Friday, May 28, 2010

It's 6:00 PM...Do You Know Where Your Biopsy Is?

You don't? Well, neither do I. And unfortunately, neither do the docs, at least partially. Apparently the full results will not be available until Tuesday. There are two possibilities; either mild rejection, or nephritis from the BK virus. For rejection there would be an increase in steroids possibly via IV but not necessarily in-house. If it is BK (which seems more likely) there would be addition of another viral IV drug that could be administered at home via a home infusion service.

So what, you are wondering, happens between now and Tuesday? Luckily for your Editor/Publisher and the entire Transplant Trib staff (of one), cooler heads have prevailed and I will be summarily dismissed sometime between now and, say, midnight. Maybe.

In this case the cooler head belongs to this week's kidney transplant attending Dr. who left last Thursday believing I would have the biopsy last Friday, lose the catheter and go home happy. It was his Friday replacement who totally changed all the plans and sent me home WITH Mr. Foley but WITHOUT a plan for removal and relief. There were four wasted days of labs, calls, doubt, misinformation and misery for Yours Truly. Poor Cheryl had to endure one hellish week with a disillusioned, confused, irritated and very tortured transplant recipient around the house. More credit to her once again for hanging in with me. '

I will also add that I have not had more inconsistent, inattentive, and just plain lost nursing personnel than here on 9 Long. The aides and RN's were the worst in responding to the call light than I have experienced anywhere here or at other hospitals. Even poor little Community Hospital of Long Beach, fer cryin' out loud. And although I was promised it last night, I failed to receive my beloved French toast this morning.

So we are currently cooling our heels (just exactly what does "cooling your heels" mean?) waiting for orders and now shift change to get the paperwork done. Well, my (very nice) roomie has left so Cheryl and I are both rather enjoying a nice early evening while the Bridge and 580 rage on. We will wait out the traffic and head happily home to what looks to be an extraordinary holiday weekend.

Happy Memorial Day,

Bob/Irv
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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.