THE "FIRST" FRIDAY...MORNING
We got added in to the ultrasound schedule first thing in the morning. It was to be scans of my left arm and both legs on a hunch there might be a clue as to the cause of this enormous amount of water I am carrying around. My lower legs are GROSS and I can hardly bend them to walk properly. So the guy does the legs and says "no problems". Then he does the arm and says "problems". Seems I have several blood clots in the upper arm from placement of the PICC line. This was (unsuccessfully) placed to enable me to take IV antibiotics at home, but due to scar tissue from my old pacemaker they could only go halfway to where it needed to be. I wound up using all my IV drugs during my extended hospital stay so the docs decided to remove the line anyway. Evidently the PICC somehow irritated the blood vessel and caused the clotting, aka Deep Vein Thrombosis. Some may recall that last year our Andrew had this in his leg, a much more serious situation since there is a great danger the clot can move to the lungs and cause potentially fatal results. My case is way less critical.
I was sent directly to the transplant coordinator and told the Dr. had prescribed Lovenox, a blood thinner that is administered via syringe much like I used to do in the old pre-pump insulin injection days. To be sure I knew the drill, we hustled back across the street to the pharmacy office on 10 Long for a quick training session. No big deal. We asked Leslie to pick it up at CVS in the Castro . She was told there was an insurance hang-up and they needed pre-authorization or it would cost like four grand or something. While she was in the pharmacy she saw a parking "meter maid" (actually a dude) who was busily writing not only a parking ticket but a citation for not curbing her wheels. It's barely a hill on this block of Castro! She sobbed out her sad story and when she got to "Dad" and "transplant" the guy's heart literally melted. He said "no tickets for YOU!" and put his ticket book away. My daughter is GOOD! It occurred to me that I too could use this for preferential treatment not only with law enforcement officers but also for VIP perks at restaurants, hotels, gas stations and sporting events. Worth a try, eh? So the insurance sort of worked out and we got a starter supply for the weekend, and they will ship the rest to Livermore.
THE "SECOND" FRIDAY...AFTERNOON AND EVENING
After a tense and tiring morning we arrived back at 2000 Post for a hurried lunch, before the home health nurse arrived, then started throwing stuff into boxes in preparation for moving day Saturday. I then managed to start up my CPAP and in fact used it without suffocation while we both took a well-deserved nap. We decided we would enjoy a dinner out for our last SF night. For the protection of my relationship with my revered Transplant Team this time I am not revealing details of the meal nor posting pictures as I unfortunately did after Barney's Gourmet Burgers. Seems everyone except the valet parking dudes knew everything I consumed there. Suffice it to say tonight's dinner was outstanding and healthy, in a truly fascinating SF atmosphere featuring a gaggle of stroller-bound rug rats and the required herd (do they come in herds?) of cute-as-a-button City Pooches all tied up outside. . And they even have a parking lot which we have realized is a truly attractive feature for those in our age group.
Tomorrow will feature our grand return to 1612 Broadmoor Ct. and an impromptu Easter celebration which will include both our kids and perhaps some traditional Easter hijinks. Should be a hoot!
Happy Easter (and Passover) to us and all of you in Readerland.
Bob/Irv
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