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gja1000 · 05-17-2012, 04:36 PM

You all are just so so sweet, I don't know what I'd do without you!

OK, here's what happening. And I want you all to know that both Gary and I felt much better today, I'm not sure why, but we did and we had a really good day together.

Gary's kidneys are not happy at all now, his kidney numbers are pretty bad. He's just above having to have dialysis, but thankfully not yet. They are going to put an aortic balloon pump in his heart tomorrow. This is sort of a test run for the ventricular assist device (which he has not yet decided if he wants or not). This balloon pump will assist his heart to pump and it will tell them whether or not the ventricular assist device will help him or not. He should feel much much better and be able to walk much more with the balloon pump. But it might not help him feel better at all. That is the test part. If the balloon pump doesnt make him feel better, the ventricular assist device probably won't either, so they won't even consider doing it anymore. It should also help his kidneys a lot since his cardiac output will be much better. They can only leave the balloon pump in a few days, but that may be enough to get his kidneys in better shape, hopefully. If his kidneys don't get better, then he can't have the ventricular assist device. The balloon pump is just a test of how he responds, so they will know whether or not he is a candidate for the ventricular assist device.

The procedure is an introduction of a catheter into his heart - just like he had last week. It is not surgery so he will feel find after the procedure. He will have to be in ICU simply because the nurses there know how to run the balloon pump. Of course there are risks, but no major risks and he should be fine. But we all know anytime they do anything inside the body, bad things can happen, but I don't think anything will happen tomorrow.

I probably won't get to sit with him all day for the next few days since he will be in ICU and they have set visiting times. That will be the hard part, not being able to sit and play cards with him all day.

Betsi, his ejection fraction on echo cardiogram is 20-25% (60% is normal). The medicine they are giving him is Dobutamine.

Once again Ladies, you all are so very very dear to me and I know you would hop in the car or on plane to be with me. I might need you later, but right now I'm OK. Just knowing you are with me in spirit is so so so very comforting.

05-17-2012, 04:36 PM	#2209
gja1000 Donating 4WT Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central Texas Posts: 5,717	You all are just so so sweet, I don't know what I'd do without you! OK, here's what happening. And I want you all to know that both Gary and I felt much better today, I'm not sure why, but we did and we had a really good day together. Gary's kidneys are not happy at all now, his kidney numbers are pretty bad. He's just above having to have dialysis, but thankfully not yet. They are going to put an aortic balloon pump in his heart tomorrow. This is sort of a test run for the ventricular assist device (which he has not yet decided if he wants or not). This balloon pump will assist his heart to pump and it will tell them whether or not the ventricular assist device will help him or not. He should feel much much better and be able to walk much more with the balloon pump. But it might not help him feel better at all. That is the test part. If the balloon pump doesnt make him feel better, the ventricular assist device probably won't either, so they won't even consider doing it anymore. It should also help his kidneys a lot since his cardiac output will be much better. They can only leave the balloon pump in a few days, but that may be enough to get his kidneys in better shape, hopefully. If his kidneys don't get better, then he can't have the ventricular assist device. The balloon pump is just a test of how he responds, so they will know whether or not he is a candidate for the ventricular assist device. The procedure is an introduction of a catheter into his heart - just like he had last week. It is not surgery so he will feel find after the procedure. He will have to be in ICU simply because the nurses there know how to run the balloon pump. Of course there are risks, but no major risks and he should be fine. But we all know anytime they do anything inside the body, bad things can happen, but I don't think anything will happen tomorrow. I probably won't get to sit with him all day for the next few days since he will be in ICU and they have set visiting times. That will be the hard part, not being able to sit and play cards with him all day. Betsi, his ejection fraction on echo cardiogram is 20-25% (60% is normal). The medicine they are giving him is Dobutamine. Once again Ladies, you all are so very very dear to me and I know you would hop in the car or on plane to be with me. I might need you later, but right now I'm OK. Just knowing you are with me in spirit is so so so very comforting. __________________ Gayle Last edited by gja1000; 05-17-2012 at 04:38 PM.