Bliss Amidst The Routine

I don't often get up at five o'clock, but I can endure it on occasion. Today was a little different than some clinic days, in that it was Loren's first heart biopsy. We spent the morning at the hospital, and the afternoon at the clinic. We will not know the biopsy results until later.

This is the first day that Loren went to all visits and tests without a wheelchair. Everything was within reasonable walking distance of the elevators. We were told the biopsy takes about an hour, but a good two would be more accurate. They numb the skin on his right neck, and go down into the heart to take teeny little pieces for sampling. Loren was awake for this, although one can request some anesthesia. When they are touching the heart wall, the beats jump around a little. This does not bother the doctor, naturally, but it can be a little disconcerting for the patient. Loren said it hurt more than he expected, but he can bear it. He is a little dehydrated, which flattened the veins a bit, making is slightly more difficult. Loren has been admonished to drink more.

The routine x-ray did turn up something that might explain the back pain Loren has been experiencing. He has a compression fracture of the 8th thoracic vertebrae. It is not complete and should heal with time. Loren was low on bone density before all of this, and the prednisone causes more bone loss, and that must be monitored. Looks like it's lots of calcium and Fosamax for him!

His potassium levels are down to normal range, so perhaps we can be a little more lenient with certain foods. Milk falls into the high "potassium" category, yet he is supposed to drink more. It is a little frustrating, sometimes. The dieticians say one thing, the nurse practitioner says another, and the doctor wants him to put some "meat" on his bones. Loren's weight seems to have finally bottomed out at 117. Let's see, I think I weighed that in 5th grade. If only we could trade weights!

We had a lovely musical treat around lunchtime. There are two grand pianos stationed in two different lounge/atriums. We often get a cafeteria take-out meal and eat lunch in the main atrium of the Charlton building. There is a large marble wall with fountain waters gently washing down on one side.

Today, as we were munching our styrofoam-held repast, a distinguished looking man walked in with a suitcase. It was filled with music books. He sat down and charmed the lucky listeners who had settled there. The next half hour provided beautiful, soothing renditions of some classical pieces, and several superbly arranged Christmas numbers. Truly, it brought tears to my eyes. (it doesn't take much, some days :-) I talked with him a moment after he finished. He and his wife are musicians, here on her behalf to attend a pain clinic. There are many suffering souls, out there, but the Lord used this kind man to bless Loren and myself, today.

Tomorrow will be a lighter schedule. Only an orientation class, and a brief appointment with one of the financial people.

Speaking of finances, we received a grant from social service (connected with the transplant office) to pay a huge chunk of the first month's stay at the Transplant House. I guess it pays to be poor :-) Just one more item for which to be thankful.

Loren has been snoozing in the recliner as I catch up on my e-mail and accidentally lose part of my post. (nobody's perfect) We are getting to be just a couple of old fogeys, and it feels kinda nice.

p.s. We just received word that the biopsy sampling showed zero rejection! That was expected, but still nice to hear.

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