It must be September.
It's the time of year that brings the first wave of cool air. It's the time that the kids complain about going to school, instead of complaining that their bored. It's the time of year that I don't have to hear them complain for 9 hours on any weekday. It's the time of year that April hopes of a first Texas Ranger World Series appearance becomes another worthless waste of time (although during most years, this occurs in June or July). It's the time of year where nothing in the world matters during the wonderful three hours each week watching the Dallas Cowboys play.
Unfortunately, since 2000 (with the exception of 2001), it's also the time of the year when I end up back in the hospital. In 2000, during the month of September, I was hospitalized following the first of two back surgeries (the second one was in November that year). Two years later, I suffered a massive heart attack. A year after that (2003), I went in to the hospital for 10 days due to a major humoral rejection. In 2004, although it was actually in October, I have surgery to remove a hernia in my stomach. Last year, I had a horrible bout of colitis and a blood-clot in my arm.
And now, it's a whole new year and once again, I'm back in the hospital.
Ain't life grand?
Fortunately, my stay this time shouldn't be more than 3 days. About 6-8 weeks ago, my monthly blood test results (since the rejection, I've had to take Aranesp injections for chronic renal failure and anemia, thereby creating the need for monthly blood-letting) displayed elevated potassium levels. The cause was determined to be from a medication I was taking t control my blood pressure. Also at the time, I was suffering from symptoms resembling Lupus which were caused by another blood pressure med.
Because I was now unable to take either of these drugs, my blood pressure started rising. Now, as everyone knows, the ideal pressure for most adults in 120/80. Mine had historically been 110/70. But since the transplant - and certainly since the rejection - I've struggled to keep it below 135/90, not terrible, but considering the BP drugs I was on, not all that great.
When I stopped taking those two drugs, I was lucky if my BP was under 140/100. About four weeks ago, I suffered from a very painful headache. When I checked, I found that my BP was around 180/140. So, I went to the ER and spent the entire night there. The doctors added a new drug to my regiment and sent me home.
Unfortunately, the drug made little difference. By BP stayed around the 155/110 mark for a couple of weeks, but about 10 days ago, I started to get the headaches more frequently. By the time this week started, I was suffering a constant pain in my head and my pressure was averaging about 165/125. At times, it would go as high as 175/135 - dangerously high for me.
On Saturday, I called my cardiologist - the man I credit for saving my life (more than once) - and he called me in yet another new prescription. So I took it that night and when I woke up, I felt the same. In fact, I had a tough time falling asleep. I had a pretty bad headache throughout Sunday and again, had trouble falling asleep. Before I went to bed, my BP was still very high at 167/123.
Then came today. My wife woke me at 6am and I couldn't lift my head. One of my just-turned-8-year-old twins was in bed next to me and was snuggling, so the last thing I wanted to do was get out of bed. But after about 10 minutes or so, I got up and started to get dressed. I noticed right away how terribly sluggish I felt, but just assumed it was from falling asleep so late. I also noticed that my right eye seemed very foggy. It was that way part of last night, but it got better. Now, it was unclear again. After finally getting dressed, I went into the kitchen and was getting a drink of something (like to say it was booze, but more than likely it was iced tea), when my wife came in to asked me a question. As soon as she started to talk, I realized how muffled everything sounded. I also began to feel disoriented and confused (not too hard for me). She told me that if I felt faint, I should just sit down where I was. I thought I was well enough to walk to the living room couch, but as I took a step, I changed me mind.
To be honest, I don't remember much more. About an hour or so later, after dozing I guess (I know I didn't faint), the kids were gone and my wife told me were going to the ER (she had spoken to the doctor who told her to wait and see how I felt when I woke up). Before we went though, I took my BP and it - unbelievably - registered 108/70.
When I got to the ER, I was still somewhat out of it. But slowly, over the next couple of hours, I began to feel better. I arrived in the ER at 10am, but after all was said and done, they finally got me into a room upstairs at 8pm. M wife ran home to get me some food, my laptop and other supplies and I've just come back from having a CT scan.
Right now, I'm somewhat drugged from taking my nighttime drugs and two Vicodin. However, I have my laptop and my iPod, so I'm resting somewhat comfortably. My latest BP reading was 153/108 and my head is less achy. Tomorrow should be a fairly simple day and although I'm being scheduled for a right-heart cath (biopsy), I'm hopeful I can go home afterwards.
Incidently, while I certainly didn't expect for the Cowboys to lay an egg last week against Jacksonville, I fully expected (and correctly so) that the 'Boys defense would completely shut down the Redskins. While my predicted score was a little off, the outcome was the same. Take away a TD drop by T.O. - apparently due to a broken hand), and the score could well have been what I predicted. Although, I did expect Washington to show a little more offense. If you're a Redskin fan, you couldn't have felt good about the game at all.
