November update from Bob's other half

Well, that follow-up right heart cath did not go as we hoped on Tuesday. Instead of Bob's pulmonary pressures being lower after an extra session of dialysis, they were actually higher than the week before. So he is being kept in ICU with the catheter in place for a "couple of days"
(in hospital time of course) while they re-test the pressures and try different drugs to try and treat this serious problem.

The most mind-boggling part of the news he received Tuesday evening is that unless this condition can be somehow controlled, he is likely to remain in the hospital on IV drugs until he receives the transplant. This news came from the doc in charge of the heart transplant program, so it's pretty official. We have always been aware of that possibility, but it's certainly not what we hoped for......Bob living in the hospital indefinitely. He was even visited by the highly-esteemed transplant surgeon, who told him that a transplant was the only way to improve his health, as they have exhausted all other options.

We are in the process of trying to wrap our minds around this turn of events. I always take refuge in looking for the positives as a way to rationalize something upsetting. Obviously this would put him at a higher priority for organs than ever, so maybe this wait ( 15 months on the list now) will have a happy ending soon. And other than the many dangers of infection from being in a place with lots of other sick people, he is safer there than at home with his heart so very weak.

Amazingly he says he feels fine physically - although I think his version of "fine" is far from what the rest of us feel. We will try to update more often now that things are going in this exciting ( scary) new direction, and when he's able to have visitors we'll let you know. Thanks for all the positive thoughts you care to send!