I've never been good at waiting patiently, and my tests on July 3rd still seem some way off. I think having made a decision, I like to see it implemented without delay, even though there is no urgency (yet).
Slight progress as been made as I had a blood sample taken at my GP's for a check of my blood sugar level. This was a "fasting" test, so I was not allowed to have anything to eat or drink from 10pm until the test at 8.30am, except water. My wife looked as sad as Mrs Doyle (on "Father Ted") when I refused the usual cup of tea at 7.15! The results are OK, apparently; I've not actually seen them but I've been told that they are on the computer system where (I've been assured) they can be seen by the hospital (as one would hope, given the amount spent on the NHS IT system!) so there's no need for me to take a letter with me. NB The GP was at pains to point out that he cannot necessarily see details of things about me that the hospital do, but the hospital can see all that he does to me. Seems fair enough.
I've also had an appointment at Radiology confirmed for July 3rd as well. It's going to be a busy day then, as not only will Radiology do an ultrasound (to check that I have two kidneys) but they'll also do a chest X-ray while I'm there (to check I've got two working lungs, I presume).
In the meantime, Tim has just had a routine appointment; his eGFR is stable at 19%, which is good news. Although a transplant is (as I understand it) inevitable, a delay in the inexorable fall of eGFR is a good thing at this time as they like to start dialysis at 10% and will plan the transplant at 15%. We wouldn't want it to suddenly fall, as that would precipitate an urgent need for dialysis or a transplant, when the donor is not yet fully tested and approved. I am well aware that my tests could easily yield some unexpected issue or question, so I'm not taking any of this for granted (especially at my age!).
Thursday 21 June 2012
Friday 8 June 2012
Countdown to Testing
The process moves forward, slowly. Almost three weeks after being told the result of my tissue typing, I now have a date for an appointment for further tests. This will be on July 3rd, when my local transplant centre will try to do, in one day, all the tests that they can do to see if I am suitable to be a donor. If I pass all those, then all further testing will have to be done at Tim's hospital in London as that is where the operation will be carried out.
I wasn't not totally sure of what tests they will do that day but, as I was writing, I just received the appointment letter (NB dated over a week ago!). They will take lots of blood samples, and will do a chest X-ray, an ECG and an ultrasound. The ultrasound will show if I have two kidneys (as some people don't, and never know it). Having held a private pilot's licence, I know the result that I should get from an ECG as I had one every year with my aviation medical. This is always quite funny when you tell the doctor/nurse/specialist what to expect as they seem to assume that you have never had one before.
I also have to do a fasting blood sample to monitor my blood sugar level, and they want me to do this with my local GP to save the travelling to the hospital.
If I fail any of these tests, then it's up to the next in line to be tested. That would be a setback for both me and Tim: in his case, it could delay an operation; in my case, it could mean that there is something major wrong with me. I suppose that getting an early diagnosis of a major issue would be a benefit in terms of treatment, but that would still be a bit of a blow. Of course, it could just be something ever so trivial which could be affected by the transplant operation but would have no obvious effect on my health.
Somewhere in all this there are meant to be interviews to make sure that you are fully aware of the implications of what you are doing, are not under any duress and are not receiving any payment. However, I'm not sure if that will happen on July 3rd or later. By that date Tim should have had his next check of eGFR so we might have an idea of how he is doing.
I wasn't not totally sure of what tests they will do that day but, as I was writing, I just received the appointment letter (NB dated over a week ago!). They will take lots of blood samples, and will do a chest X-ray, an ECG and an ultrasound. The ultrasound will show if I have two kidneys (as some people don't, and never know it). Having held a private pilot's licence, I know the result that I should get from an ECG as I had one every year with my aviation medical. This is always quite funny when you tell the doctor/nurse/specialist what to expect as they seem to assume that you have never had one before.
I also have to do a fasting blood sample to monitor my blood sugar level, and they want me to do this with my local GP to save the travelling to the hospital.
If I fail any of these tests, then it's up to the next in line to be tested. That would be a setback for both me and Tim: in his case, it could delay an operation; in my case, it could mean that there is something major wrong with me. I suppose that getting an early diagnosis of a major issue would be a benefit in terms of treatment, but that would still be a bit of a blow. Of course, it could just be something ever so trivial which could be affected by the transplant operation but would have no obvious effect on my health.
Somewhere in all this there are meant to be interviews to make sure that you are fully aware of the implications of what you are doing, are not under any duress and are not receiving any payment. However, I'm not sure if that will happen on July 3rd or later. By that date Tim should have had his next check of eGFR so we might have an idea of how he is doing.
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