Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Hot Town, Summer in the City...the Parnassus Wind Tunnel

A brief recounting of today's medically-oriented activities, and then I will shut up for a day or three unless something of vital interest appears. OK?

OFF TO CONCORD

Had the usual excellent and productive visit with my outstanding endocrinologist at Muir, Dr. Anna C. She is quite impressed and pleased with my responce to the wacky blood sugars arising from the prednisone onslaught. I must admit careful carb counting, frequent testing and the input of the docs has made glucose levels tolerable. We made a few small insulin pump adjustments and I am good to go. The prednisone began it's taper today, so I will keep a close eye as the meds decrease.

THAT WIND TUNNEL

As we left our Fit to the excellent valet guy ("Well hello, Mr. and Mrs. Moss" he instantly exclaimed) the wind nearly ripped the door off. Being as it IS a Honda, there was very little real danger, but you get the scene. Windy, cold, blowing wispy fog and all that. Yech!

But at any rate, we were able to dispense with the Donor Specific Antigen blood draw at the lab quickly. We decided to dine at Palio and enjoyed a fine pannini before heading to the 8th floor of the hospital building for the ultrasound.

We appeared early for our 2:00 appointment to be informed we were half an hour late for our 1:00 slot. A small miscommunication, but it's all good. The procedure was quickly completed, however the tech did inform me there are still clots in my upper left arm from that ill-fated and totally unnecessary PICC line they put in me just before sending me home. The line was never used for any meds so this is a particular gripe. I have been taking injections of a blood thinner (Lovenox) for 90 days now. It is painful, ugly (major bruising and scar tissue) and HELL of expensive. Now the Team needs to tell me the next move, but I am thinking it's another few months and lotsa $$$$ worth of Lovenox in my future.

Pretty easy ride home to Livermoronville at least until the mess in Pleasanton which is unavoidable. But we are here safe and sound yet again, and that is a Good Thing.

Signing off for now,

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.