I am writing to those of you have been so concerned and worried about me. I am grateful for great friends and loved ones who want to know what is happening and what is going on. Believe me I have felt your good thoughts and prayers on my behalf.
I though a more detailed explanation of what we have been doing to figure things out. If I can relate myself to an old car sitting in your garage and it is leaking oil onto the floor. You know there is a problem, but don’t know why the oil is leaking. But you know something is happening that should not be happening.
Last August I had extreme pain in my shoulders and hips. To the point I could hardly walk and could not rollover in bed and at that point, I thought the tow truck should come and haul the old car away. I visited several doctors and did numerous blood tests, had x-rays and anything I could think of. As it turns out I had what is called Polymyalgia Rheumatica. (PMR) It is a temporary arthritis condition that was treated by oral medications. I am happy to say this is just about completely cleared up.
However, this PMR triggered blood test results; I even had a liver biopsy at the transplant center in Salt Lake . At that time it showed the liver was in pretty good shape. However, this turned up a few other problems. As many of you know, I got to where I had absolutely no energy, and would fall asleep at work and was a little out of it mentally. It felt similar to the condition I was in before I had my liver transplant in 1993. This concerned me. I went back to the transplant center who wanted to do a MRCP. You know one of those awful tests where they put you in a tube and take pictures of your insides.
This test showed a couple of other concerning things. It showed plural effusions. This is med speak for I am leaking. There is a lining around your heart and lungs that is filled with fluid. It turns out that this fluid is leaking and congregating in my abdomen. I don’t know what the treatment is or the cause of this leaking. It seems that my transplant doctor doesn’t really know either. I have an appointment with a heart and lung specialist next week. Hopefully, I will know something further.
This MRI test caused the doctors to order another test. I had an endoscopy on Tues. morning. This test sends a small camera down your throat into the stomach and upper part of your intestines. It can take pictures on its way down and see the inside of your stomach and other organs on the way. Well, this test showed a couple of other problems.
This showed that my stomach is not digesting food how it should. This is probably the reason I am not ever hungry or what to eat anything. It is a pretty good diet if you need one. But I have dropped about 15 pounds in the last two months. This is called “Gastritis” or “gastritis perius”. I don’t even know how to spell it let alone explain it. It has something to do with my diabetes however. I took several more blood tests while I was in for the endoscopy. These test showed that my liver function is a little off. We will have to address those next week while I see the heart and lung specialist.
Well, that is pretty much brings you up to date. I can tell you, that I actually feel better than I did a week ago. It hasn’t helped the golf any, but I am trying. I also want to thank all of you again for your concern and best wishes. Believe me I am touched by all the attention, but I would rather not be getting it. I will try and keep everyone posted as new results and tests come in.
Mike
