August 2020:
I had my 100 day follow up with Red Team (stem cell transplant team), with all lab results coming back healthy and normal. The Red Team officially lifted all treatment related restrictions, so I could resume eating a normal diet, interact with people “normally” (maintaining Covid cautions with the rest of the population), etc.
I continued my daily pills for antibiotic, and antiviral, and biweekly Vitamin D pill.
Red Team returned me to the care of my lymphoma doctor going forward.
I returned to work full time, remotely.
I resumed drinking alcohol on my 40th birthday 8/22 after over 100 days of no drinking.
September 2020:
I returned to commuting to work in Manhattan via train on Sept 14, which was coincidentally the day my company fully reopened our main office. Trains were less than 20% occupied and fully enforced to wear masks, which coincided conveniently with my slight continued immunocompromised state.
With the trains being so empty, I have had no concerns at all with catching Covid or anything else.
November 2020:
I had follow up call with Red Team nurse practitioner, to make sure I was adjusting well to normal life, make sure my diet is healthy, and remind me that I’ll be revaccinated for all my childhood vaccines in May. She encouraged a low-beef diet due to the damage that the chemo had done to my cardiovascular system, and was happy to hear that I was eating a meatless diet (with occasional seafood). She considered this a heart healthy diet.
I had visit with my Lymphoma doctor who said my labs all looked great. It was a quick and easy appointment without much to talk about or be concerned about!
December 2020:
I am posting the day after Christmas. I’ve noticed that I continue to get small surges of fatigue, usually right after meals. I also noticed that it is a bit hard to stay hydrated especially overnight, and even if I drink so much water that I need to get up a few times at night.
With the prolonged mild fatigue and dehydration issues, I’ve decided to cut back to nearly no alcohol consumption (considering alcohol doesn’t help either issue). I typically take the month of January off from drinking, but am considering a longer term break, and definitely very strongly curbing alcohol consumption for life. Will let everyone know how this goes.
February 2020:
I had my 6 month follow up CT scan and I am very happy to report that it was 100% clean! This is huge as now I am actually in remission for almost 10 months (since April 2020). Feeling very good overall, pretty normal with just some occasional hints of fatigue day to day (I notice most after eating big meals).
If any readers are affected by HL, please don’t hesitate to leave a message and I’d be more than happy to connect on email to share more of my experiences and advice, or just listen to your experience!!
My email is: anthony.gervaise@gmail.com
