A tiring day for Lee

Our day began by getting up @ 6:00 and rushing out the door @ 8:00.  This included packing Lee's morning & noon meds to include all the insulin paraphanalia.  He had to be at Duke North (hospital) @ 8:30 for another chest x-ray and a barium swallow (ugh!)  While he was busy drinking the "stuff" and rolling around on the table for all the incredible positions for pictures of his GI tract, I was enjoying meeting new transplant potentials and their spouses in the waiting room.

As I have shared with you before, everywhere we go, we are introduced to new people and we listen to more amazing stories.  Both of the couples I met today were from Atlanta.  The husband began to develop a cough about two years ago and now he not only has pulmonary fibrosis, he also has fibrosis of the liver.  He is being evaluated for a bilateral lung transplant and liver transplant.  He appeared to be in his late 50's or early 60's. He looked very weak and sick and his color was pale yellow.  The other was the wife and she had pulmonary fibrosis.  She is 65 years old and her illness also appeared suddenly like Lee's did.  We have been amazed at the number of people who have IPF.  It seems as though two out of three are afflicted with this condition. 

After the barium swallow, we went to the clinic for Lee to have blood work and to wait for the doctor's appointment @ 1:00.  We arrived at the clinic around 11:00 and just had a snack in the waiting area.  Lee was so full of barium that he had no appetite.  I did have to check blood sugar and give him his insulin though.

When we finally saw the doctor around 2:30, we were given some additional information.  It seems that the barium swallow showed two existing conditions:
           1.  Esophageal motility is sluggish
           2.  Possible gastric stress ulcer (from the prednisone)
He was given a prescription for Reglan to help the esophagus and he is now scheduled for a gastroscopy procedure next Wednesday afternoon.
He was also placed on a new anti-rejection medication and taken off another one. 
He will have to go back on the I.V. antibiotic that will begin tomorrow.
Next week will be another busy week because he also has a bronchoscopy on Monday morning.

We were told that we would most likely be able to go home BEFORE Thanksgiving.  So, looks like we are here for another month.

As you can see, no one goes home until Duke feels comfortable with their ability to be in the best possible condition.  For that we are indeed grateful.  Lee continues to need your prayers and so do I!  We are, of course, terribly disappointed by not being able to return home earlier.  Thank you for your loyal and faithful prayers and support.

More Later........................................Brenda