It's the time of year that brings the first wave of cool air. It's the time that the kids complain about going to school, instead of complaining that their bored. It's the time of year that I don't have to hear them complain for 9 hours on any weekday. It's the time of year that April hopes of a first Texas Ranger World Series appearance becomes another worthless waste of time (although during most years, this occurs in June or July). It's the time of year where nothing in the world matters during the wonderful three hours each week watching the Dallas Cowboys play.
Unfortunately, since 2000 (with the exception of 2001), it's also the time of the year when I end up back in the hospital. In 2000, during the month of September, I was hospitalized following the first of two back surgeries (the second one was in November that year). Two years later, I suffered a massive heart attack. A year after that (2003), I went in to the hospital for 10 days due to a major humoral rejection. In 2004, although it was actually in October, I have surgery to remove a hernia in my stomach. Last year, I had a horrible bout of colitis and a blood-clot in my arm.
And now, it's a whole new year and once again, I'm back in the hospital.
Ain't life grand?
Fortunately, my stay this time shouldn't be more than 3 days. About 6-8 weeks ago, my monthly blood test results (since the rejection, I've had to take Aranesp injections for chronic renal failure and anemia, thereby creating the need for monthly blood-letting) displayed elevated potassium levels. The cause was determined to be from a medication I was taking t control my blood pressure. Also at the time, I was suffering from symptoms resembling Lupus which were caused by another blood pressure med.
Because I was now unable to take either of these drugs, my blood pressure started rising. Now, as everyone knows, the ideal pressure for most adults in 120/80. Mine had historically been 110/70. But since the transplant - and certainly since the rejection - I've struggled to keep it below 135/90, not terrible, but considering the BP drugs I was on, not all that great.
When I stopped taking those two drugs, I was lucky if my BP was under 140/100. About four weeks ago, I suffered from a very painful headache. When I checked, I found that my BP was around 180/140. So, I went to the ER and spent the entire night there. The doctors added a new drug to my regiment and sent me home.
Unfortunately, the drug made little difference. By BP stayed around the 155/110 mark for a couple of weeks, but about 10 days ago, I started to get the headaches more frequently. By the time this week started, I was suffering a constant pain in my head and my pressure was averaging about 165/125. At times, it would go as high as 175/135 - dangerously high for me.
On Saturday, I called my cardiologist - the man I credit for saving my life (more than once) - and he called me in yet another new prescription. So I took it that night and when I woke up, I felt the same. In fact, I had a tough time falling asleep. I had a pretty bad headache throughout Sunday and again, had trouble falling asleep. Before I went to bed, my BP was still very high at 167/123.
Then came today. My wife woke me at 6am and I couldn't lift my head. One of my just-turned-8-year-old twins was in bed next to me and was snuggling, so the last thing I wanted to do was get out of bed. But after about 10 minutes or so, I got up and started to get dressed. I noticed right away how terribly sluggish I felt, but just assumed it was from falling asleep so late. I also noticed that my right eye seemed very foggy. It was that way part of last night, but it got better. Now, it was unclear again. After finally getting dressed, I went into the kitchen and was getting a drink of something (like to say it was booze, but more than likely it was iced tea), when my wife came in to asked me a question. As soon as she started to talk, I realized how muffled everything sounded. I also began to feel disoriented and confused (not too hard for me). She told me that if I felt faint, I should just sit down where I was. I thought I was well enough to walk to the living room couch, but as I took a step, I changed me mind.
To be honest, I don't remember much more. About an hour or so later, after dozing I guess (I know I didn't faint), the kids were gone and my wife told me were going to the ER (she had spoken to the doctor who told her to wait and see how I felt when I woke up). Before we went though, I took my BP and it - unbelievably - registered 108/70.
When I got to the ER, I was still somewhat out of it. But slowly, over the next couple of hours, I began to feel better. I arrived in the ER at 10am, but after all was said and done, they finally got me into a room upstairs at 8pm. M wife ran home to get me some food, my laptop and other supplies and I've just come back from having a CT scan.
Right now, I'm somewhat drugged from taking my nighttime drugs and two Vicodin. However, I have my laptop and my iPod, so I'm resting somewhat comfortably. My latest BP reading was 153/108 and my head is less achy. Tomorrow should be a fairly simple day and although I'm being scheduled for a right-heart cath (biopsy), I'm hopeful I can go home afterwards.
Incidently, while I certainly didn't expect for the Cowboys to lay an egg last week against Jacksonville, I fully expected (and correctly so) that the 'Boys defense would completely shut down the Redskins. While my predicted score was a little off, the outcome was the same. Take away a TD drop by T.O. - apparently due to a broken hand), and the score could well have been what I predicted. Although, I did expect Washington to show a little more offense. If you're a Redskin fan, you couldn't have felt good about the game at all.
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