Hello, dear Readers. I have so much to share with you. As last we met, I had the dramatic downturn from my lungs fighting the horrible forest fire smoke that drifted to our Coastside for weeks last winter. My pulmonary function tests were horrible. I dropped my FVC from 47% to 41% and was put on supplemental oxygen 24/7. It was ugly. The doctors in the Lung Transplant Clinic told me my quality of life was too good for transplants. Okay. Fine.
Three months have passed.
Wednesday, Michael and I hit the road early and began the day with an Echocardiogram for the Transplant Clinic. From there, we scurried across the street to the Pulmonary Function Lab. Capacity and DLCO tests. But, wait. Without warning me, they also had ordered a 6-minute walk test to see how much real estate I could cover in six minutes. The problem? I was wearing lovely wedge sandals. After nabbing some hospital socks with the little grips on the bottom, I was ready for the test.
Two year ago, I covered 1,500 feet in 6 minutes. Last week, it was 1,285 feet. I wonder if I could have done better with shoes on my feet? I was also thrilled to see my FVC return to almost the pre-smoke level and was now 46% of expected. The DLCO was also improved.
We enjoyed a great lunch before meeting with Dr. K. She was unaware I was having PFTs and an Echocardiogram that morning. She found the report of the Echo and it was normal. Great. They were worried that I might have done damage with all the smoke. She was thrilled that my numbers were returning.
In the meantime, I have been struggling with a UTI, my primary was afraid to give me antibiotics, gave me light ones and had to give me another set of a stronger drug. We found it in my lab tests for surgery this coming Wednesday to implant a drain in my eyes to relieve high pressures and cataract surgery on my right eye. I will be out of commission for a few days and unable to go to rehab for a bit longer.
Dr. K. was worried about how this was all handled and wants to be notified of any tests from different hospitals. She also asked that I would make an appointment with a gynecologist/urologist doctor I had seen a couple of years ago just to be sure nothing is going on like a problem with my pelvis floor.
I asked her about the transplant listing process. I was worried that one good pneumonia this winter could send me into transplants and I was aware that the window to become listed is small - need to be sick but not too sick. She told me that I could be listed in 1/2 of a day, if needed in an emergency. I felt so much better after hearing that.
Soooo, on Thursday morning we drove back into the city for an early appointment with the Lung Transplant doctor to review the previous day's tests. Drama was happening in the clinic and our 8:45 appointment turned into a meeting with him around 10:30. We kept ourselves busy with a drawing competition, which I lost miserably. I am a musician and clearly not an artist! Michael was amazing. The doctor laughed when we showed him how we kept busy while waiting for him.
He agreed that I might need to be listed due to a quick downturn and that I have everything in place incase that happened expect for...Cardio Catheterization. Yes, a little prob into the heart valves. I told him that I would rather do it now instead of in an emergency situation incase I have a fixable problem, we have the time. He liked my thinking. It is the final, big, invasive test that all pre-lung transplant people have to faee. It is being scheduled.
Later that afternoon, I spent over an hour on the phone with the anesthesiologist nurse for my eye surgery. Lots of instructions. Lots of eye drops. Lots of changes to medications until the surgery is over.
I was feeling overwhelmed with medical stuff. Thankfully, I am organized and was able to make a list to prepare myself for the surgery.
That's it. Think of me on Wednesday. I just want to be able to see clearly again.
