeks. If the virus is making a comeback, I'll do labs next week.
I will have another ultrasound on November 25th when I return for appointments with the transplant team.
It's been twenty-four weeks since the surgery -- about six months.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my recovery and the function of my new kidney continue to progress so positively.
2. For the first time since the transplant, today the clinic had a surge of appointments and everything was running way behind time.
It turns out that recently the surgeons have performed more transplants than usual.
I didn't mind the wait at all and it only had one very minor negative consequence.
When I arrived at Great Harvest, the bakery had sold out its supply of Harvest Blend bread. It's Debbie's favorite.
I bought a loaf of the awesome Dakota bread instead and settled in for a relaxing couple of cups of coffee and one of Great Harvest's peerless Morning Glory muffins.
Relaxed and sustained, I dropped in at Trader Joe's for a quick bit of fun items shopping.
I stopped in Coeur d'Alene, checked on the status of whether the technician who works for Camera Corral has made progress on my prime lens (he hasn't), purchased a Cappuccino at Starbucks, fueled up at Costco, and bought a carton Nancy's kefir, a bag of Cravens Earth and Sky coffee, and a superb bran muffin at Pilgrim's Market.
3. If this most enjoyable gallivanting around a bit in Spokane and CdA were happening pre-transplant, I'd be working a beer or two into my day, possibly trying out breweries unfamiliar to me in both cities.
For the time being, though, I'm abstaining.
In place of stopping for beers, I'm enjoying cups of coffee and trying out espresso drinks.
It's relaxing.
My taste buds thank me.
I don't have to gauge whether my driving is being in any way impaired.
My world of coffee enjoyment continues to expand a little bit.
Do I miss those visits to breweries and taprooms?
YES!
I miss the pleasure of how different beers taste. I miss the atmosphere of tasting rooms and taprooms. I miss the vibes I enjoyed while in the company of other people who enjoy craft beer. I miss yakkin' with my beer enjoying friends over a brew.
But, as much as I miss it, right now because alcohol might interfere with my anti-rejection medicines, I'm going to play it safe, abstain, and assess this situation as I move into my next six month period of recovery, as my new kidney is more and more accepting of its new home and as my body becomes more accustomed to having had this new resident move in.
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