December 23, 2011

December 23, 2011



This is a lengthy post I won’t ever know if you don’t get through it all.

Since we last met our sick hero, we have had quite an eventful adventure. We met with Dr. Terry Box at the University of Utah medical center. It was very hard to be on the campus of that school up north. Anyway, Dr. Box is a real professional. He had gone through all of my records, which you can imagine is voluminous, and remembered us from my first transplant at LDS Hospital. It is comforting to know that he has also had a liver transplant himself. The problem is, you recall, that this was only a consultation visit.

As it turns out Ann’s company is changing insurance carriers. And wouldn’t you know that Dr. Box is in this new network, which means we can continue to see him on a regular basis. “When a door closes a window opens.” We are excited to be able to continue with him.

The point of the visit was to see if there was anything that he could tell by reading my records. He came up with basically the same conclusion as the other doctors. That being; I am definitely in liver failure, without a known cause. The good news is they will transplant old guys like me. He did say that getting off the Immuran, which is the drug I have been on since my last transplant, is no more than a shot in the dark. We will follow up and see him again in February.

Since that visit there have been lots of adventures. Late on Saturday night, after fighting stomach trouble, “it emptied itself out in a quick manner," (hope you can figure that out), I stood up too fast, Ann will tell you I passed out, I am not sure, I fell and hurt my back. My SI joint was completely locked up. I could not move. We happen to have the best physical therapist in Utah county, Rogan Taylor living in our ward. Ann asked him at church if he could come over and check things out. After about ten minutes of agony, I started to feel pretty good. Thank you, Rogan.

This was good because the next day I had scheduled a test that people our age should have. The name of which starts with “Colon" and ends with "Oscopy." I couldn’t eat for twenty four more hours. I would have thought after my Saturday cleansing that this would be no problem. I got there Monday and was told it had not been quite enough hours and to go home. We rescheduled for Friday. This procedure showed nothing abnormal. Two years before I do that again.

In the meantime, because of shoulder pain, I went to see Dr. Scott Jackson. With X-Rays and a physical exam, he determined that I needed a shoulder manipulation. This can be painful and you are normally put under anesthesia. With him working right across the street, and going above and beyond the call of duty, he came over during my Friday procedure and did his thing. Thanks,Scott.

By the way, Scott and Ruth Ann have been called to be Mission Presidents coming this July. I am a little nervous about him leaving because he has been such a great friend for everything medical.

All that fasting and cleaning out began to take its toll. Thanks again to my daughter Melissa, we set up an appointment with my primary care doctor. After checking my blood sugar and a couple of things, they sent me straight to the hospital. It turns out that my diabetes was completely out of whack. I have spent the last couple of days at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. They game me fluids and put me on insulin for the first time.

Have I said that I hate the hospital? I feel much sicker while there. With compressions on my legs, heart monitors, things inserted into you where things should never go, and you have to ask for help just to get up and use the bathroom. But, I got home yesterday armed with long and short term insulin and a new understanding of what I need to do to keep my blood levels under control.

I feel good today and hope to never see the inside of another hospital until I get that call for another liver. Again I am amazed at the love and friendship which is all around me. Don’t ask me about it because I have turned into a big boob. Thanks to all of you. I wish you a special Christmas where our Savior’s spirit abounds.



Mike