Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Kidney Chronicles: Home Again!

Hi everyone,

This has been a better week, and Bob's trip to UCSF yesterday, although a long 12 hours, did not involve an overnight stay! We were surprised to learn that the angiogram they did on his heart showed no new problems since last year. Still lots of partial and complete blockages, but nothing worse than before, and nothing that called for any immediate repairs. The chest pains he's been having several times each week since November are probably due to a combination of things - too much fluid retention a couple of days after each dialysis, being > more active and pushing his heart harder, and maybe even some acid reflux again. A new kidney would take care of the fluid problem, and ease the strain on his heart.

Basically the cardiology team still thinks he should be able to go ahead with the transplant, and we have another doc in our corner to argue his case to the kidney transplant team.

We were pleased to be told yesterday ( coincidentally) that we are scheduled Feb. 5 for a 4-hour series of meetings with transplant folks - we will again meet with the social worker, financial aids experts, doctors, dieticians, and nurses, to make sure that we are fully prepared for transplant surgery and the lifestyle changes, stresses and obligations that will follow. Since we attended this a few years ago, and again last year with the heart transplant program, we > don't expect to be too surprised, but should have more intelligent questions this time around! At least it means that they are still considering Bob as a > probable candidate.

That's it for this week - please assume that no news is good news, as we have not been the best communicators lately. We like to keep everyone informed, and love the calls and emails, but don't always keep up our end of the deal, we know.

Enjoy the chilly sunshine this weekend!

Cherie
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Saturday, January 12, 2008

Kidney Chronicles... Homeward Bound!

Most of you probably have not yet read this morning's edition, but I wanted to let you know right away that Bob is being released from the hospital this afternoon, after all. His echocardiogram was not too alarming, so he can come home today and then will have his angiogram Tuesday or Thursday as an outpatient - hooray! Better yet, I managed to avoid the trip to UCSF today. Brother Gary was on his way to visit, so will deliver Bob home to Livermore - thanks Gary!

Happy weekend everyone!

Cherie
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Kidney Chronicles: 2008

Happy New Year all,

Looks like we are off to a bit of a rough start this year - not sure if we are moving forward or sideways this week! I had hoped to send an update telling of Bob's very short hospital stay this week after he briefly passed out and conked his head on a sidewalk Tuesday. However, nothing is brief with him or USCF, and as of this morning he is still a resident on the 10th floor, as his doctors continue to do tests to find out what happened. It was pretty certainly heart-related, and depending on the results of today's echocardiogram, he will come home today and return next week for an angiogram for a closer look at things, OR stay in the hospital through the weekend and have the angiogram as soon as Monday. They need to determine if there is some blood flow obstruction to a new area of his heart, and if so, if it can be repaired via angioplasty or something similar.

In the bigger picture, this could speed things along for the kidney transplant, if the problem is correctable and the kidney transplant team agrees with moving along quickly to do the transplant before the heart has more problems - or stop the transplant plan completely. "Donor Dave" ( thanks, Kelly D) just finished up nearly all his tests on Thursday this week, and just needs one final visit to UCSF. Bob has just a couple more chores on his "to-do" list for the transplant, so this new development is really not welcome!

Needless to say, he is very unhappy with his current situation.....looking on the potentially bright side is not his strength, as we all know. So feel free to call him, at 415-514-5273. If he doesn't answer, he's off to a test, but otherwise he will be lounging around being grumpy. I have spent most of each afternoon and evening with him since Tuesday, but am trying to catch up with home and business a bit this morning.

I still hope that 2008 is the year for good things to happen, so please join me in positive thoughts that this situation will speed the transplant process along!

Cherie

p.s. Bob's head is fine from the fall!
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RJ/Bob/Irv is a 61-year-old beloved husband, father, uncle, brother, motor racing fanatic, and Livermore resident who received a heart and kidney transplant in February of 2010. Bob's recent years have been defined by his health, which forced him into early retirement. Unfortunately, many of his days were spent in a dialysis center or at various medical appointments, primarily due to his living with diabetes for over 40 years. Numerous were panic visits to various Emergency Rooms all over California for treatment of chest pain. But now no more dialysis and no more late-night dashes to UCSF! The main focus of Bob's family, friends, and doctors has been a prompt transplant, so that he can get back to traveling with his Sweetie, driving fast cars, enjoying great music and laughing with his friends. This blog will function as a way to communicate with all interested parties and to keep everyone informed. And hopefully it can serve a great purpose also, in making people more aware of the importance of organ donation and how each life saved has a positive effect on dozens of related friends and relatives.