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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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.