Not much has changed; I am still on dialysis and receiving blood and platelets. I was able to go for about 2 ½ weeks before receiving transfusions but when I was tested on Monday, they were back down to a dangerous level. The platelets were 11,000 and the hemoglobin was 8.1. I have had no difficulty receiving the transfusions since the time at M. D. Anderson when they tried to give me the blood too quickly and put me into fluid overload…. until Monday. At the end of receiving the two units of blood, I began to have a severe reaction. My throat started swelling to the point I could barely talk to tell them I was having a problem, I was itching all over and was having difficulty breathing. I must have been quite a sight because I was broken out in hives and when someone came into the room, their eyes certainly got bigger. They ordered blood and urine testing-STAT- but that all proved to be o.k. They contacted my doctor and were told to stop before giving me the platelets and give me steroids (Decadron). They were wonderful and someone stayed with me constantly for the duration of my difficult time. Eventually I was able to talk, the itching subsided and the hives went away other than on the inside of my throat. It has taken a couple of days for my throat to clear up. They do not know what caused the problem so I just look at it as another bump in the road.