Post-transplant Day 49 (11/03/06)

Hypertension and Shingles
On Thursday, doctors conducted a thorough exam on his troubled bone and muscular areas. Nothing was abnormal. Good news was revealed that the MRI on the pelvic bones shows a healthy growth of new bone marrow. However, he kept having a sharp, intolerable pain. He lost his appetite because of his high blood pressure. The team planned to continue with a whole body bone x-ray today as it was still a puzzle.

Last night, Charley told us that there were several rashes. The doctor took the culture from the newly developed rashes immediately and disclosed that Charley might get shingles. Charley had chickenpox in February this year in Beijing. He was quarantined at an infectious disease hospital for two weeks. Therefore, it is not a surprise to the team that Charley’s varicella-zoster virus, left in the nerve area, might be reactivated while his immune system is suppressed.


Charley had a disturbed sleep. Poor Charley kept himself busy in placing the instant hot packs to the painful areas and by pushing the booster button of the morphine pump. We know how much he was suffering. In this early morning, a doctor came to exam and found more early bumps. Eventually, the attending doctor confirmed that Charley did get zoster (shingles). The puzzle of suffering unbearable pain is resolved. Everyone appreciated Charley’s alertness of reporting the rashes in the early stage. He was given antibiotics immediately and then, transferred to a quarantined room in the same unit (Room 600, phone: (617)355-3600). He may stay in the hospital for another week.

The requirements for visitors are: i) Healthy without catching cold, and ii) Had either chickenpox before or vaccinated.

Prayer Request: 1. Charley is going to have an effective treatment for shingles 2. Less pain and stronger tolerability 3. Adequate antihypertension drugs to regulate high blood pressure 4. More faith in the Almighty.