News is not good

[gja1000]

Having to think about the possibility of a transplant is startling because I never thought he would be a candidate, since he has diabetes and lung problems. So, I just never thought that the issue of a transplant would ever come up. Now that it has come up and no one is dismissing it as impossible, I can see that we may have to decide - or maybe not, if he is not evaluated positively. I can live with that - I worry about Gary, that his hopes have been raised, only to be dashed. But as I said earlier, I can't tell the future, so best not to worry about that now!

[donna1990]

You have a lot on your plate. Have faith.

[Marilyn]

Gayle, so glad to see that you are keeping in touch. We all want the very best for you and for Gary. So hope this all turns out well!!

[gja1000]

Some good news!!! Gary will likely get to come home today after some tests on his lungs - WHOO HOOO!!!

All docs so far, have said that that is no reason to preclude a heart transplant - BUT that does not mean when everything is taken together in its totatility, that he will be approved. We'll have to wait for that declaration. At least there is still the possibility, and now we have time to do some research to learn a little more about what all it will entail.

I'll post when we are released from "jail"

[donna1990]

So glad to hear some good news.

[gja1000]

We have received our "get out of jail" card (note I did not say, "get out of jail FREE" card )

We are watiing until 3:00 for some lung function tests - but a kindly pulmonary doc that we have never seen before came in to tell us if they hadn't come to do the tests by 3:00 to ask the nurses to call about them, and if they weren't here to get him by 3:30, to go ahead and go on home and we can do the tests in the clinic next week. WHEW! It is rare that you get someone to be that coordinated and efficient. One time, we had to stay in the hospital on Christmas day because the discharge order was buried and no one saw it. GRRRR

So, this level of efficiency is surprising!!!

A really great thing about being evaluated for a transplant is that we get to transfer to the "heart failure clinic". At the clinic all the nurses are advanced practice nurses (nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists) specializing in heart failure, and we can call 24/7 and a nurse will answer or call us back to talk with us. We'll see the same doctor, but will have expert nursing care and since I'm a nurse, I can tell you this is invaluable. This clinic is for persons with severe heart failure (which hubby does not have severe failure, yet) or those on the transplant list. It really good to get to go to this clinic - it will really help me since I function as his private advanced practice nurse (which i am, in reality, by the way - I'm a gerontological clinical nurse specialist) but I will have immediate assistance in evaluating symptoms and adjusting medications. The nurses in this clinic can prescribe and adjust his meds - so cool - don't have to wait forever on the doctors!!!

Well, I'm just babbling on, hubby is asleep and we are just waiting for the darned lung tests!!!

[DianaB]

That's good news, Gayle!!! It sounds like your husband will get the best of care at this clinic. That's great!!!!!