Well for the past several weeks my right foot has been swollen and painful. Went to the clinic last week, Dr. Yung ordered an MRI to check for clotting in my legs – negative. He then ordered blood work and a 24 hour protein urine test to check my kidney function. All of which came back normal, so what is wrong? Seems that I have once again perplexed the medical resources at UCSD.
I did find out when I was speaking with Suzanne Reed, one of my transplant coordinator nurses, that I am not the only patient who is undergoing such complications. I am perhaps the only one that had it start in one leg (the left) and have it migrate to the other. Ah, the joys of being unique.
On another front, I also learned that I have a cancerous growth on my scalp. One of the side effects of the drugs that must be taken to combat rejection is an increased sensitivity to sunlight and the increased chance of skin cancers. Fortunately, the doctors feel that this has been found in time and can be exorcised using Mohs surgery. I have a pre surgical examination scheduled with Dr. Jiang on Monday. More on this to come . . .
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Another First:
Well, thanks to the generosity of my cousin Karyl, I can now say that I’ve been to a NFL football game! Matt, her husband purchased tickets for their family of three, my father & me to go to the San Diego – Philly game yesterday at Qualcom Stadium here in San Diego. My sister and her family joined us as we met at 10 am to go tailgating in the parking lot. My sister knows the promotional VP for the Chargers and got us tickets in the Club Level (@ $200 a pop), we discovered unfortunately upon arrival that this did not include parking – as we were split up on arrival there, Kathy & Matt’s cars were admitted but they were the last ones, dad & I circled, he dropped me at the front gate and found a space about ¾ of a mile away.
Using our cell phones, we were able to meet up where Kathy & Matt parked to do our lunch and enjoy the experience. Unfortunatly I am at this time having some swelling in my left leg (think it is a drug reaction but the doctors will see about it later today) so I was using crutches. With that in mind 45 minutes prior to game time (1:05) I started in, and lucked out – a ‘Cushman’ cart cruising the parking lot saw me and picked me up, depositing me at my gate. The attendant there directed me to the elevator which got me real close to my seat. Everyone else joined me by game time and a good time was had by all.
With about 10 minutes left in the final quarter, Karyl, Matt & Matty left. Little did we realize that this was a very smart move. The rest of us started out after San Diego scored their final field goal. It took about 20 minutes to get to my sisters car (using the crutches, where were my friends and their ‘Cushman’ then?), and an hour to get out of the parking lot, another 45 minutes to drive the ¾ mile to dad’s car (if only we had taken mine with the ‘Handicap Placard’.
All in all it was a very good event, even though the leg is hurting today… Though I must add that it was in hindsight a good thing my friend who was awaiting her transplant was unable to come with us, the time frame would have exceeded her oxygen supply….
Using our cell phones, we were able to meet up where Kathy & Matt parked to do our lunch and enjoy the experience. Unfortunatly I am at this time having some swelling in my left leg (think it is a drug reaction but the doctors will see about it later today) so I was using crutches. With that in mind 45 minutes prior to game time (1:05) I started in, and lucked out – a ‘Cushman’ cart cruising the parking lot saw me and picked me up, depositing me at my gate. The attendant there directed me to the elevator which got me real close to my seat. Everyone else joined me by game time and a good time was had by all.
With about 10 minutes left in the final quarter, Karyl, Matt & Matty left. Little did we realize that this was a very smart move. The rest of us started out after San Diego scored their final field goal. It took about 20 minutes to get to my sisters car (using the crutches, where were my friends and their ‘Cushman’ then?), and an hour to get out of the parking lot, another 45 minutes to drive the ¾ mile to dad’s car (if only we had taken mine with the ‘Handicap Placard’.
All in all it was a very good event, even though the leg is hurting today… Though I must add that it was in hindsight a good thing my friend who was awaiting her transplant was unable to come with us, the time frame would have exceeded her oxygen supply….
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Courage
It takes a certain amount of courage to deal with life in itself, a bit more to deal with a loved ones illness or difficulties, more still to deal with your own. I have recently met someone that has taken it to a new level. She has faced her disease, decided to battle it, and in doing so has set some fantastic goals for herself.
She separated from her husband and son, moving in with her parents before her diagnosis. And now, has moved from her parents (in another state) here to San Diego to await transplant, without the support of family, knowing no one here prior to coming, hell she even left her car when she came.
Having gone through the diagnosis, preparation, transplant, recovery and then rehab with my family to support me was one thing. Having done it and looking back on it I am so thankful they were, and are there. It is hard to imagine the courage it took to come to a strange town, and under go the process without someone there.
I spent a very enjoyable day with her yesterday, we hiked through the upper section of Torry Pines State Park, quite a feat in itself as the trails are not flat, the views are fantastic really something to see. Throughout the whole ordeal she complained not once, we stopped several times to rest, and other hikers would pass, there would be looks as they’d pass when they would see her oxygen tank and cannula. She not only did not note those looks, but greeted everyone and maintained a cheery attitude (myself I remember cursing my inability to do such things and looking at the world through soured eyes not being able to do those things I once could). It takes a good deal of inner strength to be able to deal with life that way, more than I have.
She separated from her husband and son, moving in with her parents before her diagnosis. And now, has moved from her parents (in another state) here to San Diego to await transplant, without the support of family, knowing no one here prior to coming, hell she even left her car when she came.
Having gone through the diagnosis, preparation, transplant, recovery and then rehab with my family to support me was one thing. Having done it and looking back on it I am so thankful they were, and are there. It is hard to imagine the courage it took to come to a strange town, and under go the process without someone there.
I spent a very enjoyable day with her yesterday, we hiked through the upper section of Torry Pines State Park, quite a feat in itself as the trails are not flat, the views are fantastic really something to see. Throughout the whole ordeal she complained not once, we stopped several times to rest, and other hikers would pass, there would be looks as they’d pass when they would see her oxygen tank and cannula. She not only did not note those looks, but greeted everyone and maintained a cheery attitude (myself I remember cursing my inability to do such things and looking at the world through soured eyes not being able to do those things I once could). It takes a good deal of inner strength to be able to deal with life that way, more than I have.
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