Hang On!

The report from the heart biopsy on February 10 will be looked at as a watershed date because my life will never be the same.  It was the start of a series of tests, hospital stays and procedures to get me new heart plus to deal with the protein that has been attaching the heart I have.  In mid-February, the variety of amyloid I had (over 80 varieties) was unclear.  Was this inherited and now would my sons and grandkids have this to watch for?  Was it a random mutation of a cell that created this bad protein?  or was this a form of cancer?  There were many questions that were being tossed up as to what I had and what the best means of treatment would be.  I was being referred to the University of Washington (UW) Cardiac Care Center for further evaluation along with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA).  These two centers would bring together their experts on the problem; a heart that was failing and could not be fixed and a protein that was being generated in my bone marrow that needed to be wiped out.  Both medical institutions were well established for dealing with either heart transplants and problems of cancer or with bone marrow issues.  I was going to learn fast that the melding of these two disciplines on a single patient was something that was still being developed between these two medical centers.  

My initial visit was with the UW Cardiologist Dr. Fishbein.  Dr. Fishbein heads up the heart transplant team at the UW.  He wanted to see me to screen me for consideration as a transplant candidate.  My initial visit was as comprehensive as an office visit can be.  He was pleased that, other than my heart, I was pretty healthy.  Non abusive living and healthy behaviors.  My years of long distance running were deposits in the bank that I would be drawing on now.  Before the month was out, I was in the hospital to get some further tests, lots of blood draws, a bone biopsy, full X-rays, check on health of teeth, and echogram of the veins of the neck.  The hospital stay was also to balance my fluid retention with diuretics.  The tests were also needed to determine how suitable I would be as a cardiac transplant recipient.  

On the next Post I will describe my visit to the other party; the SCCA.