My daughter and I usually put in vegetables and herbs every spring so I feel your pain. I was told there is no gardening or mowing the lawn for at least a year, and I was on antifungals for about a year. Only when your immune system stabilizes, and you even then you should be careful, wear gardening gloves and a mask so you don't breath in spores. I did get to garden this year, a year after transplant. So there is hope that you will garden again, just not right now.

Thanks Abby. I really miss working in the garden and especially doing the work of getting the soil ready for planting an preparing my potted plants. I was told no by my doctor and now by you. I am not taking any antifungals - Just acyclovir for viruses and Mepron for toxoplasmosis and PCP prophylaxis. I had a fungal pneumonia as the result of my first induction and was on voriconazole for a while. It was stopped many months ago. I certainly have no interest in tempting fate! I am happy that the northeast hasn't been drought-stricken, because the vegetables that are coming in are great! (after washing them with dishwashing soap, that is!)

Have a great day!

Cliff

Cliff -- yes, that is the reason -- all kinds of bacteria and fungi in the dirt -- no sense in taking a chance on it. Could be that after your blood numbers get more back to normal they will tell you its OK. But just remember, its not the leukemia that kills you, its the infections that your body can no longer fight. Prevention is the key. -- dave

Thanks so much Dave. I agree totally, bud sadly.

Cliff

I am curious Dave and Abby,

When you buy vegetables and fruits from the store, what do you do to wash them? I generally use dish soap and then wash them off well. I was wondering whether you still think that is necessary?

Cliff

Cliff,

I just rinse my vegetables like I did before aml. After my 100 days past transplant, when I could eat fruits and vegetables, the docs just said to be careful and rinse things off well. Past a year they told me no restrictions just do what you did before.

Thanks Abby,

I had a feeling I was overdoing it. I haven't remembered to ask my doctor about what to do at this point, so I just kept doing the same thing, I am going to switch to your system.

Abby, what kind of things do you still not eat? I was told to eat my beef etc. well cooked. I have never liked it that way and have switched back to eating it med-rare. I know there are potential issues, like E. coli with hamburgers and Taenia saginatum (tapeworm) but those are unlikely. I don't restrict the cheeses that I eat either. I will never try sushi again (my favorite), but am not afraid to get cooked ingredients in the sushi, just no raw fish.

How far post-transplant are you now? If you had to list three things about your general health and sense of well-being that have changed since your diagnosis and transplant, what would they be?

For me, I have this annoying neuropathy (numbness) in my toes and feel very out of shape (get winded easily, especially when I begin walking). Otherwise, I feel quite normal. You?

Be good.

Cliff

Hi Cliff,

So I had my transplant March 30, 2011. So it will be a year and a half end of September. I eat anything I want. I have had no restrictions since a year out. I even eat sushi, which I love. For the first 100 days I had to cook everything well done and no fruit or veggies that you could eat the skin. But after that the restrictions were just for sushi and any sort of salad bar. Then after a year, all gone.

3 things that are rough and lingering issues: 1. Energy level- I feel out of shape and don't have even close to the same energy level as before. 2. GvHd issues- I have had a series of GvHd problems, the worst is joint and muscle pain and fatigue- but that is getting better with my new medicine. 3. Irratibility from steroids- hate that but again almost off so that should be getting better.

Cliff,

Just entered back into the gardening domain on a limited basis (which included riding the mower, which I enjoy quite a bit). I haven't done a whole lot of digging around in soil, just to be safe, but I have worn a mask in case I'm sending anything into the air. Doctor once said he didn't want any mushrooms growing on my lung (a funny guy who guessed correctly that some crazy imagery will keep me off the mower and out of the dirt until I got the thumbs up for those activities!).

I figured that the restrictions they gave on vacuuming and dusting went hand in hand with the dirt digging and mowing because I got the go ahead on the inside and outside work at about the same time (earlier this summer).

Stay out of the dirt! I also had to wear a mask if I walked outside around my neighborhood in the early days after transplant (but actually I ended up going by wheelchair a couple of times). Same reason was given--the stuff floating in the air (a fungus or bacterium, as Dave said).

Therese

Therese,

It is great to hear your "voice." I missed you. I am glad you are getting outside to do even the amount of gardening you are doing. I have to admit that I planted four pots of basil and pulled out some weeds. That's it. I miss really doing the beds and the flowers.

As far as vacuuming goes, I have helped my wife and frequently my daughter (when I visit) with vacuuming. I really shouldn't be so cavalier about it.

It really is a fungus issue with gardening. There are fungi (Sporothrix) that live on thorns, and worse things like blastomyces that live in rotting wood. No jokes.

I am really anxious to get my immune function retested when I get my bone marrow biopsy on the 25th. I hope I have enough T-cells to get me out of the AIDS range. That, unfortunately, is something that goes along with T-cell depleted transplants. It takes much longer to reconstitute the immune system.

You sound good and strong in your post. God bless you, Therese.
Passe une bonne soiree.

Cliff

Cliff,
One thing I disliked about treatment, even when things were going well, was the waiting. I know you are anxious for the immune testing results. I would be, too. The first thing I thought of when you posted about the change in appointments was that it was more waiting. I'm pretty good at waiting, but I find it doesn't get easier to wait. In fact, I may be less patient at waiting now than in the past. I just want to know things earlier without the waiting. Doesn't matter if I fully expect the result to be wonderful news (as I most often do and it most often is), I still just find the waiting a bit taxing after a while.

What kind of changes in restrictions are you expecting if you are out of the AIDS range for your T-cells? I imagine that knowing your defense system is up and running at a "better than AIDS level" will bring a sigh of relief and a little more confidence about avoiding an opportunistic infection of some sort.

Again, truly enjoy reading all that you write. You are prolific and knowledgeable and compassionate.

Therese

Therese,

C' est ce que je dois faire. That's what I must do...the waiting, because to think about all of this too much is not good for the anxiety quotient. I was thrilled when my doctor allowed me to postpone my appointment without even thinking twice.

I will not change anything about my health restrictions, even if some of them become self-imposed. I will still stay away from crowds, use my Purell like water, and yet, breathe a sigh of relief if my CD4+ count takes me out of the AIDS range. I have really avoided illness to this point. I am amazed, but why tempt fate?

Thanks for the compliment about my posts, Therese. Mutual admiration society, as far as I am concerned.

Be good.

CLiff