Baby got back

I knew there was something I forgot to mention from my trip to the hospital on monday. As part of the endless hoop jumping that I have to perform before being allowed to the assessment down in Newcastle I need to be screened for MRSA. This involved swabs being taken and cultures being grown to see if there is any indication of MRSA.

The only reason I mention this is because as well as the standard nose, mouth and throat swabs they require a perineal (If you don't know where the perenieum is go have a wee search) one. Instantly this set my mind wondering whether the nurse taking the swab would approach from the front or behind for this one. I knew either way I'd be rather exposed in front of a nurse for about the thousandth time. As it turns out she simply got me to pull down my breeks and kecks and lie away from her. She told me she'd have to just move a cheek to get to the right area - I burst out laughing, not because I was nervous or anything, but because it proves that for the first time since I was on steroids I actually have an arse to speak of. Normally I'm so thin that my back just kind of turns into legs with no discernible arse area inbetween. This really is proof that I've put on a good bit of weight. Mind you it's amazing how many people stopped me on monday and told me I was looking great so I'm obviously carrying the weight well.

The doctors at the Beatson got in touch yesterday to say my kidney function tests were showing rather unfavourable results so I've to go a few days without taking my immunosuppression drug Cyclosporin as it's the most likely candidate and then resume taking it at a lower rate than I had. I'm slowly reducing the dose of that drug at the behest of the lung transplant team so we can see if my immune system is still attacking me. If I come off it totally I can come off lots of other drugs too. That said if I do get a transplant I'll be right back on them all for life so I'll not bother getting used to it.