June 18, 1998
I went to MUSC for a full day of testing for my kidney/pancreas transplant. I had to be there at 8 AM. I went up to the nuclear radiology department. They started an IV on me so they could add Radioactive isotopes while I was testing.
I first went to a room with a radiology machine that reminded me of an MRI. I told the technician I would get very claustrophobic. It ended up that it didn't cover my head in face. It was a machine that rotated at intervals around my chest. It was taking pictures of my heart at a resting stance. The test took approximately 30 minutes. Then I waited in the waiting room for 20 minutes and changed shoes. It was time for the stress test. I thought this was going to be a piece of cake since I walk a lot. Wrong ! it was a rough test. I got very tired very quick. I'm not use to walking up hills, SC is flat. I lasted 8 minutes. The last minute of the fast walk up hill is when they injected the radioactive isotopes.
After the walk I went back to the room so I could have another revolving heart picture taken. This time it was to see how my arteries and veins were after exercise of exertion.
I had some time between this and other test so my mother and I toured one of the historical homes of Charleston and had a picnic lunch on the Battery. We looked out over Ft. Sumpter. It was very peaceful.
Back at the hospital I went for the dreaded mammogram. I know they don't hurt, I just don't like them.
Then off for the last test. It was called a LE and Carotid Doppler. This was weird. No pain just a little discomfort. First the technician put cuffs on my ankles, thighs and right below my knee. They were like blood pressure cuffs. Then she put so much air in them that they stopped the blood flow and did a sonogram of the area. It took a lot to shut the blood off up in my thighs. It smarted a little. Then she did the same to my feet with an its bitsy cuff for my big toe.
I got a little worried when she started on my upper extremities. All I could think is she was going to put a cuff on my neck. Naturally I was wrong. She just did sonograms of the corotid.
I guess my results are favorable. I will find out for sure on July 27, 1998. I go to meet with the Transplant Coordinator and the Transplant Surgeon.
JULY 28, 1998
Another full day at MUSC. Today I started off with a lot of blood work. Then I met with the Transplant Coordinator. Thank goodness for insurance.
The Coordinator explained what was expected from me, how it would happen when a donor came up, how the continuous tissue typing would go and how I could be called for a transplant and once I arrived a test might have been done while I was en-route and a transplant might not be visible.
After a couple of hours with the coordinator I met with the transplant surgeon. Dr. Raja was very nice and informative. He explained all the rejection drugs I'll have to take. How O+ blood times were universal. How they had to wait for someone my size was a donor due to the pancreas. Dr. Raja said I was about the 10 Th in line.
Then we went to the Financial Advisor for the transplants. If I did not have insurance the transplants would cost me $49,000. The rejection drugs would cost me $1000 a month. This is for the rest of my life.
The anti-rejection drugs are Cyclosporine/Neoral, this is a rejection drug that will be started in liquid. Side effects are: high blood pressure, shakiness of hands, gum soreness, diarrhea, more hair growth, hair darkening, liver & Kidney problems.
Imuran/Cellcept/MMF which is another name for Azathioprine. It is used to fight rejection. Side effects are white blood cell count and platelets may drop and liver problems.
Prednisone which is used to fight rejection. Side effects are hunger with weight gain, pimples on the face, blue and purple marks on the skin, night sweats, change in feelings, Bone,eye and stomach problems and diabetes.
The other drugs that might be given in addition are Bicitra, Diltiazem, Acyclovir, Septra and Aspirin.
Now I go back for a blood test for tissue typing every 4 weeks. Now I just wait. I will keep you posted.
See ya later!!