August 23, 2011

We have had some new tests and some new information that I thought you might be interested in.

I have visited an internal medicine doctor to figure out what is happening with my stomach aces. As you recall I have Gastro Paresis which basically causes my digestion to be restricted and I feel full all the time. He has put me on a medication which should help in my digestion. After almost a week, I have to be honest; I can’t tell that much difference. If fairness, the best medication for this situation has detrimental effects of some of the med’s I am already on. The cyclosporine is essential for my liver transplant and it will not work with this medication. So he gave the second best choice, I hope to see results very soon. I am still losing weight that I hope will stop soon.

He also gave me a urine test which showed a urinary tract infection. He put me on an antibiotic which I hope with help me feel better.

Today I went and picked up my CPAP machine which is suppose to help me sleep. I am told that this could be one of the things which will have the most noticeable benefit for me. I will sleep with a mask and a machine with push air into my nose and mouth while I sleep. It also has a humidifier which should keep my throat from drying out.

I am also on a water pill which is taking care of the retained fluid in my feet and ankles.

Here is hoping that something actually will begin to work so I can regain some strength and stamina. The upside is that I am getting request to pose for advertisements which are promoting feeding the under privileged which shows my ribs and boney shoulders and back. So far I have not accepted the requests.

I can continue to feel your thoughts and prayers in my behalf. I feel so lucky to have such great support from family and friends. I hope soon you won’t have to be concerned about me. Until later lets get better.

Mike

August 16, 2011

I have taken both of the sleep tests which had been scheduled for a few weeks. If you have not gone through one of these, it quite an experience. I have nineteen connections to my head legs and chest. Then they tell you to just go to sleep. A lot easier said than done. The first test showed that I had the sleep apnea. The second test a week later, which was Sunday night. This time I had the same connections plus the CPAP mask on. Then they told me to go to sleep. It was pretty difficult. But results from the second test will be presented in a couple of weeks. Most likely they will put me on the CPAP for good. If it will work, I am willing to try it.

I have also have an appointment to see a Gastro-Intestinal Doctor tomorrow morning who I hope will be able to tell me what is going on with my stomach. I will let you know what he says.

Again, I want to thank all of you for your expressions of love, prayer and hope. It really means the world to me.

Regards,

Mike

August 5, 2011

It has been a while since I have sent an update, so I thought I better get on it.

I had my most invasive test yet, yesterday. I was at the IHC Hospital in Murry yesterday and they have a test that they cut a whole in my neck and put a probe into my liver. The idea was to test to see if the valves and blood flow through the liver was working properly. After waiting four hours to be taken in, they found one vein that was slightly collapsing and they stretched that one but it would not stay stretched. However, this was a minor thing. Everything else looked just fine. So here we go again another test another thing that looks good. I guess I should be grateful, but we still do not have any explanation for how I feel.

On Saturday night I go in for my sleep test finally. I will have to leave Ann’s 40^th high school reunion to be there on time. I guess she will have free reign to talk to all her old boyfriends. I am hoping that this sleep apnea test will show something I can look to.

Once that test is complete, I plan to hook up with a gastro-intestinal doctor who can take all of my test results and go through them and become the lead doctor.

I actually have felt a little better since my last update, I am still expecting to become fully recovered so this old car can get back on the road and not just slow country roads, and I want to be on the freeway in the fast lane.

Again thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Mike