Mike is down to monthly labs (mostly) and every 4 month appointments at the Transplant Center.
Next week we have 4 days of sun and fun in Miami:
Monday: Transjugular Liver Biopsy at Interventional Radiology
Tuesday: Labs, XRAY, Abdominal MRI (Will his GFR be high enough for contrast...he has been LOW)
Wednesday: Orthopedic Follow up with shoulder surgeon.
He'd sure like to hear he can stop wearing his GIANT sling (with a one foot triangle pillow under his armpit that keeps his elbow at a 45 degree angle 24/7...since July 6th). Too bad we can't post pictures, it is quite a set up. Good thing he likes to sleep on his back.
He had delayed a shoulder repair with the ESLD and then transplant...basically he waited 3 years to go under the knife. They had to reattach (screw into the bone) 2 tendons and sew some rotator cuff tears. He says he is going to play golf again!!!
Thursday: Oncology follow up, Transplant Surgery Follow up, and Hepatology
He has some concerns here and the labs will tell the docs which way the wind is blowing. Mike's AFP ha elevated, his white and red counts are very low, his viral load is running very high, and his Epstein Barr viral load is very elevated also. His LFTs are heading up for the past 2 months --they have been running those more often...ooops???) Since he has had heptocellular carcinoma (1 small tumor) before transplant they will keep a very good eye on his cancer markers and MRIs.
He has been increasingly tired lately. He can't decide if the Hep C is coming back strong symptom wise or if he is bored to death with the recovery and shoulder sling, etc. He is napping twice a day and spending 8 or 9 hours in bed at night...often fitfully. He tried to give up the naps but just can't make it through but for exception days...like next week. Fortunately he loves to read, always had, and likely reads 3 or 4 novels a week. The biopsy should give them a good idea if he has any scaring yet.
His incisional hernia is getting bigger and bigger. He has no discomfort, but the risks are trickly for fixing it and not fixing it. Transplant hates to open that area to potentially introduce infection. And, they would hate for his bowel to crimp and require emergency surgery...again that leads to potential infection. This is one of those things that seems to have bad risks on both sides of the equation. Connie and David and Ziffle have had their fixed...any other opinions?
And they will review the pros and cons and options for Hep C treatment.
Busy week. Wouldn't it be grand to have all these docs say everything is fine...come back in December!???
Carol